Cian's breath hitched as his eyes darted to the window. In the distance, illuminated by the faint glow of the bus headlights, stood a shadowy figure. Its outline was distorted, its form too tall and too thin to be human.
"Guys…" Cian said, his voice shaking as he turned to them. "We're not alone."
Logan and Sam exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier determination flickering with fear. The bus's interior seemed to grow colder, the air thick with an unspoken tension.
Logan leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Did you see that too?"
Sam nodded slowly, clutching the Codex of Chaos tightly in her lap. "It's like something out there is watching us. Maybe it's connected to the Bloodworth Mansion."
Cian swallowed hard, trying to steady his racing heart. "What if they're already here? What if they've been following us all along?"
Before Logan could respond, the bus lurched to a sudden stop. The overhead lights flickered, casting long, wavering shadows across their faces. Silence enveloped the cabin, broken only by the distant sound of rain tapping against the windows.
Sam glanced around nervously. "Did the driver say anything?"
"No," Logan replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "The driver is nowhere to be seen."
Cian's grip on Logan's hand tightened. "We need to stay calm and figure out what's happening."
Suddenly, the bus doors swung open with a loud clang, letting in a rush of icy wind. The shadowy figure from outside stepped into the aisle, its movements unnaturally smooth and silent. The passengers, if there were any, seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving the trio alone with the mysterious intruder.
"Welcome to your destiny," the figure intoned, its voice echoing unnervingly in the empty bus. "The balance is tipping, and only the chosen can restore it."
Sam took a deep breath, stepping forward bravely. "Who are you? What do you want from us?"
The figure paused, its hollow eyes fixed on Cian. "I am Lysander Bloodworth , guardian of the mansion . You hold the key, Cian. Embrace your power, or chaos will consume everything you hold dear."
Before Sam could respond, the figure began to dissolve into the shadows, leaving behind a lingering sense of dread. The bus doors slammed shut, and the overhead lights steadied, returning to their normal brightness.
Logan exhaled sharply, breaking the tense silence. "That was… intense."
Cian looked down at the Codex, its pages now glowing faintly with an otherworldly light. "Lysander…. Bloodworth is real. And he's warning us"
Soon the bus started again and the lights flicker on, after few hours they arrived to the bus stop
"Here ya go , You will need to take a taxi and that would be about a 30 min drive to the Bloodworth Mansion" the bus driver says
" thank you" Sam responded as the trio walks by
As soon as they got off they tried to get taxi but to no avail they were not able to get one, they decide to walk across the street to a little cafe that was still open.
"The rain has finally stopped. At least I still have a decent amount of money left," Cian says as he steps into the café, the small bell above the door jingling softly.
The girl at the counter greets them with a cheerful "Hi," and they order a few coffees before finding a cozy corner to sit down. A warm glow emanates from the café's lanterns, casting soft light onto the rustic wooden tables. Outside, the small town is calm, its charm and serenity wrapping around Sam like a comforting blanket.
Sam looks around, captivated by the beauty and welcoming feel of the town. It felt like a sanctuary, albeit temporary, in the midst of their chaos.
As they wait, Cian stares into his cup, his thoughts spiraling. His mind races with the weight of what lies ahead—the mansion, the secrets, the danger. Sam and Logan sit beside him, their quiet presence grounding him slightly.
Logan notices the worry etched on Cian's face. Reaching out, he gently places a hand on Cian's, his eyes soft yet unwavering as he asks, "What are you thinking?" His voice is quiet, almost a whisper.
Cian hesitates, his gaze dropping to the table. "A lot," he admits, his voice cracking. "The pressure I feel... it's suffocating. I don't know what we're supposed to do next. Where Nyx is hiding. How to stop her. Or even…" His voice trails off as he looks away, unable to finish his sentence.
Tears start to fall like rain, he cups his face and he barely could even say a word. Logan takes his hands off his face and looks into his deep brown eyes and he did not say a word. Cian knew what he was saying and he darted his eyes to where she was sitting. He looks down at his coffee and starts to realize something. He was not alone, he had the two closest friends who stood by his side while they could have left at any moment because of how crazy this whole adventure has been and even left the country.
He takes a deep breath and slowly got himself back together and he looks at Logan and Same
" thank you for everything and I think it's a good time to get to that mansion"
" alright!" Sam and Logan said together
They grab their coffees and head to the closest bus stop and as they wait they found a map on the bus stop map. They were able to find the right bus to take. A few minutes passed by and the bus came to a stop and the trio got one and headed their way to the mansion.
As the bus rumbled along the winding roads, the English countryside stretched out before them, a tapestry of rolling hills and quaint villages. The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the endless fields dotted with wildflowers. Stone walls crisscrossed the landscape like veins, separating pastures where sheep grazed lazily under the watchful eye of an occasional thatched-roof cottage.
The road dipped and curved through lush, green valleys, flanked by towering oak and birch trees whose leaves whispered secrets in the breeze. Tiny streams meandered alongside the road, their crystal-clear waters catching the sunlight like scattered diamonds.
As the bus passed through a small village, the trio caught glimpses of cobblestone streets lined with charming shops and old-world pubs, their hanging flower baskets bursting with vibrant colors. Church bells tolled faintly in the distance, adding an air of timelessness to the serene scene.
But as they left the villages behind and ventured deeper into the countryside, the atmosphere began to shift. The sky grew darker, clouds gathering in an ominous shroud. The lush greenery gave way to a forest dense and foreboding, the trees now gnarled and twisted as though shaped by centuries of secrets.
In the distance, atop a windswept hill, the silhouette of the Bloodworth Mansion loomed—a shadowy monolith against the stormy sky. Its towering spires and jagged rooftops seemed to pierce the heavens, promising mystery and danger in equal measure.
"Wow…" the trio says their eyes widen
" That's the home of the Bloodworth family" a old lady says as she looks back at Cian
"That my family home." he says quietly
Soon the bus rounded te final bend, The Bloodworth mansion came into view. Perched atop a rolling hill, the estate was a breathtaking sight, its centuries-old stone walls cloaked in ivy and moss. The grand, sprawling structure bore an air of both elegance and foreboding, its towering turrets and pointed spires silhouetted against the cloudy sky.
The mansion's Gothic architecture spoke of a long and storied history, its stained-glass windows reflecting flashes of color as the fading light of day broke through the clouds. Majestic chimneys jutted upward like sentinels, and intricately carved stone gargoyles seemed to watch their approach with knowing eyes.
Surrounding the mansion were meticulously kept gardens, though overgrown edges hinted at neglect. A shimmering mist clung to the ground, veiling the maze-like hedges and ancient oaks that swayed gently in the cool breeze. A small stream wound its way through the estate, the sound of its bubbling water barely audible over the distant rumble of thunder.
As the group disembarked, a peculiar energy hung in the air. The mansion seemed alive, exuding a quiet power that sent shivers down their spines. This was more than just a house—it was a monument to the Bloodworth legacy, a place where generations of their family had harnessed chaos magic and protected its secrets. And now, it stood waiting for them, its secrets locked away behind those ancient, weathered doors.
The door creaked open on its own, the sound echoing eerily through the quiet grounds. The trio froze for a moment, their eyes darting toward the darkened interior. Slowly, they stepped forward, their shoes crunching softly against the gravel. The moment they crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut with a thunderous bang, making them jump.
As their eyes adjusted to the dim light, they found themselves staring at a breathtaking courtyard, a space that seemed untouched by time. At its center was a large, serene lake, its surface so still it mirrored the fading sunlight perfectly, as if reflecting another world. Logan took a tentative step forward, his breath catching at the sheer beauty before them. The warm, golden glow of the setting sun bathed the yard, casting long shadows that danced across the weathered stone walls.
To the left, a section of the mansion stood in ruins—crumbled stone walls overrun with vibrant flowers and ivy. The grass beneath their feet was littered with blossoms of deep purples and reds, and faint etchings of symbols on the stone glimmered faintly, as though holding onto some dormant power.
The trio pressed onward, drawn by an unspoken force. When they finally reached the grand entrance, a gust of wind swept through the courtyard, stirring the flowers and rippling the lake's surface. The heavy front doors groaned as they pushed themselves open, revealing the darkened interior of the mansion.
Suddenly, the symbols etched into the stone ruins began to glow—a deep, pulsing purple that seemed to breathe with life. The ground beneath them trembled, a low rumble that grew louder with each passing second.
Cian took a hesitant step into the mansion. The moment his foot touched the threshold, a deafening boom echoed through the halls, shaking the very foundation of the home. The glow from the symbols surged, casting strange shadows across the walls. An invisible force swept through the mansion, ruffling their clothes and chilling their skin.
"What was that?" Sam whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of energy that now filled the air.
Before anyone could respond, the trembling ceased as abruptly as it had started. The mansion seemed to exhale, settling into an unnerving stillness.