My muscles trembled as I closed the door, my shallow breaths echoing the terror surging through me. It felt as though my body had completely shut down, ignoring every attempt to move. My legs were shaky, refusing to cooperate. Even as my instincts begged me to collapse on the ground, I forced myself to keep walking.
Clutching the glowing artifact tightly, I hid it inside Lukas' jacket draped over me. I didn't know what had come over me. This was reckless—beyond anything I'd ever done. And yet, here I was, breaking my promise to Lukas to stay out of trouble.
Speaking of trouble, it seemed to have found me.
The world outside had fallen unnaturally silent. The usual hum of insects and the rustle of leaves had vanished, leaving only the deafening sound of my heartbeat pounding against my chest. The air felt thick, like a storm about to descend.
"He's inside."
The voice came from just beyond the door, making me flinch. I pressed myself against the wall, my heart racing faster.
"Summon him, Orion. We don't have all night," another voice demanded.
They were looking for Lukas. That much was clear.
And if they realized it wasn't him but me waiting inside, I'd be done for. It was a reckless choice, but I couldn't bear the thought of Lukas being captured. He was the pillar of his family—the one his mother and siblings depended on. Grandpa might understand if he found out, but Lukas' family wouldn't survive without him.
"Working on it. Not sure why it's taking so long," the one named Orion replied, his tone casual.
"Can't we just break the door down and drag him out? This is getting old." A woman's sharp, irritated voice cut through the night.
"And risk Flyn finding out we've drawn attention? You know better than that, Sierra," Orion retorted.
"Then are we supposed to stand here all night waiting for that thief to come out? We have more pressing matters to handle!"
Before I could think better of it, I moved. I don't know what compelled me to open the door, but as I stepped outside, I was met with the sight of three strangers.
They were unlike anything I'd ever seen. Their golden armor shimmered in the moonlight, adorned with intricate designs that seemed almost alive. Their hoods shadowed faces that were simultaneously beautiful and intimidating. They radiated power and authority, their very presence demanding submission.
"I thought she was a he, Orion," the woman—Sierra—snapped after giving me a once-over.
"She's wearing a hoodie. Mistakes happen," Orion replied with a laugh, though he didn't seem particularly apologetic. His aura was warm, almost disarming, a stark contrast to the tension in the air.
I glanced at the man standing next to him. His face was unreadable, though his bored expression suggested he had better things to do.
"Calen?" Orion prompted, seeking his opinion.
The man, Calen, sighed and rubbed the back of his neck before turning his attention to me. His gaze was piercing, as though he could see right through me. "Do you even know what you're carrying, woman?"
My throat tightened. What was I supposed to say? I didn't have the faintest idea what Lukas had stolen.
"I-I don't know," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
Sierra's smile turned sinister. "We can make her talk faster if you let me."
"Don't scare her, Sierra," Orion said, though his attempt to calm the situation did little to ease my growing fear.
Calen stepped forward, his intense gaze locking onto mine again. "Interesting," he murmured, then turned away. "This night won't last forever. We're taking her with us."
"What?" Orion and Sierra both exclaimed, their surprise matching my own.
"You can't be serious," Sierra argued. "We could just take what she has and be done with it—"
"There's more to this than you realize," Calen interrupted, his tone silencing her protests. Though his lips curved into a smile, it was far from comforting.
"All right, let's call it a night," Orion said, his voice light. He turned to me with a friendly smile. "Shall we, miss?"
"It's Aria," I replied cautiously. I didn't know why I gave him my name—maybe because his demeanor felt less threatening.
"Beautiful name, Aria," he said, his gaze shifting briefly to our hut. "There must be a reason Calen decided to bring you along. He doesn't do this lightly."
"I don't like it," Sierra muttered, glaring at me before turning away.
"Don't mind her," Orion reassured me, gesturing for me to follow.
I hesitated, glancing back at the hut. A pang of guilt struck me. I'm sorry, Grandpa.
As if reading my thoughts, Orion said, "Don't worry, Aria. Your grandpa will be all right."
My steps faltered. "How do you know about him?"
He just smiled and walked ahead, leaving me more confused than ever. With no other choice, I followed, my thoughts swirling. What had Lukas gotten himself into? What was the artifact he'd stolen? And where were these strangers taking me?
I could only hope Lukas was safe. As for me, I had no idea what awaited.
"Calen! Watch out!"
It was Sierra's panicked voice that snapped me back to reality.
I barely had time to process her words before a cold hand grabbed mine, pulling me closer. My eyes widened in horror as dark creatures swarmed around us. They were shapeless masses of shadow, writhing like living storms of smoke. Their presence was suffocating, chilling the air and sending waves of dread coursing through me.
I had never seen anything like this before.
Sierra's hands moved quickly, summoning a white energy that spiraled into a protective barrier around us. It shimmered with power, holding the creatures at bay, but cracks were already forming under the relentless assault.
"This barrier won't last long, Orion! Open a portal now!" she shouted, her voice strained as the creatures crashed against the barrier, desperate to break through.
"The doorway is still too far!" Orion shot back, his grip on my wrist tightening. "You know I'm not strong enough to open another portal yet!"
His words barely registered. My focus was locked on the creatures, their formless bodies pulsating with a primal hunger. The noises they made were otherworldly, a mix of shrieks and guttural growls that pierced the night and sent shivers down my spine.
"Why are they even here?" Sierra snapped, gritting her teeth. "This is mortal land—they shouldn't be able to—"
"They're after the Nightwarden Vessel," Calen interjected calmly, his voice cutting through the chaos. "The energy here must have allowed them to force a portal open."
Without warning, Calen crouched and pressed his hand firmly against the ground. The earth trembled beneath us, and suddenly, a rift opened, swallowing many of the creatures whole. Their shrieks echoed as they were pulled into the void, fading into the night.
I stood frozen, my mind struggling to keep up. These people weren't normal—this was something far beyond anything I could comprehend.
My grip tightened on the artifact hidden in Lukas' jacket. Its faint glow pulsed against my skin, sending a chilling sensation through my body. My breaths came in shallow gasps, each one harder to draw as the artifact seemed to pull at my energy.
I looked down, alarmed, as my vision blurred slightly. The cold seeped deeper, wrapping around me like an invisible chain.
Suddenly, silence fell. The creatures' noises ceased, leaving only the faint crackling of Sierra's barrier. I blinked, my head spinning, and looked up just in time to see Calen's eyes locked on me. His expression was serious, unyielding, as though he'd realized something.
Before I could say anything, the world tilted, and everything went black.