HARA'S POV
The dining room loomed ahead, its heavy oak doors slightly ajar. I paused outside, gathering my composure. Steeling myself, I pushed the doors open and stepped inside.
My father, Malvor, was seated at the head of the long, ornate table. He was usually the picture of strength and authority, but tonight he looked… worried. His hands rested on the table, fingers drumming an erratic rhythm. The lines on his face seemed deeper, his gaze distant. I lingered in the doorway, watching him for a moment before slipping quietly to my seat.
The room was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that felt wrong. Where were the others? Dinner nights were always bustling, filled with chatter and the presence of our extended family. Tonight, only our immediate family seemed to be present.
Lyra entered next, followed by our elder brothers, Lucian and Leon—the twins. They were mirror images of each other, with the same sharp features and confident strides. They took their seats beside Lyra, exchanging puzzled glances.
I frowned, the tension in the air prickling at my skin. "Is everything okay?" I asked, my voice breaking the stillness.
My father didn't answer immediately. His shoulders tensed, and he exchanged a brief, troubled look with my mother. Ivy, ever composed, sat with her hands folded on the table. But her knuckles were pale, her fingers trembling slightly. It was a subtle tell, but I caught it. Whatever was happening, it wasn't good.
"What's going on?" Lucian asked, his tone unusually serious. Leon nodded in agreement, their usual banter absent.
Malvor finally spoke, his voice heavy. "The Apex Homac has requested this dinner be for our family alone."
The words landed like a thunderclap. The room seemed to shrink, the air growing colder. My heart raced as the name sank in.
"Arissa?" Lyra's voice was barely a whisper, her usually confident demeanor slipping.
None of us had ever met the Apex Homac, but her name carried a weight that silenced entire rooms. Stories of her power, her ruthlessness, had been whispered among our kind for centuries. And now, she was here?
A long, low horn echoed from outside, cutting through the tense silence. My father rose from his chair, his movements stiff, and headed toward the door. The rest of us exchanged uneasy glances, the dread in the room palpable.
When the door opened, Malvor stepped aside to reveal her. Arissa.
She was smaller than I'd imagined but no less imposing. Her dark, flowing robes seemed to absorb the light, and her eyes—piercing and unreadable—scanned the room. A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on her lips. My father moved to assist her, but she raised a hand, stopping him in his tracks. She stepped inside with a grace that was both elegant and predatory.
Ivy stood immediately, and we followed suit, our chairs scraping against the floor. Arissa's gaze swept over us, lingering on each of us in turn. When her eyes met mine, I felt an icy chill crawl down my spine.
Silence stretched, unbearable and suffocating, until I blurted out, "Welcome."
The single word echoed in the room, and I instantly regretted it. Arissa's gaze flicked to me, her expression unreadable. Then, to my surprise, she nodded.
"Sit," she commanded, her voice smooth but firm. We obeyed without hesitation, sinking into our chairs as she remained standing.
"Eat," she said simply, motioning to the untouched food before us. It was an order, not a suggestion. We ate in silence, every clink of silverware sounding deafening in the stillness. Arissa watched us the entire time, her presence a tangible weight pressing down on the room.
When the meal was finished, she spoke again. "Go to your rooms. Do not come out."
Her words sent a shiver through me. We rose without protest, filing out of the room one by one. As I left, I glanced back. My parents remained, their faces grim as they faced the Apex Homac.
THIRD PERSON PERSPECTIVE
The room falls to silence after the hara, lyra, Leon and Lucien left.
"You haven't told me what's going on" Malvor speaks up adjusting his sitting position.
"Has anything strange happened here?" Andorra asks all of a sudden. Malvor and ivy both glance at each other.
"no...nothing, nothing that I have knowledge of" Ivy replies looking to her husband for affirmation.
"Did anything happen to Hara?"
"No, I mean you saw her right?" Ivy answers.
Andorra sighs looking around the room like there was something hiding from her.
Malvor and ivy glance at each other trying to figure out the answer through each other's faces.
"This would mean only one thing... Hara's morphing is near."
Ivy's eyes widen in fear. Malvor trying to hide his with a serious look.
Author's note: PLEASE TELL ME HOW THE STORY HAS BEEN SO FAR. YOUR FEDDBACK MATTERS.