AUTHOR: MATTHEW
Chapter 1: The Night of the Veil's Tear
The golden rays of the setting sun danced across the family's cozy living room, bathing it in a warm, otherworldly glow. The air hummed with joy soft laughter, clinking plates, and the murmur of a melody Amariel often sang while setting the table. Aeloria, a spirited twelve-year old, teased her mother about the precise way she arranged the silverware, while her older brother Ryan attempted to balance a spoon on his nose, much to their father Therion's amusement.
It was a perfect evening. Almost too perfect.
As the family laughed, a strange sensation prickled the air, unnoticed at first. The light outside the window seemed to flicker, and the room grew colder, despite the blazing fire crackling in the hearth. Then came the sound a low, guttural roar that sent a shiver down their spines. It was like the earth itself had groaned, followed by a deafening crash that shook the house.
The laughter stopped.
"What was that?" Aeloria whispered, her wide eyes darting to the window. The sky beyond had turned an eerie shade of violet, swirling with clouds that seemed unnaturally alive.
Therion's face grew tense, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a grim seriousness. He stood abruptly, his eyes darting to the door as if expecting something or someone. "Stay here," he commanded, his voice steady but laced with urgency. He turned to Amariel, his gaze heavy with unspoken words. "Keep them safe. You know what to do if…" He didn't finish.
"Papa, what's happening?" Ryan asked, his voice trembling.
"Ryan, Aeloria," Amariel interrupted, kneeling to their level and gripping their hands tightly. "Go upstairs. Lock the door. Do not open it for anyone but us. Promise me."
The children hesitated, fear rooting them in place, but their mother's urgency broke through their paralysis. She led them upstairs and into the attic, a room they had rarely entered. The air was thick with the scent of old wood and dust, and the faint hum of something... ancient.
From the window, Aeloria caught a glimpse of her father stepping outside. He didn't look back as he put on his leather coat and disappeared into the twilight. His silhouette faded against the backdrop of the swirling violet sky.
The attic door clicked shut, and Amariel whispered a few words under her breath, her fingers tracing intricate symbols into the air. The children watched in awe as the door glimmered faintly, sealing them inside with an invisible barrier.
"What was that?" Ryan asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Just a precaution," Amariel replied, her voice trembling. She sat by the window, staring into the distance. "Stay quiet. No matter what you hear."
Minutes passed like hours, and then came the sounds a clash of steel, shouts that seemed to echo through dimensions, and a roar that shook the very air around them. Aeloria clutched Ryan's hand tightly, her heart pounding as the commotion outside grew louder. And then, as suddenly as it had started, silence fell.
The door to the attic creaked open.
Amariel stepped inside, her face pale and streaked with tears. Her usually warm and steady gaze was haunted, as if she had seen something that defied explanation. She collapsed to her knees, pulling them into a tight embrace.
"Your father…" she choked out, her voice cracking. "He's gone. Taken beyond the Veil."
"What do you mean, taken?" Aeloria asked, her voice quivering.
But Amariel couldn't answer. She only wept, her tears soaking into Aeloria's shoulder.
Outside, the violet sky began to ripple, revealing brief glimpses of a hidden realm shimmering towers, shadowy figures, and a fractured moon. The night that began in warmth and laughter ended in cold, foreboding silence, as the children realized their lives had changed forever.
For their father had vanished into a world they didn't know existed, and with him went the fragile peace of their ordinary lives.