Luke stepped out from the dense cover of the forest. The estate stood before him, unchanged yet unmistakably wrong. The air shimmered with mana. Vines coiled over the stone pillars, and glowing flowers pulsed in the fading light. Something had twisted the land around it—but the house still stood. Waiting.
Beside him, Lila drifted silently above the ground, her presence a steady, calming force. The faint glow of her essence cast a soft silver hue that barely touched the edges of the shadows. They paused, taking in the sight before them.
The Hale estate stood on the ridge as it always had, proud and serene against the backdrop of rolling Ozark hills. The mansion's tall windows glimmered faintly in the dying light of the evening, its wide verandas and timbered pillars framed by the last streaks of sunset.
Wildflowers that Luke didn't recognize swayed gently in the breeze, their petals shimmering with iridescent hues that shifted and danced. Strange vines, sleek and supple, coiled up the stone supports of the verandas, their deep green leaves lined with veins of silver. A nearby oak tree, one Luke had climbed a hundred times as a child, now bore clusters of pale, luminescent fruit that pulsed with faint light.
The air buzzed with energy. Mana. The once-ordinary land was infused with it now, and it felt as though the world itself was breathing differently—deeper, heavier. Luke's skin prickled, his mana veins thrumming softly in response.
He took a deep breath. Focus. His family was in there somewhere.
"There's something here," Luke murmured, his eyes scanning the dark windows of the mansion. The glass reflected faint streaks of crimson and gold from the sunset. Beyond that, the interior was cloaked in shadow, shapes and outlines just barely discernible. The house wasn't empty. He could feel it.
Lila floated closer, her expression serene but her golden eyes sharp. "They're waiting. Whatever is inside knows we're here."
A rustle to the left drew Luke's attention. The flowerbeds, once filled with marigolds and petunias, now bristled with plants that moved with eerie purpose. Pale stalks tipped with glowing blue bulbs swayed back and forth, their movements synchronized as if listening. Small, chittering sounds emerged from the undergrowth, and for a second, Luke caught a flash of eyes—too many eyes—peering up at him before vanishing back into the shadows.
The muscles in his shoulders tightened, but he forced his breathing to stay even. "We're getting them out," he said, the determination in his voice a steady anchor against the rising tide of uncertainty.
Lila nodded, drifting slightly ahead. "Then let's not keep them waiting."
Together, they started up the driveway, the crunch of gravel under Luke's boots mingling with the faint whisper of mana-charged air. The path wound through a series of manicured hedges, now dotted with unfamiliar blooms. As they moved, the hedges seemed to lean inward ever so slightly, as though curious about the intruders.
The front steps loomed ahead, the wood polished to a shine that reflected the twilight. Luke hesitated for just a moment, his gaze flicking to the grand double doors. They were ajar, the gap between them barely a hand's width, but wide enough to exude a sense of foreboding. A soft creak escaped as a breeze teased the edge of the door, as if beckoning them inside.
He swallowed and stepped forward, placing a hand on the cool brass of the doorknob. The familiar sensation was a strange comfort, grounding him in reality. Lila hovered beside him, a calm presence, her glow intensifying just slightly.
"Ready?" he asked, though he knew the answer.
"Always," she replied.
He pushed the door open, the hinges groaning in protest. The familiar scent of polished wood, lavender, and something faintly metallic greeted him. The entry hall stretched out before them, bathed in twilight shadows. The grand staircase rose ahead, its banister carved with intricate patterns of oak leaves. The chandelier overhead glittered, though its light was extinguished.
But something was wrong. The air inside felt denser, thicker, like wading through invisible water. Shadows seemed to pool in the corners, resisting the fading light from outside. The faint, electric hum of mana was stronger here, vibrating just beneath the surface of reality.
A flicker of movement caught Luke's eye—just at the top of the stairs. A shadow slipped away into the dark corridor beyond. He stiffened, every nerve on edge.
"Did you see that?" he whispered.
Lila's eyes narrowed. "Yes. We're not alone."
They stepped inside, the door easing shut behind them with a soft click that echoed too loudly. The sound made the house seem to hold its breath.
Luke's gaze swept the room. The family portraits still hung on the walls, but their painted eyes seemed to watch him with quiet urgency. The grandfather clock by the staircase ticked softly, though the rhythm was slower, as if time itself was reluctant to move forward.
"Luke!" a voice echoed from somewhere above. His heart leapt into his throat.
"Ava?" he called back, his voice hoarse.
"Up here!" The voice trembled, but it was unmistakably his younger sister's. Relief and dread tangled in his chest.
Without hesitation, he sprinted up the stairs two at a time, Lila gliding silently beside him. At the top of the stairs, he paused, glancing down the hallway. The doors to the rooms were all closed, but the one at the far end—the study—was cracked open. Light spilled through the gap, flickering like a candle flame.
He moved quickly, his heart hammering. As he reached the door, he pushed it open gently.
The study was dim, lit by the dying glow of the sunset filtering through the windows. In the corner, huddled together, were his siblings—Sophia, Aiden, and Ava. Their eyes were wide with fear, but the moment they saw him, a wave of relief washed over their faces.
"Luke!" Ava cried, running to him. He caught her in a fierce hug, Aiden and Sophia close behind.
"You're okay," he breathed. "You're all okay."
"For now," Sophia said, her voice steady but her eyes glinting with determination. "But something's wrong with the house. With everything."
Luke nodded, his jaw tightening. "I know. But we're getting out of here."
Lila floated to his side, her glow a beacon in the dim room. "We need to move quickly."
Suddenly, the expressions on the faces of his siblings morphed from fear to surprise as they noticed there was a new addition to the room: a girl who could float in the air.
Luke looked at each of them quickly and said, "I'll explain later. Let's go."
A low growl reverberated through the walls, shaking the floor beneath them.
Luke's eyes hardened. "Stay close. We're leaving. Now."
"Wait, what about Mom and Dad?" Aiden asked, fear and worry each vying for domination in him.
Luke paused, torn between getting his siblings to safety and finding his parents. "Where are they?"
"We don't know," Sophia said quietly. "After I spoke to you on the phone, some horrible monster found me. I ran as fast as I could through the cellar. I think I trapped it in there, but I don't know if there are any others. None of us have seen Mom or Dad since this all began."
"Monster? What kind of monster?" Luke asked worriedly.
Sophia shuddered as thoughts of the monster began to surface again. Her voice was soft and hollow as she began to speak. "I don't know what it was, exactly. I remember it had a lot of fur, and two heads with sharp fangs." She paused, looking into Luke's eyes. "Luke, it breathed fire."
Lila's eyes went wide as Sophia's description of the beast unfolded.
Lila's eyes darkened. "That sounds like a Chimera. They're rare—intelligent, brutal. One could tear through an entire town in the Aetherion Universe."
She hesitated. "But if it's trapped? That doesn't add up. A true Chimera wouldn't be caught so easily. This might be something else—a beast from Earth, twisted by mana perhaps?"
"Mutated beast?" Ava said, her bottom lip quivering. "What's happening Luke? What's going on?"
Luke looked at her, his heart breaking for the fear she was going through. "Don't worry little sister. Things are changing, rapidly, and they're going to continue changing. But my new friend and I," he said, motioning to Lila, "we're going to protect you, and Aiden, and Sophia. And Mom and Dad if we can find them."
"How are you going to do that?" she asked, tears now streaming down her face.
Luke stepped forward and embraced her. He'd always been fiercely protective of his siblings, and now was no different.
"That's easy, I'm going to kill anything that tries to hurt you," he said.