LOGINVaelora's POV "...It’s been a long time, Vaelora." The man’s voice echoed softly, but every single word hit my chest like a sledgehammer. I froze. He knew me. And he didn't just know the *current* me. His gaze cut right through my flesh, staring straight at a soul that had lived hundreds of years ago. Instinct kicked in. Kaelith stepped right in front of me, using his body as a solid shield. "Don't look at her," Kaelith said, his voice dropping to absolute zero. The man in the black robe gave a faint, amused smile. "Still the same as always. Always putting yourself between her and the world." His cold eyes flicked over to Kaelith. I grabbed Kaelith’s arm, my fingers digging into his sleeve. "Kael... who is he?" Kaelith didn't answer right away. I could feel every muscle in his body lock up, completely ready for a fight-to-the-death. Meanwhile, Rose was glaring at the man with a hatred so pure it could kill. "Lucien..." The name tore from Rose’s lips, dripping with pure
"You two have a child?!" Rose suddenly let out a yell, talking to Kaelith and me. Her voice echoed throughout the basement, and she looked totally shocked. I had no idea what had startled her. Did she really have to react like that just because I was carrying Kaelith's child? I was still trying to fight off the nausea, so I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The longer I was there, the more nervous I got. "Vaelora," Kaelith put his arm around my shoulders, holding me steady as I suddenly bent over and covered my mouth. "I'm doing well, Kael. It's just that my stomach's doing a lot more churning." "Vaelora, if you really can't take it anymore, just throw up," Alaric told me. "I can still hold it in." Rose was still looking back and forth between us, pointing at me and Kaelith in turn. I thought she was being a bit over the top. "A child?" "Yeah," Kaelith replied casually. "A child?" Rose repeated. "Yes." "A CHILD?!" Kaelith massaged his temples; honestly, I thought Ros
I was having a hard time breathing. My whole body froze as I stared at the woman who had just stepped out of that black coffin. As she got closer, I could see that she was me, but she had different eyes.From her face to her hair and even the shape of her lips, she looked exactly like me. It was like I was staring at my younger self.Kaelith looked at her with a face I'd never seen before. It left me wondering.The man stood frozen a few steps in front of me, his eyes wide, his breath held, and he looked completely speechless."Rose..."The name tumbled out of Kaelith's mouth like a whisper that had been hidden for centuries. I looked quickly at Kaelith, then back at the woman. She smiled sadly, and looked at Kaelith."I thought you had forgotten me," the woman said in a soft voice.Even though her voice sounded soft and calm, I could tell she was feeling sad, lonely, and longing for something.The red symbols all over the room were still glowing brightly, and the Wraiths that had bee
Cracks started to appear in the stone floor, and red light shone through the fissures.CRAAACK!The coffin suddenly shattered after shaking, and the stones scattered everywhere. I covered my face with my hands, trying to protect myself even though Kaelith had already done so. Dust began to fill the room, making it foggy.Kaelith grabbed my arm right away and pulled me close to his body. I held my breath as cracks started to appear in the stone floor around the coffin.THUD.THUD.THUD.The heartbeat grew louder and louder, and it was really noticeable. It started echoing throughout the room. It felt like a massive creature was breathing beneath our feet."What the heck is this?" Alaric took a few steps back, holding the iron bar tightly in his hand.Simon opened his old book quickly, his hands shaking as he turned the pages."I've read about this before," he said."What?" Alaric said, "If you know something, say it now!"Simon took a deep breath. "A curse vessel."Everyone turned to h
My hair stood on end when I saw them. There was something about them that scared me, but also made me feel sad. They looked scary, but I could tell they were victims too, even though they had disfigured faces.Our family's been greedy for centuries, and the people caught in that web are suffering.They started climbing the stone stairs and chasing us nonstop. Their screams echoed in the underground chamber, ringing my ears."Run!" Simon shouted.Kaelith grabbed my hand and we ran up the altar stairs.Alaric was right behind us, swinging an iron bar every time a Wraith got close."Why do I always get the dangerous jobs?" he yelled.CRASH!One Wraith got hit and was sent flying."No one told you to be a hero!" I shot back."If I don't protect you guys, who will?"Even though the situation was scary, I could still hear Kaelith sighing gently next to me."You two really are siblings."I almost smiled. Almost, because just then something grabbed my ankle. The grip was strong and painful en
"Vaelora, that's the grave..." Simon's voice made me let go of Kaelith. I turned right away to look at what he was pointing at. At the far end of the huge underground chamber there was a giant stone altar. My heart started pounding. The altar was massive. Stone steps went up to a black coffin that was standing upright in the center of the room. Glowing red symbols went all around it, looking like living veins. There were these strange sounds echoing through the air, and at first I had no idea what they were, but as they got clearer, they sent shivers down my spine. It was the sound of a heartbeat. Thump... Thump... Thump... The sound bounced around the room, as if there was someone still alive inside the tomb. How can a heartbeat be so clear? "Do you hear it?" I said quietly. Alaric, Kaelith, and Simon nodded along. Everything we've learned today is just mind-blowing. This is proof that my father kept a lot of secrets and not just my father, but the whole Hauge
Kaelith’s gaze began to waver, I could feel my words starting to affect him. Red looked uncomfortable, he approached us again.“Enough with your drama,” he said.A dark aura reappeared around his body.“You’re making me sick!”Suddenly the entire mansion shook violently, Red unleashed an unimaginab
After that brief argument, silence filled the air again. Vaelora was probably still exhausted, but we had to keep moving if we wanted to put an end to all this.As soon as the car entered the Haugen mansion grounds, we could both see that the place was still a complete mess, just as it had been the
Kaelith's POVIt feels like I’ve lost every safe place, including my own home. Ordinary humans don't deal with this anymore, but I have to fight it with magic and curses.My huge house was left in ruins from that one attack. Vaelora was still sitting silently on the sofa after I gave her some warm
Vaelora's POVMy stomach felt all queasy, so I ran to the bathroom and threw up everything in my stomach. My body was shaking a bit and my throat felt hot, I grabbed the sink and looked at my face in the mirror.I was as pale as a ghost, and the bruise on my neck only made me look even worse.I tho







