Chapter 7: The Betrayal

Aurelia’s thoughts were still tangled in the vision when she heard the door to the shop creak open behind her. She spun around, instinctively reaching for her dagger, but froze when she saw who stood in the doorway.

“Luka?”

Her closest ally, her confidant, stood there, his face a mixture of relief and something else—something she couldn’t quite place. Luka had been with her since the beginning, helping her track down leads on the Veil, offering his support in moments of doubt. But now, something about the way he looked at her sent a chill down her spine.

“I’ve been looking for you,” Luka said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. His eyes darted to the Veil in her hands, lingering on the artifact for a moment too long.

Aurelia’s instincts sharpened, and she tightened her grip on the Veil. Something wasn’t right. Luka had always been her trusted companion, but there was an unsettling energy in the air, and the way his eyes flickered between her and the Veil made her stomach churn.

“Why are you here, Luka?” Aurelia asked cautiously, her voice calm but her body tensed for action.

Luka’s gaze met hers, and for a fleeting second, she saw the guilt in his eyes. He stepped forward, his expression softening, but the tension in the room only grew thicker. “Aurelia, I came to protect you. I’ve… I’ve learned things about the Veil, things you need to know.”

Aurelia’s heart raced. She hadn’t told Luka she had found the Keeper’s shop. How had he known where to find her? And why did he seem so focused on the Veil?

“You’ve been following me,” Aurelia said slowly, her voice colder now.

Luka hesitated, then sighed, rubbing a hand through his dark hair. “I didn’t want to, but I had no choice. Aurelia, the Veil—it’s more dangerous than we thought. It’s not just a relic of the past; it’s a weapon. If it falls into the wrong hands—”

“Whose hands, Luka?” Aurelia cut him off, her eyes narrowing. “Yours?”

Luka flinched as if struck, but quickly recovered. “No! Not mine. You don’t understand—there are forces that have been watching us, watching you, ever since we began looking for the Veil. They’ve been manipulating us from the start. I’ve been working with them, trying to keep you safe, but now—”

“You’re working for them?” Aurelia’s voice was thick with disbelief. “After everything we’ve been through, you’ve been betraying me this whole time?”

Luka stepped closer, hands raised as if to calm her. “No, Aurelia, please listen. I never meant to betray you. I was trying to protect you. But they gave me no choice. They promised me they’d spare you if I brought them the Veil. They’ll kill you if I don’t.”

Aurelia took a step back, her mind racing. She had always trusted Luka, relied on him. But now, it was clear—he had been playing both sides, and everything they’d been through together had been part of a lie.

“Give me the Veil, Aurelia,” Luka said softly, his voice laced with desperation. “I can make sure you’re safe. I swear it.”

Aurelia’s blood ran cold. She realized now what Luka had come for, why he had been so eager to find her. It wasn’t about protecting her. It was about the power of the Veil.

Her heart broke at the betrayal, but there was no time to mourn. She had to think fast. Luka was dangerous now, and whatever forces he was working with couldn’t be trusted. She couldn’t give him the Veil, no matter how much it hurt to turn against him.

“I can’t do that, Luka,” she said quietly, taking another step back. “You’ve made your choice.”

Luka’s face hardened. “Don’t make me take it by force, Aurelia.”

Before she could react, Luka lunged at her. His movements were swift, his hand reaching for the Veil, but Aurelia was faster. She sidestepped him, pulling her dagger free and slashing at his arm. Luka cried out, stumbling back as blood dripped from the cut, but he wasn’t done. His eyes flashed with fury.

“You don’t understand what you’re doing!” he shouted, grabbing his own blade and charging at her again.

Aurelia deflected his attack, her heart pounding. She had never wanted to fight him, never wanted it to come to this, but she knew now that Luka wouldn’t stop until he had the Veil. He was no longer her ally—he was her enemy.

Their blades clashed, the sound ringing out in the small room. Aurelia fought with everything she had, every muscle in her body aching as she blocked and countered. Luka was skilled, but Aurelia had something he didn’t: she knew the truth of the Veil. She had seen its future, its devastating power, and she would do whatever it took to keep it out of his hands.

Finally, with one swift motion, Aurelia knocked Luka’s dagger from his hand, sending it skittering across the floor. He fell to his knees, panting, clutching his wounded arm. For a moment, the two of them just stared at each other, the weight of their shared history hanging between them like a broken thread.

“I’m sorry, Aurelia,” Luka whispered, his voice trembling. “I didn’t want this.”

“Neither did I,” she said softly, her chest tight with sorrow.

Without another word, she turned and fled the shop, the Veil clutched tightly in her hand.