Chapter 11: Under the Moonlight

The castle grounds were very quiet as Olivia sneaked out of her chambers, her footsteps were covered by the wet grass. The moon remained high in the sky, displaying an otherworldly shine over the lovely estate. She had seen Lila sneaking out earlier, her movements careful but very fast, and Olivia's curiosity—and suspicion—had been increased.

keeping the mysterious key in her pocket, Olivia followed her sister's footprint, her heart pounding with anticipation and fear of the unknown.

Lila's path led to a clearing deep in the castle's gardens that had been abandoned for a long time. The air was unfriendly and it also carried with it an unnatural energy, making the hairs on the back of Olivia's neck stand up. she was filled with fear seeing her once lovely sister enter a scary place like this.

Peeping out from behind a cluster of bushes, Olivia saw her sister standing in the center of a big circle drawn into the ground. Symbols vibrated with a scary light, and Lila's hands were raised to the sky, her voice chanting in a language Olivia didn't recognize.

The sight was both scary and chilling. This wasn't the sister Olivia had grown up with, the one who braided her hair and sang lullabies to her. This was someone else entirely, someone dangerous.

As the ritual continued, a dark mist began to form in the center of the circle. It collapsed into a shape, a shadowy, humanoid figure that displayed an overwhelming sense of power. Olivia instinctively stepped back, her breathing seized at the sight before her.

Lila dropped to her knees before the figure, her voice shaking as she whispered, "The Weaver demands her sacrifice, or all will be lost."

Olivia's blood became cold. Sacrifice? Was she the one Lila intended to offer?

The shadowy figure, now fully formed, turned its head toward Lila, its face covered but its presence unmistakably threatening. It raised a hand, and a curly form of mist wrapped around Lila, pulling her closer.

"The threads are wearing out," the figure mentioned, its voice came as terrorizing whispers. "If she does not fall, the balance will scatter."

Lila bowed her head, her voice shaking. "She will be delivered. I swear it."

Olivia's heart raced. The "she" they were talking about could only be her.

As Olivia shifted to get a better view, her foot stepped on a twig. The sound, though small, echoed in the quietness of the place.

The shadowy figure froze, its head moving toward Olivia's hiding place. Lila turned as well, her eyes became wide and filled with shock and fear.

"Who's there?" Lila demanded, her voice sharp.

Olivia's first instinct was to run, but before she could move, the figure jumped toward her, its form dissolving into a curly mass of mist.

The mist moved toward Olivia, its curly form reaching out like grasping hands. She stumbled back, panic was all over her senses, but then.

The key in her pocket jumped to life, giving out a blinding light that penetrated through the darkness. The mist recharged with a cry out, its form was increasing as the light grew brighter.

Olivia shielded her eyes, feeling the key grow warm against her skin. The light from the key vibrated once, twice, and then exploded outside, leaving the clearing silent and everything there also still.

When she looked up, the shadowy figure was gone, and Lila was staring at her with a mixture of fear and anger.

"What have you done?" Lila whispered, her voice shaking.

Olivia didn't answer. She held the key in her hand, its glow going down, and turned to run, knowing that nothing would ever be the same again.