A WHISPER TOO CLOSE

The breath on his neck was real. The presence wasn't just inside his mind anymore.

Elias's body tensed. His pulse pounded in his ears. He didn't turn around- he didn't need to.

Whoever-or whatever-was speaking was right there.

"What word?" Elias's voice was steady, but his fingers curled into a fist.

A soft chuckle.

"The one written in your bones. The one waiting your blood. You already know it."

Elias's throat went dry.

His instincts screamed at him to not speak.

But deep inside, a word did exist.

A name. A command.

Something ancient.

Something forbidden.

"Say it, Elias."

SERAPHINA'S INTERVENTION...

Before Elias could react-

A hand grabbed his wrist.

Seraphina.

Her grip was tight, her expression sharp. She had heardit too.

"Don't she whispered, voice low but urgent. "Whatever it's asking you to say- Don't do it."

Elias swallowed hard, his jaw tightened.

"You're afraid." The voice purred, still behind him, never moving. "Why? Don't you want to know what you really are?"

Seraphina yanked him back a step. Yhe presence didn't follow.

Instead- it laughed.

"Not yet, then."

And just like that- it was gone.

The room grew silent.

Seraphina was still gripping Elias's wrist, her fingers ice-cold.

He finally exhaled.

"What the hell was that?"

Seraphina didn't answer right away. Her eyes where still fix on the spot where the presence had been.

Then-

"Something very old".

THE MEANING OF THE WORD....

Elias sat in his dorm room later that night, staring at the silver ring in his palm.

It was still warm.

Still pulsing.

He could still hear the word inside him, like a heartbeat that wasn't his own.

He hadn't spoken it.

But he had come too close.

A knock at the door.

"I know you're awake."

Seraphina.

Elias sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Come in."

She stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

"You almost sait it, didn't you?" Her voice wasn't accusing. Just....tired.

Elias's didn't deny it.

Seraphina exhaled sharply.

"You need to understand something, Elias. There are words that aren't meant to be spoken. Names that aren't meant to be called."

Elias frowned, "But it's my name, isn't it? Part of me?"

Seraphina hesitated. Then-she nodded.

"Yes. And that's exactly why it's dangerous."

She sat down across from him, crossing her arms.

"That voice, those watchers... they are just testing you anymore. They're trying to unlock you."

Elias shivered.

Because deep down- he knew she was right.

A DANGEROUS INVITATION...

Before Seraphina could continue, there was a knock.

Louder. Sharper.

Then- the door unlocked on its own.

Elias stood up instatntly, hands ready to summon magic.

But it wasn't an enemy.

It was a letter.

A black envelope, edged with silver, floating in midair.

It drifted toward Elias slowly- then stopped inches from his chest.

Then- it burst into flame.

For a split second, golden letter burned in the air before vanishing.

But Elias had seen them.

A time. A place.

And a single sentence:

"Come alone, or be taken."

THE WEIGHT OF THE DECISION...

Seraphina snatched the empty air where the letter had been, frustration flashing across her face.

"They're forcing you to go."

Elias exhaled. "Looks like it."

Seraphina turned to him, eyes burning. "Then don't."

Elias raised an eyebrow.

"Don't be stupid." Seraphina's voice was sharp. "You know what they are, what they're capable of. You think they'll just talk? No, Elias. This is a trap."

Elias didn't deny it.

He knew this wasn't just meeting. It was something more.

But...

"If I don't go, they'll come for me."

Seraphina didn't argue.

Because she knew that was true, too.

Elias clenched his fists.

"Then I'd rather walk into the lion's den on my own terms."

Seraphina's eyes darkened. "Then I'm coming with you."

Elias smirked. "They said I have to go alone."

"They can go to hell."

For the first time that night, Elias laughed.

But Deep Inside- he knew this was only the beginning.