The Threshold

Chapter 5:

The Threshold

Lila barely had time to react before the man yanked her forward. His grip was strong, his touch warmer than she expected, grounding her in the moment even as everything around them spiraled into chaos.

The shadows in the mirrors stirred. Fingers stretched into long, gnarled claws. A face—hollow-eyed and skeletal—pressed against the glass, its mouth opening in a soundless scream. The humming in the air sharpened into something shrill, almost like metal scraping against metal.

Lila's pulse thundered in her ears.

"What is that?" she gasped.

The man didn't look back. "Not something you want to meet."

With a flick of his free hand, the mirrors on either side of them shattered. Glass exploded outward, but instead of falling to the floor, the shards hovered in the air, suspended like stars caught in time. Then, as if drawn by an unseen force, they twisted, reforming into jagged spears.

The creatures in the mirrors hissed.

The man released Lila's wrist, raising his hand. The spears shot forward, striking the mirrors before the creatures could emerge. Black, inky smoke burst from the impact, followed by an ear-splitting shriek that made Lila's knees buckle.

The creatures recoiled, retreating into the depths of the glass.

But the mirrors were everywhere.

Lila's breath came fast and uneven. "How do we get out?"

He grabbed her wrist again. "We run."

And then they did.

Lila sprinted alongside him, her boots skidding across the polished floor. More mirrors rippled as they passed, shadows shifting, waiting. The air itself seemed to thicken, resisting their movement.

"This place—" Lila gasped. "It's alive."

The man didn't respond, but his grip tightened.

Ahead, the corridor opened into a vast chamber. Unlike the mirror-lined halls, this space was bathed in a soft, golden glow. At its center stood a massive archway—carved from the same dark wood as the mirror in her bookstore. Symbols pulsed along its frame, shifting as if whispering secrets.

A doorway.

Hope flared in Lila's chest. "Is that—?"

"Yes," the man said. "But we need to—"

A deep, guttural voice interrupted him.

"Going somewhere?"

Lila skidded to a halt.

A figure emerged from the shadows—a man, but not. His form flickered, shifting between solid and smoke. His eyes were completely black, voids that seemed to pull at the space around them. He wore a long coat, its fabric shifting like liquid darkness.

Lila took an instinctive step back.

The stranger tilted his head. "You brought a guest, Caelan?"

The man—Caelan—stepped in front of Lila. His entire body tensed, his stance shifting subtly, like a fighter preparing for battle.

"She isn't yours, Varos."

Varos smiled, and the sight of it sent ice through Lila's veins. "Oh, but she is." His gaze flickered to Lila, studying her like a predator watching prey. "The mark proves it."

Lila's stomach churned.

"What does he mean?" she whispered.

Caelan didn't answer.

Varos took a slow step forward, hands clasped behind his back. "You don't even know, do you?" His voice was almost amused. "Poor little thing, stumbling through the veil without a clue."

Lila clenched her fists, ignoring the thrum of energy in her palm. "I know enough."

Varos chuckled. "Do you?"

The moment the words left his lips, the shadows moved.

Lila barely had time to react before tendrils of darkness lashed toward her. Caelan shoved her aside, his hand snapping up. A barrier of shimmering silver light flared to life between them and the attack. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, rattling the walls.

"Go!" Caelan ordered.

Lila hesitated.

He turned, meeting her gaze, his emerald eyes burning. "Run!"

Something inside her broke free.

She ran.

Her feet pounded against the marble floor as she sprinted toward the glowing archway. The air around her pulsed, growing heavier, each step feeling like she was pushing against an invisible tide.

Behind her, she heard the sounds of battle—Caelan's sharp, commanding voice, the crackle of magic, the hiss of Varos's shadows.

Lila didn't dare look back.

The archway loomed before her, the symbols along its frame glowing brighter. The light intensified, becoming almost blinding. The air around it shimmered, distorting like a heatwave.

A doorway.

Lila reached for it—

Something cold wrapped around her ankle.

She screamed, falling forward. A shadow had latched onto her, twisting up her leg like a living chain. The moment it touched her, the mark on her palm flared, sending a shockwave through her body.

The shadow recoiled, hissing as if burned.

Lila didn't hesitate. She lunged forward, her palm slamming against the archway's frame.

The world exploded in light.

For a split second, she felt weightless, like she was floating between worlds. A rush of energy surged through her veins—electric, ancient, powerful.

Then—

She fell.

The last thing she heard before darkness swallowed her was Caelan's voice, distant and echoing.

"Find me."

And then—

Silence.