Chapter Five: A Whisper In The Mist
A Hidden Cottage Near Silvermoon Border
Darkness. Silence.
Lunara's eyes fluttered open, but there was nothing—no light, no warmth, no familiar surroundings. She tried to scream, but no sound escaped her lips. It was as if the void had swallowed her whole, stripping away her voice, her strength, her very existence.
The eerie wails of Veilwraiths echoed all around her—distant yet uncomfortably close. Then, a sudden pull, like her very soul was being yanked from her body, and in an instant, she was no longer in the darkness.
She stood in a grand hall, unfamiliar yet hauntingly nostalgic.
"Lunara, my child."
Her breath hitched. That voice—it was her mother's. The same voice she had longed to hear for years.
But she did not turn around.
She clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. The Veilwraiths were masters of illusion, of deception. They had clawed their way into her nightmares for as long as she could remember. She would not let them toy with her again.
"Lunara, Mama's here. Just turn around."
The voice shifted, its warmth turning sinister, a mocking undertone creeping into its cadence.
A cold sensation wrapped around her ankle. The unmistakable sound of a slithering creature reached her ears, sending chills down her spine. The forked tongue of a serpent grazed her cheek.
"Won't you open those little eyes for me, foxy?"
A familiar fear gripped her. The serpent—it was the same one from her nightmares. And in every version of the nightmare, Elaine had always been the one to save her.
Holding onto that hope, she closed her eyes and prayed.
---
Silvermoon Pack — Alpha's Office
"What do you mean you can't find their traces?" Draken's voice was sharp with irritation. "The Veilwraiths left? Then they must've only been after the human."
Elaine's fists clenched. "Alpha, aren't you going to send someone to find her?"
Draken sighed. "She made a worthy sacrifice tonight. We'll remember it. But we can't risk unnecessary trouble beyond our borders. We have the New Year's celebration to oversee."
Elaine's eyes darkened, her patience fraying. "She's still alive. You know what those creatures do to their prey before they kill them. If we don't act—"
"Luke, recall the troops. The Veilwraiths are gone."
Luke hesitated through the mind link. "And the girl?"
Draken's silence was answer enough.
With a growl of frustration, Elaine stormed out.
"WITCH! DAMN IT!" Draken slammed his fist onto his desk. "That witch is impossible to control."
Chris exhaled. "Alpha, if she acts out—"
"She knows better," Draken muttered, but even he sounded unsure.
---
Somewhere, Anywhere, Everywhere
"KALLIAS!!!" Elaine's voice rang out into the abyss.
A mist-like eagle materialized before her. "You know he hasn't been here for years. If you need something, I'm at your service."
Elaine crossed her arms. "Any word on Zuria?"
"None."
Elaine exhaled sharply. "The snake's at it again. I gave her the ring, but he's already trapped her in REM state."
The eagle ruffled its feathers. "That pest. Remind me again why you haven't killed it yet?"
Elaine ignored the remark. "I need the ring's location."
The eagle's misty form shimmered. "Hah. That snake's smarter than I gave it credit for. It's hiding just a foot outside Silvermoon's border. He's toying with them."
Elaine's expression darkened. "Of course he is."
The eagle's voice softened. "Kallias left a message for you: 'Destiny will unravel itself. Don't interfere too much. Just keep her safe.'"
Elaine scoffed. "Easy for him to say."
"Oh, and he advised you to stay in Silvermoon for the New Year's celebration. If you want things to go smoothly, that is."
Elaine rolled her eyes, committing the location to memory before vanishing into the night.
---
A Hidden Cottage Near Silvermoon Border
"Snake."
A low, authoritative voice echoed through the dimly lit room. The serpent-like entity stiffened, irritated at the interruption.
"Yes, sir?" he hissed, masking his displeasure.
"You have the girl?"
"Yes, but she's useless to us right now. We need to wait until she awakens."
A pause. "When is her awakening?"
"In a week. Her birthday."
"Keep her alive until then. I'll send backup." The voice disappeared as quickly as it had come.
The snake slithered toward the unconscious girl. "Working for someone you know nothing about sure keeps things exciting, doesn't it, foxy?"
Just as he reached for her, the door exploded off its hinges.
Elaine stood at the threshold, eyes glowing with rage.
"Oh, not today, witch," the snake sneered, summoning Veilwraiths to delay her.
But Elaine wasn't here to play games.
The serpent grabbed Lunara and bolted for the exit, but Lunara, barely conscious, thrashed against his grip, slowing him down.
A sudden burst of white light engulfed the room.
The snake howled in pain, releasing Lunara and disappearing into the shadows.
---
Silvermoon Pack
"ALPHA!" A guard barged into Draken's chambers, breathless. "The witch—she brought the girl back!"
Draken shot up from his chair. "What?!"