Chapter 8:the summoning

The air thickened, pressing down on Jennie's chest as if the universe itself was holding its breath. The shadows writhed, coiling around the room like living things. The water in the bowl darkened until it was a void, a rippling abyss that swallowed the candlelight.

Then—a whisper. Not a voice, not a sound, but a presence threading through the stillness.

A flicker of movement. The scent of burning cedar filled the room. And then—a figure stepped through the darkness.

He emerged from the swirling shadows like a phantom breaking free from a dream. Cloaked in deep blue robes lined with ancient sigils, his presence exuded both authority and danger. His sharp silver eyes landed on Jennie, piercing through her like they could see beyond flesh, beyond time.

"You should not have called me." His voice was smooth, laced with an old weariness. "The balance is already shifting."

Jennie squared her shoulders, unfazed by his presence. "That's exactly why I called you, Orion."

The name hung in the air like an unspoken warning. Orion was not just any supernatural being—he was a Watcher, one of the few who had stood at the edges of fate, observing but never interfering. Until now.

The shadows behind him stirred again. A second figure emerged—a woman, draped in black with a silver dagger strapped to her thigh. Her presence was less restrained, wild energy crackling at her fingertips. Her dark green eyes flicked between Jennie and Orion.

"You dragged me into this too?" she scoffed, voice rich with amusement. "Last time we met, you said you'd rather fight a horde of wraiths than owe me a favor."

Jennie exhaled sharply. "Things change, Selene."

Selene. A rogue mercenary with ties to both the supernatural underground and the forbidden knowledge Jennie desperately needed. Unlike Orion, Selene had no loyalty to fate—only to power, and to those who could pay her price.

The flames on the candles flared as Orion stepped forward, his presence sucking the warmth from the air. "This is about the girl, isn't it?"

Jennie met his gaze. "Allie is waking up. And I need to know—who else knows?"

Orion's silver eyes darkened. "More than you think. And worse—more than I can see."

Jennie's stomach twisted. That was not the answer she wanted.

Selene smirked, drawing her dagger lazily across her palm, watching as a thin line of blood bloomed. "So, are we playing defense or offense?"

Jennie's grip on the grimoire tightened. "Both."

The storm had already begun. Now, they had to decide which side of it they would stand on.

A silence heavier than iron settled between them. The shadows in the room slithered like restless spirits, brushing against the edges of existence. Jennie stood tall, but inside, she was already calculating the risks. Orion's presence meant this was bigger than she feared. Selene's involvement meant blood was inevitable.

And then there was Adrian—that damned boy with the golden-red eyes.

"Tell me everything," Jennie demanded, her voice steady but edged with urgency. "If others know about Allie, I need names, factions, threats. I need to know if we're already too late."

Orion let out a slow breath, his silver eyes gleaming like a wolf under moonlight. "Too late?" He tilted his head. "Jennie, you've been too late for years. The moment the disturbance began, the moment he set foot on campus, it started unraveling."

Jennie's jaw tightened. "Adrian."

Selene chuckled, flipping her dagger between her fingers. "So the demon prince is sniffing around your little niece, huh? Interesting. You do know what that means, don't you?"

Jennie's stomach twisted. Of course she knew. Adrian wasn't just another supernatural being drawn to Allie—he was a link to her past, a dangerous key to memories that should have stayed buried.

Orion crossed his arms. "The boy is searching for answers, but he doesn't know what he's looking for yet. That's the only reason you still have time." His gaze darkened. "But there are others who do know."

The candles flickered violently as an unseen force rippled through the air. Jennie stiffened. "Who?"

Orion hesitated for the first time. His silver eyes flicked toward the darkened water in the bowl—the gateway still humming with residual energy. "There are whispers among the Forgotten."

Selene's playful expression vanished instantly. "The Forgotten?" she echoed, voice sharp. "They were wiped out."

Orion's expression was grim. "So we believed. But something… or someone… is moving in the shadows. Old blood is stirring. If the Forgotten are rising again, it means they know what Allie is becoming."

Jennie clenched her fists. "And if they know…"

"They'll come for her."

A cold silence fell over them, the weight of those words pressing down like an impending storm.

Selene whistled lowly. "Well, well. Looks like your little girl is more than just a ticking time bomb. She's a goddamn war waiting to happen."

Jennie's grip tightened on the grimoire. No. Not again.

She had spent years keeping Allie hidden, keeping her safe, burying the past so it could never touch her. But now, the past was clawing its way back. And this time, it wouldn't stop until it swallowed everything whole.

"Then we make the first move." Jennie turned to Orion, her voice like steel. "Tell me what I need to do."

Orion met her gaze, unreadable as ever. Then, after a long pause, he finally spoke.

"Find the missing piece. Before they do."

The room grew colder. The flames dimmed. And Jennie knew—whatever came next would change everything.

To those reading and who enjoy this story...I haven't updated because I have exams....I'll update more after my exams😊