CHAPTER 32: THE VEIL OF DECEPTION

The dawn that broke over the castle was dull and gray as if the sky itself mirrored the turmoil within Evelynn's heart. She stood at the balcony of her chamber, staring out at the distant horizon where the first slivers of light struggled against the weight of lingering darkness. Last night's revelations had left her shaken, but there was no time to dwell on emotions. The battle had shifted from swords and shields to secrets and lies, and the enemy was no longer just across the battlefield-it was within their walls.

A knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see Selene standing there, her expression grave.

"They've placed Lucien under guard," Selene said, stepping into the room. "Darius ordered it himself."

Evelynn let out a slow breath. "And?"

Selene hesitated. "He's refusing to speak. He claims he's innocent, but there's something in his eyes... He's not afraid. It's almost like he's waiting for something."

That sent a chill down Evelynn's spine. She had known Lucien for years. He had always been cunning, always one step ahead. If he was waiting, then it meant something was coming. Something they hadn't foreseen.

"We need to push him," Evelynn said, determination hardening her voice. "He knows more than he's letting on."

Selene nodded. "Darius wants you there. He trusts you."

Evelynn felt a surge of responsibility. This wasn't just about betrayal anymore. It was about uncovering the truth before it was too late. She grabbed her cloak and followed Selene through the stone corridors, the echoes of their footsteps ringing in the quiet morning.

When they arrived at the dungeon, the torches cast flickering shadows against the damp walls. Lucien sat on a wooden bench, his hands bound in iron shackles. Despite his imprisonment, he looked eerily composed, his dark eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

Darius stood across from him, his arms crossed, his expression stormy. "You're running out of time, Lucien," he said, voice low and dangerous. "If you have anything to say in your defense, now is the time."

Lucien tilted his head, a slow smirk forming on his lips. "Defense? You've already made up your mind. Why waste breath?"

Evelynn stepped forward. "You're playing a game, Lucien, but you're not the only one who knows how to play."

Lucien's eyes met hers, something flickering in his gaze. "Ah, Evelynn. Always the sharp one."

"Enough riddles." Darius slammed a fist against the wall. "Tell me why."

Lucien exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly. "You think this is about betrayal? About loyalty? You're looking at the wrong pieces of the puzzle."

Evelynn narrowed her eyes. "Then enlighten us."

Lucien leaned forward, the chains rattling slightly. "Kael is not the real threat."

Silence fell over the room.

Darius frowned. "Explain."

Lucien's smirk faded. For the first time, something serious settled in his expression. "There's another force at play, something that neither you nor Kael understand yet. The war you've been fighting-it's nothing but a distraction."

Evelynn exchanged a glance with Darius. "A distraction from what?"

Lucien sighed, as if suddenly weary. "From what's coming."

A heavy pause stretched between them.

Then, the ground trembled.

The torches flickered violently as the stone walls groaned. A distant sound-like a low, resonant hum echoed through the corridors. Evelynn felt her blood turn to ice.

Darius unsheathed his sword. "What was that?"

Lucien gave a humorless chuckle. "I told you. You're not ready."

Selene turned to the guards. "Double the watch on him. No one goes in or out."

Lucien simply leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes. "You'll see soon enough."

Evelynn clenched her jaw. There was no time to waste. Whatever was coming, they had to be prepared. And they had to figure out exactly what Lucien wasn't telling them.

As she and Darius ascended from the dungeon, the uneasy tremors continued beneath their feet. The battle had just taken a new turn. And they were no longer sure who their real enemy was.

The next few hours were a flurry of movement. Scouts were sent beyond the castle walls, and the soldiers were placed on high alert. The sun climbed higher, casting eerie golden hues over the land, but the tension refused to break. Evelynn found herself standing beside Darius in the war chamber, poring over maps that now seemed useless in the face of an unknown enemy.

Selene entered, breathless. "Reports just came in. Something is moving in the northern forests. The sentries describe it as... unnatural."

Darius's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword. "How many?"

Selene shook her head. "They can't tell. The shadows shift too quickly, and the air feels wrong."

Evelynn exchanged a glance with Darius. This wasn't just another army. This was something else entirely.

"We need to see it for ourselves," Evelynn said firmly.

Darius hesitated, then nodded. "Prepare the horses. We leave at once."

The northern forests had always held an air of mystery, but as Evelynn rode through the gnarled trees, a deep unease settled in her bones. The wind was eerily silent, the leaves barely stirring. The usual sounds of birds and wildlife had vanished, replaced by a suffocating stillness.

Darius, riding beside her, tensed as the first unnatural sight came into view. A tree stood before them, its bark twisted and blackened as if scorched from within. The corruption spread outward in veins, seeping into the ground like ink spilled upon a canvas.

"What in the gods' name..." Selene whispered.

Evelynn dismounted, cautiously approaching. The air around the tree crackled, and as she touched the bark, a violent shudder ran through the ground.

Something was waking.

A deafening roar shattered the silence.

From the depths of the forest, figures emerged-hulking forms, their bodies cloaked in shifting darkness. Their eyes glowed like embers, unnatural and full of malice. The air pulsed with an energy Evelynn had never felt before, ancient and furious.

Swords were drawn in an instant.

Darius moved first, his blade slicing through the air. But the moment Steele met Shadow, the creature dissolved, reforming behind him with impossible speed.

"They're not flesh!" Selene shouted. "Normal weapons won't work!"

Evelynn's mind raced. If steel was useless, then they needed something else. Magic? An enchantment? But before she could act, the creatures lunged.

The battle that followed was unlike any she had ever faced. Every strike met nothing but air, every move countered by a force they barely understood. The creatures fought with an intelligence beyond beasts, their movements precise and calculated.

Darius cursed under his breath. "We need to fall back!"

Reluctantly, Evelynn nodded. "Regroup at the castle! Go!"

The retreat was chaotic. The creatures didn't pursue far, as if content with having sent their message. By the time they reached the castle gates, Evelynn's heart was still pounding.

Lucien had been right.

Kael was not the true enemy.

As she turned back to the darkened horizon, the weight of what was coming settled heavily upon her shoulders.

The war was only just beginning.