Chapter 10: The First Encounter

The air in the hidden city was thick with the scent of damp stone and something else—something metallic, like blood. The walls of the cavern loomed above us, their surfaces slick with moisture, the faint sound of dripping water echoing in the silence. The city itself was a labyrinth of crumbling buildings and narrow streets, their spires reaching toward the cavern ceiling like skeletal fingers. It felt like walking through a graveyard, the weight of centuries pressing down on us.

Lucian led the way, his movements silent and precise, his dark eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. I followed close behind, my senses on high alert. The city was too quiet, too still. It felt like we were being watched.

"Where are we going?" I asked, my voice low but carrying in the narrow space.

Lucian didn't look back. "You'll see."

I frowned but didn't press him. There was something about his tone—something tense, almost wary—that told me now wasn't the time for questions. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were walking into something far bigger than either of us could handle.

The street widened suddenly, opening into a square lined with statues of figures I didn't recognize. Their faces were worn smooth by time, their features blurred and indistinct, but there was something about them—something unsettling. I stopped in front of one, my gaze lingering on its hollow eyes. "Who do you think they were?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lucian didn't answer right away. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost reluctant. "The ones who came before. The ones who tried to stop this."

I turned to him, my brow furrowing. "Stop what?"

He didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the statue as if he were seeing something I couldn't. For a moment, I thought he might say more, but then he turned away, his expression unreadable. "We should keep moving."

I wanted to argue, to demand answers, but the look in his eyes stopped me. There was something there—something dark and heavy, like the weight of centuries. I followed him in silence, the unease in my chest growing with every step.

We hadn't gone far when I felt it—a shift in the air, a faint hum of energy that made my skin prickle. I stopped, my gaze sweeping over the square. "Do you feel that?"

Lucian nodded, his expression grim. "We're not alone."

The words had barely left his mouth when they appeared—figures emerging from the shadows, their movements jerky and unnatural. They were human, or at least they had been once. Now, their skin was pale and translucent, their eyes glowing faintly in the dark. They moved toward us, their steps slow and deliberate, like predators stalking their prey.

I tensed, my hand instinctively reaching for the knife I kept hidden in my coat. "What are they?"

"Mutated," Lucian said, his voice low. "The Veil's experiments."

I didn't respond, my gaze fixed on the figures as they closed in. There were too many of them, their numbers growing with every passing second. I glanced at Lucian, my heart pounding in my chest. "Any bright ideas?"

He didn't answer, his expression hard and focused. For a moment, I thought he might charge in, but then he turned to me, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Stay close."

I nodded, my grip tightening on the knife. The first of the mutated humans lunged at us, its movements fast and erratic. Lucian met it head-on, his movements fluid and precise. I followed close behind, my knife flashing in the dim light as I struck at another.

The fight was brutal, the mutated humans relentless in their attacks. They didn't feel pain, didn't falter, even when their limbs were severed. It was like fighting shadows, their forms shifting and reforming with every blow. I gritted my teeth, my frustration mounting with every strike. "What does it take to kill these things?"

Lucian didn't respond, his focus entirely on the fight. I could see the strain in his movements, the faint sheen of sweat on his brow. He was holding back, I realized—holding back because he didn't want to hurt them. Because he still saw them as human.

I didn't have that luxury.

I moved through the crowd, my knife flashing as I struck at their weak points—their eyes, their throats, anything to slow them down. It wasn't enough. There were too many of them, their numbers overwhelming. I felt a surge of panic, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I fought to keep them at bay.

And then, I heard it—a voice, faint but clear, cutting through the chaos. "Aurelia."

I froze, my gaze sweeping over the square. The voice was familiar, but I couldn't place it. It wasn't Lucian's, wasn't one of the mutated humans'. It was something else—something older, darker.

"Aurelia," it said again, louder this time. "You can't win."

I shook my head, trying to block it out, but the voice was insistent, its tone almost mocking. "You're not strong enough. Not yet."

I clenched my teeth, my grip tightening on the knife. "Shut up."

The voice laughed, a low, hollow sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "You'll see. You'll see what happens when you fail."

I didn't respond, my focus entirely on the fight. The mutated humans were closing in, their numbers growing with every passing second. I could feel the weight of their presence, the pressure building in my chest. I glanced at Lucian, my heart pounding in my chest. "We need to go."

He nodded, his expression grim. "This way."

We fought our way through the crowd, our movements frantic and desperate. The mutated humans were relentless, their attacks growing more frenzied as we tried to escape. I could feel the strain in my muscles, the ache in my bones, but I didn't stop. I couldn't.

We finally broke free, the mutated humans falling behind as we ran through the narrow streets. I didn't look back, my focus entirely on the path ahead. The voice was still there, whispering in the back of my mind, its tone dark and mocking. "You can't run forever."

I clenched my teeth, my grip tightening on the knife. "Watch me."