Chapter 13

The warmth of the library enveloped Ariella as she leaned against the stone wall, gasping for breath. Her heart still pounded in her chest, her mind racing from the frantic run through the snow. The dim, flickering light from the torches lining the walls cast long shadows across the stone floor, giving the space an eerie stillness. It was unnervingly quiet.

But Dorian wasn't with her.

Her stomach twisted with worry. He had stayed behind to fight off the cloaked figures, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something had gone terribly wrong. She pushed herself onto her feet, her legs still shaking, and moved cautiously through the narrow corridor that led deeper into the library.

The air was thick with dust, the faint smell of old parchments filling her nostrils. The stone walls were etched with ancient symbols, worn over the centuries, and the ceilings arched high above, disappearing into darkness. It felt as though the very walls were alive, holding secrets that had been hidden for far too long.

Ariella's footsteps echoed through the empty halls as she ventured further inside, her pulse quickening with every step. The entrance to the library had been hidden, protected by powerful magic, but now that she was inside, she had no idea where to go. She needed to find the records, the ancient texts that could tell her the truth about her family and her connection to the Veil. But she was alone.

"Dorian..." she whispered under her breath, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and something else she couldn't quite name. The oppressive silence of the library pressed in around her, as if the very walls were swallowing her words. A single tear slipped down her cheek, warm against her cool skin. She hadn't realized until this moment how much his presence steadied her, how his confidence had become her anchor.

She brushed the tear away hastily, chastising herself for the display of weakness. This was not the time to fall apart. Dorian had urged her to keep moving, to find the answers they both needed. She couldn't afford to falter now-not with the cloaked figures still lurking, and not with the weight of destiny pressing upon her shoulders.

She shook her head, forcing herself to stay focused. Dorian had told her to keep moving, to find the answers they needed. She couldn't afford to stop now-not with the cloaked figures still out there, and not with the weight of everything hanging over her. She took a deep breath and pressed on, her footsteps quickening as she moved deeper into the labyrinth of corridors.

The library felt endless, with narrow passageways that twisted and turned, leading her deeper into its heart. Shelves lined with dusty tomes and ancient scrolls stretched up toward the vaulted ceilings, their contents untouched for what seemed like centuries. Ariella's fingers brushed against the spines of the books as she passed, her mind spinning with the possibilities of what they could hold.

Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught her eye. She stopped, her breath hitching in her throat as she scanned the shadows. Had it just been her imagination? Or was someone else in the library?

Her heart raced as she stepped cautiously toward the source of the movement. The light from the torches flickered, casting strange patterns on the walls, but there was nothing there. No sound. No figure. Just the stillness of the library and her own ragged breathing.

Ariella shook her head, trying to steady herself. She was jumpy-understandably so-but she couldn't let fear paralyze her now. There was too much at stake. She turned down another corridor, her pace quickening again as she searched for any sign of the records Dorian had spoken of.

Finally, after what felt like hours of searching, Ariella found a massive wooden door at the end of a long hallway. Its surface was engraved with symbols she didn't recognize, but the power radiating from it was undeniable. She hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering just above the cold wood.

This was it. Whatever lay beyond that door held the answers she had been searching for.

She pushed the door open slowly, the hinges creaking as it swung inward. The room beyond was vast, larger than any of the other chambers she had passed through. Shelves filled with ancient scrolls and heavy, leather-bound books lined the walls, and a large stone table sat in the center of the room. Torches flickered in sconces along the walls, casting long shadows across the floor.

Ariella stepped inside, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the sight. The weight of the knowledge contained in this room was almost overwhelming, and for a moment, she felt small-insignificant-amidst the ancient records.

She moved toward the table, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for one of the books. The leather was cracked with age, the pages yellowed and brittle. She carefully opened it, her eyes scanning the faded script. It was written in a language she didn't understand, the symbols unfamiliar to her. But as she flipped through the pages, something stirred within her-a faint recognition, as if her magic was reacting to the words on the page.

Her heart raced as she set the book aside and reached for another. The same sensation swept over her as she touched it, her magic humming beneath her skin. There was something here-something connected to her, to her family.

Ariella's hands shook as she reached for a third book, her fingers brushing over the worn cover. But before she could open it, a sound echoed through the library-a soft, deliberate footstep.

She froze, her breath catching in her throat. Someone else was here.

Slowly, Ariella turned, her eyes scanning the shadows at the edge of the room. The light from the torches flickered, casting long, shifting shadows across the floor. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stepped back, her hands trembling as she reached for the dagger at her belt.

"Who's there?" she called out, her voice wavering slightly.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, from the darkness, a figure stepped forward.

Ariella's blood ran cold as she recognized the dark cloak, the hood pulled low over the figure's face. It was one of them-the cloaked figures who had been hunting her. Her heart raced as she gripped the hilt of her dagger, her magic stirring wildly within her.

"You can't hide from us, Ariella," the figure said, its voice low and menacing. "The truth is already yours to claim."

Ariella's hands shook, her body tensing as she took a step back. "What do you want?"

The figure stepped closer, its movements slow and deliberate. "You know what we want. You've always known."

Ariella's magic surged within her, wild and uncontrollable. She could feel it pulsing beneath her skin, begging to be released, but she held it back, fear coursing through her veins. She had no idea how to control it, no idea how to fight back against whatever dark magic the figure possessed.

"Come with me," the figure said, its voice smooth and cold. "There's no need to run anymore."

Ariella's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing as she tried to figure out what to do. She couldn't fight them-not like this. And there was no way out. The only door was behind the figure, and the narrow windows in the library were too small to offer any escape.

Her magic roared within her, pushing against the boundaries she had set. She could feel the power building, and for the first time, she didn't try to stop it. Her fear turned to resolve. She couldn't run anymore. Not from them. Not from her magic.

Taking a deep breath, Ariella let the magic surge through her. The air crackled with energy as the torches flickered wildly, the flames dancing in response to her power. The figure hesitated, sensing the shift in the room, but it was too late.

Ariella thrust her hands forward, releasing the magic in a burst of light and energy that surged toward the figure. The force of it knocked the figure back, sending it crashing into the wall. The room shook as the power reverberated through the stone, and for a moment, everything was still.

Breathing heavily, Ariella lowered her hands, her magic still humming beneath her skin. She wasn't sure if the figure was gone or simply waiting to strike again, but for now, the room was quiet.

Her mind was racing, her body trembling from the release of power. She had never felt anything like that before-never felt so in control of her magic, and yet, so on the edge of losing it.

She couldn't stay here. Not now. Not alone.

Without another glance at the fallen figure, Ariella turned and ran from the room, her heart pounding in her chest as she fled deeper into the library.