Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMMG8HH3WJXQWQ6CAX08JPZ

Aurora stepped through the shimmering rift, her boots sinking into the loamy earth of the Fae Grove. The air hummed with an otherworldly energy that made the hairs on her arms stand on end. It was cooler here, the light diffuse and shimmering as if filtered through a haze of mist. The smells of damp soil and sweet flowers mingled pleasantly. Behind her, Bree emerged from the portal, her eyes wide as she took in the ancient oaks encircling the glade, their twisted branches woven together to form a living cathedral. Silas came next, muttering a curse as he stumbled over a root. Before Aurora could move to help him, Nyx materialized from the shadows, their insubstantial form coalescing into a more human shape beside her. "I never thought I'd see this place again," the shade whispered, an odd wistfulness in their voice. "The last time I was here, Cromwell still ruled England." "Hush." Isolde's melodic voice cut off any further reminiscing as the half-fae seer stepped out from behind a tree. "One does not idly speak the names of the dead in this sacred place. You should know better, Shadow." Nyx inclined their head in acknowledgment, the faint glow of their eyes dimming slightly. They drifted closer to Aurora, a protective wisp of darkness at her side. Though she couldn't fault the centuries of knowledge and experience the ancient being brought to their little group, Aurora couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Nyx than met the eye. That they had their own agenda in helping her. An agenda she would no doubt learn at the most inopportune time. Isolde beckoned them forward and Aurora fell into step behind her, the others following suit. The seer led them through the grove, weaving between the towering oaks. As they passed, Aurora noticed the standing stones marking the border of the grove. They pulsed with a power that echoed the heartbeat of the Heartstone pendant against her chest. She resisted the urge to touch the deep crimson gemstone, afraid of what she might inadvertently set loose in this magical place. A haunting melody drifted on the breeze, raising gooseflesh on Aurora's arms. It was beautiful and eerie, a siren song that called to the deepest part of her. From Isolde's pleased smile, Aurora knew it for what it was: a welcome from the grove itself. A sign that it accepted her presence here, at least for now. The half-fae woman stopped in the center of a circle of stones, turning to face them. Her pale lavender eyes seemed to glow in the diffuse light filtering through the canopy overhead, giving her an otherworldly air that sent a shiver down Aurora's spine. For a moment, she could see the ancient power thrumming through the seer, the threads of fate that bound her to this place. "The Veil is thinning." Isolde's voice was flat, all hints of her earlier amusement gone. "When it falls, the realms will bleed into one another unchecked." "What does that mean, exactly?" Aurora asked, glancing around the clearing. She could feel the truth of the seer's words in her bones, in the way her pendant pulsed against her skin. "I thought you lot were all about balance between the realms." Isolde shook her head, fine strands of silver hair dancing around her face. "Balance, yes. But this..." She gestured around them. "This is chaos waiting to be unleashed. And it will consume us all if it is not stopped." Lovely. More doom and gloom to add to the ever-growing pile Aurora seemed to be collecting lately. But what did she expect from a woman who spoke in riddles and half-truths? Clarity was too much to ask for, apparently. "How do we stop it?" Silas asked, ever the pragmatist. "There must be something we can do." "Seek out the Anchor Stones." Isolde's gaze drifted to the pendant hanging around Aurora's neck. "They will show you the path. But be warned, that path leads into the very heart of the storm. Only the strongest among you will survive the trial ahead." Her eyes bore into Aurora's as if imparting a silent message. A moment later, it was gone, leaving Aurora to wonder if she'd imagined the intensity of that gaze. The seer's next words sent a chill through the clearing. "And so it begins." Bree shivered beside her, hugging her arms to her chest. "That's it? No sage advice or cryptic wisdom to guide the way?" Isolde's laugh was like the tinkling of bells, sending a fresh wave of unease washing through Aurora. It was not a happy sound. "You already have all the wisdom you need, child. The rest is up to you to discover." Her eyes settled on Aurora again, pale and piercing. "Remember, Laila. Fate is not set in stone. The path is yours to forge, but the choices you make will determine the outcome." Aurora opened her mouth to ask what the seer meant by calling her Laila, but the words died on her tongue as a sharp crack echoed through the clearing. As one, their eyes snapped to the center of the stone circle, where a jagged bolt of lightning had struck the ground. A sickly-sweet scent filled the air, cloying and thick. It coated Aurora's tongue, making her want to gag. "What the fuck is that?" Silas choked out, his nose wrinkling in distaste. Before anyone could answer, the lightning cracked again, the blinding flash leaving spots dancing in Aurora's vision. When they finally cleared, a figure stood in the center of the circle, a figure Aurora had hoped never to see again. Evan grinned at her, cold and cruel, his eyes alight with malicious glee. "Hello, Laila. Miss me?" Rage poured through Aurora like wildfire, searing away the shock that rooted her in place. She lunged for him, but Nyx was faster. They slammed into Evan, a snarl on their shadowy face. The two tumbled across the clearing in a flurry of limbs and curses. Aurora started after them, only to be brought up short by Isolde's hand on her arm. "No," the seer said sharply. "You cannot interfere." "Why the hell not?" Aurora snapped, tearing her arm from the half-fae's grip. "He's here for me!" "Because this is not your fight." Isolde's voice was firm, her pale eyes unyielding. "This is penance, and it is not for you to bear." Aurora opened her mouth to argue, but the words died on her tongue as Nyx and Evan crashed into one of the standing stones, sending a crack spiderwebbing through the ancient oak. The grove shuddered around them, the earth rumbling beneath their feet. A moment later, the two were gone, disappearing in a swirl of shadow and smoke. "Where did they go?" Bree asked, her voice tight with fear. Isolde's eyes were sad as she turned to face them. "Nyx has taken him to Hel to face judgment for his crimes." "And just what crimes would those be?" Aurora asked, her voice dripping with bitterness. "Being an abusive piece of shit? Last I checked, that wasn't a crime in your world or mine." The half-fae seer shook her head, a wealth of sorrow in that simple motion. "His crimes are many, Laila, and his punishment will be harsh. But that is for the lords of Hel to decide." Aurora wanted to scream, to rage at the unfairness of it all. But she knew it would do no good. The laws of this world were not hers to challenge or change. She could only hope that whatever torment Evan faced in Hel would be enough to balance the scales. But it wouldn't be enough. It would never be enough. Not for what he'd done to her. To her mother. To countless others. "Come." Isolde's voice cut through her dark thoughts, a cool balm on the fires of her rage. "There is much to do and time grows short. The Veil weakens with every passing moment." Aurora nodded stiffly, pushing her anger down deep. She would deal with Evan and his particular brand of poison later. For now, she had a Veil to repair and a world to save. How hard could it be?