All Chapters of Welcome to Aetherborn: Crushes, Curses & Creatures: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The wind howled fiercely, like a wild animal, matching the raging fire that engulfed the old hall. Flames flickered against the stone walls, casting eerie shadows that swirled in the chaos of the night. Blood stained the marble floor, glistening in the madness, while screams, some chilling, others heartbreakingly human echoed through the grand columns that had stood tall for centuries. In the center of this turmoil stood a girl with striking blue eyes, unmoving, her face unreadable. A crown of fire flickered above her, flames entwining in her hair like a haunting halo. She didn't cry; not a single tear fell from her eyes. Maybe she should have. With a shaking hand, she reached out toward the grand gate, beautifully designed from bones and shimmering moonstone, locked tight by magic long forgotten. Now, ancient symbols glowed brightly, almost as if they responded to her presence and her pain. The gate seemed to remember her. Behind her lay four boys, broken and hurt. One of them cou

The next morning, Seraphine crept down the stairs in her oversized sleep shirt and the faded slippers she kept hidden from the world. The hallway light buzzed faintly overhead, casting a sterile glow that always lingered in her aunt and uncle's estate, reminiscent of a hotel that didn't expect its guests to linger long. When she reached the laundry room, an unsettling silence met her. Seraphine paused at the doorway. A brand new washing machine gleamed back, chrome and pristine, still encased in plastic wrap. But in her mind, the shadow of the other one loomed, the one that had... exploded. As she edged closer, doubts swirled. Was this some cruel trick? She reached out tentatively, as if it might bite her. "You're lucky no one else saw it," a voice chimed in, making her jump. Juna, one of the housemaids, stood just behind her, a folded towel resting against her hip. Her soft brown eyes, perpetually warm yet weary, seemed to know more than she let on. "You replaced it?"

The world beyond the cellar door was a realm unlike anything on Earth. Seraphine stepped onto a lush, emerald carpet that unfurled like a pathway through an enchanting twilight. The air hung heavy with the scent of lavender mingled with the crackle of lightning. Floating lanterns danced above her, their gentle glow casting playful shadows on ancient stone walls that seemed to thrum with a powerful magic. Her heart raced as she walked forward, each step echoing like a heartbeat in the stillness. And then she saw it. A gate. Massive. Arched. Timeless. Crafted from dark, shimmering stone and veined with glimmers of silver and glowing green crystal, the gate loomed at the foot of a colossal mountain. Vines snaked around its edges, adorned with strange flowers that pulsed with an ethereal light. Yet despite its breathtaking beauty, the gate stood resolutely shut. Seraphine reached out, pressing her palms against the stone. Nothing. Then a whisper, like the rustling of lea

The boy’s lips hovered a breath away from hers. Seraphine felt a sudden jolt, her cheeks igniting with warmth as her mind raced in confusion. What is happening? But just as she held her breath, ready for the unexpected, he smirked. That wicked, self-satisfied grin sent a thrill down her spine. “Relax, new girl,” he drawled, his tone teasing. “I was just checking to see if you’d flinch.” He didn’t go in for a kiss. Instead, he straightened, flipping his inky black hair back as if he hadn’t just toyed with her sanity. Seraphine blinked, trying to collect herself. And that’s when… It struck her, they were walking together. Behind him stood three others, each exuding their own brand of irresistible charisma. They moved in sync, like shadows of the same storm, effortlessly drawing every eye in the room. No wonder everyone whispered about them. They weren’t just boys. They were…something else. The first boy leaned casually against the railing, his eyes like molten silver, glimmering

Umbra Castle looked worse inside than it did outside. The cracked stone walls stretched upward into darkness, shadows crawling along the ceiling like they were alive. A sour, metallic tang lingered in the air, and the torches on the walls flickered with sickly green flames. Seraphine wrinkled her nose. “Ugh. Don’t they ever clean this place?” she muttered, half expecting a rat to run across her shoe. Lyra gave a knowing little shrug. “They don’t want it clean. Umbra Castle is supposed to be uncomfortable. If you hate it enough, you’ll push harder to master your magic and leave faster. Keeps us sharp.” Seraphine blinked, then let out a short laugh. “Wow. That’s… actually smart. Cruel. But smart.” Mira looped her arm through Seraphine’s. “Forget the gloom. I want to see your room! I’m dying to know what it shapes into.” “Me too,” Caleb added, grinning as they walked deeper into the crooked corridor. “Newbie rooms are always fun to watch.” Seraphine arched a brow. “Fun how?