Born With The Veil Novels & Stories

I could see she was in the living room reading her usually thick book. Once I entered the house I bypassed mom and rushed to my room locking the door behind me before placing him on my bed. The vile was warm as I had held on to it a little too tightly in my hand. The blue brightness of it swirled as I looked at it before popping the top off. *here we go, cross your fingers we can trust him* Vampires and wolves were always at war with one another, we believed that they were the cause of the curse many moons ago, the curse that made all firstborns die after one single breath.

And yet, he had no choice but to play along. The ceremony dragged on, with them exchanging reluctant “I do’s” much to Benedict and Dorothea’s relief. When the officiant instructed Jaxon to lift the veil, his heart slowed. The moment of truth. Jaxon’s hands were steady as he reached for the delicate fabric. A hush descended over the room as if the very walls were holding their breath. He lifted the veil, the silk whispering against his fingers, and revealed— Her. Her. Kallista Jones.

Sheila's laughter filled the air, her joy palpable as she relished the clear water. Watching her, my heart skipped a beat. Sheila, with her auburn hair and infectious laughter, seemed to defy the harshness of our world with her authenticity. When I had stepped outside her hut that morning, I couldn't help but notice she was the only one in the haven wearing a veil. It was a silent testament to the hardships she must have faced, compelling her to conceal her face from the world.

sounding casual. I sat opposite the desk, “Are you ready?” I asked, my face straight and voice filled with confidence, my shoulders held high with pride. “Let's begin, Elena.” He said, gazing at me like he was searching for something, “You don't do without your pendant?” He asked, pointing to the necklace I had on, I looked down, touching it, “Yeah I love it, it's my favorite you know,” I replied immediately. “I know your greatest regret is leaving Emilia at an orphanage, but what exactly did the nuns do to you both?” I said, with a fixed stare. My eyes locked with his, “They hated us, they maltreated us, especially Emilia. I remember they always said Emilia lost her dad in a plane crash an

He put it back on the shelf. He pulled another. The Veil is not a place, this one said. It is a space between. Between life and death. Between worlds. Between what is and what could be. To enter the Veil is to leave the self behind. To leave the body, the mind, the soul. To enter is to risk never returning. He set it aside. Another. Blood Magic: Origins and Applications. He opened it.

“You’re fading” He grabbed her wrist. “Don’t waste your energy on me. Just tell me how we end this.” Tears filled her eyes. “There’s only one way.” He stared at her. “No.” “You don’t even know what I’m going to say.” “I can see it in your face.” She looked away. “The Veil was made from sacrifice. Only one soul can close it. That’s the law it was built on.” “Then it’ll be me,” he said immediately.

She held the dress open like a censer dripping darkness. “You will wear this,” she said quietly, a verdict disguised as instruction. “And you will show him—and the entire school—that nothing happened. That you are untouchable. You will not break. You will not reveal the cost.” Althea stared at the gown. It didn’t look like armor. It looked like a cage draped in shadow.

Then I set the phone down and got up. The sun was starting to move across the kitchen wall, catching on the edge of my discarded wedding veil on the counter. I’d brought it home last week after the final fitting. I picked it up now, ran my fingers over the delicate lace. A few days ago, I’d imagined walking down the aisle wearing it. Now it felt like someone else’s dream. Someone I used to be. In the middle of that thought, the TV in the living room flickered on. I hadn’t touched the remote. It was the news feed that auto-played sometimes when my cable restarted.

And then there was the final catalyst: a double-inscribed seal that bound both triggers into one failsafe. “I’m going to hurt you,” I said. Evelina rolled up her sleeve and presented her arm without hesitation. “So do most things that are worth surviving.” I chewed on the inside of my cheek to avoid replying that last time I felt something worth surviving, it had been her arm wrapped around my shoulders. We set to work without further conversation.

“She said I made her.” The First Bearer’s expression changed. “That is impossible.” “She said I made her when I chose love instead of fear.” Zevarion looked at the Heart. The thousands of lights inside it had begun to move. They gathered into a spiral above the broken sanctuary. Aeliana whispered, “The child is awakening.” The spiral of light descended toward Elyra. Zevarion pulled her closer. The First Bearer raised his weapon. “Do not resist the Memory.” Zevarion glared at him.