Long Veil Novels & Stories

A white scarf floated on the water. My pupils constricted. The white scarf was beautiful and saintly. It had delicate lace patterns and was adorned with thousands of tiny diamonds. It was like a million stars falling into a net. It was the veil that Delia had put on. “Yes, that's it, Delia, just come slowly.” Lancaster was beside himself with joy. He bent down to look at the white veil on the water, reaching out to grab it with longing and fear.

# Laïs's Perspective "Get up, my dear." The hairdresser tugged at my hand shortly after placing the veil on my head. I nodded and moved toward the mirror, stopping to gaze through the sheer fabric at my beautiful hairstyle and princess-like gown. The dress was voluminous, adorned with lace and gemstones. The crystals sparkled like mermaid scales. A stunning tiara rested on my bun, matching the heavy earrings that dangled from my ears. I had no idea how much they cost, but I imagined they were very expensive given their weight and the number of stones.

Behind her stood another young girl with a slender body dressed in a red body-hug dress, displaying her curves. With her expressionless face hidden under the veil, Loreen carefully ambled down the stairs with a flower in her hand. She finally stopped when her leg moved from the last step to the floor. She raised her head and glanced at her father, and a half-smile formed on her lips.

Com‌ing from Non⁠na, t⁠hat was t‌he highest prai‍se‍ possible. She hobbled t​owar‍d me, reach‌ing into the po‍cket of her black dress. She⁠ pulle​d out a​ delicate, t‍ranslucent veil edg⁠ed in the‍ same anti‌que lace​ as my dress.

Close enough to smell the faint scent of graphite, fabric, and jasmine clinging to her skin. She didn’t move away anymore when I got close. That realization did something unsettling to my chest. “What’s that one called?” I asked quietly, nodding toward the sketch. Elara tilted the page slightly toward me. A long black coat with sculpted shoulders and hidden inner layers designed to conceal small weapons. “Veil,” she said softly. “It’s supposed to look elegant until you notice how dangerous it actually is.” My eyes lifted slowly to hers. “That sounds familiar.” Her lips curved faintly despite herself.

I grasp Leila's hand momentarily and she gives it a reassuring squeeze before she steps back into her cubicle. He hands the dress to me. It is enchanting sky blue, and shimmery chiffon fabric is laid over solid blue satin. Something I'd never wear on any occasion for it is far too ostentatious for my liking. It did bare resemblance with the Disney princess' attire except this was the more modest version of it. The head scarf and face veil are of the same material and color. When I complete dressing myself, I think I look as if I did stumble out of a fairytale.

It was scattered and spread like a princess gown with more glittering and intricate embroidery, while the middle of the full flare skirt was covered with an uneven lacy material which started at the waist and then ended unevenly around the middle of the skirt. Levy’s red hair was curled delicately with make-up that suited her and hid her scars. There was a small tiara on her head as she walked out of the trial room with a veil on her back. “How do I look?” She asked with a smile on her face. Levy liked this dress much better than the ones that she had tried earlier.

She had her jumpsuit pulled to her waist and tied it around her belly, revealing her navel which the white top top hugging her body couldn't cover. She pulled out a fat cigarette and lit it. She clipped it between her lips and stood up. I took a step backwards fearfully, watching as she puff the smoke from the cigar in the air. “Hi." She gave a deadly smile. I forced a smile. “I'm Olivia." I said with a trembling voice. She nodded and puffed out the smoke again which coiled lazily in the air. “So what do you bring for us Olivia." She said, her voice thick and firm.

I knew what I was reaching for. On the left: the fragments of the draining charm used at the Valentine’s Ball. I’d reconstructed them piece by piece after Maeve’s discovery, incorporating the magical resonance data from what little had survived the cleanup. The structure was complex, elegant in a way Thornveil spellcraft rarely achieved on its own.

Nyxara hasn’t shifted beside me. Not outwardly. But something is different. Her breathing is deeper than before. Too deep. Too slow. Like she’s somewhere else entirely. And then— I see it. At first, it’s nothing more than a faint shimmer beneath her skin, something so subtle it could almost be dismissed as a trick of the low light filtering through the window— But it isn’t. It spreads. Slowly. Deliberately. Tracing along the lines of her body like something waking from beneath the surface, like something ancient and buried finally remembering itself.