The Gatehouse Book Novels & Stories

Beyond it, an old warehouse looms, its windows shattered, walls covered in graffiti. Jules raises a brow. "This is the safehouse?" Owen smirks. "Don’t judge a book by its cover." He steps out, walking up to the gate, knocking twice, then three times more in quick succession. Silence. Then A click. The gate unlocks. I inhale sharply. Because something tells me This is going to change everything.

I got up and looked through the front of the truck to see where we were and what greeted me were the imposing gates of a mansion. The massive gates of the mansion stood like sentinels, guarding the secrets hidden within its walls. They were a testament to both elegance and security, designed to leave a lasting impression on anyone who dared approach. Crafted from wrought iron, the gates bore intricate patterns of swirling vines, mythical creatures, and ancient symbols, all expertly forged by skilled artisans.

"Love, believe me when I said everything will be fine. Dad knows everything about you already and he has always been so eager to meet you, so please, calm down and relax. You'll enjoy the evening, I promise you that." I looked around and I just can't close my mouth because, I had already opened them in awe. I don't even know how to describe the house, or should I call it a mansion or a castle? The gate is made out from gold, that- I'm sure of. And the gate, one had to speak out a code before it could open. The doors and window are all glintening while the surrounding is as clean as what I could ever imagine. How rich is this man and his son?

clang… Veythar paced inside me like a caged beast, his claws dragging against my bones. 'It’s coming to us,' he growled. 'Stay alert.' I swallowed hard. Whoever or whatever was out there hadn’t shown itself for days. So why now? The gate suddenly started shaking so hard that the noise punched through my ears. I stumbled back fast, eyes wide, as the whole thing rattled like something was tearing at it from the other side. Before I could steady myself, the gate flew off its hinges and crashed to the floor with a sharp, echoing bang. Dust lifted into the air as a shadow stepped into the doorway causing me to freeze.

I burned it in my palm until there was nothing left but ash and memory. “You do not get to root yourself in my daughter’s domain,” I hissed, my voice shaking the constellations. “Not today. Not ever.” The moment the shadow burned away, I felt the land sigh. The trees whispered in relief. The magic flowed again. But the gate…The gate rumbled. It pulsed far in the distance, in the hell split scar at the edge of the world. Cracked open by foolish witches and fed by corrupted wolves. It breathed smoke. Fire. Hunger.

Massive stone ribs arch overhead, blackened with soot and old magic, bone banners dangling from rusted chains. And at the center of it all— A gate. Not iron. Not stone. But bone, real bone. The Maw. I heard whispers in the blood halls once, back when my chains were lighter, back when the guards thought I couldn’t hear through the wolfsbane fog. About the final door. About what it costs to open it. Kael slows—just for a breath—as we approach. His hand drops instinctively to the hilt of his blade. His shoulders hunch tighter like every muscle in him remembers what waits on the other side.

When I opened the door, a blast of cold air hit me like a wave. It reminded me of that scary time after a really tough delivery, when I was shivering and truly thought that I might not make it. Matthew Smith's voice came from behind me, sounding totally surprised. "Shirley? It's freezing out there. Come on in!" He did not even seem to care that I was sporting a six-month old baby bump. He pushed me aside roughly, but he was super gentle with the person he was bringing inside.

He showed no anger, even though he had just lost five hundred million Euros. “Let them believe they have won,” the man said softly. “Mavric Thorne and Liora Valerius have just unlocked a gate they will never be able to close again. Welcome to the real game, children.” The chapter closed with a view of the armoured truck vanishing into the dark depths of the Norfolk woodlands leaving behind a ruined medical clinic, and a massive secret that was now fully rising into the light. END OF CHAPTER 198.

The black flag with the symbol of Llfhame, a crescent moon and a glowing orb flapped in the harsh altitudinous wind together with the blaring sound of the trumpets. One moment I was absorbing all the scenery of Lockes Eofore could offer and the next second I was already facing yet another giant gate. I wonder how big this estate is for it to have numerous gates. Though this gate is comparably small to the one at the entrance it was still enough to intimidate any wizling standing under it, like an ant under a giant’s foot ready to trample on any second. I braced myself and straighten my clothes, exhaled deep, and began to march inside the Academe.

"Grub watching hiding lady close." Rex suppressed a smile at Grub's assessment. They continued their approach, eventually reaching a small, heavily fortified gatehouse nestled in an otherwise unbroken section of wall. It wasn't the main entrance to the city—more like a discrete side door, designed for messengers and scouts to slip in and out unseen. Two guards stepped forward as they approached, spears lowered. "Invictus Myst," one of them called out, recognition in his voice. "We weren't expecting your return so soon."