Chapter 14 Shadows Are Moving

Chapter 14 Shadows Are Moving
Elara woke up slowly, her mind heavy and her arm throbbing. For a moment she didn’t remember anything. The room looked normal, but the pain in her hand reminded her of everything at once.
She lifted her right hand carefully.
It was whole.
No cut. No missing pieces.
Just a faint ache.
Emily let out a breath from the chair beside the bed. “Good. You’re awake.”
Elara jumped a little. She hadn’t realized Emily and Kalaen were there. Kalaen stood near the window with his arms crossed, watching her quietly.
“What… happened?” Elara asked.
Emily ran a hand through her hair. “You touched the door. The shadows reacted. They almost dragged you in halfway before Kalaen pulled you out.”
Kalaen added softly, “You’re lucky. Another second and it would’ve taken more than your hand.”
Elara swallowed. “I didn’t think it would actually hurt me. I just wanted to see what was inside.”
“That door is sealed for a reason,” Emily said firmly. “Azael told you not to go near it.”
Elara felt embarrassment mix with anger. “I’m tired of everyone hiding things from me. I’m part of this now, aren’t I? So why can’t I know what’s behind the door?”
Kalaen looked uncomfortable. Emily looked tired.
Emily finally said, “Because knowing won’t help you. Not yet. And if the shadows grabbed you once, they’ll do worse next time.”
Elara stared at her hand again. “It healed…”
“Because you’re tied to the cycle,” Emily said. “But the door isn’t. If it had fully pulled you in, even the cycle wouldn’t fix that.”
There was a long silence. Elara could feel both of them watching her, waiting for her to calm down.
Kalaen moved closer. “You need to be more careful. Azael is gone right now, and things in the castle react differently when he’s not around.”
Emily stood. “Get some rest. Your body went through a lot.”
Kalaen stepped toward the door but paused. He looked at her like he wanted to ask something, then changed his mind.
“If anything feels strange, call for one of us. Don’t walk around alone.”
Elara nodded, even though she didn’t fully agree.
Emily and Kalaen left the room, closing the door behind them.
The silence felt heavy.
Elara stared at her hand again. Kalaen’s reactions, Emily’s worry, the shadows—
They weren’t just trying to protect her from the door.
They were afraid of what might happen if she tried again.
\~~~~~~~
Azael walked into a dim hall beneath the Belmond palace. A man in a plain brown cloak waited for him, leaning against the wall like he had been there for hours.
The man didn’t bow. “You came alone.”
Azael ignored the comment. “What is it?”
The man sighed. “The watchers are moving. Ian was seen near Vareth.”
Azael’s jaw tightened. “I know. He showed up.”
The man straightened. “Then you understand why I called you. If a watcher is interested in your bride, that is not small.”
Azael didn’t answer right away.
The man moved closer. “Does she know anything yet?”
“No,” Azael said. “And she won’t. Not now.”
The man shook his head. “You can’t hide it forever. If she touches that door again…”
Azael’s eyes darkened. “I’m handling it.”
“That’s what you said last cycle.”
Azael stepped forward. “This one is different.”
The man studied him quietly. “If you say so. Just remember—if she opens that door, we won’t be able to contain what comes out.”
Azael didn’t respond. He just turned and walked out of the hall, his expression unreadable.
He walked to the royal council room, boots echoing across the marble. Two guards straightened the moment they saw him.
“Duke Azael,” one said, opening the doors.
Inside, the council members were already gathered. Some looked irritated. Some looked intimidated. A few pretended not to see him at all.
Azael took his seat without greeting anyone.
The King of Belmond leaned forward. “Duke Azael. Thank you for answering our summons. We need to discuss several disturbances along our borders.”
Azael nodded once. “Go ahead.”
A woman in blue robes pushed a folder across the table. “Disappearances near the old ruins. Livestock found drained. Strange lights at night. Our scouts believe it’s heretic activity.”
Azael raised an eyebrow. “You believe it’s heretics every year.”
She stiffened. “And every year you act like they’re nothing.”
Before Azael could respond, the king cut in. “Enough. There is something more serious.”
The room shifted, going tense.
“A Watcher was sighted traveling through Belmond,” the king said. “Headed straight for Vareth.”
Gasps. Nervous whispers.
Azael already knew, but he kept his face blank.
A councilman leaned forward. “Why Vareth? Why now?”
Someone else muttered, “Watchers don’t move unless something dangerous is happening.”
The woman in blue whispered, “Or about to happen…”
Then another elder, an older man with shaking hands, said the words Azael hoped no one would say:
“Could it be… the Devil? Could he be planning to show himself in Vareth? Is that why the Watcher is there?”
The whole room fell silent. Some council members paled. One woman made a warding gesture.
Azael didn’t move.
He simply said, calmly, “Belmond has more problems to worry about than old stories.”
But the older man wasn’t done. “Old stories? The Devil has been quiet for centuries. Too quiet. If a Watcher is walking Vareth’s streets, it means something is coming.”
The king glanced at Azael. “And you… you come from Vareth. You must’ve heard something.”
Azael slowly shook his head. “News travels slowly in the mountains. And the Devil doesn’t need to ‘appear’ to cause problems. People do that well on their own.”
A few council members exchanged looks, unsure if he was joking or terrifying them.
The king cleared his throat. “Regardless… We need your support. If the churches get involved, if the heretics rise again, and if a Watcher is truly observing—Belmond cannot stand alone.”
“We need someone like you,” another councillor added softly.
Azael rose to his feet, giving them a cold, steady look. “I’ll help where I must. But you should all calm down before you talk yourselves into a war.”
The king nodded slowly. “Meeting dismissed.”
Chairs scraped. Papers were gathered. People whispered hurriedly as they walked out.
“Do you think he’ll come?”
“The Devil, I mean?”
“Vareth has always been strange…”
“Duke Azael didn’t even react…”
“Exactly. That’s what scares me.”
Azael stepped out of the room, ignoring every word.
Once he was outside on the balcony, he exhaled.
They’re getting too close to the truth.
Ian Howder was on the move. The heretics were stirring. The councils were panicking and Elara—touching doors she shouldn’t—was moments away from losing her life.
“This turn is already falling apart,” he murmured.
He pushed away from the railing and headed to his next meeting.
It was truly astonishing…. A kingdom whispering about the Devil… without realizing he was already sitting in their council room.