"Run."
The original Lyra had survived three thousand years imprisoned inside the Sovereign Crown, yet the first thing she did after gaining her freedom was tell them to flee from her brother.
Cael tightened both hands around Kingsbane.
"No."
Ancient Lyra stared at him.
"No?"
"We've spent the entire day running from dead people who refuse to stay dead."
Another roar shook High Keep.
Dust poured from the vault ceiling.
Cael raised the black blade.
"I'm done running."
Ancient Lyra crossed the distance between them so quickly Gareth barely saw her move.
She seized Kingsbane with one hand.
Cael tried to pull it free.
He couldn't.
"Then you will die tired."
Her golden eyes moved toward Toby.
"And so will your brother."
Toby's crest ignited.
"Let him go."
Ancient Lyra looked at the mark.
Something like grief crossed her face.
"You really are our blood."
She released the sword.
Cael stumbled backward.
Gareth stepped between her and his children.
"Who is Aeron?"
Ancient Lyra looked toward the cracked floor.
"My twin."
"We know that."
"You know his name."
She looked at the four younger descendants.
"You do not know what he became."
Toby remembered Azrath's vision.
Aeron had begged his father to kill him after the Veil opened.
"He died."
"His body did."
"Azrath killed him."
Ancient Lyra smiled sadly.
"Our father killed both of us."
"Then how are you here?"
"Because Malachar lied about what Kingsbane did."
Cael looked down at the weapon.
"Apparently that's a family tradition."
Ancient Lyra ignored him.
"Kingsbane does not kill Vaelor blood."
Toby frowned.
"What does it do?"
"It separates."
Mira understood first.
"Like the Fourth Flame."
Ancient Lyra turned toward her.
Her expression changed.
"What are you?"
Mira touched the mark over her heart.
"I don't know anymore."
Ancient Lyra approached slowly.
"May I?"
Mira hesitated.
Then nodded.
Lyra placed two fingers over Mira's golden crest.
The mark flared.
Ancient Lyra recoiled.
"Impossible."
Gareth was becoming tired of that word.
"What?"
"She has no inherited flame."
Mira's face tightened.
"I was created."
"Created?"
Seraphine stepped forward.
"From my blood and Gareth's."
Ancient Lyra stared at them.
Then back at Mira.
"Human hands made this?"
"Yes."
Ancient Lyra laughed.
Not mockingly.
In astonishment.
"Malachar spent centuries trying to control the Veil, and eventually his experiments created the one thing capable of destroying his Shades."
Mira looked uncomfortable.
"I'd prefer being a person."
Ancient Lyra's smile softened.
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because weapons rarely object when someone points them."
Cael looked at her differently after that.
Perhaps for the first time, he believed she might actually understand them.
---
The floor exploded.
Stone erupted upward.
Gareth threw Toby aside.
A black chain punched through the vault floor.
Then another.
And another.
Ancient Lyra's expression changed.
"Aeron."
The chains wrapped around shattered pieces of the Sovereign Crown.
Every fragment rose.
Black metal flew toward the hole.
"Stop them!" Lyra shouted.
Mira raised both hands.
Golden fire struck the fragments.
Several fell.
Most disappeared below.
Then the entire floor collapsed.
Everyone fell.
---
Toby struck stone.
For several seconds, he could not breathe.
"Toby!"
Gareth's voice.
Hands pulled him upright.
"You hurt?"
"My back."
"Can you move?"
"Yes."
"Then move."
They were no longer inside the vault.
They had fallen into a forgotten ceremonial hall beneath it.
Everyone appeared alive.
Gareth.
Cael.
Mira.
Lyra—the younger Lyra.
Seraphine.
Edric.
Ysara.
Veyron.
Ancient Lyra.
But the center of the chamber had changed.
The fragments of the Sovereign Crown floated in a circle.
Inside stood a man.
Young.
Barefoot.
His clothing belonged to another age.
His hair was dark gold.
His eyes were completely black.
Ancient Lyra whispered:
"Aeron."
The man looked at her.
For three thousand years, brother and sister had existed as imprisoned fragments of themselves.
Now they stood face to face.
"Sister."
Lyra's voice trembled.
"Aeron."
He smiled.
"You look old."
"You look possessed."
"Always practical."
She took one step forward.
"Is it you?"
Aeron tilted his head.
"Who else?"
"The Veil."
His smile disappeared.
Lyra's hand began shaking.
"Say something only you would know."
Aeron sighed.
"When we were nine, you pushed me into the eastern river because I told Father you stole his knife."
Ancient Lyra's eyes filled.
"You couldn't swim."
"You knew."
"No."
"You absolutely knew."
For one second, they were not ancient beings.
Only twins remembering childhood.
Then Aeron's black eyes shifted toward Toby and Cael.
His expression changed.
"Our descendants."
Toby stepped closer.
"Aeron?"
"Which one are you?"
"Toby."
Aeron smiled.
"Too gentle."
Then Cael.
"And you must be the angry one."
Cael raised Kingsbane.
"People keep making that mistake."
Aeron looked at the blade.
His face went still.
"Father's sword."
"Technically yours first."
"Put it down."
"No."
"Boy."
The entire chamber darkened.
"Put it down."
Cael's hands began trembling.
Not fear.
Something was forcing his fingers open.
Toby grabbed his brother.
Their crests ignited.
The pressure broke.
Aeron looked surprised.
"Interesting."
Ancient Lyra moved between them.
"Leave them alone."
Aeron stared at her.
"You still protect everyone."
"And you still frighten them because you're frightened yourself."
His face hardened.
"I'm not frightened."
"You were when Father killed us."
Silence.
Aeron's black eyes flickered gold.
Only for a heartbeat.
Then black again.
Toby saw it.
"So part of you is still fighting."
Aeron turned sharply.
"Do not speak to me as if you know me."
"I know what a Shade feels like inside your head."
Aeron froze.
Toby continued.
"It happened to me."
"Then you should understand."
"I do."
"No."
Aeron stepped closer.
"You carried one Shade for seconds."
His voice shook.
"I have carried millions for three thousand years."
The chamber became silent.
Ancient Lyra's face filled with horror.
"What?"
Aeron touched his chest.
"Do you remember the moment Father stabbed us?"
"Every moment."
"You escaped into Kingsbane."
"So did you."
"No."
Aeron smiled sadly.
"Only part of me did."
Lyra understood.
"Oh, Aeron."
"The rest fell through the Veil."
He looked toward his black hands.
"Three thousand years."
Mira whispered, "You've been inside it."
"Yes."
"What is there?"
Aeron looked at her.
"Hunger."
"Shades?"
"Shades are droplets."
His voice lowered.
"The Veil is the ocean."
Nobody spoke.
Aeron looked toward the crown fragments.
"Malachar believed he controlled it."
Ancient Lyra said, "He was wrong."
"Yes."
"What do you want?"
"To close it."
Toby frowned.
"It's already closed."
Aeron laughed.
"No."
"Azrath closed it."
"Father closed a wound."
Aeron pointed downward.
"The disease remains."
---
King Aldren's voice came from the broken staircase.
"He's telling the truth."
Everyone turned.
Edric was helping the dying king descend.
Gareth frowned.
"You should be in bed."
Aldren almost smiled.
"I spent ten years imprisoned inside my own body. I'm tired of beds."
He looked at Aeron.
"I've heard your voice."
Aeron studied him.
"Malachar's vessel."
"Former vessel."
"You still carry residue."
Aldren looked at his blackened veins.
"Yes."
Aeron approached.
Edric raised his sword.
"Stop."
Aeron ignored him.
He placed one hand against Aldren's chest.
The king gasped.
Black smoke poured from his mouth.
Edric attacked.
Ancient Lyra caught his blade.
"Wait."
Aeron pulled.
More darkness emerged.
A small Shade.
Mira's mark ignited instinctively.
But Aeron closed his fist.
The Shade vanished.
Aldren collapsed.
Edric caught him.
"Father?"
Aldren opened his eyes.
The black veins were gone.
Completely.
Everyone stared at Aeron.
"You healed him," Toby said.
"No."
Aeron looked at Mira.
"I separated them."
Mira's face changed.
"You can do what I do."
"I invented what you do."
Ancient Lyra shook her head.
"No."
Aeron looked at her.
"Who do you think taught Father how to divide essence?"
Silence.
Lyra stared.
"You?"
"After the Veil opened, I discovered separation was the only way to remove Shades from hosts."
"Then why didn't you save us?"
Aeron's expression broke.
"Because I learned too late."
For the first time, his black eyes became fully gold.
"I learned after Father killed you."
Ancient Lyra reached toward him.
"Aeron."
Then his eyes turned black again.
He recoiled.
"No."
"Aeron."
"Don't touch me."
"Let me help."
"You cannot."
"We're twins."
"Not anymore."
His voice deepened.
Black smoke filled the chamber.
"I am the doorway now."
---
Mira stepped forward.
"Then let me separate you from it."
Everyone turned.
Aeron stared at her.
"You?"
"Yes."
"You would die."
"People keep telling me that."
Gareth immediately said, "You're not doing it."
Mira glanced at him.
"Father."
The word stopped him.
It was the first time she had called him that.
Mira smiled faintly.
"You don't get to start parenting by telling me I can't save someone."
"I absolutely do."
Despite everything, Toby smiled.
Cael muttered, "Welcome to the problem."
Mira faced Aeron again.
"I separated Malachar from Lyra."
"One fragment."
"Then help me."
Aeron laughed.
"You don't understand what you're asking."
"Then explain."
He looked at her for a long moment.
Finally:
"If you enter my mind, you will see the Veil."
"So?"
"It will see you."
The room went silent.
"What does that mean?" Toby asked.
Aeron's voice became quiet.
"Shades are not independent creatures."
Ancient Lyra went pale.
"Aeron."
He continued.
"They are thoughts."
"Whose?" Cael asked.
Aeron looked upward.
As though afraid the answer might hear him.
"The thing beyond the Veil."
Silence.
Even Ancient Lyra looked terrified.
Toby whispered:
"There's something controlling all of them?"
"Not controlling."
Aeron shook his head.
"Dreaming."
Mira touched her mark.
"And if it wakes?"
Aeron looked at her.
"There will be no Veil."
"What happens then?"
"No more distinction between thought and flesh."
Cael frowned.
"Meaning?"
"Every fear can become real."
Aeron looked toward Gareth.
"Every dead person remembered strongly enough could return."
Then Seraphine.
"Every lie believed deeply enough could become truth."
Finally Toby.
"And every nightmare humanity has ever imagined would have a body."
Nobody spoke.
Cael lowered Kingsbane.
"How do we stop it?"
Aeron looked toward the four younger flames.
"Toby. Cael. Mira. Lyra."
The younger Lyra stepped beside Mira.
Aeron's eyes moved between them.
"Four flames."
Then Ancient Lyra.
"And one original."
Ancient Lyra understood.
"No."
"What?" Toby asked.
She looked at her brother.
"You want to rebuild the seal."
"Correct."
"Using them?"
"Using us."
Cael's expression hardened.
"What happens to us?"
Aeron did not answer.
"That bad?"
"The five flames become the new Veil."
Gareth drew his sword.
"No."
Aeron looked almost amused.
"Another father refusing necessity."
"Find another solution."
"Azrath said the same thing three thousand years ago."
"And he was right."
Aeron's face hardened.
"His refusal cost millions of lives."
"No," Toby said.
Everyone looked at him.
"Malachar's manipulation did."
Aeron stared.
Toby continued.
"People keep blaming the person who refuses the terrible choice instead of the person who created it."
Ancient Lyra smiled.
Aeron did not.
"Words do not close the Veil."
"No."
Toby looked toward his siblings.
"But choices do."
Cael stepped beside him.
"What are you thinking?"
Toby looked at Mira.
"You can separate Shades."
Then younger Lyra.
"You can command them."
Lyra frowned.
"Sometimes."
Then Cael.
"We can combine our marks."
Cael slowly understood.
"And Ancient Lyra?"
Toby looked toward her.
"She knows the original opening ritual."
Ancient Lyra's expression changed.
"You're proposing we reverse it."
"Can we?"
She stared at him.
"Possibly."
Aeron laughed.
"You think nobody tried?"
"Did four flames ever exist before?"
Silence.
Toby had him.
"No," Aeron admitted.
"Then nobody tried this."
Aeron's eyes flickered gold.
Hope.
Then black.
Fear.
The chamber shook.
Aeron screamed.
He fell to his knees.
Ancient Lyra rushed toward him.
"Aeron!"
Black smoke exploded from his body.
Not outward.
Upward.
It struck the ceiling and formed an enormous face.
No human features.
Only an opening where a mouth should be.
A voice entered everyone's mind.
Not ears.
Mind.
FOUND YOU.
Mira screamed.
Toby fell.
Cael grabbed his head.
Gareth saw things that were not there.
Seraphine dead.
His children burning.
Lucian accusing him.
Every fear simultaneously real.
Ancient Lyra shouted:
"Don't believe what you see!"
The chamber transformed.
High Keep vanished.
Gareth stood in the courtyard during the massacre.
Again.
But this time Toby lay dead at his feet.
Cael beside him.
Mira.
Lyra.
All four.
"No."
A voice whispered:
YOU FAILED THEM.
Gareth closed his eyes.
"No."
YOU ALWAYS FAIL YOUR CHILDREN.
He remembered Cael's words.
Blaming yourself is convenient because it gives you someone you can punish.
Gareth opened his eyes.
"My son is annoyingly wise."
The illusion cracked.
Across the chamber, Toby fought his own nightmare.
He saw Mira turning away.
Cael calling him weak.
Gareth saying he was not his son.
Seraphine choosing everyone else.
Toby whispered:
"They're not real."
The images moved closer.
"You're not real."
His crest ignited.
The nightmare shattered.
One by one, the family returned to reality.
Except Aeron.
He remained kneeling.
Black smoke consumed him.
Ancient Lyra grabbed his face.
"Brother!"
His black eyes looked at her.
But Aeron's voice was gone.
Something else spoke.
THE DOOR HAS A NAME.
Ancient Lyra froze.
"What?"
The creature smiled through Aeron's face.
YOU CALLED IT THE VEIL BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT IT WAS.
Toby stood.
"What is it?"
The thing inside Aeron turned toward him.
Its smile widened.
NOT WHAT.
WHO.
Silence.
The walls began bleeding black smoke.
Ancient Lyra backed away.
"No."
The entity continued.
AZRATH DID NOT BUILD A PRISON BETWEEN WORLDS.
Toby felt cold.
"Then what did he build?"
Aeron's body rose into the air.
Black wings unfolded behind him.
The answer came from every shadow in High Keep.
A TOMB.
The chamber shook violently.
"For who?" Cael shouted.
Aeron's head turned unnaturally toward him.
The entity smiled.
FOR ME.
Then every torch in High Keep went out.
And from somewhere impossibly far beneath the earth came a heartbeat.
One beat.
Two.
Three.
The thing beyond the Veil was not waking.
It had already awakened.