The smell of scrambled eggs filled the little kitchen, mixing with the faint scent of rain that drifted in through the half-open window. Una moved lazily around, hair tied up in a messy bun, humming a song from last night's party. Her head still ached a little, but not enough to dull the pleasant rhythm of a quiet morning.

She flipped the eggs and looked at the clock on the wall. Almost nine. Aunt Reina would be back soon from her night shift. The woman had this habit of coming home exactly when breakfast was almost done like she had some inner alarm for food.

Just as that thought crossed Una's mind, the front door creaked open. "Smells like heaven in here," Reina's voice called out, tired but warm.

Una smiled. "Hey, Aunt R, you look exhausted."

Reina trudged in, still in her scrubs, her dark hair slightly damp from the drizzle outside. She kicked off her shoes by the door and leaned on the kitchen counter, watching Una move around with that gentle, familiar smile.

Una noticed a faint, almost sickly pale cast to her skin, which the fluorescent kitchen light seemed to highlight. "Rough night. Two emergencies back-to-back. You?"

Una hesitated. "Uh... about last night..."

Reina raised an eyebrow, half-smiling. "The big birthday bash, right? How'd it go? I hope you didn't drink yourself into the hospital I work in."

Una laughed nervously, "Not exactly. It was... fine, mostly. Until the end." She paused, stirring the eggs a little too long. "There was this guy-Lana's friend, I think. I offered to give him a ride home."

Reina's smile faded slightly. "Okay..."

"Well, he started being weird halfway through. I told him to stop, but then..." Una frowned, trying to find the right words. "It's going to sound insane, but I think I pushed him away. Literally. I didn't even touch him. He just flew backwards, like... something threw him."

The silence that followed was sharp. The only sound was the soft sizzle of eggs.

Reina blinked slowly, her expression unreadable. "He what?"

"I don't know, I swear! Maybe he tripped or something. But he looked terrified, then ran off." Una gave an awkward laugh, hoping Reina would too.

But Aunt Reina didn't. She just stared at her, something unreadable flickering behind her calm eyes. Then she sighed softly and forced a smile. "You've been drinking, sweetheart. Maybe it was just the shock or the lightning. Things look strange when you're tipsy."

"Yeah... maybe." Una turned back to the pan, trying to shake off the weird feeling twisting in her gut.

Reina stood up suddenly. "We're out of greens. I'll get some from the garden."

Without waiting for a response, she slipped out the back door.

Una watched her leave, a little confused. She'd seen her aunt tired, grumpy, even emotional but this was different. Something about the way she'd gone quiet after she told the story... like she knew something she wasn't saying.

When Reina returned, she had a basket of fresh vegetables and a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Add these to the mix," she said, placing them on the counter.

"What's that?" Una asked.

"Herbs," Reina said simply. "Good for the body. You should add a few to the eggs."

Una stared at them. "Uh... you sure? It looks kind of... wild."

Reina smiled faintly. "It's good for you. Trust me."

Una shrugged and took the leaves. "Okay, if you say so."

As she chopped the vegetables, she caught her aunt watching her again, calm but distant, almost like she was studying her. The silence stretched between them, soft but heavy.

For a brief moment, Una thought she saw something flicker in Reina's eyes-fear, maybe. But when she blinked, it was gone.

The smell that came from the pan was oddly sweet and minty, but she didn't question it. She was just glad breakfast was almost done.

When they finally sat down to eat, Reina seemed quieter than usual. She kept watching Una from across the table, her gaze distant, like she was thinking about something heavy.

Una noticed, of course. "You okay, Aunt?"

Reina blinked, forcing a small smile. "Yes, dear. Just tired."

Una nodded slowly. Something about that answer didn't feel true, but she didn't want to push it. Reina had always been a bit strange, especially when she came back from the garden with her 'herbs'. Maybe it was just one of her moods.

They ate mostly in silence, the sound of the spoon scraping the plate filling the room.

Halfway through the meal, Una felt a small warmth settle at the back of her neck, faint, but real. She rubbed it away, thinking it was just from the kitchen heat.

Reina, on the other hand, lowered her gaze, her lips moving slightly, almost like she was whispering a prayer.

The air in the kitchen shifted for a moment, light but steady. The warmth on Una's skin faded.

Una blinked and looked around. "Weird," she muttered, brushing her hair back.

"What is?" Reina asked, her tone even.

"Nothing. Just thought I felt something."

Reina gave a small nod, smiling faintly again. "The morning sun, maybe."

"Yeah, maybe," Una said with a shrug, going back to her food.

By the time they finished breakfast, the strange feeling was gone, and Una was laughing again, talking about how Lana almost tripped into the punch bowl last night.

Reina laughed softly too, but her eyes were far away - knowing too much, and saying too little.

Reina turned to pour herself some coffee. "You should rest after breakfast. Big day yesterday," she said, her tone light again.

Una forced a smile. "Yeah. Big day."

Reina left the table once they were done eating.

"I'll go freshen up," she said quietly, picking up her basket.

"Alright," Una replied, still humming softly as she cleared the dishes.

Reina went down the small hallway to her room. She closed the door and leaned on it for a moment, breathing slowly. The air in the room was thick, almost heavy, and she could feel that dull ache again deep in her chest. The kind that came whenever she used too much of the old magic.

She moved to the bathroom and turned on the tap. The water hit the floor in a steady stream, filling the small space with the sound of rushing water. She stepped in slowly, letting the cold drops run down her body.

For a while, she just stood there, her hands pressed to the wall, her mind turning over and over the same thought.

It was wearing off.

The spell.

The one she had placed years ago to keep Una's true nature hidden. It had been strong then, bound with herbs and old words. But time was cruel to such things. And Una... Una was changing.

Last night proved it.

Reina shut her eyes. She could still feel the faint echo of Una's power which was wild, untrained and dangerous. It was no accident that the boy had been thrown back. The magic was slipping through the cracks, no matter how tightly Reina tried to seal them.

And worse, the same herbs she used to strengthen the spell were beginning to take a toll on her own body. They had been safe at first, but now, each time she used them, they burned inside her like smoke. Her veins felt hot sometimes, her heartbeat slower, heavier.

Still, she couldn't stop. Not when Una's life and everyone around her could depend on it.

Reina ran a hand through her wet hair and sighed deeply. "Not yet," she whispered. "Please, not yet."

She didn't know if she was talking to herself, or to something else.

From the other room, Una's cheerful voice suddenly broke through her thoughts.

"Aunt Reina! I'm going out for a bit! I'll see you later!"

Reina blinked, forcing a tired smile. "Alright, dear," she called back, her voice steady even though her chest felt tight.

The sound of the front door closing drifted faintly down the hall.

Reina stayed under the water a moment longer. Then, as she tilted her head back and closed her eyes, a small, fragile, but clear thought came to her.

There might be another way. Something older. Something she had promised never to use again.

If it could keep Una safe, even if it took a little more from her - then maybe it was worth it.

She opened her eyes slowly, the water still running over her face.

"Maybe this time," she whispered, "it'll be enough to bind the Veyrath soul, but the price will be heavy."

And in that quiet bathroom, with only the sound of the dripping water, the air seemed to shift faintly as if the house itself had heard her.

It had been a week since the whole "club disaster," as Lana liked to call it.

A full week of teasing, side comments, and playful nudges that never seemed to end.

Una didn't know whether to laugh or roll her eyes as they sat in their favourite corner of the small café down the street. The place smelled like roasted coffee beans and baked croissants, the kind of warm smell that wrapped around you and made everything feel calm.

"So," Lana said with that sly grin she always had, stirring her drink lazily, "guess who ran out of the library the second he saw me?"

Una groaned. "Lana, please. Don't tell me..."

"Oh, I'm telling you," Lana cut in, her grin widening. "He said, and I quote, 'I'm not sitting anywhere near your friend Una. That girl's got demon strength.'"

Una almost choked on her laughter. "He did not say that."

"He did!" Lana insisted, laughing. "You should've seen his face. The poor guy looked like he'd seen a ghost. Honestly, I don't know what you did to him that night, but you've officially made history."

Una tried to laugh it off, though she felt that tiny knot of unease in her chest. "Yeah, well... maybe I just have good reflexes."

"Reflexes that throw people into walls?"

"Shut up," Una said, nudging her playfully. "You're impossible. And for the umpteenth time, Lana! It wasn't a wall."

They both laughed, and for a moment, everything felt normal again.

When the waitress came over, she smiled brightly at them. "The usual?"

"Yeah," Lana said. "One caramel latte, extra foam, and a cappuccino for me."

As the waitress left, Lana leaned forward on her elbows. "So, have you told Aunt Reina about it?"

Una shook her head. "She says I need to stop hanging around boys who can't handle a little push."

Lana giggled, and Una joined in. Their laughter carried softly through the café, mixing with the gentle buzz of conversation.

A few minutes later, the waitress came back with their drinks. "Careful, they're hot," she said, setting them down. But just as she was about to place Una's cup on the table, her hand slipped a little.

The latte tilted forward, just a second away from spilling all over Una's lap.

Without thinking, Una's eyes darted to it.

The cup froze. Not in midair, not dramatically but just enough. The liquid steadied, the waitress blinked in confusion, and somehow, the cup ended up perfectly upright on the table, without a single drop spilt.

"Oh...uh, that was close," the waitress mumbled, embarrassed, and hurried off.

Lana blinked. "Okay... did you see that?"

"See what?" Una asked, pretending to laugh.

"The cup. It..." Lana stopped, frowning slightly. "Never mind. Must've been my eyes."

Una shrugged and lifted her drink. "You've had too much caffeine."

But Lana didn't look convinced. She kept watching Una, her brow furrowed just a bit. "It's weird, though. For a second, I could've sworn your eyes... did something. Like they flickered or glowed or something."

Una almost snorted into her cup. "Lana, you seriously need sleep."

Lana laughed finally, shaking her head. "Yeah, yeah. Fine. But if you start floating next week, I'm selling your story to Netflix."

They both burst out laughing again, and the air between them eased. But as Una took another sip, she couldn't help glancing at the cup.

The memory of that frozen moment stuck in her head, and deep down, under the laughter, under the normalcy, something inside her whispered that it hadn't been an accident.

By the time Una and Lana got back to campus, the sun had already climbed high enough to make the courtyard glow gold. Students were scattered everywhere, chatting in groups, rushing to classes, or lounging lazily under trees that lined the long stretch of the walkway.

Lana was still teasing her about the "coffee magic show," but Una wasn't really listening. Her mind was elsewhere.

Because as funny as Lana made it sound, she knew deep down that what happened back there wasn't a coincidence.

She'd seen it before.

The flicker. The strange light that came and went in her eyes was like a shadow playing tricks.

It used to happen rarely, once in a long while when she was angry, scared, or... hurt. But lately, it felt like it was happening more often. And now, with the cup, it felt too real to ignore.

"Hey," Lana said, bumping her shoulder playfully, "you're zoning out again. You okay?"

"Yeah," Una lied quickly, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about that project due tomorrow."

"Ugh, don't remind me." Lana groaned. "Anyway, I'll catch you later. I promised Cara I'd help her with her costume for the event tonight."

"Sure," Una said. "See you."

Once Lana disappeared into the crowd, Una didn't waste a second. She turned left and headed straight for the library.

The library was old... like, really old. Half of the bookshelves were made of dark oak wood that creaked when you brushed past them, and the smell of dust and paper filled the air. It was quiet, except for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the faint sound of pages flipping somewhere at the back.

Una hesitated at the entrance of the library, clutching her backpack as though it could ground her to reality. The idea of looking for a book to explain... whatever this was, felt ridiculous. Magic wasn't real. Things like glowing eyes and trembling trees belonged in the fantasy novels stacked neatly on the shelves before her - not in her life.

And yet, something tugged at her.

It wasn't just curiosity. It was stronger, deeper like an invisible thread pulling her forward, whispering to her in ways that didn't make sense. Her feet moved before she could decide to, carrying her past the rows of tables and through the maze of tall shelves.

Her pulse quickened. Every few steps, her chest tightened like the air itself was trying to tell her something. Her gaze flicked from one shelf to another until she stopped in front of a dimly lit section near the back.

"This is stupid," she muttered, shaking her head. But her hand still lifted, tracing the spines of dusty old books until her fingers paused on one, a dark green volume with no visible title.

Her heart skipped.

It wasn't that she saw anything special about it. She felt it, like the book itself was waiting for her.

For a moment, she stood frozen between sense and instinct, reason and that quiet, impossible pull. And then, finally, she gave in.

She slid the book from the shelf.

"The Veiled Ones."

She pulled it out carefully and sat down by the nearest table. The cover felt strange like it was slightly warm to the touch.

Flipping through the pages, she saw sketches of women surrounded by strange symbols, their hands glowing, their eyes shining with light. The drawings were detailed, haunting, and beautiful all at once.

One page caught her attention:

A mark of power lives in the bloodline. Hidden until the soul awakens.

Una frowned. "What does that even mean?" she whispered under her breath.

Her fingers brushed across one of the symbols on the page, and suddenly, a soft pulse ran through her fingertips, like the page itself had a heartbeat.

Startled, she slammed the book shut and looked around.

No one was near. The few students scattered around the library were quietly reading, completely unaware.

She exhaled slowly and whispered to herself, "Okay, that... that didn't just happen."

Her heart was beating fast, but even through the panic, a tiny part of her felt drawn to that book like it was calling her.

After a moment, she tucked it under her arm and whispered, "If I'm losing my mind, at least I'll have proof."

Then she walked straight to the counter to check it out, the dark green book thrumming lightly against her side, a heavy, silent answer to the question she hadn't known she was asking.

From behind the counter, the librarian watched her.

She had come in quietly, like most students did, no sound except the faint creak of the door and her soft footsteps brushing against the old carpet. But there was something about her movement that caught his attention. It was not random. She wasn't browsing. She walked like someone who already knew exactly where she was going.

He adjusted his glasses and pretended to stack a few returned books, but his eyes stayed on her.

The girl - Una, that was her name, he remembered - stopped in front of the oldest section of the library. Hardly anyone ever went there. Most of the books in that corner hadn't been touched in decades. They were from another time - handwritten, strange, and whispered about by the few who still believed in things beyond the ordinary.

Yet, here she was, running her fingers along the dusty spines as though she could feel them humming beneath her touch. Her head tilted slightly, and then she reached for a thick, worn-out book, the one with the leather binding and the faint, carved sigil on its cover.

The librarian's heart skipped. Not that one...

He opened his mouth to call out, but she had already pulled it down. The old book groaned as it opened, its pages fluttering like wings as if it had been waiting for someone to touch it again.

She sat down at a nearby table, leaned forward, and started to read.

The librarian moved a little closer, pretending to dust one of the nearby shelves. His eyes narrowed as he saw her expression move from curiosity, confusion, and then to something like recognition. She was reading words written in a language long forgotten. He could see it from where he stood - looping symbols, flowing like river marks across the page.

But what startled him most was the way her lips moved. She wasn't just reading, she was understanding.

No one should have been able to read that book. Not unless they were one of them.

A chill crept down his spine. He glanced around, making sure no one else was there. The air around Una seemed to thicken, like the whole room had gone quiet just to listen to her breathe. The lamp above her table flickered.

She didn't notice. Her eyes were glued to the page, tracing the ancient markings.

Every now and then, her lips parted slightly, whispering words that had never been spoken aloud in centuries. Then her eyes darted to the bottom of the page, where the faint name of one of the authors was written. Her voice caught.

Nevera.

The librarian froze. The name sent a sharp sting through his chest. He hadn't heard it in years. Not since...

Suddenly, the room seemed to hum. The faint air shifted, and for a heartbeat, he could have sworn the lamps around them flickered in rhythm with her heartbeat.

He stepped closer, heart pounding. "Miss?" he said softly, trying not to startle her.

But she didn't hear. Her eyes were wide, shining faintly like candlelight catching in glass. The book pulsed faintly beneath her hand, almost alive.

"Miss," he tried again, a little louder, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

The instant his skin touched her, the air snapped.

Una gasped and jerked backwards, her chair scraping harshly against the floor. Her eyes glowed for a second, just a bright and unnatural flicker. The librarian stumbled back, catching his breath.

He knew that light. He had seen it once before - long ago, in the old forests of Carmenta, where witches hid from the world.

"I...I didn't mean to-" Una stammered, closing the book and holding it tightly to her chest.

Her hands were trembling. She didn't understand what had just happened, but something deep inside her told her she needed to leave.

She grabbed her bag, eyes darting to the exit. "I'm sorry," she muttered and hurried toward the door.

The librarian didn't move. He watched as she disappeared through the heavy doors, the sound echoing faintly in the silence that followed.

Only then did he exhale and press his shaking hand to his chest.

"She read it," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. "After all these years... someone finally read it."

Una clutched the old, dusty book tightly against her chest as she hurried out of the library. Her heart was beating fast, and she could still feel the flicker in her eyes fading away. She didn't even know what had just happened. One moment, she was reading strange symbols she somehow understood, and the next, the librarian was looking at her like she had grown horns.

As she pushed open the library doors, she almost bumped into someone. The impact made the book slip a little from her hands. When she looked up, her stomach dropped. It was him-the guy from the party.

His eyes went wide like he'd seen a ghost. "Oh my God," he muttered, backing away. "It's you."

Before Una could say anything, he turned and ran off without another word.

Una stood there, frozen for a second, her mind spinning. Then she heard a familiar voice from behind.

"Una! Hey!"

It was Lana, walking out from one of the halls. She was waving at her, smiling, completely unaware of the tension that had just passed.

Una forced a shaky smile. "Hey, Lana. I...I'll call you later, okay?"

"What? Why-"

But Una was already moving fast toward the parking lot. She didn't want to talk. Not now. Not when everything felt so wrong.

She got into her car, threw the book on the passenger seat, and drove off. The whole ride home, her mind kept replaying the images, the glowing symbols, her flickering eyes, the way the librarian stared, and the guy's terrified face. It all felt unreal. Like she was walking through someone else's nightmare.

When she got home, she slammed the car door shut, grabbed the book, and went straight inside. The house was quiet except for the sound of the clock ticking in the living room. She dropped the book on the dining table and stood staring at it. It felt... alive somehow. Like it was calling to her.

She ran a hand through her hair and groaned. "What the hell is happening to me?" she whispered.

A few minutes later, the front door opened. "Una? You're home early," Aunt Reina said, walking in with a grocery bag in each hand. She was smiling at first-until she saw the book.

Everything about her changed. The smile dropped. The bags slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a dull thud.

"Where did you get that?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Una frowned. "What? The book? I got it from the library."

She moved closer, eyes locked on the book like it was poison.

"Why are you acting weird?" Una tried to laugh it off, but it came out shaky.

Reina shook her head, her voice rising. "You shouldn't be reading things like that. Those are dark, dangerous writings. They're not meant for children, certainly not for us. We're Christians, Una. You can't fill your mind with these things. Take it out!"

Una blinked, confused. "It's just a book, Aunt Reina. Relax."

"I said I don't want it in this house!" Reina snapped suddenly. The sharpness in her tone made Una's chest tighten. "Throw it out. Now, Una. I'm serious."

​

Una stared at her aunt, shocked. The frantic fear in Reina's eyes didn't look like worry over sin; it looked like terror over exposure. Aunt Reina knew what this book was.

​

"What the hell, Aunt Reina? It's just a book!"

​

But Reina's eyes were cold now, desperate almost. "Please, Una," she whispered, voice trembling. "Get rid of it. Before it's too late."

​Una didn't know what that meant, but the fear in Reina's voice and the sudden, crushing sense of betrayal scared her. Her hands shook as she picked up the book.

​"Fine," she muttered, her voice breaking slightly.

"I'll take it where it can't hurt you."

​She turned and walked straight toward the front door, the book pressed tight against her chest once again. She wasn't throwing it away. She was leaving.

​

​Una didn't look back at Reina. She didn't need to. In that moment, she knew she wasn't sure if she was taking the book away... or if it was finally leading her exactly where she was meant to go.

She turned and walked out the door, the book pressed tight against her chest once again-only this time, she wasn't sure if she was taking it away... or if it was leading her somewhere.