(Quinn's POV)
Chaos crackles through the air like lightning. There is no normal anymore, only madness. With no end in sight. It’s only been a week since the eclipse changed everything, but it feels like an eternity ago. When this started, we all believed it would be over by now. The government is staying quiet. Their last press conference was three days ago and they've been silent ever since. The opposition party is lashing out, accusing them of withholding information. They have even gone as far as suggesting the government orchestrated it all. A political ploy gone wrong. Unleashing a terror that no one can contain.
There is a lot of talk on social media. The loudest voices belong to the conspiracy theorists. No one is listening to them. Even though their ideas hold an element of truth. The ‘crisis’ has caused a
(Quinn's POV) Amid the shroud of darkness that has swallowed the world, the government's desperate pleas for normality have fallen on deaf ears. How can they expect us to be calm with everything that’s going on? Especially when they appear to be clueless? Now, we are practically prisoners in our own room. At first it was okay. We rebelled against the rules and got drunk in our dorm. We rocked the curfew, laughed, and made our own fun. Now that the alcohol is gone from the store shelves, all we can do is cross days off on the calendar. Just so we know where we are up to. This has become a necessity, as without the sun, the never-ending darkness blurs everything into one.When all of this started, I didn’t think it would take the government this long to figure out what was going on. But here we are, a week later, and none the wiser about what is really going on. They are obviously keeping a lot from us, but I don't get their end game. The only thing that comes to my mind right is obedi
(Quinn's POV)As soon as I reach my room, I straighten my clothes and fix my hair. I don’t want to tell the girls what happened. They will be furious. First, it'll be a lecture about my stupidity, that'll escalate into an argument. They think we should go back home before something bad happens. I open the door and walk inside the room. Emmerson and Piper are sitting on the sofa watching the television. They turn to me as I close the door. When I look at them, they are gazing at me intently. “Did something else happen?” I ask tossing my bag on the table. “No. What's that on your arm?” Piper asks, staring at my right forearm. I twist my arm to see what she's looking at and notice a thin scratch. Shit!“Oh, I fell when I was trying to open the door. I must have scratched it on the key,” I lie and take my place in the chair next to them. “That makes no sense.” Emmerson scowls and turns down the television volume. “What really happened?” “Nothing. Like I said, I fell when I was trying
(Quinn's POV) Two, it is such a crappy number for me. My parents had promised me to two boys on the day of my birth. Then, when I was two, my dad died. To confirm my suspicion that the number two is the spawn of Satan. Two weeks after the eclipse, we are leaving London, and returning home to the pack. I stand in my room, thinking about my time here. I am in a melancholy mood, and I can’t see anyway forward. Nothing positive can come out of this. I had become myself here. It's the only home I've had away from the pack. I loved it here. Everything will change when we get home. I'm not looking forward to going back to living with my mom, under her rules. I'll be living in a nightmare daily. “Are you ready, Quinn?” Emmerson calls softly from the hallway. “Yeah,” I sigh, and toss my rucksack over my shoulder. It contains all everything I can take back home with me. There isn’t very much. Most of my clothes won't be acceptable for life at the compound. Life is simple there, and that mean
(Quinn's POV)We’ve been back in the compound for two days. Ever since our arrival, I’ve felt the weight of decisions pressing down on me. Magnus, my alpha, and the father of my future mate told me I have to make a choice. My mother has been hovering over me since the second I stepped through the door. I know she’s missed me, but she’s stifling me. If I don’t get out of here soon, I’ll go crazy. I want to spend time with my friends, especially Piper and Emmerson. Unfortunately, or parents have placed us on lockdown since our return, to help us settle in. I’m not sure what they are worrying about. It isn’t like we can go anywhere. According to my mother, the vampire casinos are sprouting up across the country. Establishing a foothold in major cities. It’s hard to sit back and watch, and I feel frustrated that we’re not doing more to stop them. The thought of our pack hiding away while the world changes doesn’t sit right with me. Soon there will be no one left to fight them. Then they
(Salvatore's POV)I watch as chaos unfolds before me, the ever-present twilight casting eerie shadows on the panicked faces of humans. They scurry like frightened rats, huddling together and seeking shelter from the strange phenomenon that has plagued London for weeks now. Their fear is palpable, thick in the air, and I cannot help but feel a pang of sympathy for them. They are so fragile, their lives dictated by forces they can neither comprehend nor control. Steeling myself, I delve deeper into the heart of the city, determined to uncover the truth behind this unnatural darkness. The perpetual twilight has stirred unease within me, igniting a relentless curiosity that refuses to be quenched until I solve the mystery. My investigation is more important than anything else. It’s as if an invisible force propels me forward, urging me to seek answers. “What do you think is causing this?” A trembling voice calls out from the shadows. I turn and find a group of homeless people huddled tog
(Salvatore's POV) It’s been days since I tasted a drop of fresh blood. I locked myself in my room, so I could read the ancient book I came across by accident in peace. The flickering candlelight casts eerie shadows on the ancient parchment, making the cryptic script dance across the paper. I lean closer, the musty scent of old paper filling my nostrils as I frantically try to decipher the hidden meaning within the pages. “Could this be?” I murmur, my hand shaking slightly as I trace a finger along a passage of text.For humans, the world shall lose all light. Immersed in the shadows of perpetual dusk, they will struggle to find their way. The supernaturals, with power untold, face a destiny that is yet foretold. The twilight unveils strength and strife. A test that threatens their existence and can end their life. The words seem to reveal a terrifying truth. A dark future awaits both humans and supernaturals alike. My heart races with fear and adrenaline as I realise the full implic
(Quinn's POV)“Whether you are ready doesn't matter. We have to adapt to change.” Magnus frowns at my mum.“Magnus is right, Quinn. You've had years to think about your decision. There is no point in putting off the inevitable,” my mother adds. The whole thing feels wrong. They are tag teaming me into making a choice that will affect the rest of my life. They don’t care about me or my feelings, and they are intent on railroading me into choosing between the twins.“I am not ready for this yet. You can’t drop this on me, and expect an answer now.” I rub my brow. The tension radiating from my mother is nothing compared to what I'm feeling.“There's no point in delaying things.”“Shouldn't I have time to come to terms with this?” I ask, my voice filled with hope.“What's the problem is? Either of my boys would make a fine husband. Any girl would want them,” Magnus growls, and I can tell that I am making him angry.“That isn’t what I am saying. I just don’t like the fact that I will hurt
(Quinn's POV)I wake up with a pounding headache, thanks to the eight shots I’d downed last night. The room spins for a second as I sit up. My friends must have brought me here after I passed out. All I want is to go back to sleep and never wake up, but I have a date to prepare for. I don’t know who is coming, where we are going, or what to wear.Dragging myself out of bed, I stumble to the kitchen in search of caffeine. Coffee is my lifeline now, and I need it strong and black to shake off this zombie-like feeling. My face feels swollen from all the crying. Magnus, our pack’s leader, has given me hardly any time to choose between the twins. Filling the kettle, I look in the fridge for something to eat. There is bacon, eggs, butter, and jam, but the thought of cooking makes me feel sick. I put some bread in the toaster. My friends can sort out what they want when they wake up. With my stomach settled, I tiptoe up the small staircase to the bathroom to avoid waking my friends. I need a
(Quinn’s POV)We get dressed quickly. The air in the library is freezing against my clammy skin. Salvatore watches me as I put on my jeans. I check my pocket to make sure that Arion’s relic is still tucked safely inside. When I feel the small, solid pendant, I let out a sigh of relief. We are going to have to be more careful now that it is in our possession. It’s so tiny that it will be easy to lose, and although what just happened between us made me feel amazing, tossing my jeans on the floor with the relic in the pocket was kind of reckless. As Salvatore and I leave the mine shaft, I feel like everything is finally falling into place at last. We have something that will help us use the obsidian veil. Although we don’t know exactly how it works, I have faith that the relic changes everything. As we make our way through the dense forest, we try to be as quiet as possible. I move with caution. Every step I take is calculated. My heart pounds in my chest and adrenaline courses through
~*~Warning the following chapter contains a sexually explicit scene. ~*~(Salvatore’s POV) We follow the path around the village until we reach an old abandoned mine shaft. It’s the most random place for a library I have ever seen, but the supernatural said it was here and I have to believe him. We venture inside the tunnel that runs into the cave, following the old cart tracks that run underground.Wherever this secret library is inside the maze of tunnels, the tracks will lead us to it. As we move deeper into the tunnels and further underground, the air is heavy with the scent of dirt and dampness. How anyone could have spent their lives working underground in such harsh conditions, I do not know. It is difficult enough for me to breathe easily in here, so I can only imagine how hard it must be for a human. We walk in silence, focusing on trying to find the hidden library. I use my vampiric sight to scan the area, looking for anything out of place, and then I see it.“Over there
(Quinn's POV)As the final particles of the supernatural fade out of sight, I am left standing open-mouthed. I have no idea what the gift is that she gave us, where she went, or how she knew about our encounter with Arion. Then again, nothing in this place has been straightforward. Actually, it’s like the entire universe has gone crazy since the eclipse. Hopefully, when we find the obsidian veil, things will return to normal when the sun is back. “Come on, let’s head deeper into the forest to see what we can find,” Salvatore says. “Alright,” I reply, but I am not sure if I want to explore anymore with all the strange things we have found so far. We move further away from where we met Arion, and I hope we are on the right path. The relic he said we needed to use the veil is the most important thing right now. There are way too many things that we have to do, and it’s best to focus on one thing at a time. I’ve come a long way from my mission to bring back the sun. I knew it would be
~*~Warning the following chapter contains a sexually explicit scene. ~*~(Salvatore’s POV) The icy chill of the air surrounds us as we stand at the edge of the secluded forest. I lock eyes with my Quinn, her piercing blue eyes seem to glow in the strange light emanating from the trees and plants inside the clearing. It is a stark contrast to the darkness that has sucked the life out of us. Quinn is determined to complete our mission, but as she looks out into the unknown, there is a vulnerability there, buried beneath her fierce exterior. We move deeper into the forest in search of the being who is allegedly causing problems for the other supernaturals who call this place home. There is something about this place that feels different. It is almost like the air around us pulsates with an energy of its own. The whole area, in fact, seems to have its own heartbeat. We don’t even know what this creature we are hunting looks like, which could cause problems if we run into more than one
(Quinn’s POV)Even though it’s dark everywhere, somehow it seems to engulf us as we follow the path further into the dense forest. It isn’t easy to do, even with my shifter eyesight, because the path isn’t straight. It weaves through the trees, over ancient roots, and fallen branches that are thicker than my thighs. I’m glad that Salvatore is by my side. I can lean on him when it is too difficult for me to navigate. Ever since the eclipse, my senses have become more heightened in the darkness, making every rustle and whisper of the wind feel like a threat.“Are you sure this is the right way?” I ask, as we pass by a large tree that looks exactly like one we walked by five minutes ago. Even though I’m panicking, I try to keep calm despite feeling like we are lost in the middle of nowhere. I’m half expecting something to jump out on us any second. Salvatore looks at me, his eyes glow, even in our black surroundings, he presses his lips tightly together so they form a thin line as he tri
~*~Warning the following chapter contains a sexually explicit scene.~*~(Salvatore’s POV)As we sit amongst the trees, a sense of hope washes over me. There was never any doubt in my mind that we can do anything together. But with the odds stacked against us, it seems at times an impossible task. When we walked away from the first trial unscathed, I felt a sense of accomplishment. Our strange encounter with Arion, and his words of belief, makes me feel a little lighter. I can’t help but feel like the universe has given us a push in the right direction. Maybe we aren’t as alone in this as we thought. I glance over at Quinn and she appears to have a similar belief. The fierceness that has been engraved in her aura since my brothers captured her seems softer, and there is a glimmer of optimism.I turn to Quinn, “We should get moving. We still have to find the relic.” She stands up, and we move deeper into the dense forest. As we walk, I am on high alert, looking for any sign of the nex
(Salvatore’s POV)The loud clash of power echoes through the glen like thunder. Quinn stands by my side, ready to fight with every inch of her being. Her presence is like a beacon fuelling my strength. Together, we will do whatever it takes to get to the mysterious relic, that is supposed to be the key to unlocking the obsidian veil. The grotesque figure looms before us. Its size makes it a formidable adversary, but we won’t back down. We have faced so much the past few weeks and we have overcome every single one of them, even when they seemed impossible. This fight is no different. I look over to Quinn and see a fire in her eyes that mirrors my own. In this moment, she is more than a powerful shifter. She is the woman I love. She is a warrior and a force to be reckoned with. Her strength fuels my own, pushing me forward.We launch at the figure, and it moves with agility that contradicts its size. It takes all of our strength just to keep it away. I watch closely as it moves, lookin
(Quinn’s POV)We move deeper into the glen, guided by Arion’s prophecy. The air inside the ravine is filled with magic and mystery. The powerful energy I felt at the glowing rocks grows stronger with every step we take.“Quinn, look,” Salvatore says, pointing towards a clearing along the overgrown path.I squint, and notice what looks like the crumbling remains of an immense structure that seems to have been hidden from the rest of the world.“We should go check it out,” I suggest, and Salvatore nods. I’m on high alert as we carefully manoeuvre through the dense trees. Not only are we stepping into sacred ground, but I’m also on high alert. Arion said the relic was heavily guarded, and I have to be ready for anything. As we enter the clearing, I’m amazed at how beautiful the ruins are. Ivy covers the once magnificent walls. Between the vines, there are several intricate carvings poking through, and the images seem to depict some sort of great battle.“This could be where the relic is
(Quinn’s POV)As we leave the cabin, the chill of the early morning air nips at my skin. Today’s plan is to head deeper into the forest so that we can make our way to Wales undetected. The sky is a canvas of muted greys, blues and purples that should give way to the warm hues of dawn, but since the eclipse happened, we haven’t seen the sun. It feels like a lifetime ago, but it’s only been a few weeks. My heart sinks at the thought of this never ending night being a permanent thing. As much as we have been trying to stop it, it feels like we keep hitting dead ends. We stick to the dusty track, following a bend in its path, until we reach a secluded glade that seems to appear out of nowhere from deep within the shadows. As we get closer, I can feel a shift in the air. Someone has cloaked this place in ancient magical. That has created a mystical aura that sends a shiver down my spine. It’s as if time stands still inside here. Even the trees seem to whisper secrets, and I’m strangely dr