BEYOND THE LUNAR VEIL

a second layer, her head pounding with a dull ache. Her throat was dry, her limbs were heavy, and the room's metallic, sterile smell

low, husky voice that made Mia shiv

ed. She recalled the conflict. The van. The darkness. being pulled

And Lyra's eyes conveyed to Mia

required, "What do you want from me?"

ng the pre-kill moment. She had an unearthly radiance

tial to the prophecy. a part that wi

ed. Fore

The walls surrounding her, however, were made of solid stone and were only broken by odd carvin

hardly raised her v

ecy," she uttered in a solemn tone. "A prophecy that foretells the im

ood? Horrible strength? This was all illogical

dread ran through her chest. Lyra's hand tightened around M

," as her eyes grew brighte

nse, electric, humming with something old and living. Beneath her,

the carvings started to glow and each symbol blazed red

artb

that sounded as though it

face the wall. "The Blood moon is rising. And

emain composed and to think. But how was she able to? The world s

abruptly left the room as t

s filled wi

ious points in time. Her parents. Her pack. Around a bonfire, laughter. Then yelling.

od Moon

in the sky. It lighted the night with caution rather than consolation

y?" Mia clutched her

vulse, and she fell to her knees. Her veins were burning with light,

nfusion, Lyra remained

The time of reckoning is near." "An

itnessed weighing heavily on her. How could she have anything to do with t

n?" Mia's voice

clicking on the stone floor like a countdow

what will happen?" Her ton

art pounding in he

ace was calm, almost affectionate. She declared, "The prophecy is clear." "Y

Mia's skin. "What

er you embrace your role or you find your inner strength. o

of jade. Of how, whenever the world became silent, his hand al

audible as she aske

ough. Let's just say, though, that thi

sed once more. Stone slabs started to slide apart in the

get started,

ly, the burden of fat

one thing, regardle

o make a

turning back once th