Page 36 of Faeheart
We climbed from the water onto solid ground, and immediately I felt the oppressive weight of the Veil lift from my shoulders. The air was suddenly warm and sweet, carrying scents of wildflowers and old magic. When I turned around to look at the water, I found it was no longer gray and full of obscured shapes, but blue and crystalline, as if we were standing on the edge of the sea on a sunny day. The illusion surrounding the mansion was powerful, more so than anything I’d ever seen.
“The bond will be stronger here,” Councilor Ashwick warned as we approached the mansion’s front entrance, massive doors carved with symbols that seemed to move when I wasn’t looking directly at them. “This place was designed to amplify magical connections. You may experience some... intensity as your tetrad stabilizes.”
As if summoned by his words, I felt the bond between the four of us suddenly flare to life with unprecedented strength. Elias gasped beside me, his hand tightening in mine as waves of sensation crashed through our connection. I could feel Atlas’s protective instincts, Caden’s wonder at the magical architecture, and Elias’s mixture of fear and fascination all as clearly as my own emotions.
“Holy shit,” Atlas growled, steadying himself against the door frame. “That’s... intense.”
Caden looked flushed, his breathing slightly uneven. “I can feel all of you. Not just fragments or emotions, but... everything.”
The doors swung open before we could knock, revealing a grand foyer that defied the laws of physics. Staircases spiraled upward and downward simultaneously, while the walls seemed to whisper to each other in languages I didn’t recognize. Wall sconces cast dancing shadows that seemed to tell stories of their own.
“Welcome to your new home,” Councilor Vael said, stepping aside to let us enter. “Everything you need is here. Lydia’s research, her personal effects, training rooms designed specifically for bond work, and...”
She gestured to a side table where a crystal orb sat glowing softly. “A communication device. Should you need to contact us for any reason.”
“You’re leaving us here alone?” Elias asked, a note of panic creeping into his voice.
“This place will teach you what you need to know,” Councilor Ashwick assured him. “Lydia designed it to respond to bonded individuals. It will guide your training.”
I felt a chill that had nothing to do with the Veil we’d just crossed. “You’re saying the house is alive?”
“Not alive, exactly,” Councilor Vael smiled mysteriously. “But aware. Lydia poured decades of her consciousness into these walls. In a sense, she never truly left. There’s a few ethereal servants wandering around as well, I’m sure.”
As if responding to her words, the mansion around us hummed softly, a welcoming sound that vibrated through the bond and made all four of us relax slightly.
“There are bedrooms upstairs,” Councilor Ashwick continued. “Though given the nature of your bond, you may find separate sleeping arrangements... challenging.”
Heat flooded my cheeks as I caught his meaning. Through our connection, I felt similar embarrassment from the others, mixed with an undercurrent of anticipation that none of us wanted to acknowledge yet.
“We’ll figure it out,” Atlas said gruffly, his arm still protectively around Caden.
The councilors exchanged a look before Councilor Vael spoke again. “Before we leave you, there’s something else you should know. The Purity Front has been searching for this place for decades. These wards are strong, but not impenetrable. They will eventually find a way in. It’s only a matter of time.”
“How long do we have?” Elias asked, his voice tight with worry.
“Months, hopefully,” Councilor Vael replied, though her tone suggested she wasn’t entirely confident. “The wards your grandmother and Sorrel wove are intricate, layered with protections from multiple realms. But the Purity Front has beengrowing stronger, acquiring artifacts and knowledge that could eventually breach even these defenses.”
“So, we’re on borrowed time,” I said grimly. “Perfect.”
“Use it wisely,” Councilor Ashwick advised. “The mansion will help guide your bond development, but ultimately the work must come from you. Trust each other. Trust the connection between you.”
With that cryptic and mostly unhelpful advice, both councilors began to fade at the edges, their forms becoming translucent. “We’ll return when we can,” Councilor Vael’s voice echoed as they dissolved completely. “Remember, use the communication crystal if you need us urgently.”
And then we were alone.
The silence that followed their departure was deafening, broken only by the gentle humming of the mansion around us. I looked at my three bondmates, suddenly feeling the weight of our situation settling over us like a heavy blanket. This was no longer just college and homework and classes. This was life and death and the fate of the supernatural world.
“Well,” I said, attempting my usual lightness, though it came out somewhat strained. “This is cozy. Four guys, one magical house, and impending doom. What could go wrong?”
Atlas snorted despite himself. “When you put it like that, it sounds like the setup to a really bad joke.”
“Or a really good porno,” I added with a grin, earning myself a scandalized look from Elias and a laugh from Caden.
“Wild,” Elias said, but there was less censure in his voice than usual. The bond between us was humming so strongly that I could feel his exhaustion, his worry, and underneath it all, a growing acceptance of our situation.
“Come on,” Caden said, always the peacemaker. “Let’s explore a bit before we collapse. I want to see what Lydia left for us.”
As we moved deeper into the mansion, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. Not malevolently, but with a kind of gentle curiosity, as if the house itself was taking our measure. The walls seemed to pulse softly with each step we took, and I swore I could hear whispers just at the edge of perception.
