The Covenant Seal

The study was suffused with an oppressive silence, broken only by the ragged breathing of Luke's siblings. Luke stood in the center of the room, his fists clenched and his eyes locked on Sophia. Her description of the creature—the two-headed monstrosity, breathing fire—hung in the air.

Sophia sat on the edge of the desk, her arms wrapped protectively around Ava. Aiden walked over to the window, peering cautiously through the drapes at the darkening forest beyond the house. The golden glow of Lila's presence bathed the room in a faint, warm light, but her expression was anything but serene.

Luke leaned against the desk, his knuckles white as he gripped its edge. "A chimera-like beast," he muttered. "Or something close enough to it."

Sophia nodded, her face pale but resolute. "It came out of nowhere. I only managed to trap it because it was too big to move through the narrow passage in the cellar. But I don't know if the door will hold."

Ava whimpered and buried her face in Sophia's shoulder. "What's happening to us, Luke? What's happening to the house?"

Luke reached out, his hand resting gently on Ava's head. "Like I said, the world is changing. I'll explain more once we get out of here. But I won't let anything happen to you. I swear it."

Lila drifted closer, her golden eyes sharp as they scanned the room. "We need to find your parents, Luke. Quickly. If there are things such as Chimera Wolves here, then there's no telling what other, even worse beasts will show up."

Luke nodded, his jaw tightening. "Sophia, where were Mom and Dad the last time you saw them?"

Sophia hesitated, her eyes flickering with worry. "I really don't know, Luke. They could have been anywhere on the grounds. I know they were home, but that was before... before everything started happening. I don't know where they were or what they were doing."

"Then we start upstairs," Luke said firmly. "We'll split up—"

"No," Lila interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We stay together. The energy in this house is too unstable. If the creatures here are truly Riftwild-born, splitting up would be a death sentence."

Luke glanced at her, then back at his siblings. She was right. The risks were too great. "Alright. Together, then. We'll check upstairs first, then work our way down. If we run into anything, you three stay back and let Lila and I worry about it."

Sophia stood, steadying Ava. "What about the beast in the cellar?"

"It's trapped for now," Luke said. "Let's focus on what we can handle. If it gets out... I'll deal with it."

Aiden's fists tightened. "You can't fight that thing alone."

Luke placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I won't have to. That's what Lila's here for."

Lila floated beside him, her golden eyes meeting Aiden's. "Your brother has strength you haven't seen yet. Trust him."

Aiden's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he nodded, his defiance giving way to reluctant acceptance.

"Let's move," Luke said, leading them toward the door.

The hallway outside the study was darker than it should have been, the dim light of the chandelier struggling against the oppressive shadows. The air was thick with the scent of old wood, lavender, and something metallic—something wrong.

Lila's glow illuminated their path as they made their way up the grand staircase. The steps creaked beneath their weight, each sound magnified in the eerie silence. Luke kept his senses sharp, his mana veins thrumming softly with the ambient energy of the house.

They reached the door to their father's personal study, the heavy oak frame slightly ajar. Luke pushed it open cautiously, the hinges groaning in protest.

The room was empty.

Books lay scattered across the floor, and the ornate desk that had always been meticulously organized was in disarray. Papers fluttered in an unseen breeze, and the chair was overturned. A faint scorch mark marred the rug near the fireplace.

"They were here," Luke muttered, stepping inside. He scanned the room, his eyes lingering on the scorch mark. "Something happened."

Lila floated to the desk, her hand passing over the surface. "Residual energy," she said softly. "Strong. There was a struggle."

Sophia lingered near the doorway, her eyes darting nervously toward the hall. "We shouldn't stay here. If they're not here..."

Luke straightened, his expression hard. "Then we keep going. Let's check their bedroom."

As they turned to leave, a low rumble echoed through the house. The floor beneath them shuddered, and a faint tremor ran through the walls. Luke's heart pounded, his hand instinctively reaching for his siblings to steady them.

"What was that?" Ava whispered, her voice trembling.

Lila's golden eyes darkened. "Sounds like that Chimera Wolf isn't trapped anymore."

They walked slowly through the top floor of the mansion, checking each room as they went, slowly getting closer to the Hale parents' bedroom. The trip was harrowing, and they endeavored to be as silent as possible as they crept through the dark home. The sounds of movement echoed from somewhere below—heavy footfalls, guttural growls, and the scrape of claws on wood. The air felt alive with tension, every shadow a potential threat.

Luke's mana veins pulsed in response, the Bet symbol on his forehead glowing faintly. He glanced back at his siblings, their faces pale but determined. "Stay close," he said. "We're almost there."

Luke could see the shock in their eyes, even in the dim glow of the light shining from both Lila and from Luke's own Covenant Seal, as they took in the strange new sight. 

They reached the top of the stairs and turned toward the bedroom. The door was closed, but faint light seeped through the cracks. Luke approached cautiously, his hand resting on the doorknob.

"Mom? Dad?" he called softly. No answer.

He pushed the door open.

The room was empty, but not untouched. The bed was unmade, the sheets tangled as though someone had left in a hurry. The wardrobe doors hung open, clothes strewn across the floor. A single lamp on the bedside table flickered weakly, its light casting long, wavering shadows. Near the bed, a single shoe lay on its side—one of their mother's. The fabric was scorched along the edge.

"They were here, too," Sophia said quietly, her voice tinged with desperation. "Where could they have gone?"

Luke didn't answer. His eyes were drawn to the window, where a faint red glow pulsed in the distance. The Aetherion energy, bleeding into the Ozarks, was visible even from here.

"We'll find them," he said firmly. "We have to."

A sudden crash echoed from downstairs, followed by a bone-chilling howl. Luke spun toward the door, his heart racing.

"They're inside," Lila said, her voice calm but urgent. "Two of them."

Luke turned to his siblings. "In the closet. Now."

Ava started to protest, but Sophia grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the wardrobe. Aiden hesitated, his eyes locked on Luke. "You'd better not die."

"I don't plan to," Luke said, his voice grim.

The door exploded inward. Wood splinters flew through the air as a massive form barreled inside. Two heads, four glowing eyes, a wall of black fur. It snarled, the sound a grinding mix of a lion's growl and a snake's hiss. Its claws gouged deep into the floorboards as it fixed its gaze on Luke.

"Lila!" Luke shouted.

She moved instantly, golden glyphs forming around her hands. A barrier erupted between them and the creature, forcing it to skid to a halt. But it wouldn't hold for long.

Luke's mana veins burned as he drew in power. The Alef symbol on his forehead flared, illuminating the room with a blinding light. "Let's finish this," he growled, stepping forward to meet the beast head-on.