The library was quiet. Too quiet.
Elara and Cassian stood between two tall bookshelves, the kind that looked like they hadn't been touched in years. Dust floated in the air like ash. The lights above flickered softly, as if they didn't want to stay on for long.
Cassian pointed. "It was this shelf."
He ran his fingers along the wood, tapping gently. "I heard something behind it once. I thought it was my brother. He was humming a tune, like the one from the Grimoire."
Elara glanced at the shelf. It was full of old books with cracked spines and faded gold titles. Most of them looked boring — thick encyclopedias, history records, and strange books in Latin.
"You sure it's this one?" she asked.
"Yeah. There's something behind it."
Elara pushed on the shelf. It didn't move.
Cassian stepped back, looking up and down. Then he grabbed a book at the top labeled "Threshold Rituals" and pulled it out.
Click.
The shelf trembled.
Cassian smiled. "There it is."
With a low groan, the shelf slid to the right, revealing a narrow, dark space behind it — just wide enough for one person at a time.
It looked like a hallway made of stone. The walls were rough and wet. A single spiral symbol was drawn in red chalk on the wall inside.
Cassian pulled out a flashlight. "Stay behind me."
"No way," Elara said. "I'm going first."
She took the flashlight from him, her hand brushing his. It was cold- but steady. It sent chills down her spine but she ignored it and quickly stepped in the narrow hallway with Cassian following closely behind her.
The air was damp, and it smelled like old earth and forgotten memories. Water dripped somewhere ahead, echoing through the space like footsteps.
The deeper they went, the colder it got.
"What is this place?" Elara whispered.
"I don't know. But I don't think it's part of the school. Or at least… not anymore."
They reached a sharp corner. Elara paused.
A soft whisper floated through the air.
"Turn back…"
She spun around. "Did you hear that?"
Cassian nodded slowly. "Keep going."
They turned the corner.
In front of them was a heavy wooden door. It looked ancient. Carved into it were the same spiral symbols from the Grimoire- except these glowed faintly, like they were breathing.
Cassian reached for the handle.
Elara stopped him. "Wait. What if it's trapped?"
He hesitated. He was a vampire, after all, and could take out anyone who tried to hurt them — or even escape quickly with Elara to safety. Only, they didn't even know what they were up against — whether it was someone or something… something very dark and terrifying. He sighed and removed his hand.
Elara pulled out Cassian's notebook. One of the pages had a sketch of a door just like this.
She read the note beside it.
"Open with thought, not with hand. Speak the name of the one you seek."
Elara looked up. "We have to say a name."
Cassian took a deep breath. "Maris?"
Nothing happened.
Elara whispered, "Cassian's brother."
Still nothing.
Then she stepped forward and said, clearly, "Elara."
The symbols flashed and the door creaked open.
Cassian turned to her. "Why did it open for your name?"
She looked down at her arm.
The spiral mark was glowing again.
"I think this isn't just about Maris or your brother," she said quietly. "I think it's about me now."