The returned moved. Hundreds of them. All at once. The valley seemed to wake with them. The moment the first returned took a step, the silence shattered.
Screams erupted throughout the town. Glass exploded. Church bells rang wildly. Dogs howled. The earth trembled beneath Hollow Vale like a living thing trying to tear itself free.
Aurora felt the Veil surge painfully inside her. The sensation nearly drove her to her knees. Something had changed. The returned were no longer gathering. They were advancing. The nightmare had entered a new stage.
Caelum watched from the edge of the property. His golden eyes reflected the chaos spreading across the valley. The sight seemed to satisfy him. Not because of the destruction. Because of what it represented. Control.
The returned weren't attacking blindly. They were moving with purpose. The realization terrified Aurora. The dead had become an army. And the valley belonged to them.
Another scream echoed through the darkness. This one closer. Much closer. The returned surrounding the house immediately turned their heads. Like hunting animals hearing prey. Aurora felt dread crawl through her stomach.
Then she saw movement. A man stumbled into the road. Bleeding. Terrified. Running. One of the town blacksmiths. Mr. Fletcher. Aurora recognized him instantly. The man barely made it ten steps before the returned reached him.
He screamed. Fought. Kicked. Struggled. It didn't matter. A dozen pale hands grabbed him. Then everything stopped. The man froze. His body became rigid. His eyes widened. For several horrible seconds nothing happened. Then he stood. Slowly. Calmly. The fear vanished from his face. The struggle vanished. The returned released him. Mr. Fletcher turned. And joined them.
Aurora's blood ran cold. "They're converting them." The words escaped before she realized it. Gideon stared in horror. "They aren't killing anyone." "No." Lucien's voice emerged from behind them. "They never needed to."
Everyone turned. The silver-eyed being looked grim. The Veil around Aurora reacted immediately. Almost relieved by his presence. Lucien's attention remained fixed on the growing crowd. "Death creates martyrs." His voice was cold. "Belief creates followers."
The meaning struck hard. Caelum smiled. "Thank you, Lucien." The ancient being spread his arms dramatically. "As always, you explain me beautifully." Aurora wanted to hit him. The fact that he sounded amused while the town collapsed made her sick.
Then something exploded in the distance. A tower. One of the northern watchtowers. The structure collapsed into a cloud of dust. Fire erupted. Panic spread instantly. The returned surged toward the destruction. Aurora saw townspeople running. Fleeing. Being chased. Being cornered. Being surrounded. The valley had become a battlefield.
She turned toward her mother. "We have to leave." The older woman nodded immediately. No argument. No hesitation. The decision alone terrified Aurora. Her mother understood how dangerous the situation had become.
Another tremor rolled through the earth. The Ashbourne house groaned. A crack split through the front yard. Blue light erupted from beneath the soil. The returned immediately backed away from it. The reaction caught Aurora's attention. Fear. The returned feared the Veil. Not her. The Veil itself.
The realization settled heavily in her chest. Caelum noticed too. His smile weakened slightly. Only for a moment. Then he looked toward the distant mountains. Listening. Waiting.
Aurora followed his gaze. At first she saw nothing. Then movement. A figure. Running. Fast. Very fast. Across collapsing roads. Across shattered fields. Toward the house. Aurora's heart stopped. "Darian." The name escaped her lips. Relief hit instantly. Followed by dread.
Because Darian wasn't alone. Hundreds of returned followed behind him. The sight was unbelievable. The entire road looked alive. A wave of pale faces chasing her brother through the darkness.
Darian spotted them. "Aurora!" His voice carried across the valley. "Run!" Aurora was already moving. She rushed forward. Ignoring Lucien. Ignoring Caelum. Ignoring everything. Her brother stumbled. The returned gained ground immediately. One grabbed his shoulder.
Darian turned and drove his sword through its chest. The returned collapsed. Three more replaced it instantly. Aurora felt panic rise. He wasn't going to make it. Not alone.
The Veil exploded outward. Silver light erupted across the valley. The ground shook. The nearest returned were thrown aside. A temporary opening appeared. "Darian!" Her brother saw it. He sprinted. The returned screamed. Not in pain. In anger. The sound echoed throughout the valley. Thousands of voices becoming one.
Aurora felt the Veil weakening. The effort had cost her. A lot. Dark spots appeared in her vision. Her legs felt unsteady. Lucien immediately noticed. "Stop." Aurora ignored him. "Darian!"
The opening was closing. The returned were recovering. Reforming. Advancing. Then Caelum moved. The valley froze. The returned stopped instantly. Every single one. Thousands of bodies becoming motionless at once. The silence that followed felt wrong. Terribly wrong.
Aurora slowly turned. Caelum stood exactly where he had been before. Hands behind his back. Expression calm. Almost thoughtful. His golden eyes remained fixed on Darian. The smile had vanished. For the first time since awakening Caelum looked genuinely interested.
Darian reached the Ashbourne property moments later. Breathing heavily. Exhausted. Covered in blood and dust. Aurora immediately grabbed him. Relief flooded through her. Alive. He was alive.
Then Caelum spoke. Softly. Dangerously. "Now that's unexpected." Nobody liked the way he said it. Nobody. Because it sounded like Darian had just become part of a plan.
And Aurora suddenly realized something horrifying. Caelum hadn't stopped the returned to spare her brother. He had stopped them because he wanted something from him. The golden-eyed being smiled again. Slowly. Patiently. Like a man discovering a secret.
And for the first time that night his eyes left Aurora. And settled entirely on Darian.