Chapter 8: Navigating the Unknown

These individuals standing before him were born 123, 117, and 113 years after his birth. In their eyes, he was nothing more than ancient history from the distant past.

Elijah's thumb throbbed with pain as he softly hummed a soothing melody, his deep voice filling the air. Frustration etched on his face, he muttered to himself, "What in the world is happening...?"

Selena, her voice timid and filled with apprehension, tentatively suggested, "Could we possibly be in another world...?"

Elijah quickly dismissed the idea, shaking his head. Selena nodded in agreement, but Matthew and Augustus seemed hesitant to let go of the possibility. "There might be some truth to that suggestion," Matthew pondered aloud, as all eyes turned to Augustus, waiting for his input.

Augustus Black gave a slight shrug of his shoulders, "Unfortunately, I can't provide an answer to this question. This kind of environment is normal for me. I understand it might be quite jarring for all of you, with no flying cars or self-driving automobiles." Augustus made his point, his curiosity piqued as he probed for any future events that might unfold after his lifetime.

Selena let out a soft chuckle, her voice filled with amusement. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but in our time, technology hasn't advanced that far." Augustus's disappointment was evident as he listened to this revelation, his disappointment mirrored in a soft yawn.

Interrupting the conversation, Matthew interjected between Selena and Augustus, catching Elijah's attention in the process. "For now, let's all agree that this is where we came from, until we have more concrete evidence." Matthew suggested, with Augustus nodding in agreement. Elijah and Selena both nodded as well, as they ventured further into the city of dreams, Eldritch Morr.

Elijah Black couldn't help but wonder, his thoughts consumed by his older brother's presence. "Could you really be here, old friend?" Elijah pondered, his gaze fixated on Matthew's back.

—••••••••••—

BEYOND THE

VEIL: THE GREAT

SHIFT

CHAPTER 8:

NAVIGATING THE

UNKNOWN

—••••••••••—

It has been thirty minutes since their arrival in this peculiar and unfamiliar place. Initially, they hardly encountered anyone, but those they did come across were dressed similarly to how Augustus was. Each person differed in height, weight, skin color, and appearance, yet they all shared the same hopeless and lifeless eyes.

Almost like they witnessed a cruel and twisted devil playing with them and their destinies. Eventually, they found themselves in a comfortable spot. It was a grand fountain adorned with eight figures - four angelic and four demonic.

"Four good, four evil. Perfect balance." Selena thought to herself, observing the scene, as her small and timid hand trailed through the cool and refreshing water. Elijah sat to her left, seemingly lost in the deep blue reflection of the water.

To her right were Matthew and Augustus, they engaged in casual conversation about mundane topics like the weather and their personal achievements - the kind of things parents tend to overlook when asked about their children.

"Selena…" Elijah's voice broke her reverie, and she turned to face him. "Do you remember my best friend, Daemon Sinclair," Even without words, Selena could see the pain and sorrow in Elijah's eyes. "I do," she replied, prompting a soft smile from Elijah as he shifted his cold black gaze towards his younger sister.

"It has been seven years since he disappeared from the world. He was your age when it happened," Elijah murmured, his words giving Selena the impression that he was mostly speaking to himself, with her presence merely serving as a means to keep him engaged.

"He had long hair, bronze skin, and such a handsome face that every girl in our class had a crush on him. For a while, I wished I had his looks, but I've grown into a handsome man myself," Elijah added, earning a gentle kick to his pants from Selena in response to his last comment.

"Don't flatter yourself," Selena playfully teased, her voice filled with mischief. Elijah couldn't help but smile softly, his gaze fixated on the water fountain once again. "But I have to admit, the most captivating part about him were his deep, rich brown eyes. They were so profound that you could easily mistake them for golden-yellow." Elijah muttered, causing Selena to let out a heavy sigh deep within her heart.

"What's the point of all this?" Selena asked, her voice heavy with confusion. Elijah simply raised his hand towards her, still keeping his eyes on the flowing water of the fountain.

"Shh, shh, shh. I'm getting to that," Elijah replied. Selena nodded, resting her elbow on the fountain guard and leaning her face on her palm.

"Do you think Daemon, like us, was transported to this world?" Selena was taken aback by the question, shaking her head in response. "Who knows at this point. Daemon could be here, or he could be somewhere else entirely. He's always been a mystery to me," she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. Elijah leaned his chin on his palm, his gaze fixed on Selena as she answered his question.

"That's because you were afraid of him. I still remember after he'd left the house after coming for the first time, Matt told me you were afraid of him because he was the first man of color you've met." Elijah laughed loudly, Selena didn't find it funny as her cheeks reddened in embarrassment. "That was because he made a scary face at me and chased me around the apartment when you were in the bathroom." Selena tried to explain herself, yet it didn't calm the laughter coming out of Elijah.

After a while Elijah simply smiled as Selena finished speaking. "Am I foolish? Am I just a lost man clinging onto foolish hope?" Selena frowned immediately as Elijah stood up, his words filled with pain as he'd closed his eyes. "It's not foolish to have hope!" Elijah's eyes opened wide after his empty chuckles subsided. Suddenly, he noticed Augustus Black standing in front of him, with his younger sister still seated and Matthew watching from the sidelines.

"Your foolish hope knows no bounds! Hope dared to blossom in you after your friend disappeared and his safety is unknown. Even in that abysmal abyss of uncertainty and fear, you still held hope! So don't say that your hope is foolish - at the end of the day, you still held your hand out in the abyss for years!" Augustus Black's voice echoed through the air as he firmly held Elijah's hands.

Elijah stood frozen, his eyes widening with each word spoken by his companion. Neither Elijah nor Selena uttered a word, their silence hanging heavy in the air. Suddenly, a soft clapping sound broke the stillness.

It was Matthew Mitchell, applauding with admiration. "Beautifully said, my dear poet," Matthew praised, rising from his seat. He walked towards Elijah and gently patted him on the shoulder.

"I understand the pain and fear you're going through after losing someone you love. I've known all along, and I also know that you've been trying to hide this pain. But it's better to let it go and embrace the person others want you to be," Matthew advised, walking past Elijah and taking a seat next to Selena.

Unbeknownst to Elijah, his hands began to tremble uncontrollably. He desperately tried to steady them by clenching and unclenching his fists, unfortunately for him, it was to no avail.

After a moment, Elijah let out a deep sigh and a genuine smile graced his lips. He looked at Augustus and Matthew, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you," he said. His gaze then shifted to Selena. "Thank you all."

Soon, they all left the fountain square, passing by a row of shops and restaurants.

"Beth's Bath."

"Chino's Ramen Shop."

"Cecil's Miracle Clinic."

"Xio's Armory."

These were the main establishments they walked past, most of them empty with closed blinds and a lack of people. Only Beth's Bath and Cecil's Miracle Clinic had employees at the front desk.

It was a pity that none of them turned around, for they would have caught a glimpse of a tall man with snow-white hair leaving, followed closely by a short woman with long raven hair.

—••••••••••—

It was almost 9:30:00 P.M, and they had spent the entire time exploring the bustling metropolis. Along the way, they discovered three intriguing things.

Firstly, they learned that the city was called Eldritch Moor, which was quite ironic considering Selena's deep love for Eldritch horror. It seemed like a fitting name for a place she would enjoy.

Secondly, they heard about an event that had occurred before their arrival. Some described it as a divine intervention, while others believed it to be the work of the greatest evil in the world. Whatever it was, it had affected the minds of the people in the city, leaving them in a state of confusion.

Lastly, they noticed that everyone seemed on edge. Hotels were closed, restaurants were shut, and even bars were deserted. It was as if the entire city had gone into hiding, fearing something unknown.

Then the problem began once the half-nine bell rang. The loud sound of the bell made Selena jump out right in fright, this was unusual for Elijah and Matthew while Augustus found this normal.

"What was that, damn right shat myself," Selena cruelly expressed herself and Augustus just gave a heartfelt laugh. "Nothing to fear, dear. Just a cathedral bell ringing for the people to tell the time, if I'd have to guess - this is the half-nine bell." Augustus accurately predicted as Selena nodded, in her mind, Augustus was the expert in this field as this city is set in his time period.

"Wow, Cathedral…" Matthew exclaimed, his voice filled with anticipation. "You sound really excited. Are you a fan of architecture?" Augustus astutely observed, nodding as he presented the question to Matthew.

"You know, I used to live in an apartment with the most incredible view of the world's greatest Cathedral. The Cathedral of Se—" Augustus was interrupted by Matthew, who leaned in closer. "The Seville Cathedral?!" he asked, his excitement evident in his tone.

"It seems like you're familiar with the magnificent Seville Cathedral. Have you been there?" Instead of answering, Elijah burst into laughter. "No, no. We've never even left the islands of Japan," Elijah explained, and Augustus nodded in understanding.

"Well then, the Cathedral doesn't seem too far away. Let's go visit the clergyman," Augustus suggested, motioning towards the left where the sound of bells could be heard.

—••••••••••—

After the suggestion was made, it took them only a few minutes to reach the majestic Cathedral. Exiting an alleyway, they found themselves at the foot of the Cathedral without even noticing the commotion below. The massive black structure pierced the sky, captivating both Mitchell and Delacroix, both of the Blacks seemed inspired but not that interested. Although they had seen other grand Cathedrals before, this one surpassed them all.

The Cathedral boasted eight pointed roofs adorned with crosses and vibrant stained windows. In the center of the black limestone stood two statues. On the left, a hooded female angel with long hair exuded warmth and love with just a glance. On the right, a man with long hair reaching his waist, battle armor, and a large curved sword stood tall, representing strength and power.

Both statues shared a common feature - eight pairs of angel wings with a golden embedding at the base. The size of the embedding was impressive, but the language inscribed on it was unfamiliar. Matthew, being closest to the Cathedral, squinted to decipher the symbols.

"It appears to be a blend of Old Norse and Old Latin," Matthew observed, his gaze fixed on the golden embedding.

As Matthew focused on the language, the mixture of Old Norse and Old Latin seemed to come alive. The letters themselves began to shake and rearrange before settling back into place.

Suddenly, beneath the unfamiliar text, a set of familiar letters caught Matthew's eye. Japanese Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana emerged, allowing him to read the golden inscriptions on the statues.

The golden engraving on the opposite side proclaimed, "Honor the Lady of Unity and Birth. Her everlasting form and influence are bestowed upon us by our Divine Being, the Eternal Barren of Knowledge and Insight."

On the left side, the golden engraving depicted a man in armor, wielding a sword, and declared, "Praise the Angel of Conflict and War. His strength embodies our Lord and Redeemer - the Eternal Barren of Knowledge and Insight."

Matthew found himself captivated by these words, his curiosity piqued. He had unknowingly wandered a few steps away from the entrance of the Cathedral, completely engrossed in the engravings.

Suddenly, Elijah's urgent shout snapped Matthew out of his reverie. Startled, he looked down and witnessed a fierce battle between clergymen and barbarians, with lifeless bodies and severed heads strewn across the ground.

Fear gripped Matthew, and as he turned his gaze to the right, he saw a burly man charging towards him with a dagger in hand. In an instant, Elijah tackled him to the ground, saving him from harm.

In that moment, Matthew's vision blurred with crimson as blood splattered across his face. It was Elijah's blood, spilled as the dagger pierced his side.

The assailant, undeterred, withdrew another dagger as Augustus sprinted towards them. But before he could reach them, the man struck, his blade finding its mark.

However, the flesh that was pierced did not belong to Matthew or Elijah. It was the attacker's own flesh, as a thin blade impaled him from behind, piercing his lungs.

Simultaneously, Augustus arrived and delivered a powerful punch to the man's hand, causing him to bleed from his mouth and his neck to twist slightly.

The force of the punch made the man slide off the thin blade and collapse onto the ground. With a swift motion, he swung his blade to the left, removing all traces of blood before sheathing it.

"Are you all alright?" the man who had saved Elijah's life asked, turning to face them with concern in his eyes.

At that instant, the man who had come to the rescue of half-siblings and Elijah himself paused, their gazes locking onto each other.

The man exhibited an incredible stature, towering over others with his broad frame and muscular build. However, there was a certain gracefulness in his lean figure. His skin was smooth while it possessed a stunning bronze-colored hue, and his deep brown eyes were so captivating that they could easily be mistaken for shimmering golden-yellow. Adorning his ears were black earpieces that glistened with opulence.

Long, silky black hair cascaded down from his head, reaching his lower back. The style resembled Audrey's hair, with longer locks on the sides gradually transitioning into a shorter length towards the forehead. Wisps of excess hair were meticulously tied together with a blue ribbon, placed at the nape of his neck. The rest of his hair flowed freely, swaying gracefully with each movement.

Dressed impeccably, he wore a pristine white button-up shirt beneath a grey vest, and layered over it was a black suit jacket. Black pants, accentuated by a blue belt, completed his attire. As if the multiple layers of clothing were not enough, he donned a long black trench coat that hugged his broad shoulders snugly. To complement his blue ribbon and belt, a pure blue tie adorned his neckline.

In his hand, he held a golden cane. The handle and collar were crafted from pure gold, with a subtle line demarcating the collar from the shaft, masking the lethal blade concealed within.

A broad smile graced his face as he gently caressed his features with his gloved hands, exuding an air of confidence and elegance. Subtle meowing emanated from behind him, drawing attention to a white cat adorned with three strands of pearl necklaces.

"Well, I'll be damned…" The man was the first to speak, causing Elijah's pain to fade away as a smile spread across his face. "You stole my line…"

"Daemon Sinclair."