Into the Veil: The Chimera King

“Yana…”

The voice pulled me from my sleep, and I blinked up at the figure standing next to my bed. It was late, the room was dark, and I was only seven years old. I had woken up with the eerie sensation of not being alone, and my young mind had immediately jumped to the worst possible scenarios.

But none of my imagined monsters looked like the creature now standing before me. His voice was deep, suggesting he was male, but his appearance was far from human. He was tall and shrouded in darkness, his pale face barely visible under a dark hood.

His eyes were as black as the night itself, and they seemed to pierce right through me. Despite the stories I’d heard about monsters, I wasn’t afraid of him. Instead, I felt a strange sense of curiosity and a new, unfamiliar feeling.

I couldn’t help but speak to him. “What are you?” I asked in a whisper.

I kept my voice low, partly out of confusion and partly because I didn’t want to wake my parents. Our home was small, the walls thin, and my father was a light sleeper, thanks to the war.

“You may think of me as a messenger,” he replied. His mouth didn’t move, but I heard his words clearly. “You are as fearless as I anticipated. It gives me hope for what is to be.”

I tilted my head, puzzled. “I don’t understand. What are you talking about? Who are you?”

“As I said, I am a messenger.” He seemed to glance toward the bedroom door before continuing. “You must listen well. Your destiny is not to be here, and when the time comes, you should follow your instincts to ensure all goes as needed.”

“Does that mean you are planning to take me away from Mommy and Daddy?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

“Not at all.” A thin, black hand rested on my head, and I had the distinct feeling he was smiling. “You shall be the one to tame his heart, and we shall be one step closer to our goal.”

That encounter stayed with me, even twelve years later, as I sat in the soft grass of the forest. I often came here to meditate, and my mind had wandered back to that night. The memory was hazy, like a dream, but it had left a lasting impression on me.

I opened my eyes slowly, taking in the sounds and smells of the forest. This was my sanctuary, my place of peace since my father and I had moved to this region. We had been refugees for years, and the death of my mother during that time had taken a toll on us.

I stood up, brushing off my skirt and pushing my long, dark hair over my shoulder. The afternoon was fading, and I needed to head home to prepare dinner. There was always a chance that Father might come home and actually want to eat.

The forest was vast and beautiful, but it was also shrouded in mystery. The villagers warned me to stay away, claiming it was a mystical place inhabited by spirits.

“Beware of the forest,” they’d caution. “That is the home of the spirits, and if you venture too far in, then they will take you away.”

But their warnings didn’t scare me. Not after that night. That memory was part of the reason I came here, initially to explore and then to meditate. I wanted to understand what the creature had been trying to tell me.

I was certain he was real, even if no one else believed me and my mother had pleaded with me to never speak of it again before she passed away. I continued my walk for a bit longer before I found a fallen log to sit on.

I looked up, taking in the high canopy of leaves above me. The sky was a cloudy gray and the air had a cool crispness to it, but the signs of spring were everywhere. The leaves and grass were a vibrant green, and the forest was buzzing with the activity of various animals and insects.

This life felt a little alien to me as I absorbed it all. It was hard to wrap my head around the fact that the world could still be beautiful after everything I’d experienced. Part of me wished I could stay here forever, never having to return to that gloomy little house.

If I could’ve stayed in this peaceful forest forever, I would’ve done so without a second thought. Suddenly, a quick flash in my peripheral vision caught my attention. I turned my head to the left, fully expecting to see a deer or some other woodland creature.

But there was nothing there. Instead, it looked like there were fading sparks trailing off into the distance. Curiosity has always been my Achilles’ heel, so I didn’t hesitate to get up and investigate.

I didn’t hear any sounds that would suggest someone else was out here with me, so what could’ve caused that? There was a trail of these sparks leading further into the woods, away from the path. I didn’t think twice as I followed them, confident that I could find my way back.

I’d been coming out here since I was a little girl with my father, and he’d taught me everything I needed to know about these woods. But I’d never seen anything like these sparks before. That was the best way I could describe them as I followed their trail through the trees.

They looked like bright orange balls of light, reminiscent of embers from a fire. The strangest thing was that it was as if something was leaving a trail of them behind. I stopped in my tracks as I remembered the stories I used to hear about this forest as a child.

More than one person had warned my parents about the dangers of this place. They claimed that this forest was bewitched, that people came out here and disappeared, or that they’d seen strange creatures roaming within it, creatures they believed could be Jinn or other demons.

Of course, my father had always dismissed these stories. He didn’t believe in any of that and told me time and again that the stories were just old tales passed down through the generations to keep children from wandering off and getting lost.

I never saw anything out of the ordinary either, so I’d believed him. At least, until now. I looked around me, noticing that the woods were starting to darken. I’d been out here for quite a while, so the sun must’ve been setting.

I quickened my pace, the sticks and underbrush crunching under my feet as I ran. Panic was starting to set in, the realization that I might be lost was taking over my thoughts.

This was really, really bad. I needed to get out of here before it got dark. If I didn’t, I might never make it out.

The wolves would probably get me!

Suddenly, the ground beneath me sloped, and I lost my footing, tumbling forward. I managed to catch myself with my hands, the breath knocked out of me and debris from the forest floor cutting into my palms. I stayed on my hands and knees, trying to catch my breath as I desperately tried to calm myself down.

Panicking wasn’t going to help. I needed to slow down and think.

Strangely, everything seemed to become brighter and warmer as I sat there. I slowly lifted my head, seeing bright sunlight streaming through the tops of the trees all around me.

Everything around me was much more vivid than before. The tree trunks were darker and the grass and leaves were a deeper green. Even the wildflowers were vibrant shades of white, yellow, and red.

I slowly got to my feet, looking around me and trying to make sense of this. This couldn’t be the same forest I’d been in. There was simply no way that was possible.

Whatever this was, it wasn’t right, and I needed to figure out how to get back home.

After a moment of contemplation, I decided to head back in the direction I’d come from. While it seemed hard to believe that I’d somehow stumbled into a different world, I couldn’t dismiss the possibility.

If that was the case, then maybe I could find how I’d slipped in here and get myself back out.

The world around me was eerily silent as I treaded lightly. Not a single bird chirped, nor did I hear the rustling of animals in the underbrush. The stillness was unsettling, unnatural.

I continued my journey for a few more minutes, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. A sense of panic began to bubble up within me.

How was I going to escape this place?

Suddenly, the sound of crunching leaves halted me in my tracks. It was the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoing through the forest. I scanned my surroundings, hoping to finally spot another human being, but my heart plummeted when I saw the figure standing about ten feet away from me.

They were shrouded in a long, deep red cape and hood, their features hidden from view. I couldn’t even discern their gender, though their height suggested they might be male.

I spun around, only to realize that there were more figures like the first, lurking among the trees. Fear surged through me, and I bolted, sprinting through the woods in a desperate attempt to escape.

A peculiar noise echoed from above, and I skidded to a halt as something landed in my path, causing me to lose my footing and tumble to the ground. I looked up at the figure blocking my way, disbelief washing over me.

He resembled a young man, but he was clearly something else. He was tall and broad-shouldered, clad in dark pants and a white dress shirt. His skin was a creamy hue, and blonde hair fell over his forehead and framed his face.

His dark eyes were piercing as they studied me. But his human-like appearance ended there. Yellow and black stripes adorned his neck and hands, and black antennae sprouted from his head. Transparent wings extended from his back, now folded since he had landed.

“Well, what do we have here?” he mused, a hint of amusement in his deep, smooth voice. “It seems a human girl has managed to slip through to this side. How very peculiar. This hasn’t happened in ages.”

I began to back away but froze when I realized the cloaked figures had encircled us. Fear was making it difficult to breathe.

“W-where am I?! What a-are you?!” I stammered.

The creature in front of me sighed, resting a hand on his cheek.

“What to do? What to do? I can’t just leave you here. I could always wipe your memory of this place once I return you to your world,” he mused.

One of the hooded figures approached him, whispering something. The voice was distinctly male.

“Forgive me, Sir Ramone, but we are currently unable to assist. The gateway is closed and unresponsive,” he informed him quietly.

“Oh, dear,” the creature—apparently named Ramone—sighed.

I edged back a little more. “Please, don’t kill me! I didn’t mean to come here! I just want to go home!” I pleaded.

“Now, now. Let’s not get carried away,” Ramone chided. He knelt down to my level, though he didn’t come any closer. “No one is going to harm you. We understand that you didn’t mean to end up here. The problem is figuring out how to get you back.”

He paused, deep in thought. “I suppose there’s no harm in looking after you while we sort this out. I can’t imagine Lord Merrick would object.”

“Lord Merrick?” I echoed.

“He is the ruler of these lands. We all answer to him.” Ramone stood up, extending a hand toward me. “My name is Ramone, and I am Lord Merrick’s Mage. Please, don’t be afraid. I will take you to the palace where we can ensure your safety until we can return you to your world.”

I recoiled from him, scrambling to my feet.

“No way! If you want me to go home, then take me there now!” I demanded.

Ramone seemed unfazed by my outburst. Before I knew it, he had scooped me up and slung me over his shoulder. I struggled, but it was futile. No matter how much I kicked and squirmed, his grip remained firm.

“Calm down. I told you I’d take you home when I can, but for now, you’ll have to stay here,” he said, his voice steady and calm.

His wings unfurled, and we soared into the sky. The moment I realized how high we were, I clung to his shirt, my eyes squeezed shut in fear.

The flight seemed to stretch on forever, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. I was trapped in this bizarre world, and he wasn’t ready to help me escape.

Eventually, we descended, his landing as gentle as a feather on the ground.

“Relax. I wouldn’t have let you fall,” Ramone reassured me.

I cautiously opened my eyes, taking in the sight of a sprawling, lush garden encased by a towering concrete wall. An iron gate stood closed, hinting at a path and trees beyond.

My eyes widened at the sight of the palace, a mere five feet away. It was as grand as the ones I’d read about in books, with three stories of large windows and two impressive wings.

Ramone led me through a pair of double doors and up a grand staircase. He didn’t stop until we reached a bedroom, where he gently set me down on the bed.

“You’ll be safest here while I figure things out. It’ll also give you time to compose yourself,” he said.

“I’d be composed if you took me home! That’s all I want!” I shot back.

I wanted to stand up as I said this, but I was frozen in place. I was still reeling from everything, and I wasn’t sure if he had plans to harm me.

Ramone simply brushed off my demand.

“Just take some time to calm down. I’ll check on you soon.”

As he vanished in a puff of smoke, I sprang up, my hands passing through the dissipating cloud. The room was eerily silent, and for the first time, I felt utterly alone.

Panic surged through me, and I rushed to the door, only to find it locked from the outside.

“Damn it!” I shouted, pounding my fist against the door before rushing to the windows on the other side of the room.

I yanked the curtains aside and tried each window, but they were all locked. I could see the garden below, but there was no sign of anyone.

I slumped, the harsh reality sinking in. There was no escape.

I was trapped in this room. I was a prisoner in this strange new world, and all I could do was hope for a way to survive and return home.