when i sleep : The Nocturnal hunter (book 1)

The sun had barely touched the horizon when Ethan felt it-a pulse deep in his core. It was subtle at first, like a distant heartbeat, but as the minutes passed, the rhythm grew louder. Sharper.

Another trial was coming.

Ethan stood at the edge of the forest, his senses stretched beyond human perception. The air felt wrong. He could taste the metallic sting of energy-a sign that something from the Abyss was bleeding into the world again.

"Something's moving," he muttered, tightening his fists.

Behind him, Andriane and Marcus approached. Misty lingered by the door, her golden-ringed eyes faintly glowing.

Marcus adjusted the small device on his wrist-a modified Satharian energy tracker he'd built days earlier. "Yeah... and it's not alone," he said, frowning at the fluctuating readings. "Whatever's out there isn't human. Or Agarthan."

Ethan didn't need the tech to know that. His instincts already warned him. "Stay close, but if things go bad-"

"We know," Andriane interrupted, her voice firm. "We get Misty out and hold the line."

Ethan gave a nod, appreciating her resolve. But deep down, he hated dragging his children into this war. If there were another way, he would have taken it.

But there wasn't.

He stepped forward into the trees, his body tense, as if the shadows themselves were waiting to strike.

---

The Depths of the Forest

The deeper they moved, the thicker the energy became. It clung to Ethan's skin like ice, dragging the Veilborn essence closer to the surface. His night vision sharpened, turning the darkness into muted silver hues. Every breath tasted of the Abyss.

Marcus knelt suddenly, inspecting the ground. "Dad... these tracks. They're not Satharian or Agarthan. They're something else."

Ethan crouched beside him. The tracks were strange-clawed, but not like any creature he'd encountered before. And they radiated a faint, unsettling warmth.

Andriane scanned the area. "If it's another one of Veylis's monsters, we should prepare for the worst."

"No," Ethan said quietly, standing. "This isn't hers."

Before anyone could respond, the ground trembled. A rift tore open a few meters ahead-black mist leaking out like poison. From it emerged a towering figure.

It was humanoid but wrong-its skin was burned with ancient symbols, and jagged black spines erupted along its arms. Its eyes burned an eerie crimson.

A voice-deep and cold-cut through the stillness. "Veilborn... you walk between two worlds. But your blood belongs to the Abyss."

Ethan's muscles coiled. "Not today."

The creature lunged. Ethan moved faster.

He dodged to the side, his claws extending with a sharp shhhk. He countered with a feral swipe, tearing through the creature's side. It barely flinched.

It spun, moving with terrifying speed, its jagged arm slamming into Ethan's ribs. Pain lanced through him, but he gritted his teeth and drove his elbow into its chest. The force sent the creature skidding back.

It laughed-a dry, broken sound. "You are not ready. The Abyss will consume you."

Ethan felt the surge of power within, clawing for release. For a heartbeat, he considered letting it loose. But he held back. Not yet.

He shifted his stance and focused. The air around his arms twisted, and black tendrils coiled into shape-forming Veilborn Gauntlets along his forearms.

"You want to test me?" His voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "Fine."

The creature charged again, but this time Ethan was ready. He met it head-on, driving a gauntleted fist into its chest. The impact shattered bone. Black mist burst from the wound as Ethan seized its throat and twisted.

The creature disintegrated in his grasp-its body pulled back into the Abyss.

Silence fell over the forest.

Marcus exhaled sharply. "That... was different."

Ethan flexed his fingers, watching as the Veilborn Gauntlets faded back into shadow. "It wasn't just a test." His expression darkened. "It was a message."

---

Deep Beneath Agartha - Council Chamber

Far beneath the surface world, a storm was brewing.

High Chancellor Myren stood at the center of the Agarthan Council's chamber, his stern gaze sweeping across the room. "The Satharians grow bolder," he declared. "Their agents move closer to breaching our inner sanctums."

The air was heavy with tension. The ancient war between Agartha and the Satharians had never truly ended-but now, with Ethan Cross at the center of the Veilborn prophecy, the stakes had risen.

A woman stepped forward-Commander Seraphis, one of the Agarthan Elite. "And what of the Veilborn Champion?" she asked coldly. "Is he truly our ally... or our greatest threat?"

Myren's face hardened. "Ethan Cross is the key to stopping the Abyss. Without him, we are all doomed."

Another councilor, his face hidden behind a metallic mask, scoffed. "And if he falls? If the Abyss claims him-he will become another Aegir Valdyr. And none of us will survive that."

Silence gripped the room.

Myren's voice was grim. "We do not have the luxury of doubt. The trials have begun. And if Ethan Cross fails, the war will consume us all."

---

The Abyss Stirs

In the heart of the Abyss, Veylis stood at the edge of an endless void. She could feel the Veilborn Champion growing stronger-but so too did the hunger of the Abyss.

Her lips curved into a smile. "Soon," she whispered.

Behind her, the dark presence stirred-massive, ancient, and patient. It had waited for ages. And soon, it would be free.

---

End of Chapter 27