Eli had taken leave from work just as he promised.
For once, the great empire he built could wait.
Valo didn't want to leave his side. Not even for a heartbeat.
And Eli, ever the gentle husband, did everything to keep her calm. He shifted his meetings online, kept his calls short, his world smaller all so she could stay within reach.
Her smile that morning held a kind of peace that could silence storms.
It lived in the soft curve of her lips, in the glimmer of her eyes that reflected him her whole world.
But peace has a way of cracking when you stare too long.
The knock came sharp and heavy not once, but twice echoing through the marble halls.
At the gate stood a man dressed in grey, face unreadable, holding a brown envelope sealed with red wax.
Valo's laughter fell quiet. Her posture stiffened as though she'd been expecting this.
The air thickened between them.
She stepped forward, the faint click of her heels slicing through silence.
When she reached for the envelope, her fingers brushed the man's cold, unnervingly still.
The wax seal pressed against her skin, burning faintly like it remembered something.
Eli rose from his chair, brows knitting. Valo? What is it?
She didn't answer. Just stared down at the letter, her face unreadable all softness gone.
Then she turned.
Whatever you do, she said quietly to the driver as she handed over the keys, make sure my Eli is fine until I come back.
Her tone was calm, but her knuckles had gone white.
The driver nodded, visibly uneasy.
Valo entered the car, black and white trousers sharp against the light, brown boots glinting like they'd walked through both heaven and hell.
Eli watched her go from the window, a tired smile ghosting across his lips.
Valo Knocker, he murmured, his reflection faint in the glass, even when you're angry… you still worry about me.
He leaned against the frame, smiling the kind that hides unease then fell back on the bed.
Sleep came, but it was restless. Heavy. Haunted.
Elsewhere
Tires screamed against the gravel as Valo's car came to a stop before a crowded dormitory gate.
She didn't move at first only watched her reflection in the windshield, pale, eyes flickering between thoughts she didn't want to face.
A man rushed to her door, breathless. Madam! Forgive the chaos a young man's been throwing money. Says it's everyone's lucky day!
Valo tilted her head. A faint, humorless smile touched her lips. Is that so?
She stepped out. The heat of the crowd rolled over her laughter, shouting, hands reaching for bills that fluttered through sunlight like gold dust.
But as Valo broke the wax seal, the laughter faltered.
Her eyes scanned the paper. Line by line, her expression hollowed.
Then came the smallest sound a short, trembling laugh that shouldn't have sounded so wrong.
Her pupils glowed faintly red.
The crowd shifted, uneasy.
She began walking, each step parting people as though something unseen moved with her.
No one spoke.
At the center of the chaos stood a young man, tall and striking, dark hair cascading over his shoulders. His voice was rich, confident too bright for this place.
Don't feel small or poor, he called out. You've got one life live it full. Money comes and goes. You don't.
The crowd cheered.
But when Valo spoke, the air stilled.
My one and only children, she said softly.
The young man froze mid-sentence. Slowly, his head turned.
Behind him stood another identical in face, in height, in the tilt of his jaw.
Her sons.
Kooli Sam. Kooli Ethan.
Valo's smile widened too wide. The crowd sensed it that edge between warmth and warning.
The boys paled.
Mother.....
Before they could finish, she moved.
Her hands shot out, gripping both their ears, twisting.
Mother!....ow...!
Let go....!
She only laughed loud, wild, collapsing into laughter so hard she dropped to her knees, her shoulders shaking.
The sound of it filled the courtyard bright and terrible.
The crowd didn't know whether to laugh or run.
Then, as suddenly as it began, her laughter died.
Her head lifted. The light drained from her eyes.
We have a problem, she whispered.
The sunlight dimmed. Shadows rippled across the cobblestones like spilled ink.
Both boys straightened, all teasing gone. They'd seen this look before the one that meant something had followed them home.
Kooli Sam. Kooli Ethan, she said, voice steady as stone.
We're going home. But things are not okay. Whatever you do stay safe. Always.
They exchanged a glance mirrored, fearful, silent.
Yes, Mother, they said in unison.
Valo rose. Her body was trembling, though her face never showed it.
Eli, she breathed, turning away. They're here.
The Reunion
Eli woke to her voice soft, distant, trembling like it had traveled through a storm to reach him.
He blinked, eyes adjusting to the fading light.
There she stood framed in the doorway, sunlight bending around her like it was afraid to touch her.
Behind her, two silhouettes lingered still, sharp, familiar.
Eli, Valo whispered again.
These are our boys.
He froze. For a moment, his heart forgot how to beat.
The two figures stepped forward, identical smiles faintly cutting through the dim light.
Kooli Sam smirked. Mom said you'd look like that.
Eli tried to steady his breath. Like what?
Like you just saw a ghost, Ethan murmured.
Valo's hand slid to Eli's arm, grounding him, her touch both burning and cold.
They grew fast, she said, a tremor in her voice. Too fast.
He tried to smile, but his eyes kept drifting to the corner of the room where the shadows didn't move like they should.
The boys' expressions shifted.
Dad, Sam whispered. "There's someone by the door."
Eli turned.
The doorway was empty. Only a curtain swayed.
Valo's face drained of color.
Her nails dug deep into her palm until blood welled between her fingers.
Don't turn your back, she breathed. He never leaves when we look away.
The twins shared a glance mirror perfect, silent.
Eli felt it before he heard it a breath at his neck, cold and human.
You think they would hide you or them?
Valo froze.
Smoke curled from her bleeding palm, red flame licking her skin as every mirror in the hall began to hum low, alive.
Get the boys out, she said, voice steady but trembling beneath.
Valo
Now!
The sound cracked the air like lightning. Even the chandelier shivered.
As Eli pulled the twins toward the corridor, Valo turned back to the mirror now fogged, twisting, alive.
Her reflection smiled her face, but wrong, the smile curving too slowly.
You brought them home, it whispered.
Now we can begin.
The glass rippled once before something behind it moved.
And for the first time in years, Valo Knocker prayed.