Darkness

Vivienne could hear her heart beating faster and faster, pounding in her ears. The world seemed to stop in this moment. She couldn't hear any noise other than her heart in her ears. The man in front of her was unreal. Unlike anything she'd ever seen. Terribly handsome but also with the face that just screamed of trouble. When his lips met the back of her hand it felt electric, like nothing she'd ever felt before. It felt like a million little lightning bolts pulsating through her hand all the way up her arm.

"I..." She tried to gather the words, stunned by everything that had happened up until now. Who was this? What was happening? Was she in trouble? She didn't even know. "It's nice to meet you, too..." Vivienne said softly as she watched his expression. He seemed to enjoy her nerves and anxiety over the situation.

The man slowly stood to his feet. He was wearing a tailored black suit which he sifted his hands into his pockets when he stood. Vivienne had never been considered short but standing in front of him, she felt small. He was well over a foot taller than her and she had to bend her neck in order to meet his gaze from where she stood. He was intimidating and it wasn't just because she knew what he was now. He wasn't like the others though. He wasn't feral or rabid or acting like an animal. He seemed completely normal.

"Vivienne!" Claire's voice was muffled and sounded far away from where she stood. It cut through the fog and through her fixation on the man in front of her. The fog had started to dissipate. "Are you.. with The Council?" Vivienne turned her head behind her towards where she had heard Claire's voice. The fog had disappeared enough to where she could see through the trees. They were back near the entrance to the forest. She could see the faint glow of lights coming from the garden of the mansion and the estate itself. She turned her head back around, anticipating an answer from the man but when she turned around, there was no one there.

Vivienne's brows furrowed and she looked around frantically. Had she been dreaming? Was this a hallucination? "Vivienne!" Claire yelled out to her and ran. "Viv, are you alright?!" Claire asked anxiously as she put her hands on Vivienne's shoulders. "Y-yeah I'm okay.." Claire sighed with relief loudly. "Oh thank God. I was so worried... I'm so sorry, I should've warned you. I didn't think it would go that far tonight." Vivienne waved Claire off. That was the least of her worries right now. The two headed back towards the mansion.

"Claire... I met someone back in the forest, I was wondering if you could tell me his name?" Claire looked at her curiously. Everyone that had been with the group had been looking for her and if it was someone from The Council, they would've stayed with her until they had gotten back safely. "He was younger, hair to about here, dark gray, super tall..." Claire stopped and looked at Vivienne squarely in the eye. "Look if any guy meeting that description was here do you think I would've been focused on you all night?" There was a weak smile from Claire's lips and Vivienne smiled, embarrassed. "You're right... It was probably nothing."

Claire put her arm around Vivienne's shoulder and started to usher her back towards the patio of the estate. "I think it's best you be careful out here by yourself... You never know what things lurk out in the darkness." Vivienne turned to look at Claire's expression but Claire had looked over her shoulder back at the forest. Something told Vivienne that this wasn't just a subtle warning.