The Shadows Beckon

The fire had calmed inside her, but it had left its mark.

Anne sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands, remembering the heat that had surged through her veins just minutes ago. The voice in her head still echoed—Lucian's voice. He was out there. Waiting. Watching.

But for what?

Her mother had shut the conversation down immediately after Anne mentioned hearing Lucian. Bela had practically stormed out, locking the door behind her, as if she could trap Anne inside forever. As if she could stop her from knowing the truth.

Anne clenched her fists. No more. She wasn't a child. She wasn't helpless. She was something more. And if her mother wouldn't give her answers, she'd find them herself.

The moon hung heavy outside her window, its silver glow bathing the trees in an eerie light. The wind howled through the leaves, whispering secrets only the night could hear.

Now or never.

Anne moved swiftly, pulling on a dark cloak over her dress. Her mother had left an hour ago—off to hunt, as she always did. There wouldn't be a better time.

She pressed her palm against the wooden door. The lock was sturdy, but it wasn't strong enough to keep her inside. Heat welled up in her chest, and she focused on it, guiding it—not forcing it. With a slow exhale, she let the fire flow into her fingertips. The wood beneath her palm heated, blackened, then cracked. A quiet snap followed as the lock melted away.

Anne stepped into the hall, every sense on high alert. She moved carefully, her bare feet making no sound against the wooden floors.

The house was eerily still. It had always felt more like a prison than a home, with its thick stone walls and its dark corners. But tonight, it felt like something more—a threshold she was finally crossing.

At the entrance, she hesitated for only a second before stepping into the night.

The forest greeted her like an old friend. The scent of damp earth filled her lungs, and the distant hoot of an owl sent a shiver down her spine. She had only ever seen these trees from her window. Now, she was one with them.

The cold air kissed her skin, but the fire inside her kept her warm.

She moved quickly, guided by instinct. She didn't know where Lucian was—only that she had to find him.

Minutes turned into an hour. The deeper she walked into the forest, the more she felt something… shifting. The air became heavier, almost charged. The trees stood taller, their branches twisted in unnatural shapes.

Then, she heard it.

A whisper.

Not from behind. Not ahead. But everywhere.

You shouldn't have come, Anne.

Her breath hitched. It was him.

Her pulse pounded in her ears. "Where are you?" she called, turning in a slow circle.

Silence.

Then—

A figure emerged from the darkness.

Lucian.

He was just as she remembered: dark hair falling over sharp, piercing eyes, his presence commanding yet unreadable.

But there was something else.

A flicker of something dangerous in his gaze. Something that made her both cautious and drawn to him all at once.

"You're persistent," he said, his voice carrying that same unshaken confidence.

Anne steadied herself. "I need answers."

Lucian's lips curved into something between amusement and disbelief. "Answers?" He took a step closer, his eyes locked onto hers. "Are you sure you want them?"

A part of her wavered, but she stood her ground. "Yes."

Lucian exhaled slowly, as if considering something. Then, he tilted his head.

"Then tell me, Anne," he said, voice softer now. "Have you ever wondered why your mother kept you hidden? Why she never let you see the world?"

Anne's jaw tightened. "To protect me."

Lucian chuckled, low and quiet. "Is that what she told you?"

Anne stiffened.

Something about the way he said it made the ground beneath her feel unsteady.

Lucian took another step, now only a breath away. "Let me tell you something about protection," he murmured. "Sometimes, it's just another word for control."

The words sent a chill through her.

Anne swallowed hard. "Then tell me the truth."

Lucian's expression shifted, the teasing edge fading. His gaze darkened.

"The truth is," he said, voice barely above a whisper, "you and I… we're not supposed to exist."

The forest seemed to close in around them.

Anne's breath caught. "What do you mean?"

Lucian's eyes burned into hers. "We're abominations, Anne. A mistake that should never have been made. And sooner or later—" His voice dropped lower. "—someone will come to erase us."

The words hit like a punch to the chest.

Erase.

Not protect.

Not control.

Erase.

Anne took a shaky step back. "You're lying."

Lucian didn't move. "Am I?"

Her mind spun. None of this could be true. Her mother had kept her locked away for her safety. She had to believe that.

And yet…

Something inside her whispered otherwise.

Lucian watched her carefully. "If you don't believe me," he said, his voice almost gentle, "find out for yourself."

Anne's hands clenched. She didn't want to believe him.

But she had to know.

Because if he was right…

Then everything she had ever known was a lie.

And if that was true—then she had never truly been free.