THE COLD NIGHT

Chapter 1

Lucia Grand walked through the moonlit streets of the city, the chill of the evening air biting at her skin. She had long since become accustomed to the isolation in her father's home, and tonight, like many nights, she sought refuge in the solitude of the city. Away from the cold indifference of her stepmother and the cruel mockery of her stepsister, Lucia yearned for a fleeting escape from the suffocating atmosphere of her father's mansion.

Her father, Austin Grand, had never been kind to her, blaming her for her mother's death and making it clear she would never live up to the legacy of his late wife. To him, Lucia was nothing more than a reminder of his failure…a burden to carry in silence.

As she passed by a darkened alleyway, a shadow flickered in her peripheral vision. At first, she thought it was nothing more than a trick of the light, but then the sensation of being watched, of something heavy and unsettling, made her pause. Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively quickened her pace.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure standing in the shadows. He was tall, and imposing, his presence looming even in the dark. The man didn't move, but there was a certain tension in the air; like a predator waiting to strike. His sharp features were nearly hidden in the darkness, but his eyes gleamed with an intensity that felt like a pressure on her chest.

Lucia's stomach clenched, her breath quickening. She had the irrational urge to run, but her feet felt rooted to the spot. It wasn't fear—at least not the kind she was used to. This was something else. Something deeper.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," a voice cut through the silence, low and smooth, carrying an undeniable weight.

Lucia froze. The voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made the air seem even colder. She had heard the voice before—at least, something about it felt familiar, though she couldn't place where. But it wasn't the voice that unsettled her—it was the way it commanded the space around them like the man's very presence demanded attention.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she finally forced her feet to move, taking a step backward. "I'm fine," she said, her voice trembling more than she would have liked.

The man's eyes never left her. He took a step forward, slow and deliberate, and with each movement, she felt the temperature around her drop. It was as though he exuded cold, a stillness that rippled through the air.

"You should be more careful," he said, his voice barely a whisper now, though it carried with an unsettling authority. His gaze locked onto her, and she felt the weight of it like an invisible chain, pulling her closer. "The city is full of things you don't understand."

Lucia swallowed, trying to steady her racing pulse. Who was this man? Why did he make her feel as though she were standing before a force she couldn't comprehend?

"I'm fine," she repeated, though this time, the words felt empty. She knew she wasn't. She felt exposed, like a mouse caught in a lion's gaze, unable to escape.

He took another step toward her, the darkness around him seemingly deepening, as if the shadows themselves recognized his presence. Lucia felt an icy chill crawl down her spine. She didn't want to look at him, but she couldn't look away either.

"Go home," he said, his tone not demanding, but cold, as though he was simply telling her what was inevitable. "You don't belong here."

For a moment, Lucia hesitated, caught between the strange pull of his presence and the overwhelming desire to flee. But something in his voice, something about the way he stood there…untouchable, almost godlike, made her feel small. Helpless.

"I'm fine," she repeated, though now her voice was barely audible. She turned away from him, her legs shaking as she forced herself to walk, her heart still racing in her chest.

As she passed by the alley, she could feel his eyes on her, still watching her every step. The eerie sensation lingered, a gnawing feeling in her gut that told her this man…this presence…was no ordinary person. No, he was something more. Something ancient.

She didn't look back. She couldn't.

But she would never forget the strange, cold man with eyes that seemed to pierce through her soul.