As Aveline walked through the narrow, streets of the small town, her mind lingered on her recent conversation with Lucian.

His words, "Because I can't seem to stop you," echoed in her thoughts, hinting at the vulnerability he tried to mask.

There was something more beneath his cold demeanor, and she was determined to uncover it. "Why is he so mysterious?"

That night, in his crumbling mansion, Lucian stood by the large, cracked window of his study, staring into the endless expanse of the moonlit forest.

Aveline's presence had unsettled him deeply. She wasn't just another human wandering into his isolated world-she was a reflection of his past, a shadow of someone he had loved and lost. His thoughts spiraled into vivid memories.

Flashback: The Night of Selene's Death

Lucian remembered Selene's laughter, her dark hair shining in the golden light of the sun. She had been his muse, his everything. They would sit by the riverside, where he would read his verses, and she would listen, her eyes filled with admiration. But that happiness had been short-lived.

On a stormy night centuries ago, Selene had been taken from him. The sight of her lifeless body, the blood staining her dress, and the ominous figure standing over her.

That was the night Lucian's mortal life ended. A dark entity had approached him in his despair, offering him immortality to avenge her death. Blinded by rage and heartbreak, Lucian accepted, not realizing the curse he was inviting into his existence.

Lucian's hand tightened around the edge of the windowsill as the memory faded. His reflection stared back at him, but it was not his own-it was the face of the monster he had become.

Meanwhile, Aveline had spent the day pouring over the poems she had taken from Lucian. Each verse seemed to carry the weight of centuries, hinting at heartbreak, betrayal, and something darker-a transformation.

One particular poem caught her attention, a piece titled "The Shadow's Gift"

The words spoke of a moment when despair turned into power, and light succumbed to darkness. It was cryptic but deeply personal, and Aveline couldn't help but feel it was autobiographical.

As she wandered through the forest, lost in thought, a cold shiver ran down her spine. She stopped, looking around. The air had shifted, the silence becoming oppressive. She felt as though she were being watched.

The Shadow Revealed

Lucian sensed it before he saw it. A familiar darkness that had followed him for centuries now seemed to focus on Aveline. He rushed through the forest, his vampiric speed blurring the trees around him, until he found her standing frozen in a clearing. Behind her, the shadow began to take shape-a tall, menacing figure with glowing red eyes.

"Aveline!" Lucian called out, his voice sharp and commanding. She turned to see him, relief washing over her face. But before she could speak, the shadow lunged toward her.

In an instant, Lucian was there, standing between Aveline and the figure. With a growl, his supernatural strength collided with the shadow's force. The clash sent shockwaves through the clearing, the energy crackling like lightning.

Aveline watched in shock as Lucian's eyes glowed faintly, his strength and speed beyond anything she thought possible.

The shadow retreated into the darkness, but its parting words echoed in the air: "You cannot protect her forever, Lucian. The past will consume you both."

Lucian turns to aveline " let's go , it's not safe here in the forest to wander around"

Lucian leads the way to the mansion with aveline following him behind.

---

Back at the mansion, Aveline confronted Lucian. "What was that thing? And what are you, Lucian? No human could do what you just did."

Lucian hesitated, his mind racing. He knew this moment would come, but he wasn't ready to share the full truth.

"It's complicated," he finally said, his voice heavy with regret. "That shadow... it's tied to my past. And so am I."

Aveline crossed her arms, determination flashing in her eyes. "Then explain it to me. Because whatever you're hiding, it's putting us both in danger."

Lucian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'll tell you... but not everything. Not yet." He gestured for her to sit, and as the fire crackle

d softly in the hearth, he began to unravel pieces of his story.