The city was quiet that evening, the streets washed in silver moonlight. Celine Rowan walked slowly, her thoughts wandering as she wandered through the familiar cobblestone lanes near her favorite bookstore. She loved this part of town—hidden cafés, narrow streets, and the way the shadows seemed to whisper secrets.
She paused outside a small, dimly lit shop, scanning the display of old books. That's when she saw him.
A man stood just across the street, leaning casually against a lamppost. Dark hair slightly tousled by the evening breeze, sharp features, and eyes that seemed to pierce through the night—and somehow, through her.
Celine's heart skipped a beat. There was something magnetic about him, a presence she couldn't ignore.
"Hello," he said, his voice smooth, confident. "You look… lost in thought."
She blinked, startled. "I… I guess I am," she replied, trying to steady her racing heart.
He smiled, a small, knowing curl of his lips. "I'm Adrian," he said, extending his hand. "Adrian Bennett."
Celine shook it, feeling a spark she couldn't explain. Something about him felt familiar, yet utterly unknown. There was charm in his voice, warmth in his eyes, but beneath it… a shadow she couldn't place.
"I'm Celine Rowan," she said softly, her curiosity overcoming caution.
"Celine Rowan," he repeated, as if savoring the sound of her name. "Beautiful name for a beautiful night."
She felt a shiver—not from the cold, but from something else. Something thrilling, dangerous, and undeniable.
As the moonlight bathed the street in silver, she didn't know it yet, but her life had just changed forever. The man before her was not entirely human, and the shadows hiding him were far darker than she could imagine.
And as she walked away, Adrian's eyes followed her, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The hunt had begun—not for her life, but for her heart.