Obsessed By Moonlight

A deal with shadows

The forest grew darker as they moved deeper into its heart, the canopy thickening overhead until it blotted out the sky. The moonlight barely penetrated through the leaves, casting faint silver patterns on the mossy ground. Elena felt like they were walking into a living maze, where the trees whispered secrets and unseen eyes followed their every step.

Selene led the way, her boots making almost no sound on the soft earth. She moved with the ease of someone who had walked this path a hundred times before, though Elena doubted that even Selene knew exactly what awaited them at the end of the trail.

“Where are we going, exactly?” Mia asked, breaking the tense silence.

“To see someone who knows more about the Source than anyone else,” Selene said without turning around.

“And who might that be?” Lucien asked, his voice wary.

Selene glanced back at him with a sly smile. “A shadow dealer.”

Elena frowned. “A what?”

“A dealer in shadows,” Selene repeated. “He traffics in secrets, whispers, and things best left forgotten. If anyone can point us in the right direction, it’s him.”

Elena exchanged a worried glance with Lucien. “And can we trust him?”

Selene laughed, a low, throaty sound that sent chills down Elena’s spine. “Of course not. But he owes me a favor, and that’s the only reason we have a chance.”

“Great,” Mia muttered. “This just keeps getting better.”

They continued walking in silence, the forest growing colder and darker with every step. Elena couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, though every time she turned to look behind her, there was nothing there but shadows.

Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached a clearing. In the center of the clearing stood a crumbling stone archway, covered in ivy and moss. It looked ancient, as though it had been standing there for centuries, forgotten by time.

“We’re here,” Selene said, stopping in front of the archway.

Elena stared at the archway, her brow furrowing. “There’s nothing here.”

Selene smiled. “Not yet.” She reached into her coat and pulled out a small, silver knife. Without hesitation, she sliced her palm and let a few drops of blood fall onto the ground beneath the archway.

The air shimmered, and suddenly, the archway wasn’t empty anymore. A dark figure stood beneath it, shrouded in shadows. His features were hard to make out, but his eyes glowed with an eerie, silver light.

“Selene,” the figure said, his voice smooth and cold. “It’s been a long time.”

“Not long enough,” Selene said, wiping the blood from her hand. “But we need your help.”

The figure tilted his head, as if considering her words. “Help? You know that everything has a price, my dear.”

“I’m aware,” Selene said. “But you owe me, remember?”

The figure laughed, a low, hollow sound. “I do. And I always honor my debts. What is it you seek?”

Selene’s expression hardened. “We need to find the Source of Damien’s power. The real Source. And we need to know how to destroy it.”

The figure was silent for a long moment, his glowing eyes flicking from Selene to Elena, then to Lucien and Mia.

“You’re playing a dangerous game,” he said finally. “But very well. I will tell you what you need to know. On one condition.”

Selene sighed. “Of course there’s a condition. What is it?”

The figure smiled, and Elena felt a chill run down her spine. “You must give me something in return. A secret. A truth that you have never spoken aloud.”

Selene’s eyes narrowed. “Is that all?”

“That is all,” the figure said. “But be warned—once you give me your truth, you can never take it back.”

Selene hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. I accept.”

The figure stepped closer, and for a moment, Elena thought he was going to reach out and touch Selene. But he stopped just short, his eyes locking onto hers.

“Speak your truth,” he said.

Selene took a deep breath, and for the first time, Elena saw something like fear in her eyes.

“I never wanted to be a vampire,” Selene said quietly. “I was turned against my will. And I’ve hated myself for it every day since.”

The figure smiled, as though pleased by her answer. “A bitter truth,” he said. “But a powerful one. You have paid your price.”

Without another word, he turned and walked through the archway. The air shimmered again, and suddenly, the archway was glowing with a soft, silver light.

“Follow me,” the figure said.

Selene glanced at the others. “Stay close. And whatever you do, don’t get separated.”

Elena nodded, her heart pounding as they stepped through the archway and into the unknown.