Chapter 2
923 Words
The wind had picked up as Seraphina trekked deeper into the forest, the rain now falling in heavy sheets. Her steps quickened, the herbs she had gathered tucked tightly against her chest as she searched for any sign of shelter. She wasn’t far from home, but the storm had come on quickly, and there was no way she would make it back before it grew worse.
She darted through the trees, searching for a safe place to wait out the downpour. Her mind raced with thoughts of what her father would think if she was late, but those thoughts faded when she spotted a familiar structure through the trees—a mansion, half-hidden in the thick of the forest.
Her heart skipped a beat. She had seen it countless times from the edge of the woods, but she had never dared to approach. The mansion was old, forgotten by most, and rumors about it were as widespread as the tangled vines and moss covering its walls. People in the nearby village spoke of the mansion in hushed tones, calling it a cursed place. But curiosity had always tugged at her—what would it be like to see the inside?
The wind howled, a reminder of the urgency, and Seraphina, with no other choice, made up her mind. She would take shelter in the mansion, just for a little while, until the storm passed.
As she reached the front gate, she hesitated. The gate was tall, rusted in places, but it creaked open with little effort when she pushed it. The garden surrounding the mansion was wild and untended, with overgrown plants reaching for the skies. The mansion loomed before her, its once-grand structure now decaying, windows cracked and dark.
Her footsteps echoed on the stone path as she made her way up the stairs. The door was slightly ajar, as if inviting her inside. Without thinking, she pushed it open and stepped into the darkness beyond.
The air inside was musty, heavy with the scent of age. Seraphina blinked, her eyes adjusting to the dim light as she looked around. The entrance hall was vast, with faded tapestries hanging on the walls and ornate furniture that had seen better days. Dust coated everything, and the silence was deafening.
She was alone.
As she explored further into the mansion, her heart rate quickened. Something about the place made her uneasy. The stillness, the emptiness—it was as if the house had been abandoned for years, and yet... there was a sense of life within it, as if someone, or something, was watching her.
She wandered deeper into the mansion, following a narrow hallway that led to what looked like a sitting room. The walls were lined with bookshelves, most of the books old and covered in dust. An old fireplace stood at the center of the room, its hearth cold and empty.
It was there that she heard it—a soft sound, almost like a footstep. Her pulse quickened, and she froze. She wasn’t alone.
Turning slowly, her gaze swept across the room. There, standing in the doorway, was a man.
He was tall, with a rugged, handsome face that looked like it had been shaped by time and hardship. Dark, unruly hair fell messily over his forehead, and a few days' worth of stubble gave him a rough edge. His amber eyes, sharp and intense, seemed to see right through her. Broad shoulders and a muscular build hinted at strength, but it was his quiet, imposing presence that drew her in—a man out of place, yet impossible to ignore.
Seraphina’s breath caught in her throat. She had not expected to encounter anyone in this house. The mansion had always seemed abandoned—empty. But now, standing before her, was a man she had never seen before.
A stranger.
She opened her mouth, but no words came out at first. The shock of his sudden appearance left her momentarily speechless.
“Who are you?” he asked, his voice deep, rough, and edged with caution.
Seraphina hesitated, her eyes searching his face. “I... I was just seeking shelter from the storm,” she managed to say, her voice soft. “I didn’t expect anyone to be here.”
The man’s gaze narrowed slightly, and for a long moment, there was silence between them. “It’s dangerous to wander around here,” he said, his voice now tinged with something almost like warning. “This place is not meant for people like you.”
Seraphina stood her ground, refusing to show fear despite the unease creeping into her bones. “I’m not here to cause trouble,” she said, though she couldn’t deny the unease gnawing at her.
The man didn’t respond immediately, his eyes scanning her carefully, as if assessing her intentions. After what felt like an eternity, he gave a short nod. “If you must stay, you may, but only until the storm passes,” he said. “Don’t get too comfortable.”
Seraphina didn’t know what to make of his strange warning, but she nodded anyway. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
He stepped aside, allowing her to pass into the sitting room, though his eyes remained on her, following her every movement. She couldn’t help but feel as if she were being scrutinized, but she didn’t let it show. She simply crossed the threshold, trying to ignore the nagging feeling that she was trespassing on something far more complicated than she had anticipated.
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