Chapter 8 – The Castle in the Woods
982 Words
I didn’t know why I simply followed him and got into a stranger’s car. I had no idea where he was taking me. But somehow, I felt like I might find some answers by going with him.
Right now, we were inside the car. We sat side by side in the back seat, while in the front sat a driver in a dark uniform—silent, still, like a living statue—eyes fixed on the road, never glancing back.
I glanced out the window. We had long left the city behind. Now, only tall, dense trees surrounded us. The streetlights were growing fewer, and the road quieter.
I clutched my small purse tightly. My chest felt tight—not from fear, but from the overwhelming number of unanswered questions swirling in my mind.
Finally, I spoke. “Where are we going?” I asked softly, trying to sound calm. But even to my own ears, my voice wavered. Honestly, why did I even agree to come along without protest?
Caelan turned to me, his gaze sharp but not threatening. “To my home,” he replied simply.
I frowned. “Home?” I repeated. “You live... out here in the woods?”
A faint smile crossed his lips. “My home isn’t a normal one.”
Before I could respond, the car began to slow down. The crunch of gravel under the wheels told me we had turned onto a private road. A large black gate slowly opened automatically, followed by a towering stone wall marking the boundary of the property.
As the car climbed the final bend, my breath caught in my throat.
In front of us stood a massive, unexpected building—castle-like in structure, grand and dark, with tall gothic windows. The roofs were steep, the walls made of green-black stone, and wolf statues stood at each corner, as if guarding those who entered.
Warm yellow light spilled from within, standing in stark contrast to the cold, mysterious air outside.
“This... is your home?” I asked, almost in disbelief.
Caelan nodded slowly. “I told you. It’s not an ordinary house.”
I was stunned. Who was this strange man? And how on earth did he manage to build something like this in the middle of a forest?
Before I could ask more, the car door was opened for me. A man dressed all in black bowed slightly with polite but firm composure. A butler… or rather, a head butler.
I stepped out cautiously, scanning my surroundings. The castle was too quiet. But not a dead silence—more like a calm filled with hidden strength.
“Why does your house look like this?” I asked quietly as we walked side by side toward the main entrance.
“Because it’s been standing here long before you were born,” he answered casually. “This is where our pack lives, gathers, and survives.”
I turned to him quickly. “Pack? You mean… you live here with your men?”
Caelan pushed open the heavy door himself, and a blend of old wood, warm spices, and something indescribable hit me. It was warm… yet foreign.
He looked at me, eyes locking onto mine.
“Welcome to my home, Sierra.”
I stepped into the house with its marble floors, and immediately realized something: my senses—my hearing and smell—weren’t as sharp as they were before. No piercing buzz, no sharp scents. Here, it felt calmer… and warmer.
I took a deep breath. It felt like I was entering another world.
Our footsteps echoed softly down the wide corridor, lit by grand crystal chandeliers. The walls were adorned with classic-style paintings—but not ordinary ones. All of them featured wolves, or men with piercing yellow eyes that seemed to follow me from the canvas, sending shivers down my spine.
“This place is protected by magic,” Caelan said, as if reading my thoughts. “So your body can adapt more quickly. And so you can feel safe… for now.”
I stopped and looked at him. “For now?”
He returned my gaze, calm but tense. “It depends on the choice you make later.”
We continued walking. Just then, a woman appeared at the end of the hallway. Her face was beautiful and calm, but her green eyes were filled with suspicion as she looked at me. Her silver hair was neatly pinned up, and her posture was graceful—almost aristocratic.
“Lord Caelan,” she greeted with a slight bow, though her eyes never left mine. “Is this… the girl?”
I almost took offense at being referred to like that.
Caelan nodded. “Sierra will be staying in the east wing. Prepare the best room.”
The woman stiffened, as if wanting to protest, but eventually bowed her head. “Very well, sir.”
My heart dropped. Just how wealthy was this man beside me? And what did he say earlier—magic? In this modern age, does magic even exist? Was I hallucinating, or was this really happening?
“What’s wrong? You look like you’re deep in thought. Do you want to ask me something?” he asked, eyeing me calmly—but his sharp gaze seemed to pierce right through me.
“Who are you, really?” I asked again, not even sure how many times I had asked the same question.
“Are you starting to get obsessed with me? I’m Caelan Duskborne,” he replied, casually as ever.
I let out a long sigh, exhausted by all the shocking things happening to me lately. One revelation after another—all of them like plot twists in a story.
“Fine. Let me rephrase that,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. “You’re not human, are you?”
***
- Writer
