The Hearts In Twilight

Aria Jensen hurried through the crowded corridors of Sterling University, her backpack slung over one shoulder and a stack of books clutched tightly in her arms. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through tall windows, casting warm patches of light on the polished linoleum floor. As she turned a corner, her foot caught on the edge of a loose tile, and she stumbled forward, barely managing to keep her balance. “Careful there,” a low voice murmured, startling her. Aria looked up to see a tall figure leaning casually against the wall. His sharp features were partially obscured by a curtain of dark hair that fell across his forehead. His eyes, she noticed with a jolt, were a striking shade of deep crimson, momentarily capturing her gaze. Nicholas Sinclair. Aria had noticed him around campus before—always alone, always distant. There was an air of mystery about him that intrigued her, even as she told herself to focus on her studies and ignore the curiosity bubbling beneath the surface. “Thanks,” she managed, her voice slightly breathless from the unexpected encounter. Nicholas inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment before pushing himself away from the wall, his gaze never leaving hers. Aria felt a strange sensation—a flutter in her chest, a prickling at the back of her neck—that she couldn’t quite explain. She quickly averted her eyes, breaking the spell, and hurried past him, her heart pounding in her chest. "Stupid," Nicholas thought to himself. He had been watching Aria from afar throughout the entire first semester and the first half of the second. He didn’t know what possessed him to come near her now. He should have kept his distance, at least until he knew more. For a hundred years, he had avoided staying in one place for too long, constantly moving around to prevent people from growing suspicious. It was only seventy years since he had last left New Orleans, and some might still recognize him. Yet, after meeting Aria at a bar in Boston, he had made the risky decision to follow her here and re-enroll at Sterling University. She had been different from the start—not just in the way she smelled, but in the way she made him feel. Instead of the usual primal urge to hunt, Nicholas had sensed a strange pull, like a magnetic force drawing him inexplicably closer. It was unnerving and exhilarating all at once. As Aria disappeared around the corner, Nicholas leaned back against the wall, the cool touch of the stone grounding him. His mind raced with conflicting emotions—curiosity, guilt, and a deep-seated desire that he couldn’t afford to indulge. He knew better than anyone the dangers of getting too close to humans, especially one who stirred something unfamiliar within him. Shaking his head, Nicholas pushed off the wall and continued down the corridor, his footsteps echoing faintly in the emptying hallway. Aria rushed down the corridor. She needed to put as much distance between herself and Nicholas Sinclair as possible. Her reaction to him was unnerving. She had heard dark stories about him—whispers among the students about why he was always alone. Some said he was a ghost, the spirit of a student who had died decades ago and now haunted the campus. Others claimed he was involved in some sinister cult, performing rituals under the light of the full moon. The most outrageous rumor suggested he was a government experiment gone wrong, possessing unnatural abilities that made him both dangerous and irresistible. Despite these stories, Nicholas intrigued her. From the moment she first saw him, there had been a need to be close to him, to know him better. Her best friend, Elara Whitlock, had warned her to steer clear of him. Elara, with her intuitive sense for trouble, had insisted that Nicholas meant danger and had shared a few of the more outlandish stories to keep her cautious. "He's not what he seems, Aria," Elara had said, her voice full of conviction. "Stay away from him. There's darkness around him that you don't want to get involved in." But three words exchanged with Nicholas and his mere presence had changed everything inside her. She felt something shift, stronger than before, something that defied all the warnings and the strange tales. The sensation was almost primal, a deep, inexplicable connection that both frightened and excited her. She burst out of the building into the cool evening air, her mind racing. Aria knew she should listen to Elara's warnings, yet a part of her couldn’t help but be drawn to the mystery that was Nicholas Sinclair. She felt a pull towards him that was stronger than her fear, an urge to solve the enigma and understand why he affected her so deeply. Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her nerves. She couldn't afford distractions, especially not now with exams looming and her future hanging in the balance. But even as she told herself to forget about him, she knew it was a futile effort. Nicholas Sinclair was now a part of her thoughts, and something told her he wouldn't easily be forgotten.