Adrian arrived home to find the road leading back to the Vale estate quiet. The evening had fallen over Rothswood, casting the sky in fading shades of orange and grey. The town had already started slowing down for the night, as it always did.Certain things never change. Adrian's automobile rolled through the old iron gates and stopped in front of the home. The estate rose tall among the surrounding trees, its dark wooden structure almost disappearing into the deepening shadows.He got out of the car and closed the door behind him. The air seemed cooler now. Still. Too still.Adrian hesitated briefly on the gravel driveway, his gaze drawn to the treeline that surrounded the property.
The emotion returned. That weird sensation he had felt earlier in town. The subtle sense of being observed. It had followed him throughout the day. At school. In the hallways. Even in class.Adrian moved gently up the porch steps, keeping his senses alert. The front door opened before he could reach for the doorknob. Marcus stood there, leaning against his cane. "You look like something is bothering you," the elderly man observed. Adrian stepped inside. "Just thinking."Marcus closed the door behind him. "That usually means trouble with you."
Adrian ignored the comment and entered the living room. The house smelt strongly of old wood and books, just like it usually did. He unzipped his jacket and strolled toward the huge window that overlooked the front yard. The moon was starting to rise above the trees. Quiet. Peaceful. But the emotion stayed. Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly.Something was not right. He cast another gaze toward the treeline. Then he saw it. A crow sat perched on a bare branch outside the window. Its dark feathers blended into the shadows, yet its eyes were piercing. Watching. Adrian looked at it for a moment.
The bird tipped its head slightly. Almost as if it recognised him. Marcus entered the room behind him. "What are you looking at?" Adrian did not respond immediately. He turned away from the window. "I'll be upstairs." Marcus frowned slightly, but did not dispute it. Adrian had just reached the bottom of the stairway when— Knock. The boom resonated quietly throughout the silent home.
Marcus sighed. "I'll get it." Adrian paused.Something about the knock felt familiar. Too confident. Too deliberate. Marcus opened the main door. "Can I help—" But the old man paused in mid-sentence. Adrian slowly turned. A woman stood in the doorway. Tall. Elegant. Dark hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her eyes shone faintly in the weak porch light.
A soft smile appeared on her lips. She walked past Marcus without waiting for permission."Hello, brother." Her voice was smooth and pleasant. Adrian's expression stiffened slightly.He had not heard that voice in years. Too many years. The woman's smile broadened as she surveyed the familiar house. Then her gaze fell on him. "Well," she said gently. "Will you say hello...?"or simply stand there pretending you're not pleased to see me? Adrian breathed quietly."Seraphine."
She moved a little closer, her shoes quietly clicking across the wooden floor. Her eyes twinkled with malice. "Miss me?" For a brief while, the room went silent. Marcus stared between them, clearly understanding what this meant. "If Seraphine Vale had returned to Rothswood..."Then the town's remaining calm was ready to evaporate. 🌙