Phoebe continued to blink and the man continued to stare back at her with an instant smile.
"Did I scare you?". She heard him ask, his voice very mild and she could have mistaken it that he had purred.
Still standing transfixed and staring at him and then trying to find her voice to speak.
She was about to speak when he interrupted; introducing himself. " I am Erebus Hemlock and you are?". The display of a smile was still intact on his lips.
"Phoebe". She said staring at him. Despite how nice, the man appeared to be and how gentle his voice was, she just couldn't push aside the feeling of terror, dangling in the air.
" Just Phoebe?". He asked tilting his head.
"Yes, just Phoebe". She said, giving him a doubtful look which didn't escape the man's sight. "Are you new here?". She changed the topic and she saw how shortly his smile fell.
"Yes actually". He said, tilting his head again and Phoebe wondered if this man was possessed with something.
" How did you know?". He asked again to the girl, who was never looking away from him.
Phoebe wanted to roll her eyes and tell him it was her perception but instead, she blurted out "Your name says it all".
And he hummed. " I come from a very far away country". He continued to stare at the girl who looked like she was having her guard up.
Phoebe didn't bother to ask him about his country, instead, she prepared to bid him goodbye when she heard him speak up again.
"Why are you sad, miss Phoebe?".
Phoebe's eyes slowly widened at this question before quickly going back to normal, like it never happened and she was sure, he had caught up to it. " What?". She wanted him to ignore it but instead, he took a step and she took two backward steps, reading to smash the man's head with her torchlight.
"Why are you sad?".
" Excuse me?".
"You are indeed sad - -, I see it in your beautiful eyes and - - your heart". He drawled on every word.
Now this man was creepy. How did he even get to know she was sad? Could it be?. Oh, God!! Could it be he had been listening to her conversations in her room?. Was he the shadow?. She thought, her eyes widening again.
" Oh, you don't have to say anything - - - I have been there. I know what sorrow means". The beautiful man said and he turned to stare up at the sky filled with stars, while Phoebe gaped at him.
"I have lost someone, I mean people. Very special people. He emphasised. "And I have been hurt and betrayed and left alone. Is that similar to what you feel, miss Phoebe?". He asked, his eyes seeming distant before a wide smile cracked onto his lips.
And Phoebe didn't know what to tell him. She was feeling emotional and she was wondering why. Was it a feeling of pity for the man or herself?. She didn't want to talk or give any answer because talking to strangers at an ungodly hour and on a lonely street, was a very bad decision.
" It is what we see in the present world, Mr Hemlock. Life is indeed filled with betrayal". Phoebe said to see the man nod his head in approval.
"Thank you for your time, I think I would need to head back now". She placed back the muffler that had slipped off her shoulder.
" Of course, miss Phoebe and you should hurry up. You might never know what is out there in the dark, waiting to gobble up anyone". The beautiful man said in his mild voice, waving at her with his usual smile.
Phoebe gave a smile that never reached her eyes and then turned to walk away. She walked so fast that she almost ran and she heard the man chuckle behind her. And when Phoebe must have left, the man's wide smile faltered and his eyes glowed gold, his teeth elongating and he ran his tongue over his sharp fangs.
"What is it?". He said to the shadow and a man walked out of it. Erebus turned to see a man walk up to him, with his head bowed.
" I have a photograph, sire. You might want to see". The man said, bringing up a photo with his face still bowed.
Erebus picked up the photograph, staring hard at it and then turned to look in the direction, the timid girl had run off to. "Ready the cars, my hunt starts soon". And then he turned to walk away with the man, who followed behind him.
Phoebe who had quietly opened the picket fence and was about to lock it and then head back to the front door when saw her annoyed mother, leaning against the front door and staring hard at her.
" Now what?". She heard her mother ask her. "Saw the imaginary creatures again?". Her mother was visibly annoyed.
Phoebe pressed her lips into a thin line and then she sighed. " I thought heard something_".
"It is dangerous to walk out so late at night and not inform anyone, please Phoebe". Hera was warning her and she glared at her, letting her know, she was so upset.
" I promise never to do that again, mum". She said to her mother, giving her doe eyes.
Not responding to her daughter, Hera turned to walk in, leaving the door open for her to come in and then shut it after her.
Once Phoebe had made sure, she had locked the fence, she stepped into the house. Still wary, she stared around for some seconds, exhaling a sigh and then shutting the door.
Once the door was shut and clicked locked, a shadow hiding behind one of the trees, moved forward and stared at the door that had been shut closed.