The rain had stopped by the time I left the library for the evening, but the air still smelled of damp earth and pine. The streets of Springey were eerily quiet, and I found myself walking aimlessly, trying to process everything Claire had told me. Guardian. Gateway. It all felt like something out of one of the fantasy novels I shelved every day at work, not my life.
My feet carried me toward the outskirts of town, where the forest loomed dark and foreboding. I paused at the edge of the trees, debating whether to turn back, but a strange pull urged me forward.
The deeper I went, the colder it became. The faint moonlight barely penetrated the dense canopy, and the only sound was the crunch of leaves under my boots. I didn't know why I was drawn here, but it felt like something—or someone—was calling me.
Then I saw him.
He stood in a small clearing, his back to me, tall and broad-shouldered, with dark, unruly hair that fell just past his collar. He wore a long coat that swayed gently in the breeze, and even from a distance, I could feel the power radiating off him like heat from a flame.
"Who's there?" he said, his voice was low and resonant, without turning around.
I froze. For a moment, I considered running, but my curiosity won out.
"I... I didn't mean to disturb you," I said, my voice shaky.
"I was just walking."
He turned to face me, and I felt my breath catch. His sharp, angular features were both striking and intimidating, and his piercing golden eyes seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. He was otherworldly—beautiful in a way that felt almost dangerous.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, his tone firm but not unkind.
"I didn't mean to intrude," I replied, taking a cautious step back.
His gaze softened slightly, and he tilted his head, studying me.
"You're new to Springey."
It wasn't a question.
"How do you know that?" I asked, more curious than afraid now.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a step closer, his movements fluid and deliberate.
"There's something about you... something different."
The way he looked at me sent a shiver down my spine—not out of fear, but something else entirely. It was like he could see straight through me, past all my defenses.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled faintly, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"My name is Van."
"Van," I repeated, the name feeling strangely familiar on my tongue.
"What are you doing out here?"
His smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression.
"Keeping watch."
"Watch for what?"
He hesitated, as if debating how much to tell me.
Finally, he said, "There are forces in this town you don't understand, Amber. Dangerous forces."
The mention of my name startled me.
"How do you know who I am?"
"I know a lot about you," Van replied, his golden eyes locking onto mine.
"More than you know about yourself."
"That's not creepy at all," I said, trying to mask my unease with sarcasm.
His lips twitched into a small smirk.
"You're braver than you look."
I didn't know whether to feel flattered or insulted, but before I could respond, the air around us grew heavy, and the shadows in the clearing seemed to thicken.
Van's expression darkened instantly.
"Stay behind me," he commanded, his voice sharp and authoritative.
A low, guttural growl echoed through the trees, and my stomach dropped. From the darkness emerged a creature, its twisted, hulking form barely human. Its glowing red eyes fixated on us, and a chill ran down my spine.
Van stepped forward, his hands glowing with an ethereal golden light.
"You really should've stayed home tonight," he muttered, more to himself than to me.
The creature lunged, and Van moved faster than I thought possible, his glowing hands slashing through the air like blades. The creature howled in pain as Van struck it again and again, his movements precise and deadly.
Within moments, the creature disintegrated into a cloud of dark smoke, which vanished into the night. The clearing grew quiet once more.
Van turned to me, his golden eyes scanning me for injuries.
"Are you hurt?"
I shook my head, still trying to process what I'd just witnessed.
"What was that thing?"
"A Shade," Van said grimly. "A servant of the darkness trying to break through the gateway."
The mention of the gateway made my blood run cold.
"You know about the gateway?"
He gave me a look that suggested the question was almost insulting.
"I've been protecting it for a very long time."
"You're not... human, are you?" I asked, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
A flicker of amusement crossed his face.
"Not entirely."
"Then what are you?"
"Someone who knows what you're capable of," he said, his tone softer now.
"Even if you don't."
His words made my heart race for reasons I didn't fully understand. There was something about Van—something that made me feel both safe and completely vulnerable.
"Why do I feel like I've met you before?" I asked, the question was slipping out before I could think better of it.
Van's expression softened, and for a moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes.
"Because our paths were always meant to cross," he said quietly.
The way he looked at me sent warmth rushing through me, and I felt a strange, unexplainable connection to him. I couldn't deny it—there was something about Van that drew me in, something I couldn't ignore.
Before I could say anything else, he stepped closer, his gaze holding mine.
"Be careful, Amber," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You've only just begun to understand the world you've stepped into. And it's not as forgiving as you might hope."
Then, before I could respond, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me alone in the clearing.
As I made my way back to town, my thoughts were consumed by Van—his power, his mystery, and the undeniable pull I felt toward him.
For the first time since arriving in Springey, I felt like my life wasn't just changing—it was being rewritten entirely.