Novel Title: "Bound by Blood and Obsession"

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Yandere, Dark Fantasy

---

Chapter 1: The First Glance

The village of Eldermere sat at the edge of the Darkwood, a place whispered about in fearful tones. No one dared wander too far past the tree line—except for Elias Verath, a young scholar seeking knowledge in ancient texts buried deep within the ruins of the old world.

Tonight, however, he had wandered too far.

Moonlight filtered through the gnarled branches above, painting silver streaks across the forest floor. Elias adjusted his satchel, fingers brushing over the worn edges of his journal. His heart pounded—not from fear, but excitement. Legends spoke of a forgotten temple hidden in the Darkwood, one that housed secrets of the lost gods.

He should have been afraid. He should have turned back.

Instead, he pressed forward—until a sudden chill prickled down his spine.

Someone was watching him.

Slowly, he turned. At first, he saw nothing but shadows swaying between the trees. Then, his gaze caught something—someone. A figure stood beneath the ancient oak, bathed in the pale glow of the moon.

A girl.

She wore a flowing, tattered black dress, the edges soaked in darkness as though it had absorbed the night itself. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a pale face with crimson eyes that burned like dying embers.

Elias took a step back. She was beautiful—hauntingly so.

"You've come," she whispered. Her voice was soft, delicate, yet carried an eerie weight.

"I—" Elias swallowed, confused. "Do I know you?"

She tilted her head, smiling in a way that sent a shiver through him. "Not yet," she murmured, stepping closer. "But I know you, Elias."

His breath caught. How did she know his name?

"I've watched you," she admitted, her fingers brushing the rough bark of a nearby tree. "For so long. You always sit by the library window, lost in your books. You hum when you're deep in thought. And when you smile… oh, when you smile, my heart aches."

Elias took another step back, his pulse quickening. Something was wrong.

She giggled—light, melodic, but chilling. "Why are you moving away?" she pouted. "You came all this way to find something, didn't you? To seek the truth?"

Her fingers twitched. The wind around them howled, rustling the trees. The shadows deepened.

"You were looking for something," she whispered, taking another step forward. "But you found me instead."

Elias clenched his fists, his instincts screaming for him to run. But before he could move, she suddenly appeared before him, impossibly fast, her fingers trailing against his cheek.

"I won't let you leave," she breathed. "Not when I've finally found you."

His world tilted. A sharp pain shot through his chest as something warm trickled down his shirt. His vision blurred. His knees buckled.

The last thing he saw was her smile, wide and loving, as she caught him in her arms.

"Don't worry," she whispered against his ear. "I'll take care of you forever, Elias. I'll make sure you never leave me."

Darkness swallowed him whole.