The entire afternoon felt like a never-ending gloomy evening. The sky outside remained cloaked in thick, oppressive clouds, and the pale light that managed to filter through cast eerie shadows across the castle's endless halls. I wandered aimlessly, trying to make sense of this strange world, but no matter how much ground I covered, I felt no closer to understanding anything.Every step echoed faintly, and though the halls were silent, I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that I wasn't alone.As I explored, I noticed the strange details of the castle. There were no maids, no servants, no sign of anyone keeping the place in order. And yet, not a speck of dust clung to the furniture, and everything was perfectly in place, as if time itself refused to touch it.Then there were the portraits.Every corridor seemed to feature massive, ornate paintings of unfamiliar faces. Some were stern, others looked almost regal, but all of them shared an unearthly quality that made my skin crawl. Their pale complexions, sharp features, and piercing gazes felt like they were watching me even as I passed.Eventually, I came across a set of portraits that made me stop in my tracks. They were of Selene, Damian, and Aamon. Unlike the other paintings, these weren't regal—they were haunting.Selene's icy blue eyes seemed to follow me, her painted expression serene yet foreboding. Aamon's smirk in his portrait mirrored the playful menace I'd seen in real life, while Damian's intense golden eyes stared out as though daring me to look away.A chill ran down my spine.I continued down the hall, trying to shake the eerie feeling. But the longer I wandered, the stronger the sensation grew—that prickling awareness at the back of my neck, as if someone was watching me.I glanced over my shoulder more than once, but each time, the hall was empty."You're just imagining things," I muttered under my breath.Still, I couldn't shake the unease.I stopped abruptly when I heard something—a muffled noise coming from behind a closed door a few feet ahead. My curiosity got the better of me, and I approached slowly, straining to hear.It was faint but unmistakable—soft giggles and the occasional shriek of laughter. Women.Before I could fully process what I was hearing, the door swung open, and Aamon stepped out, flanked by three women.The women were stunning, their beauty almost otherworldly. Their dresses were elegant but slightly disheveled, and their giggles came to an abrupt halt when they saw me.Aamon, of course, was completely unbothered. His signature smirk appeared instantly, his golden eyes lighting up with amusement."Milady," he drawled, his tone teasing. "Do you perhaps want to join us?"I crossed my arms, my face carefully neutral. "No thanks."Aamon chuckled, clearly entertained by my bluntness. "Suit yourself," he said, gesturing for the women to follow him.As they passed, I caught a glimpse of something that made me freeze. There, on the necks of the women, were faint red marks—bite marks.My mind immediately went to Aamon's earlier comments about blood and temptation. For a moment, I wondered if I was imagining it, but the marks were undeniable."What...?" I whispered to myself, my stomach twisting.Aamon glanced back over his shoulder, as if sensing my unease. He didn't say anything, but the glint in his eyes told me he knew exactly what I'd seen.The group disappeared around the corner, leaving me alone in the hall once more.By the time I ran into Damian, I was desperate for answers. He was standing by one of the tall windows, his expression as stoic as ever as he stared out at the shrouded world beyond."Damian," I said, my voice sharper than I intended.He turned, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. "What is it?"I hesitated, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "I need your help. I want to go home."His brows furrowed, and for a moment, he didn't respond. "Arabella..." he began, his voice calm but firm."I'm serious," I cut in. "This place—your castle, your family—it's all wrong. I don't belong here, and I need to get back to my world."Damian sighed, his gaze softening slightly. "I don't know where your home is," he said quietly. "And even if I did, I wouldn't know how to get you there.""What do you mean you don't know?" I asked, my voice rising. "You brought me here, didn't you?""No," Damian said, his tone sharp. "I didn't bring you here. You appeared in this world on your own, and I'm still trying to figure out how and why."I stared at him, stunned. "So, you're saying I'm stuck here? Forever?""I didn't say that," Damian replied, his voice steady. "But for now, this is where you are. And until I understand what's going on, you're safer here than anywhere else.""Safe?" I repeated, letting out a bitter laugh. "You call this safe? Aamon just walked out of a room with bite marks on the women he was with! Selene keeps talking about my scent like it's some kind of beacon. And you—"I stopped myself, taking a deep breath. "You won't tell me anything. You expect me to just sit here and trust you while everything about this place screams danger."Damian's expression darkened. "You're right," he said quietly. "This place is dangerous. But so is leaving. You don't understand this world, Arabella. If you step outside this castle without me, you won't survive the night."His words sent a chill through me. As much as I hated to admit it, I knew he wasn't lying."I can't stay here forever," I said, my voice trembling. "I have a family. My grandmother... she'll be worried about me."Damian's gaze softened slightly, and for the first time, he looked almost... human. "I understand," he said. "But until I figure out why you're here, leaving isn't an option."I clenched my fists, anger and despair twisting in my chest. "Why me?" I whispered. "Why is this happening to me?"Damian didn't respond immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost hesitant."There's something about you, Arabella," he said. "Something... different. You don't belong here, but at the same time, you do. And until I figure out what that means, I can't let you leave."His words left me with more questions than answers. I didn't know what he meant, and I wasn't sure I wanted to. But one thing was clear—my life was no longer my own.