I've never ventured this far into the woods before. The sun is already low in the sky but my feet keep dragging me further as if I was trying to escape the devil himself. I can't seem to stop. There's a gnawing need to get away from everything. From home. From life. These woods usually give me some solace but not today. Not lately.

The ominous cries of the crows reverberate through the forest above the sound of the rustling leaves and the creaking of the tree branches. It serves as a warning for me to stop. It's reminding me that when the sun disappears, I'd be lost in this woods if I didn't turn back now. I'd be cold and all alone.

I let my steps falter, then they come to a complete stop as I take in my dreary surroundings. The fall colors are gone and the leaves are now mostly rotting on the ground. Tall trees are looming all around me. Their bare branches look eerily like dry human skeletons; bone-white limbs and thin, skeletal fingers, reaching out to crush unsuspecting souls within their deadly, bony grip.

It occurs to me that something isn't adding up. There's a stream that cuts through our property that marks the beginning of an overgrown field. Why haven't I come across the stream yet? Surely I've walked far enough.

My senses become alert and wariness suddenly sweeps over me as I get the feeling of being watched. The skin across my back and my arms break into goosebumps.

A snap of a twig makes me jump. "Who's there?"

Another snap and I whirl around. "Hello?"

There are more sounds of snapping twigs before a lithe tall figure steps out in front of me from behind the trees.

The darkest green eyes framed by a fringe of black lashes on a proud patrician face are regarding me cooly. I know him. Elias Gauthier.

We might go to the same school, but we don't run in the same circle. This is probably the first time I come face to face with him.

I take a moment to take him in. Tall and broad shoulders. Thick dark unruly curls that can only be described as sex hair touch his collar. High cheekbones above the sharp jawline.

I know he's good looking but I never paid him any attention. Until now.

Now we are regarding each other like we're assessing an unknown entity. Friend or foe. At least that's what it feels like to me. His haughty expression, the slant of his dark eyebrows, the way his piercing eyes are skimming over me in disdain before settling over my face seems as though he's already made up his mind about me a long time ago.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him when I finally find my voice.

He flashes me the whitest straight teeth. If a smile can be described as cold as ice, his is it. Even so, he's definitely stunning. "I should be asking you that question, Duchess. You're trespassing on private property. My property."

Am I really on his property now? I don't normally come anywhere near Gauthier's property. Both of our properties are sizeable enough that most of the time I kinda forget that we share a border. This is definitely the first time that I've encountered someone in these woods.

More footsteps approaching and I swing my eyes towards three more newcomers. Surprise color the faces of the other two when they see me. I recognize them too. Tyler Erikson and Justin Feron.

"Well, well, well...look who's decided to grace us with her presence." Ronan Gauthier, Elias's twin brother steps up to stand beside him. "Katherine Blackwell. What an honor and a pleasant surprise." From his tone, it doesn't sound like it's a pleasant surprise at all. Actually, both Gauthier boys didn't seem at all surprised or pleased to see me.

I always thought that Elias and Ronan look identical. But now that I'm paying attention, I can see that they're not. Sure, they look a lot alike but Elias's face is narrower. Ronan keeps his hair shorter too. Both of them look effortlessly elegant, even in this surrounding.

Somewhere beyond these acres of woods, I imagine their sprawling mansion. In fall and winter when the trees are bare, I get a glimpse of their roof and a little part of their house from the third floor of our estate.

"Hi, Cat," says one of their friends. Tyler seems glad to see me. At least there is one friendly face. I think I've talked to Tyler once or twice. "What are you doing out here in the woods?" he asks me. He seems genuinely curious.

I suck my lower lip as I steer my eyes towards the endless trees around me- mostly to avoid Elias's relentless piercing gaze. I release my lip when I become conscious of what I'm doing. These boys are making me feel flustered. Or maybe it's just Elias. Boys don't usually make me feel flustered. "I was just going for a walk. I didn't realize how far I've walked...or that I've set my foot on someone else's property."

"You don't just have one foot in our property, sweetheart. You're all the way in," says Elias. He said "sweetheart" mockingly, like an insult. The same way he called me "Duchess".

"You don't have to worry about that, I'm leaving!" I tell him, taking a step back. "Sorry for stepping foot...or rather feet on your property." I make sure he knows that I'm not sorry at all.

He's still smirking but his eyes glitter dangerously at the sound of contempt in my voice.

"It's getting dark, we can't let her walk home in the woods by herself," Tyler says, stepping closer to me. I suddenly notice that he's carrying a rifle. All of them are carrying rifles. Are they out hunting or are they just practicing?

"Sure we can. She walked here by herself, she can walk home by herself," says Elias cuttingly. His smile disappeared as soon as Tyler came to my aid.

"If you're not taking her home then I will," says Tyler.

"No, you're not!" barks Elias.

What a jerk! Not that I want to be rescued like a damsel in distress. I'm Katherine Blackwell. I don't do damsel in distress and I'm done dealing with jerks.

Elias steps in between me and Tyler. He looks like he's ready to pound anybody who defies him and Tyler looks conflicted.

"She's a Blackwell woman. She's probably has a broom to ride," says Ronan. What? Is he calling me a witch now?

Tyler nudges Ronan's side. "What's the deal, dude, you guys aren't usually this rude to a chick."

"Usually, they didn't want to ruin their chances of getting laid," jests Justin, laughing like a hyena but nobody else joins his laughter. Justin has a reputation for being a loose cannon- rich, spoiled, and reckless. I guess that describes all of them. "So what? She's hot. You really don't want in her pants?" he asks Ronan.

Elias is watching me the whole time. His dark eyes look so intense and fiery, almost like he hates me. His sharp square jaw is clenched and there's a muscle ticking on his cheek as though he's grinding his molars together.

"I'd love to...but she's for Elias," Ronan says with a sneer.

"No, she's not," scoffs Elias. "She's nothing to me."

Tears prick behind my eyes. "Assholes," I mutter as I quickly turn and walk away. I don't care for their crassness and I don't understand what Ronan meant by saying that I was for Elias. But Elias's attitude and words hurt...and I don't get why anything he said or did hurt my feelings. Elias doesn't matter to me. None of them matters to me.

Before I betray myself and show them my feelings...or worse, my tears, I need to put some distance between them and me. Maybe like a whole continent of distance. If only that's possible.

"Oh, so you don't mind if I hit that?" I hear Justin's obnoxious voice behind me.

"Dude, shut up!" says Ronan.

"Come on, let's get you home." I'm not sure whether it's Ronan or Elias who says that and I don't care.

"Go to hell," I snap as I keep walking away.

I hear someone snicker behind me. No doubt they heard me.

I don't know where I'm going since I'm not familiar with this part of the woods but I'm not staying near them and take any more of their insult. I'd rather crawl through these woods in the darkest night than put myself under their mercy or debt.

"You're going the wrong way, Duchess. Home is that way." I didn't hear him move but Elias is right next to me now. I can feel the warmth of his body along one side of mine in the chilly fall evening. His deep voice slides over me like silk and causes chills to run up and down my spine. Ugh! I hate him. I want to wipe that cold glint out of his eyes and that cruel smirk right off his gorgeous face.

I follow his direction but I don't pause or even look at him to say thank you. I just keep walking.

**************************

Hello dear readers,

Before I start, I want to thank @khushiful for making me the cover for this story♥

So this is my new story. It's mainly about witches and Nephilims. I hope you'll like it as much as you like my lycan series and Fayre.

If you want to read chapter 2 and 3 of this story now, go to Inkitt or:

https://Inkitt.app.link/RA_NicoleRidd3y 

Have a wonderful day, everybody and pls stay safe and healthy.

Much love,

Nicole♥

P/S: Nephilims are offsprings of humans and fallen angels.