The rainstorm had thickened by the time I closed my bedroom window, without telling aunt remenise that I'm at home. I've not eating anything and when I switch on my phone I see the the 5 misscalls of my mum and 3 voice messages, I ignored as usual. If she really cares about me why she didn't come to meet me? But the right thing is I have to let her go, she is good with her new husband. I've been studying or scrolling on phone, anything to distract myself, but I mind wouldn't stop drifting back to the castle.

To the portrait.

To Lucian and the glowing pairs of eyes. The accidents, the past and the screams. There is a connection between all these things. I've to find it out before it's too late. I've to asked Lucian all this stuffs what he's playing!

I leaned back on my bed, staring at the ceiling. "It's just a painting," I whispered, as if saying it out loud would make it true. But deep down, I knew it wasn't. The way those red eyes seemed to pierce through me, the way they felt so... alive. I'd felt it before, in my illogic dreams-an inexplicable connection that both terrified and intrigued me.

My phone buzzed, breaking my thoughts. As I saw a meesage from Celia "Still can't believe we went to that creepy castle. Want to go back tomorrow?

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. I wanted to say no, to avoid the place altogether, but a part of me-one I couldn't understand-wanted to return.

I replied "Maybe. We'll see."

Next foggy morning..! At breakfast !

The television blared in the background as I sat at the small kitchen table, poking at my scrambled eggs. Aunt Remenise stood by the counter, her coffee mug in hand, her eyes glued to the screen.

"...and in shocking news this morning," the anchor's voice cut through the room, "a group of teenagers dared to sneak into Edinburgh Castle late last night. By morning, one of them was missing, later found in a coma, and the others were too terrified to speak coherently."

I stopped mid-bite, my fork hovering in the air.

"Authorities are baffled by their claims of a shadowy figure with glowing red eyes and something moving unnaturally fast. Experts are dismissing these as stress-induced hallucinations, but the discovery of an ancient symbol carved into one of the walls has raised eyebrows."

The screen switched to a close-up of the sigil-an intricate, swirling design with sharp edges that seemed to hum with menace even through the screen.

"What is that?" Aunt Remenise muttered under her breath, setting her mug down.

I stared at the symbol, my stomach twisting. It felt familiar, though I couldn't place it.

"They're saying it's centuries old," the anchor continued, "and potentially connected to dark folklore tied to the castle. Reports of strange animal attacks in the area have been increasing over the past month, fueling speculation of something more sinister at play."

The screen flickered to a shaky interview with one of the teens. "I-I swear," he stammered, his face pale and his hands trembling, "there were eyes. Red eyes. Watching us. And then... the shadow... it-it moved. Too fast. I don't even know what I saw!"

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. Those screams... I'd heard them last night. The glowing eyes, he's talking about I saw it but why it's not harm me?

"Elena?" Aunt Remenise's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "You're awfully quiet. Everything okay?"

I nodded quickly, pushing the eggs around on my plate. "Yeah. Just tired."

She gave me a long, searching look but didn't press further.

The wind whipped past me as I rode my bike toward school. The news report replayed in my head, the symbol burned into my memory.

As soon as I locked up my bike outside, Celia was waiting for me. Her arms were crossed, and her face was a mix of irritation and concern.

"Did you see the news?" she asked before I even reached her.

I nodded. "Yeah. Pretty crazy."

She fell into step beside me as we walked into the building. "Crazy? It's insane! Those kids saw something out there, Elena. Something dangerous. We were also in castle and you also saw the red pairs of eyes but it didn't killed us,? I thought it was your imagination."

"Maybe," I said, shrugging, trying to sound indifferent.

She stopped me, her hand gripping my arm. "Promise me you're not thinking about going back there."

I met her gaze, forcing a small smile. "Of course not. I'm not stupid."

She sighed, letting go of my arm. "Good. Because whatever's happening there... we don't need to be part of it."

"Agreed," I said, walking ahead.

But deep down, I knew I wasn't staying away. I couldn't. Something about that symbol, that castle, called to me. Tonight, I was going back-alone.

After school, in daytime, the sky was heavy with grey clouds, and the rain happening. I alone went to castle Celia will definatily kill me if she would know that I'm alone at castle.

"I'll just take a quick look around," I told myself, pulling on my coat and scarf. "No big deal."

The walk to the castle felt shorter this time, as though my feet already knew the way. The closer I got, the heavier the air seemed, thick with anticipation.

When I reached the gates, I hesitated. The iron bars were frosted over, and beyond them, the castle loomed like a forgotten monument to a darker time. I pushed the gate open, the creak echoing into the silence, and I stepped inside.

The castle was as cold and silent as before, but this time, I felt less afraid. I wandered through the hallways, my boots stirring up small clouds of dust. I didn't know why I kept returning to the west wing, to that one room, but I didn't fight it.

When I stepped inside, the portrait was waiting for me. Like it was alive and staring at me, the painting is Titto me, same eyes, same face features but I don't feel like scared.

In the same room, I saw the man for the first time, I always felt like it was an animal but its man, with red eyes, again, his dark hair framing a face that was both regal and haunting. I stood in front of the painting, unable to look away.

"Who are you?" I whispered.

The air seemed to shift, a faint breeze brushing against my cheek. I turned quickly, my heart is racing, but the room was empty. I shook my head. "Get a grip, Elena."

But then, I heard it-a voice, low and smooth, coming from the shadows.

"You shouldn't be here."

I froze, my breath catching in her throat. Slowly, I turned toward the corner of the room, where the darkness seemed to gather.

"I-I didn't mean to. But my memories are connected to here and..."

Before I could finish, he stepped into the faint light.

It was him, Lucian.

He was tall, his sharp features illuminated by the dim glow from the windows. His eyes, those same vivid red eyes, locked onto me with an intensity that made my knees weak.

"You've been here before," he said, his voice calm but edged with something dangerous.

I opened my mouth to deny it, but the words wouldn't come.

"You shouldn't come back," he continued, stepping closer. His movements were smooth, almost predatory. "This place isn't safe for someone like you."

My heart was pounding, but I couldn't look away. "What are you?" I simply asked his identity instead of scaring I just asked and I really felt that how awkward I am.

He tilted his head, as if considering whether to answer. "Lucian...Lucian Velmont."

I know your name, just tell me what are you? A beast ? An animal? Or a monster which killing people around? Why you playing with my mind and dreams. What ãre you?..

He replied in cold voice "I was wandering, it's my family's property!"

I cut off "Or you finding food, unfortunately you find it, so, are you gonna killing me?"

He get closer to me and hold my hand but I felt uncomfortable that time I leave his hand.

The air between us felt electric, charged with something I couldn't name. I wanted to step back, to put distance between me and this stranger, but I couldn't move. I just mesmerized. "So, your all family are monsters ? Why do you killing people, Lucian? What do you want from me?"

"You're not afraid of me," Lucian ask to me his voice softening slightly.

" I cant tell you how scared I'm! you..Lucian Velmont the monster. I know you are gonna killed me. If not today you will do it tomorrow. Its your tendency, right? " I shout. My voice echoing through hall.

"I'm..I'm a..a vampire." He said his voice pierce through my heart.

I asked in anger "A what?" He again said "Vampire." My body goosebumps. I was stammering I asked "What were you showing me yesterday morning? Why I saw you in my vision you were dancing with me? Why?

He said his voice soft "We have a history together." He said and he one step closer to me.
He took another step closer, and now he was only a few feet away. I could see the faint curve of his jaw, the way his red eyes seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. My legs knees shaking. I closed my eyes and said "dont touch me". Dont, if you do than please killed me at once I don't wanna take more pain. I'm already frasturated.

,"Ok we will never talk again and keep distance" he said quietly. Kissed on my head and as I opened my eyes he dissapeared into shadows. His kissed stop my shaking body.

I blinked, my breath catching. "Lucian?" I called, I don't know why called his name I felt like I lost my soul. Like lucian presence gimme life. But its really toxic to loving a beast. A Monster. A vampire. But his words lingering in my mind that we have a history together.

I stumbled out of the hall, my mind racing. So, the history of Edinburgh was truth but Why didn't he killed me and why I saw love in his eyes? I wanted to leave, to put the castle behind me, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning..beginning of something dangerous.

And despite fear, despite the warnings, I knew I would come back. Because my dreams are connected to his castle.

I tossed and turned in bed, the events of the day playing over and over in my mind like a haunting melody. I couldn't stop thinking about him-Lucian. His red eyes, piercing and otherworldly, were unlike anything I had ever seen.

His sharp jawline, the way his dark hair fell perfectly into place, and that voice, low and smooth like a secret only I could hear, it all lingered in My thoughts. I should have been terrified. A stranger appearing out of nowhere, warning me to stay away. And yet, I wasn't.

I touched my cheek where his cold fingers had brushed my skin, a shiver running through at the memory. It wasn't fear I felt. No, it was something else. His hands were cold like ice but it gave me warm.

"Why didn't I feel afraid? And why I'm wasting my time to think about him, I mean it." I whispered into the darkness of my room. I was really angry and scared.

Instead of dread, there was an inexplicable pull, a strange sense of familiarity, as though I'd known him forever. And when I closed my eyes, I found myself smiling.

I sighed, turning off my bedside lamp. "I'm losing my mind," I muttered, pulling the blanket over My head.

Sleep didn't come easily, but when it finally did, my dreams were filled with flashes of red eyes and soft whispers calling her name.

The next morning was cold and crisp, the fog and its melted drops painting delicate patterns on the windowpanes. 2 days passed, 4 days, 8 days than a month. I just staring at outside, my mind running. Just keep thinking why this all stuff happening and why it's happening with me? I betrayed aunt by saying I'm sick that's why I'm not going school, truth is the thing I cant tell her not anyone until I solved it. the Christmas is near but I'm not preparing for anything. I'm not scared of him but one thing is frasturated me is that why? My very question has it's own questions which starting from why??