Dusk Glow

Chapter VIII: Between Shadows and Secrets

The Kullen mansion looms at the edge of Spoons like a shadow against the darkening sky, its turrets and ivy-covered walls blending into the surrounding forest. Darla stands at the iron gates, her breath visible in the chilly evening air as she stares up at the old, gothic structure. Every inch of the place exudes mystery, from the twisting vines that climb the stone walls to the flickering candlelight that dances behind the frosted windows.

I've read enough romance novels to know this is either going to be super dramatic... or super awkward. Maybe both. Just... gotta act cool. Like I do this kind of thing all the time. Just don't let him see me sweat.
Wait, do vampires even sweat? Focus, Darla!

She takes a deep breath, pulling her coat tighter around herself before pushing open the gate. The iron creaks loudly, and she winces at the sound, glancing around as if expecting someone to pop out of the shadows. But the pathway remains empty, and she steps forward, her boots crunching on the gravel as she follows the winding path up to the mansion's front door.

Just as she's about to knock, the door swings open, revealing Edwynn standing in the entryway. His dark coat drapes elegantly over his shoulders, and the soft candlelight from inside casts his features in sharp relief. His pale skin seems to almost glow in the dim light, and his blue eyes gleam with an intensity that makes Darla's heart skip a beat.

"You're right on time, Darla," he says smoothly, a small, mysterious smile playing at his lips. "Welcome to the Kullen estate."

Darla clears her throat, trying to ignore the way her hands tremble slightly. "Uh, yeah, well... I figured, you know, you only invited me to your creepy mansion in the woods once, so... wouldn't want to be late." She offers him an awkward smile, but he just raises an eyebrow, clearly amused.

He steps aside, gesturing for her to enter. "It's not as creepy as it looks. Well... not all of it, anyway."

Darla hesitates for a moment, her thoughts racing, but she steps over the threshold, into the mansion's grand foyer. The door swings shut behind her with a soft thud, and she feels a shiver run down her spine.

The interior is as gothic as she expected, with high ceilings, dark wood paneling, and ornate chandeliers that cast eerie shadows across the walls. There are portraits of stern-looking figures with piercing eyes, their frames lined with dust, and the whole place smells faintly of old books and candle wax.

Okay, this place is basically begging to be haunted. Is this how fangsters live? Not in a modern villa full of windows to show off how their skin shimmers like a thousand dimonds? Because this is kind of... awesome. In a creepy, 'please don't eat me' kind of way.

Edwynn's voice draws her attention back to him as he leads her down a candle-lit hallway. "I thought it was time you learned a bit more about my family. About our... history." His tone is serious, but there's a glimmer of something darker beneath his words. "And I suppose... about me as well."

Darla follows him, trying to hide the nerves bubbling in her chest. "Yibs, well, you've been pretty vague so far, Edwynn. I think I deserve some answers after... you know, the whole feral attack thing."

Edwynn glances back at her, his expression softening for a brief moment before he turns away again. "Yes. You're right. There are things you need to know."

He leads her into a large room lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, the air thick with the scent of ancient parchment and dust. In the center of the room sits an elaborate oak desk, and on top of it rests a large, leather-bound book, its cover engraved with an intricate emblem that glows faintly in the candlelight.

Edwynn gestures to the book, his eyes never leaving Darla's face. "This is the Kullen family chronicle. It contains everything you could ever want to know about my kind—about fangsters, the Rift, and the centuries of bloodshed between us and the wulfens."