Chapter 32

Elizabeth’s Perspective

The library had always been a safe haven for me. A place of solitude and quiet, where the weight of reality seemed to lessen, even if just a little. But today, it felt different. Haley’s absence left a hollow space that I couldn’t fill no matter how hard I tried. My mind, however, was not entirely on the library’s quiet halls or the books that needed sorting.

Prav’s lifeless eyes haunted me. The memory of his pale, bloodless body flashed in my mind every time I blinked. I shook my head, trying to shake off the image as I entered the last few pieces of data for the day. It didn’t work. The lingering sadness and unease from last night clung to me like a second skin.

When the final book was shelved and the library stood locked and silent behind me, I realized how late it had gotten. Normally, I left before dark, but I’d been so caught up in work—and, truthfully, trying to keep my mind occupied—that I hadn’t noticed how quickly the night had fallen.

The streets of New Orleans were eerily quiet tonight. Even the usual distant jazz notes that drifted from the lively quarters were absent. The full moon above cast a silver glow over the town, illuminating the cobblestone streets. Its beauty distracted me for a moment, as it always did. The full moon had always been my favorite. There was something comforting about its luminous presence, a celestial guardian watching over the world.

But the comfort didn’t last long.

Ahead, a group of men lingered on a corner, their laughter loud and harsh in the otherwise silent street. As I approached, I could smell the sharp tang of alcohol. My heart quickened, and I clutched my bag tighter, hoping to pass unnoticed.

“Hey there, sweetheart!” one of them called, his words slurring together.

I kept walking, forcing myself to focus on the pavement ahead.

“Aw, don’t be shy. We’re just trying to be friendly,” another chimed in.

“Have a drink with us!”

“No, thank you,” I replied, keeping my voice steady but polite.

Their laughter followed me, and I picked up my pace. My nerves prickled as I felt their eyes on me, like predators watching prey.

It wasn’t until I heard footsteps behind me that true panic set in.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw one of them following me. The dim streetlights cast his shadow long and jagged against the ground. He wasn’t just walking—he was gaining on me.

I broke into a run.

The sound of my hurried footsteps echoed off the buildings, but so did his. My breaths came fast and shallow, each one burning my lungs. I turned a corner, then another, hoping to lose him, but he was still there, closer now.

“Where are you going, darling?” he taunted, his voice sing-song and terrifying.

My heart pounded as I realized I was heading toward the woods. The streetlights ended here, and the forest loomed ahead, its dark trees swaying ominously in the wind. I didn’t want to go in, but I had no choice. If I stayed on the open road, he’d catch me.

I darted into the trees.

The world became a blur of shadows and branches. My feet stumbled over roots and rocks, but I kept running, adrenaline pushing me forward. The sound of his laughter followed me, cruel and mocking.

I tripped and fell hard, my hands and knees scraping against the forest floor. My head hit something solid, and pain shot through my skull. Dazed, I rolled onto my back and saw him standing over me, his face twisted into a wicked grin.

“Thought you could get away, huh?” he sneered, crouching down.

“Please,” I begged, my voice trembling. “Just let me go.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” he said, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face. His touch made my skin crawl. “You’re too pretty to let go.”

I tried to push him away, but he was strong—too strong. He grabbed my arm, pulling me to my feet, and sniffed my neck.

“You’ll taste so nice,” he murmured, his voice low and menacing.

I struggled, kicking and twisting, but it was useless. He was too fast, too strong. I screamed as I felt something sharp graze my neck—teeth, I realized in horror.

But then, as if from nowhere, he was ripped away from me.

It happened so fast I barely registered it. One moment he was holding me, and the next he was flying backward, crashing into a tree with a sickening thud.

My attacker let out a hiss, baring sharp teeth—fangs, I realized with a jolt.

A growl echoed through the forest, low and menacing.

I turned my head and saw him.

Blond hair that glinted gold in the moonlight. Eyes like molten amber, glowing in the darkness. He stood tall and calm, radiating an aura of power that made the air around him feel heavier.

“Elijah,” I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper.

He didn’t look at me. His eyes were locked on my attacker, who was already scrambling to his feet.

The two of them stared at each other for a moment, tension crackling in the air. Then, without warning, my attacker vanished.

It wasn’t like running or even speeding away—it was as if he had dissolved into the shadows themselves.

“Elijah,” I said again, my voice trembling. “Where did he go?”

Elijah turned to me then, his eyes softening as they met mine.

“Gone,” he said simply. “For now.”

I tried to stand, but my legs gave out beneath me. Before I could hit the ground, Elijah was there, his arms strong and steady as he caught me.

“You’re bleeding,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “You hit your head.”

“I—I’m fine,” I stammered, though the dizziness said otherwise.

He shook his head, his golden hair catching the moonlight. “No, you’re not.”

Before I could protest, he scooped me up in his arms as if I weighed nothing.

“Let’s get you home,” he said.

I should have argued, told him I could walk, but I didn’t have the strength. Instead, I rested my head against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat oddly comforting.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He didn’t respond right away. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft. “You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

“I didn’t have a choice,” I said, my words slurring slightly. “Had to work late.”

He was silent for a moment, then said, “Next time, call someone. Don’t walk home alone at night.”

His tone was firm, almost scolding, but there was something else there too—concern.

As we moved through the woods, the world around us seemed to blur. The trees swayed in the wind, their branches whispering secrets I couldn’t hear. The moonlight cast long shadows on the ground, and somewhere in the distance, an owl hooted.

By the time we reached the edge of the forest, I was starting to feel more like myself.

“Elijah,” I said, looking up at him. “What was he? ”

He hesitated, his golden eyes meeting mine. "You just need to rest Elizabeth, he was just a man. A bad one."

I nodded, he was right my head was still sore and maybe I was hallucinating. Everything happened so fast.

As I unlocked the door to my house, I turned to thank him again, but he was already gone.

I stood there for a moment, the events of the night replaying in my mind. The attack, the chase, Elijah’s sudden appearance...none of it made sense.