Chapter 17 THE BLACK BOOK
Nikolai stopped the car and swung the door open.
"Step out" he said softly, though there was no mistaking the authority in his tone.
Anya hesitated for a fraction of a second before obeying, her legs trembling slightly as she closed the car door behind her.
The cold air of the late morning kissed her face, but fear and anticipation made her shiver for an entirely different reason.
Without a word, Nikolai started walking, and she followed, careful to avoid the underbrush and twisted roots. The forest was silent, the only sounds were their footsteps crunching softly against the fallen leaves.
"Where are we?" she asked quietly.
"Just follow me" Nikolai replied.
They continued walking, the forest thickening around them until the outline of a small house appeared near the base of a mountain. It was modest, unassuming, almost hidden against the landscape. The air smelled of pine and damp earth, the silence oppressive.
Nikolai moved with ease, steering clear of the low-hanging branches and hidden thorns. Anya’s heart pounded in her chest.
When they reached the house, Nikolai stopped and glanced back at her.
"Inside" he instructed.
Anya nodded, swallowing hard, and followed him up the creaking steps. The door groaned as he pushed it open, revealing the dimly lit interior. Shadows clung to the corners, and the faint smell of wood smoke lingered. Nikolai led her inside, closing the door behind them with a deliberate, echoing thud.
"Stay close" he said, his voice low, almost a growl.
Inside the small, shadowed house, Nikolai moved to a corner where a worn wooden table stood. On it rested a black book, its cover embossed with a strange, ghostly symbol. He picked it up with deliberate care, running his fingers over the cover as if drawing strength from it.
A pen appeared in his hand almost instinctively. Without a word, he began writing, his strokes sharp, fast, almost violent. The sound of scratching on paper filled the room, echoing unnervingly in the small space.
Anya’s voice trembled as she tried to reach him.
"Please…why am I here? Why can’t you just leave me alone? Please…leave me alone" she begged, her hands pressed to her chest.
But Nikolai didn’t hear her. His dark eyes were glazed, his mind consumed by something deeper, something dangerous. His hands twitched, jerking violently as he wrote with an almost frenzied energy.
Anya’s stomach knotted as a chill ran down her spine.
There was no reasoning with him now because his madness was about to erupt again.
Suddenly, the pen slipped from his fingers, hitting the floor with a loud clatter. Nikolai stood abruptly, the book clutched tightly against his chest, eyes wild. His movements were erratic, unpredictable, and every instinct screamed at Anya to run.
Before she could even take a step back, he began scattering objects across the room—papers flew, chairs toppled, the walls echoed with the chaos.
Fear gripped her chest like a vice. Heart pounding, Anya stumbled backward, her hands brushing against the walls as she tried to find the door. Her breaths came in sharp, ragged gasps.
"No…no…please," she whispered to herself, panic rising as she fumbled with the handle. The door creaked open, and without thinking, she bolted out into the forest.
Branches scratched at her arms, leaves slapped against her face, but she didn’t stop. She didn’t know where she was going, she only knew she had to get away. The late morning sun filtered through the trees, casting fleeting shadows that seemed to chase her.
Anya stumbled over a hidden root, her body pitching forward. She hit the damp forest floor hard, leaves and dirt clinging to her hands and clothes. Heart racing, she pushed herself up, gasping for air.
Then she saw them. A pair of glowing, yellow eyes staring at her from the shadows.
"Shadow…" she breathed, recognizing the black cat. She crouched, holding her hands out. The cat padded closer, brushing against her leg, and she scooped it into her arms, hugging it tightly.
Despite the chaos that had just occurred, her voice trembled with concern. "Is he… okay?"
The forest fell silent, the only sound the soft purring of Shadow. But then a shadow moved behind her. Nikolai.
"Don't fucking touch my cat!!!" he snapped, lunging forward. In one swift motion, he took Shadow from her arms, holding the small animal close.
Anya flinched. "I… I’m sorry" she whispered.
The cat meowed softly, and Nikolai’s gaze turned dark, almost possessive. He held the feline close, then looked down at her.
"You haven’t answered my proposal yet" he reminded her.
"I… I can’t…" she stammered, stepping back, her chest heaving.
"Yes or yes" he demanded, his eyes flashing with an intensity that made her heart pound in fear.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, trembling.
"You will find out when you become mine. Yes or yes"
"Will you leave me alone when I say yes?" she asked cautiously, almost hoping for a reprieve.
"Maybe" he replied, a dangerous smirk tugging at his lips.
Anya swallowed, her throat dry. She exhaled shakily. "Okay… fine. Yes"
The moment the word left her lips, Nikolai moved with frightening speed. He swept her up effortlessly into his arms, carrying her as though she weighed nothing.
"Say no more," he said, his voice cold but triumphant. "You’re mine now"
He reached into a pocket and pulled out a black book, flipping it open to a page filled with names, inked neatly but ominously.
"These… are the people that bullied you," he said, his voice a chilling whisper. "And they… are dying tonight"
Anya’s eyes widened in horror.