Chapter 20 HIS GOLDEN EYES
The school’s garden was quiet.
Not silent but hushed.
Soft lamps lined the stone paths, casting pale yellow light over trimmed hedges and flowering shrubs. Crickets chirped somewhere in the distance, their sound mixing with the faint rustle of leaves swaying in the night breeze.
Anya stood near the old fountain, her hands clasped nervously in front of her.
Ivan lowered his camera slowly, checking the screen with a satisfied nod.
"That’s it," he said. "I think I got what I needed"
Anya let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. "So… we’re done?"
"Yeah," he replied with a small smile. "You did great"
Marisa wasn’t there.
She had planned to tag along, but at the last minute, she’d received a call and rushed off, apologizing profusely. Anya had told her it was fine she didn’t want to be a burden.
Now, standing alone with Ivan, the unease returned.
Ivan adjusted the strap of his camera around his neck. "Sorry again for taking so much of your time"
"It’s okay" Anya said softly. Her voice sounded distant even to herself.
He hesitated, then glanced around. "Do you want me to walk you back to the hostel?"
Before she could answer—
"No"
The word slipped out of her mouth again.
Anya stiffened.
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.
Ivan blinked. "Oh… okay"
"I—" she started, panic flashing in her eyes. "I mean—"
Her head throbbed suddenly, a dull ache spreading behind her temples. Her chest felt tight, like invisible fingers were curling around her lungs.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
"I’ll be fine," she said quickly, forcing the words out this time. "You can go. Thank you… for everything"
Ivan studied her face for a moment, concern flickering in his eyes. "Are you sure? You don’t look so good"
She nodded too fast. "I’m sure"
After a second, he gave up. "Alright. Text me when you get back, okay?"
She nodded again.
Ivan walked away, his footsteps fading down the path until he disappeared into the darkness.
Anya was alone.
The moment he was gone, her knees weakened slightly. She grabbed the edge of the fountain, steadying herself as her breathing grew uneven.
'Why do I keep saying things I don’t mean?'
A cold shiver crawled up her spine.
Suddenly, Anya disappeared without warning.
The garden, the soft lights, the stone paths, the crickets, vanished in an instant.
She stumbled forward, only to find herself standing in a cavernous hall bathed in flickering candlelight. Shadows danced along the walls, making the room seem alive. Her stomach dropped.
Her eyes widened. 'Where, where am I?'
The scent of old wood, wax, and something metallic filled her nose.
Candles were arranged everywhere, on tables, along the floor, in ornate candelabras. Their flames cast long, trembling shadows that made her heart race.
And then she saw it.
The large black book resting on a pedestal in the center of the room. Its cover was embossed with a ghostly symbol that seemed to shimmer in the candlelight.
Anya’s hands shook as she stepped closer. She reached out tentatively, brushing her fingers over the cover.
The book opened easily, as if it had been waiting for her.
Her eyes scanned the pages, and her breath caught in her throat.
Ten names, each marked with crimson blood, dripping slowly across the page.
Her legs gave out, and she staggered back. "What, what the bloody hell?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
A low, quiet sound from the corner of the room drew her attention.
Shadow.
The black cat sat in the shadows, yellow eyes glowing like molten gold. His tail flicked slowly as he observed her, unmoving.
Anya froze, the hair on her arms standing on end.
And then it hit her.
This is Nikolai’s manor.
Every instinct in her screamed to run, but her feet felt rooted to the ground. The book, the cat, the oppressive shadows, they all whispered the same terrifying truth: she was completely, irrevocably trapped.
Her hands curled into fists at her sides.
'How did I get here?'
Shadow’s gaze followed her every move.
The cold realization settled like a stone in her chest: Nikolai had brought her here.
Before Anya could gather her full thoughts, a shadow shifted behind the flickering candlelight.
Nikolai.
His presence was overwhelming. The air around him seemed to thrum with an almost tangible energy. His face was smeared with dark, glistening blood, the streaks catching the candlelight in a horrifying shimmer.
Anya stumbled backward, her hand flying to her mouth as she gasped loudly.
Her wide eyes locked on his, and her stomach dropped.
Golden. Glowing. Golden eyes that burned like molten fire, piercing straight through her.
She barely whispered, her voice trembling, "What… what are you…?"
Nikolai tilted his head slightly, a cruel smirk tugging at the corner of his bloodied lips.