Part 1: Shadows in the Forest
The pen in Aisha's fingers trembled slightly, as if sharing the uncertainty coursing through her. The room was steeped in oppressive silence, broken only by the faint creaking of Lionel's chair as he leaned toward her. His smile was a cold, calculated mask designed to disarm her."Don't be afraid, Aisha. This is the first step toward your freedom," Lionel said, his voice gentle, but every word carried a hidden edge.
Aisha looked at him, struggling to maintain her composure. Deep inside, something screamed at her not to trust him. And then, from the furthest corner of her mind, a familiar presence stirred. It was like a warm whisper, a distant echo calling her name: Sanathiel.
"Why do I feel this?" she thought as her heart pounded wildly. Vague dreams, golden eyes, and moonlit nights flooded her mind. An inexplicable connection was pulling her toward something far greater than the contract before her.
"Promise me something before I sign," she said, her voice steadier than she expected.Lionel raised an eyebrow, visibly impatient."You will regain your memories. Everything you wish to understand will be within your reach," he said, his tone seemingly sincere, though his eyes couldn't hide the lie.
A knot twisted in Aisha's stomach. Yet Lionel's words faded as Sanathiel's presence grew stronger. Those golden eyes seemed to gaze at her from the shadows of her mind, giving her the strength to face what was coming.
"Swear that you won't hurt Rasen," Aisha added, lifting her chin with newfound resolve.Lionel studied her curiously but finally nodded."I swear."
The pen tip glided across the paper, and the scratching sound marked a point of no return. Something within Aisha shifted at that moment, a dark resolution beginning to take root inside her.
After signing:
The vehicle moved slowly along deserted roads, flanked by trees that seemed to come alive under the silver light of the moon. Aisha kept her gaze fixed on the window, but her mind was trapped elsewhere.
Sanathiel.
She couldn't stop thinking about him. Closing her eyes, she could feel him—his nearness, his breath, the warmth of his voice resonating deep within her."This doesn't make sense," she thought, placing a hand over her chest to calm the frantic beating of her heart.
Who are you really, Sanathiel? And why do I feel like you've always been with me?
When they arrived, the mansion loomed before her, an imposing structure heavy with secrets. Lionel guided her inside, but Aisha couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
The vestibule was lit by the dim glow of chandeliers. Shadows danced along the walls, creating eerie shapes. At the end of the corridor, she saw a silhouette.Their eyes met.The world stopped moving.
It wasn't just a face among shadows; it was a presence.The scar on her neck burned—the same sensation she felt under the red moon.Sanathiel didn't smile. He didn't try to soothe her. He simply watched her, as if he already knew everything about her.
Time seemed to freeze. Before she could utter a word, Lionel stepped in, breaking the spell."It's late. You should rest," he said, taking her arm with a rehearsed kindness.
Aisha quickly came back to herself, as if waking from an open-eyed dream. As she climbed the stairs, she couldn't help but glance back, desperately searching for those golden eyes that had left her breathless. But Sanathiel was gone. The hollow feeling inside her was undeniable.
In her room, she sat on the bed, hugging her knees. The luxury around her only made the place feel colder, more unfamiliar. The curtains fluttered lightly in the night breeze, and the whispering trees outside mirrored the chaos in her mind.
Sanathiel.She closed her eyes, but his image remained vivid and relentless. There was something about him, an irresistible force that pulled her closer, yet also evoked a deep fear."Why do I feel this way? I don't even truly know him…"
A soft knock at the door startled her, making her heart race."May I come in?" The calm, deep, and familiar voice of Sanathiel broke the silence.
Doubt and curiosity battled within her. Finally, she took a deep breath and replied,"Come in."
He entered with silent steps, stopping at a respectful distance. The moonlight illuminated his face, highlighting his features—and those eyes that disturbed her so much."I just wanted to make sure you were alright," he said, his voice unexpectedly gentle.
Aisha fidgeted with her hands, nervous."There's something about you…" she finally murmured. "Something that feels familiar… but also frightens me."
Sanathiel watched her with a soft smile."I know. I feel the same."
The silence between them was thick, full of unspoken words. At last, Aisha gathered the courage to ask,"Who are you… really?"
Sanathiel sighed, as if he had been waiting for that question for a long time."I am someone who has sought answers, just like you. Our lives are connected in ways you don't yet understand, but I promise, when the time is right, you'll know everything."
Aisha nodded slowly. There was sincerity in his words, and for the first time in a long while, she felt she wasn't completely alone."Alright. I'll trust you… for now."
Sanathiel smiled, a flicker of relief shining in his eyes."Thank you. Get some rest. Tomorrow will be an important day."
When he left, Aisha sat staring at the closed door. Her heart pounded, but not out of fear."Maybe…" she thought, "things are finally about to change in my favor."
The next morning:
The mansion's garden was covered in morning dew. Aisha walked among the rose bushes, trying to gather her thoughts. The fresh air filled her lungs, granting her a moment of peace.
"It's a beautiful place, isn't it?"
Sanathiel was leaning against a nearby tree, watching her with a faint smile."Yes, it is," Aisha replied, approaching him.
They walked in silence. Aisha felt they didn't need words, but her mind was full of questions."Last night…" Aisha began, her voice uncertain. "Thank you for caring."
Sanathiel held her gaze; his golden eyes reflected the first rays of sunlight."I always care about you, Aisha," he answered, his voice filled with warm certainty that disarmed her.
His words resonated deep within her, touching a fiber she hadn't known existed but that had always been there. Aisha felt something invisible wrap around her, an undeniable presence, as if Sanathiel were a part of her very essence.
"There are so many things I don't understand," Aisha admitted, lowering her gaze before finding his eyes again. "But the more I move forward, the more I feel something inside me awakening, as if I'm destined to see what I've forgotten."
Sanathiel nodded softly, his expression a mixture of certainty and longing."You will remember when the time is right, I promise."
Time seemed to halt. Between them, the air was charged with a deeper connection than words could express. Aisha felt an unusual warmth on her skin, as if her left hand was softly burning—but it didn't hurt.Driven by an inexplicable instinct, she lifted her hand and brushed it lightly against Sanathiel's cheek.
The touch was brief but enough to unleash a wave of emotions: fragmented memories, glimpses of moonlit nights, and a mark she couldn't explain—a connection that went beyond the physical. Her heart raced wildly, responding to an ancient call she was just beginning to comprehend.
As they walked back toward the mansion, Aisha realized that with each step, Sanathiel's presence within her mind grew stronger. It wasn't just attraction; it was a bond pulling her forward, an energy she recognized but couldn't fully decipher yet.
Suddenly, the wind whispered among the trees, and with it, came a voice that made her stop in her tracks:"I'm here for you. Soon, you'll understand."
The voice resonated deep within her, unmistakable and heavy with a promise.Leaves fell around them, and for a moment, the world felt utterly still—as if it had stopped just for that instant.
The next morning:
The mansion's garden was covered in morning dew. Aisha walked among the rose bushes, trying to gather her thoughts. The fresh air filled her lungs, granting her a moment of peace.
"It's a beautiful place, isn't it?"
Sanathiel was leaning against a nearby tree, watching her with a faint smile."Yes, it is," Aisha replied, approaching him.
They walked in silence. Aisha felt they didn't need words, but her mind was full of questions."Last night…" Aisha began, her voice uncertain. "Thank you for caring."
Sanathiel held her gaze; his golden eyes reflected the first rays of sunlight."I always care about you, Aisha," he answered, his voice filled with warm certainty that disarmed her.
His words resonated deep within her, touching a fiber she hadn't known existed but that had always been there. Aisha felt something invisible wrap around her, an undeniable presence, as if Sanathiel were a part of her very essence.
"There are so many things I don't understand," Aisha admitted, lowering her gaze before finding his eyes again. "But the more I move forward, the more I feel something inside me awakening, as if I'm destined to see what I've forgotten."
Sanathiel nodded softly, his expression a mixture of certainty and longing."You will remember when the time is right, I promise."
Time seemed to halt. Between them, the air was charged with a deeper connection than words could express. Aisha felt an unusual warmth on her skin, as if her left hand was softly burning—but it didn't hurt.Driven by an inexplicable instinct, she lifted her hand and brushed it lightly against Sanathiel's cheek.
The touch was brief but enough to unleash a wave of emotions: fragmented memories, glimpses of moonlit nights, and a mark she couldn't explain—a connection that went beyond the physical. Her heart raced wildly, responding to an ancient call she was just beginning to comprehend.
As they walked back toward the mansion, Aisha realized that with each step, Sanathiel's presence within her mind grew stronger. It wasn't just attraction; it was a bond pulling her forward, an energy she recognized but couldn't fully decipher yet.
Suddenly, the wind whispered among the trees, and with it, came a voice that made her stop in her tracks:
"I'm here for you. Soon, you'll understand."
The voice resonated deep within her, unmistakable and heavy with a promise.Leaves fell around them, and for a moment, the world felt utterly still—as if it had stopped just for that instant.