The quiet of the evening settled over the Moreau estate like a shroud, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves outside and the distant calls of crows perched in the withering trees. Elijah sat in his dimly lit study, a single candle casting long, flickering shadows over the room. Before him lay Matthias’s old journal, its leather cover worn and cracked with age, the spine creased from years of use.Elijah had kept it locked away, an heirloom—a reminder of the man who had taught him everything he knew about the shadows that lurked beyond the edges of Raven’s Hollow. But tonight, with the Bloodseekers’ threat escalating, he felt a pull he couldn’t resist, a sense that somewhere within these pages lay answers he desperately needed.He took a deep breath, his fingers brushing over the cover as memories surfaced—images of Matthias guiding him through countless lessons, his voice calm yet unyielding, warning him of the dangers that existed just out of sight. Elijah had always admired Matt
The clock struck midnight, each chime echoing through the empty streets of Raven’s Hollow. The fog clung heavily to the ground, creeping around the ancient stones like a silent tide. Within the church at the heart of town, Pastor Elijah Longfellow knelt alone before the altar, whispering words in a language older than the land itself. He pressed his fingers to the worn edges of the stone, tracing symbols carved centuries ago by those who once stood as guardians of this town.By day, he was simply Pastor Elijah, a figure of warmth and guidance for his parishioners. But under the cloak of night, he became Saint Longinus, a protector bound by blood and tradition to shield the town from the malevolent forces that had haunted it for centuries. His grandfather had trained him for this role, a legacy passed down through countless generations of Saint Longinus, protectors sworn to guard Raven’s Hollow against the dark.He drew a breath and spoke the last words of the rite. An invisible barrie
The memory came unbidden, as vivid as if it were happening all over again. It had been two years ago, on a sweltering summer night, thick with the scent of bitter herbs and blood. Candles flickered around the room, their light casting jittery shadows over the thin figure lying in bed—a man Elijah had once seen as a pillar of strength, now diminished, frail, clinging to life by the thinnest of threads. Father Matthias Moreau, the last true Saint Longinus of Raven’s Hollow, was dying. And with each labored breath, Elijah could feel the weight of Raven’s Hollow’s legacy bearing down on him.Matthias’s voice, once strong and commanding, had become a rasping whisper. Yet his grip on Elijah’s wrist was firm, as though he were trying to pass the weight of his years to him with that single touch. “Elijah…” he whispered, his voice hoarse but filled with urgency. “Listen closely. I have… a final request.”Elijah leaned in, his heart pounding at the intensity of his mentor’s gaze. Matthias’s eye
The cool dusk light seeped through the thin lace curtains, casting patterns across the faded wallpaper and onto the rough-hewn wooden floors of Elijah’s modest apartment. The contrast between the serenity outside and the tense silence inside the room was striking. Lina paced in the kitchen, her heels clicking against the floor with an impatient rhythm. Elijah sat at the small dining table, watching her with an unreadable expression, feeling the storm building just beneath her calm exterior. He braced himself, knowing that nothing he said tonight would placate her simmering anger.“You’re quiet tonight,” Elijah finally said, forcing his voice to stay calm, though he could already sense where this conversation was headed.Lina stopped mid-stride, her back to him, shoulders squared. She looked down at her pristine, manicured nails, as if studying a speck of dust that had dared settle on her polished appearance. "Why wouldn’t I be?” she responded, voice as smooth as silk, but sharp enough
The low hum of conversation filled the Moreau estate’s parlor, punctuated by the occasional clink of crystal glasses. The laughter of well-dressed guests drifted through the air, mingling with the scent of cigar smoke and rich perfumes. As Elijah stepped into the room, a hush fell over the crowd, eyes turning to him with thinly veiled curiosity and disdain.At the center of it all stood Henri Moreau, his gaze sharp and appraising as he caught sight of Elijah. Henri’s tailored suit fit perfectly, an embodiment of wealth and status, the dark fabric untouched by a wrinkle. Beside him, Vivienne Moreau held a glass of wine with an almost bored elegance, her lips pressed into a faint, dismissive smile. They radiated wealth and power—the kind that didn’t need to be spoken to be felt.“Elijah,” Henri drawled, swirling his glass of brandy as if he were observing a stray dog that had wandered in. “I see you’ve decided to join us at last. I was beginning to wonder if perhaps you had better thing
A soft knock echoed through Elijah’s study, rousing him from his reading. The night was thick and still, the air heavy with the scent of old leather and parchment as he pored over Matthias’s journal. He’d grown accustomed to the solitude of these quiet evenings, the comforting repetition of familiar lines, but something about the knock sent a chill down his spine.When the door opened, he saw Lina standing there, her face shadowed and unreadable in the dim light. She held a small stack of papers in her hand, her grip tight as if she were afraid they might slip away. Elijah’s heart tightened at the sight of her, hoping for a moment that she’d come to talk, to reach across the chasm that had grown between them. But her expression was cold, her gaze averted as she stepped inside.“Lina?” he asked, setting the journal aside. “Is everything all right?”She didn’t answer for a moment, her gaze drifting to the window as if gathering her thoughts, steeling herself. She turned slowly, extendin
The silence in Elijah's study was absolute, thick with the weight of finality. The stack of divorce papers lay before him on the desk, each sheet stark and cold in the faint glow of the candlelight. Outside, a storm was gathering, dark clouds casting shadows over the Moreau estate as though even the night itself mourned what was about to unfold.Elijah stared down at the papers, his heart heavy with a bitter reluctance. This was the moment he had dreaded, the choice that would sever not only his marriage but the protection that had shielded Lina's family for generations. His vow to Matthias had bound him as surely as any chain woven with ancient rites and promises. To break it now felt like tearing away a part of himself, yet he was, pen in hand, facing the cold reality of her decision.But her words echoed in his mind, as harsh and unforgiving as the storm outside: "I want a life where I don't have to look over my shoulder, wondering what dark secrets you're hiding."He closed his ey
The air was unnaturally still, pressing down like a weight over the Moreau estate, heavy and charged with an unspoken threat. Elijah stood on the front steps, staring into the darkness that stretched beyond the gravel drive, his senses sharpened, attuned to every shift in the air, every shadow that moved at the edge of his vision. The night had fallen fast and thick, a blanket of dark clouds blotting out the stars, casting the estate into a deep, oppressive blackness.He tightened his grip on his staff, his fingers cold against the worn wood. The wards, the protective spells he had spent years reinforcing, were gone. With a simple stroke of his pen on the divorce papers, he had severed the bond that shielded the Moreaus, leaving them exposed to the very things he had been sworn to keep at bay.A faint rustling sound caught his attention—a flash of movement just beyond the treeline. He narrowed his eyes, every nerve in his body on edge, feeling the familiar tension he had learned to li