**The moon hung low in the sky, a silver kiss upon the earth, its light casting a soft, ethereal glow over the quiet garden. Lila stood there, breathless, her heart fluttering like a bird caught in a net. Her gaze locked with his—Nathaniel’s—his eyes deep, like twin pools of night, pulling her in closer, making her forget everything but him.**

**His smile was slow, deliberate, the kind of smile that promised things untold, hidden in the shadows where light dared not tread. The air between them crackled, thick with anticipation, and yet, something about it felt wrong. She couldn’t quite place it—was it the way his fingers twitched, as though eager to touch her? Or the way his presence seemed to fill the garden, suffocating it, until there was no air left but him?**

**“You’re beautiful,” Nathaniel whispered, his voice soft, coaxing. His words slid over her skin like silk, but there was something unsettling in their warmth, something that made her pulse race for reasons she couldn’t explain. She took a step forward, almost instinctively, drawn to him as if by some invisible thread.**

**He took her hand, his touch cold as ice, sending a shock through her body. His grip tightened slightly, possessive, and she gasped, but it wasn’t from fear. It was something darker, something thrilling that made her blood run hot and cold all at once.**

**“Stay with me,” he murmured, his lips brushing her ear, and the world seemed to tilt as his breath lingered against her skin. Her body moved closer, compelled, despite the knot of unease tightening in her chest.**

**Something was wrong. She couldn’t stop herself, couldn’t move away, even as she felt the earth beneath her feet shift, as though it too wanted to hold her captive. A distant, echoing sound broke through the silence—a creak of the old iron gate swinging open, the faintest whisper of movement that sent chills crawling up her spine. The moon’s light, once soft and gentle, now felt harsh, glaring down at them as if it knew the truth.**

**He tilted his head, and for a brief moment, Lila saw the hunger in his eyes—a dark, insatiable need that chilled her to the bone. But before she could pull away, he kissed her, and the world spun wildly. His lips were too cold, too unyielding, as if they were not meant for the warmth of living flesh.**

**The garden seemed to close in around them, the shadows deepening, the flowers wilting as the kiss lingered longer than it should have. And then she understood. He wasn’t just taking her heart—he was taking her soul, pulling her into a dark, endless night where she would never see the light again.**

**When he finally pulled away, his smile was different—darker. “Forever,” he whispered, the word sinking into her skin like a promise, a curse.**