Love At First Death

Elysia sat across from Damien in the dimly lit library. The air was thick with tension, the room illuminated only by the warm glow of a fire crackling in the massive stone hearth. She gripped the edge of her chair, leaning forward slightly as Damien paced the room, his expression unreadable.

"Are you going to keep pacing, or are you actually going to talk?" she finally said, exasperated.

Damien stopped abruptly, his sharp gaze locking onto hers. "You think you're ready to hear the truth?"

Elysia raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't."

He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "You don't understand how dangerous this is. Once you know, there's no going back."

"I've already woken up on a mortician's table, moved into a creepy castle, and met someone who looks like he's a vampire's sketchy cousin," she said, ticking off points on her fingers. "I think I'm past the point of no return."

Despite the gravity of the moment, the corner of Damien's mouth twitched upward briefly before his stoic mask returned.

"Fine," he said, sitting down opposite her. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

Elysia folded her arms. "Noted. Spill it."

Damien hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "The castle isn't just old– it's ancient. And it's alive."

"Alive?" she repeated, narrowing her eyes. "Like, metaphorically?"

"No," he said, his tone deadly serious. "This place has a will of its own. It changes, adapts, and... manipulates."

Elysia blinked. "That's... a lot to take in."

"You're part of it now," Damien continued. "The castle only allows those it deems 'worthy' to stay. The rest– "

"Get kicked out?" she interrupted.

"Or worse," he said, his voice dropping.

"Worse?"

Damien gave her a grim look. "They disappear. No trace, no explanation. Just... gone."

Elysia swallowed hard. "So, what makes me 'worthy'?"

"That's the part I don't understand," he admitted. "You shouldn't be here. And yet, the castle hasn't rejected you."

She frowned, her mind racing. "Maybe it's because I died?"

"That's... one theory," Damien said, his expression darkening.

Before she could press further, a loud crash echoed through the halls, making them both jump.

"What was that?" Elysia asked, her eyes wide.

Damien was already on his feet, his jaw tightening. "Stay here."

"Like hell I will," she said, standing up.

"Elysia– "

"I'm not sitting here while something potentially life-threatening is happening," she shot back. "You said the castle is dangerous, remember?"

Damien groaned, muttering something under his breath. "Fine. But stay behind me."

The two of them moved quickly through the corridors, the flickering lantern Damien carried casting eerie shadows on the walls. The noise led them to a small gallery filled with antique paintings and sculptures.

Lucian was there, standing amidst the wreckage of a shattered vase. He turned to face them, an innocent smile on his lips.

"Oops," he said, gesturing to the mess. "Clumsy me."

Damien's expression hardened. "What are you doing here?"

"Exploring," Lucian said with a shrug. "Same as your little companion."

Elysia crossed her arms. "I wasn't breaking things."

Lucian chuckled. "Not yet, anyway."

Damien stepped forward, his towering presence making Lucian's smile falter. "If you're here to cause trouble– "

"Relax, Damien," Lucian interrupted, holding up his hands. "I'm just here to help."

"Help with what?" Damien growled.

"Protecting the lovely Elysia, of course," Lucian said, winking at her.

Damien's jaw tightened, and Elysia quickly stepped between them. "Okay, that's enough testosterone for one night," she said. "Can someone please tell me what's actually going on here?"

Lucian smirked, but it was Damien who answered. "Lucian's family has a... history with this castle. He's not here to help. He's here to meddle."

"Isn't that the same thing?" Lucian quipped.

Elysia rubbed her temples. "Great. So, the castle is alive, and now we've got family drama. Anything else I should know?"

Both men fell silent, exchanging a look that made Elysia's stomach churn.

"What aren't you telling me?" she demanded.

Damien sighed. "This isn't the first time someone like you has come here."

"Someone like me?"

"A... revenant," Lucian said, his tone unusually serious.

Elysia stared at them, her mind spinning. "You're telling me there have been others? And what happened to them?"

Lucian's smirk returned, but it didn't reach his eyes. "That's a story for another time."

Damien shot him a warning glare before turning to Elysia. "Let's just say their stories didn't end well."

Elysia's throat tightened, but she refused to back down. "Well, I'm not like them. And I'm going to find out exactly what's going on, whether you two like it or not."

Lucian gave her an approving nod. "Now that's the spirit."

Damien looked less than pleased, but he didn't argue. Instead, he motioned for her to follow him back to the library.

As they walked, Elysia couldn't shake the feeling that she was only scratching the surface of the castle's secrets– and that whatever she uncovered next would change everything.