it’s gone …
It had been about two days since the incident during my date with Lucas, and yes, I was still glowing for reasons we couldn’t yet decipher. The mansion, an opulent estate nestled amidst rolling hills and lush gardens, was a place of timeless beauty and mystery. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, and the floors were covered with rich, plush carpets that muffled the sound of footsteps. The grand chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings bathed everything in a soft, golden glow. This majestic setting only added to the surreal nature of my situation.
The number of stares I received in the mansion-from both those present when the incident occurred and those returning from their journeys to connect with their mates-was overwhelming. The sensation was surreal; it felt as if I were walking in a dream, my skin shimmering with an ethereal light that seemed to have a life of its own. Each step I took felt weightless, as if the glow had somehow altered the very fabric of my being. The glow cast a soft, eerie luminescence on the marble floors and ornate woodwork, creating an almost otherworldly atmosphere.
Ever since the royal seer left that day, we hadn’t heard from him, which made Lucas even more tense, wondering what might be happening. He paced around the mansion, his usually calm demeanor replaced with a restless energy. The mansion’s study, a room lined with dark oak bookshelves filled with ancient tomes and scrolls, had become Lucas’s sanctuary. A large, mahogany desk stood at the center, cluttered with documents and artifacts. The room smelled of old leather and parchment, a comforting scent that usually calmed the mind, but today, it seemed only to heighten Lucas’s anxiety.
On the other hand, Simon didn’t seem to care at all about what was going on, possibly because he wasn’t there when it all happened. He maintained his usual aloof attitude, spending most of his time either training in the expansive grounds of the mansion or brooding in his quarters. His room, located in a secluded wing of the mansion, was sparsely decorated, reflecting his pragmatic nature. The walls were bare except for a few weapons mounted for quick access, and a single, large window overlooked the dense forest that surrounded the estate, offering a view that was both serene and foreboding.
Over the past two days, I bumped into Veronica a few times. One thing I noticed about her demeanor was that it had completely changed. Despite her best efforts to hide her emotions, I could tell she had a strong resolve. Her usual sharp wit and biting remarks were replaced with a quiet intensity that made me uneasy. Veronica’s quarters, in contrast to Simon’s, were lavishly decorated with rich fabrics, antique furniture, and a collection of rare artifacts. It was a reflection of her complex personality-elegant, refined, yet possessing an undercurrent of danger.
I knew better than to relax and think she had given up; she was definitely going to come back with full force. The calm and silence she displayed were not signs of defeat. Instead, I saw them as the calm before the storm. Her eyes would follow me, studying every move I made, as if she were searching for a weakness to exploit. The hallways of the mansion, long and winding, seemed to amplify her presence. Every time I turned a corner, I half-expected to find her standing there, watching me with that inscrutable gaze.
“Good morning, Ashley. I need to speak with you now,” Lucas said, approaching the swing chair where I was seated in the garden. The garden was a beautiful, sprawling space filled with exotic plants and flowers. It was my favorite place in the mansion-a sanctuary of sorts. The air was always fresh and fragrant, with the sweet scent of jasmine and roses mingling with the earthy aroma of freshly turned soil. The swing chair was positioned under a grand, old oak tree, whose branches provided a comforting shade. Birds chirped softly in the background, adding to the garden’s serene ambiance.
“Good morning, Lucas. Sure, we can talk now. Is something the matter?” I asked, shifting to the side to make room for him, but he declined to sit. His eyes were stormy, reflecting the inner turmoil he was trying to keep at bay.
“First of all, how do you feel? Is there anything strange going on, or is everything normal?” he began, and I shrugged, trying to understand his concern. The garden felt like an odd place for such a serious conversation, with its colorful blooms and the gentle rustling of leaves providing a stark contrast to the tension between us.
“I’m fine. I feel very normal and okay,” I replied, even though the reality was far from normal. The glow had made me hyper-aware of my surroundings, amplifying my senses in a way I couldn’t quite explain. The garden’s vivid colors seemed even more vibrant, and the sounds of nature more distinct, as if the glow had heightened all my senses.
“Are you sure?” he pressed, his brow furrowing deeper with worry.
“Of course! I feel perfectly fine.”
“And this glow-can you link it to anything? I really need to know what’s going on.”
“Honestly, Lucas, if I knew what was happening, I’d tell you. I feel completely normal, and I can’t trace it to any cause,” I said, gesturing to emphasize the unusual glow. It was as if a part of me had awakened, yet I had no control or understanding of it.
“Well, I spoke with the royal seer the other day, and he mentioned a few possibilities for this. However, we can’t pinpoint the exact cause yet,” Lucas explained, his expression growing more serious. The mention of the seer brought to mind the mysterious aura that always surrounded him-a man of few words but great insight, often wrapped in flowing robes adorned with symbols of ancient wisdom.
“Oh, really? What did he say?” I responded, pretending not to know, although I had overheard their conversation. My ears had been trained to pick up the faintest whispers since the glow had started.
“He mentioned a few things, like you possibly gaining new abilities or gaining more insight into your identity as a wolf.”
“Oh…” I said, unsure how to respond to what I had already heard. The idea of gaining new abilities was both thrilling and terrifying. The thought of it conjured images of the full moon nights when the air was thick with the scent of the wild, and my senses were attuned to every rustle in the forest.
“Well, whatever it is, we need to figure it out soon so we can address it. I just wanted to check on you to make sure this isn’t affecting you physically,” he said, his voice softening a bit.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He turned to leave, and I held back the words I wanted to share. As he walked back to the mansion, I stayed seated, reflecting on the past couple of days. A surge of emotions overwhelmed me, and after a few minutes, I stood up and headed inside.
As I walked past the guards and maids, I heard murmurs and whispers, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. The mansion staff, always efficient and discreet, seemed unable to contain their curiosity this time. Their furtive glances and hushed conversations only heightened my sense of being an anomaly. I ignored them until Madam Mortica stopped me.
“Whoa, you’re no longer glowing!” she exclaimed, making me furrow my brows in confusion. Her usually stern face broke into a rare smile, a mixture of relief and curiosity. Madam Mortica, with her gray hair pulled tightly into a bun and her sharp, discerning eyes, was the head of the household staff. She was known for her strictness but also for her deep knowledge of the mansion’s history and its inhabitants.
“What do you mean, Madam Mortica?”
“Weren’t you the one glowing like a light bulb? It’s stopped,” she said, guiding me to a mirror in the living room. The living room, a vast space with high ceilings and large windows, was filled with antique furniture and richly colored tapestries. A grand fireplace dominated one wall, and a magnificent crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. I was shocked to see my reflection, as normal as it used to be.
“What? How is this possible?” I said, smiling in relief. I screamed in excitement, causing Madam Mortica to roll her eyes. The sound echoed through the room, bouncing off the polished marble floors and the ornate, gilded walls.
“It’s been two days. What did you do to make it stop?”
“I don’t know! That’s the funny thing. I was just in the garden, staying calm, and I didn’t even notice it had stopped until you pointed it out,” I responded, laughing. She shushed me, annoyed.
“I’m super happy! How can I not express it?”
“Well, congratulations! Now, please keep quiet before you disturb others.”
“Whatever!” I replied, leaving to find Lucas in his study. The study, as always, was a place of quiet concentration, the air filled with the scent of old books and the faint hum of the mansion’s ancient heating system. Surprisingly, I found him there, working on paperwork. I knocked, and he called me in.
“Come in.”
As I entered, he looked up, surprised.
“What? How is this possible?”
“Exactly what I said when I noticed it,” I replied, moving further into the room. He didn’t rise from his desk, but his enthusiasm was evident.
“But seriously, what did you do? You were glowing not long ago. How is it gone now?”
“I honestly didn’t do anything. I was just sitting down, taking in the fresh air, and trying to get myself all calm and collected. The garden, with its meticulously trimmed hedges, vibrant flower beds, and a serene fountain at its center, was the perfect place to unwind. The soft hum of the fountain’s water and the scent of blooming roses created a peaceful atmosphere. It didn’t take more than 10 minutes after you left for me to notice something was different. On my way back to the mansion, which loomed grand and imposing with its tall, ancient stone walls and ivy-covered facades, I kept noticing stares from the people around. The mansion’s interior was equally grand, with ornate chandeliers, rich tapestries, and large, decorative mirrors lining the halls. They kept murmuring amongst themselves, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. It was only when I finally got inside, and Madam Mortica, the housekeeper known for her no-nonsense attitude and sharp eyes, saw me, that I realized the glow had stopped. Honestly, I was just as surprised as you are.”
“Wow, that’s a lot! But I’m glad things are back to normal now,” Lucas said, his voice echoing slightly in the high-ceilinged study, filled with shelves of ancient books and a large wooden desk cluttered with papers and maps.
“Me too. It is such a relief, to be honest,” I replied, looking around the room. The walls were adorned with portraits of ancestors, adding a sense of history and weight to the place. “By the way, did the seer seriously not find out anything about the whole situation?”
“No, he didn’t! But at least it’s finally gone; that’s good news,” Lucas said, rubbing his temples as he leaned back in his leather chair, surrounded by an aura of authority and control.
“Yes, thank you so much,” I said, standing up and smoothing out my dress, which felt strangely comforting against my skin after days of discomfort.
“You’re welcome!” Lucas responded, his voice warm but distracted, as if already half-immersed in the documents before him.
“Alright then, I think I’ll just leave you to continue with what you were doing before I came in. You do seem very busy,” I said, glancing at the piles of parchment and the flickering glow of the fireplace that gave the room a cozy yet serious ambiance.
“Yes, I am actually, but I also happen to be really excited as well. It’s good the problem solved itself; at least now things can finally go back to normal again. That’s good,” Lucas said, his eyes brightening briefly.
“Exactly! Well, I’ll be leaving now. Bye,” I said, heading towards the heavy wooden door, the thick carpet underfoot muffling my steps.
“Sure, bye,” Lucas called after me as I exited, closing the door gently behind me.
As I made my way down the mansion’s long, echoing corridors, I could hear Lucas’s phone dialing. The walls, lined with family portraits and antique sconces casting a warm glow, added to the mansion’s timeless feel. It took some time before the person on the other end finally picked up the call, but as soon as they did, Lucas exclaimed, “Everything is finally back to normal!” His voice carried a mixture of relief and lingering concern. I tried to hear the person on the other end as clearly as possible, straining my ears in the quiet hallway. However, the words of the person on the other end were not clear enough for me to understand what was being said. The sound coming from the phone was just too vague, distorted by the thick walls and high ceilings of the mansion, to make out a single sentence properly, so I decided to stick to listening to Lucas.