✨🌑 Veil of Darkness 🌑✨

In the shadow of an ancient Gothic mansion perched atop a remote hill in Northern Italy, secrets breathe through every stone, every corridor, and every shadow. The Ashford family rules this realm of power and darkness, where bloodlines carry not just wealth, but supernatural legacy. 🖤

At its heart stands Riven Ashford — tall, commanding, and impossibly beautiful in a way that is almost terrifying. A pure vampire, feared and revered, his presence is both an allure and a warning. Every movement, every glance carries authority. Yet beneath the elegance, the strength, and the calculated calm, there lies a dangerous vulnerability, one only few could ever notice… and one that could be shattered by the right heartbeat. 💀

And then there is Vanya Vale. Unaware of the supernatural forces swirling around her, she is an ordinary girl with an extraordinary energy. A human with no idea of the destiny etched into her very skin — a birthmark on her lower back, mirroring Riven’s, a symbol neither of them yet understands. Her steps into the Ashford world are hesitant, cautious, and yet undeniable, like a spark in the heart of the night. 🌌

Their first encounters are not marked by curiosity or warmth. Instead, they are shaped by misunderstandings and manipulation. Lyra, Vanya’s closest friend, and Lucian Draven, Riven’s ambitious cousin, conspire in silence. They twist situations, spread shadows of doubt, and orchestrate tension, ensuring that Vanya’s presence irritates, challenges, and unsettles Riven. ❌🔥

Hired into Riven’s empire under circumstances designed to provoke her, Vanya finds herself overworked, underestimated, and constantly tested. Riven, following the seeds of doubt planted by unseen hands, treats her with disdain, masking a growing intrigue he refuses to name. Every glance, every word exchanged is a battle — hatred intertwined with a fascination neither can ignore. ⚔️

Yet beneath the conflict, under the mask of hostility, an unspoken connection pulses between them. Riven senses an energy that mirrors his own, a rhythm he cannot ignore. Vanya feels a presence — a pull, both terrifying and irresistible, as though the world itself has conspired to tie them together. ✨

Allies are not always what they seem, and those closest may hide shadows beneath smiles. The mansion, grand and gothic, becomes a stage for intrigue, secrets, and the dangerous dance of attraction. Every whispered conversation, every hidden glance, carries weight. Every heartbeat could shift the balance between trust and betrayal, desire and danger.

✦ A shared mark, a destiny yet unknown…

✦ A love that begins in hate…

✦ Enemies plotting in the shadows, ever closer than anyone suspects…

Some bonds are unavoidable, some betrayals inevitable, and some love… fatal.

⚡ Welcome to the Veil of Darkness. Step carefully — the night is alive, and it watches. ⚡

Author's words 💅🏻

Guys, I'm starting this novel.... it's has supernatural powers and filled with dark romance.....

Please let me know if there's any mistake...

Don't forget to like and comment so I also get to know that people are really reading my novel, so that I can also feel noticed (⁠◕⁠ᴗ⁠◕⁠✿⁠)

The sun was slipping behind the mountains of northern Italy, spilling golden and crimson light over the massive Ashford mansion. Its towers pierced the sky like jagged knives, and the forest surrounding it seemed to whisper secrets with the evening wind. Every shadow appeared alive, moving, almost watching.

Inside the mansion, Riven Ashford stood on the balcony of the tallest tower. His dark hair fluttered in the breeze, and his amber eyes scanned the horizon with a predator’s precision. Something was coming, something alive and unfamiliar. His chest tightened with the thrill of anticipation.

“Impossible…” he muttered under his breath, a low growl vibrating in his throat. He wasn’t used to surprises, yet this… this energy, faint but undeniable, pulled at him, demanding his attention.

Somewhere in Milan, a human — or something more than human — was stirring. He didn’t know yet. And yet, he felt it, a pulse calling to him, a presence impossible to ignore.

---

Meanwhile.... in a small town---

In a small, quiet town not far from Milan, Vanya Vale wiped sweat from her brow as she stacked the last of the office files. Orphaned and alone, her life had always been simple: work, survival, and the companionship of her closest friend and secret-sharer, Lyra.

“Vanyaaaa! Are you still alive in there? Or buried under that mountain of paper?!” Lyra’s voice echoed, full of energy.

Vanya groaned. “Aaahhhhhhh, Lyra! I’m coming! Just a second!”

Lyra flopped dramatically into a chair, smirking. “Girl, you worry too much! But listen, the Ashford Group is hiring a new assistant for a big project in Milan. You have to try! This could change everything!”

Vanya froze. “Milan… that’s Riven Ashford’s empire, isn’t it?” Her voice trembled slightly.

Lyra’s eyes sparkled. “Yes! The Ashfords are huge, powerful, untouchable. Imagine you, stepping into that world… Aaahhhhhhh! So exciting!”

Vanya rubbed her forehead, uncertain. “I… I just need a job, Lyra. I don’t care about fame. I just want a life bigger than… this.”

Lyra reached over and squeezed her hand. “Then this is it, Vanyaaa. Go. Apply. Show them your fire! 👊✨ Don’t let anyone underestimate you!”

Vanya smiled faintly. “Thanks, Lyra. I’ll try my best.”

“Aaahhhhhhh! That’s my girl. Tomorrow is your day! Don’t just try… OWN IT!” Lyra cheered, bouncing slightly in her chair.

---

Back at the Ashford mansion

Riven walked the grand hall, his long coat brushing the polished marble floors. The house was quiet, almost too quiet, the only sound the flicker of candlelight along the walls.

“Have the preparations been made?” he asked the butler, his voice calm but sharp.

“Yes, Master Riven. The interview candidates will arrive in a few days,” the man replied, bowing.

Riven’s jaw tightened. Candidates… humans. Ordinary, weak, predictable. But the energy he had sensed was different — strong, alive, uncontainable.

His sister, Seraphine, brushed past him with a teasing smirk. “Brother, why so tense? Expecting someone interesting… or just brooding as usual?”

Riven’s lips twitched. “Perhaps… or perhaps nothing at all.”

Seraphine laughed lightly. “Aaahhhhhhh! You and your mysteries. One day you’ll bore me with all this seriousness.” She twirled away, leaving Riven alone with the shadows and a strange thrill in his chest.

---

A few days later, Vanya walked through Milan’s crowded streets. Her heart raced. Something was calling her, tugging her toward the city, toward the Ashford empire. She didn’t understand why. The streets seemed alive, and the sounds of life around her faded into a dull hum. It was almost as if something invisible was guiding her steps.

High above, Riven stood in his office, his gaze drifting over the city. He sensed her energy now, closer but still hidden. His senses picked up the rhythm of her heartbeat, the life force of someone unfamiliar yet significant. He couldn’t see her yet, but he could feel her presence.

“Hmph…” he muttered. “So… you’re close, yet still hidden. Interesting.” 🖤

The pull between them was subtle, unexplainable. Neither could see the other, yet both were aware. A connection was forming — invisible, electric, dangerous.

Vanya paused suddenly, a strange dizziness washing over her. Her chest tightened. Warmth, power, something unseen brushing against her senses.

WHATTTTTT!!! Who… is this?! she thought, clutching her bag tightly.

Riven’s jaw clenched. Aaahhhhhhh… it’s you… but I cannot see you yet. Her energy was too strong to ignore, yet something — someone — was keeping her hidden. Something unseen, shaping events in the shadows.

---

Shadows on the streets...

In the darkness, far from both of them, two shadowy frames moved silently. One was cold, calculating, watching and waiting, and the other was graceful, secretive, with eyes that seemed to see everything without being seen. They whispered to themselves, planning, weaving invisible threads that would manipulate both Riven and Vanya without their knowledge. Neither had a name yet — just shadows, just unseen forces, quietly moving the pieces. “Soon… everything will fall into place,” one murmured. “Aaahhhhhhh… they have no idea what’s coming.”

---

Back in the mansion, Riven’s senses tingled like warning bells. The pull of her energy had grown stronger. He could feel her heartbeat, her life force, everywhere now. She was near. She was important. And no one — not the humans, not anyone else — would claim her before he could.

Vanya returned home that night, exhausted, her thoughts racing. Something had changed. The world seemed larger, louder, more alive. Something was about to happen, and she could feel it in her bones. 🌑🖤

The secret shadows moved silently, unseen, shaping the future with careful hands. No one knew their faces, no one knew their intentions, but they would have their way. Slowly, subtly, they would play their game, and the threads connecting Vanya and Riven would only tighten.

Neither Riven nor Vanya had met, yet a thread connected them, invisible but unbreakable. The mansion’s shadows whispered, the city hummed, and the night carried secrets older than either of them could imagine.

The game had begun.

⚡ TO BE CONTINUED… ⚡

The city of Milan was alive with morning chaos—the honking of cars, the chatter of people rushing to their destinations, and the smell of fresh coffee mingling with the crisp autumn air. But for Vanya Vale, the world seemed to shrink to the glass-and-steel walls of the Ashford building, each step echoing louder than the last.

She clutched her portfolio, her pulse quickening. Today wasn’t just an interview—it was her first assignment in a place far above her usual world. She had no idea what awaited her, and yet, a strange pull lingered in her chest, like invisible threads tugging her forward.

“Vanyaaaa! You actually made it?!” Lyra’s voice crackled through the phone again.

Vanya groaned softly. “Lyra… I’m barely breathing here. Can you not scream over the phone?” 😅

“Can’t help it! Aaahhhhhhh! This is HUGE! I bet you don’t even realize it yet—you’re walking into the Ashford empire! The Ashfords, Vanyaaa! Untouchable, impossible, terrifying!”

Vanya rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. “Yeah, terrifying. Got it. I’ll survive, somehow.”

“You’ll do more than survive! You’re going to shine. Show them fire, Vanyaaa! 🔥✨ Don’t let anyone underestimate you.”

Vanya chuckled faintly. “Thanks, Lyra. I hope I can.”

“You will! Aaahhhhhhh! Promise me you won’t get eaten alive by the wolves of that place!”

Vanya couldn’t help but laugh, shaking her head. “I’ll try not to. But it’s probably too late for that already.”

The Ashford building towered above the bustling streets like a fortress of glass. Vanya walked in, every footstep echoing on the marble floors. The air inside was different—heavier, electric, humming faintly with something she couldn’t yet name. She stopped for a moment, feeling the energy brush against her senses, invisible yet undeniable.

WHATTTTTT?! she thought, her stomach tightening. Someone—or something—was here. Watching. Alive.

High above, in his office, Riven Ashford leaned against the balcony, amber eyes glowing faintly. He had sensed her energy again this morning. Human, yes, but extraordinary. Vibrant, alive, and unknowable in ways that tugged at something primal within him.

Interesting… very interesting, he murmured. Every instinct screamed at him to find her, but he could not. Invisible threads kept them apart, yet the pull was growing stronger.

The Secret Shadows

In the corners of the city, unseen eyes followed Vanya. Figures of darkness, veiled in silence, whispered through the wind:

“Soon…” one murmured. “The human does not realize she is being watched.”

“Aaahhhhhhh… patience,” the other replied. “Every step draws her closer. Every heartbeat intertwines their fates.”

Neither moved closer, but their presence was palpable, shadows manipulating threads in a game Vanya didn’t yet understand.

Vanya’s first task was simple, or so it seemed—deliver documents to a department across the building. But as she stepped into the vast hallways, the energy prickling her senses grew stronger. She shivered. Every corridor felt alive, every shadow stretching just a little too far.

A slight draft brushed her shoulder, and she froze.

Aaahhhhhhh… stop imagining things, Vanya! she whispered to herself.

A voice from the hallway startled her. “Excuse me, are you Vanya Vale?”

Vanya turned sharply, only to find the corridor empty. Her pulse quickened.

WHATTTTTT?!

Later, in a quiet corner of the building, Kabir Malhotra—Riven’s closest friend—entered Riven’s office. He leaned against the polished desk, dark eyes curious.

“You’ve been restless all morning,” Kabir said. “Something on your mind, or are you just brooding as usual?”

Riven did not look up. “There’s a human in the building. Extraordinary. I can feel her energy. I haven’t seen her, yet it pulls at me. It’s… unusual.”

Kabir smirked. “Aaahhhhhhh… human, and you’re feeling pulled? How… poetic.”

“Not poetic,” Riven said, voice low. “Interesting. Dangerous. Intriguing. I don’t know what to call it yet, but I cannot ignore it.”

Kabir’s lips quirked in amusement. “Aaahhhhhhh… so, this is the start of something, huh? You feeling something you don’t control. I like it already.”

Riven allowed a faint smirk. “Fun isn’t the word I’d use.”

Meanwhile, Vanya tried to navigate her tasks. The corridors twisted and turned, and every step seemed to vibrate with unseen energy. She felt watched, her pulse quickening.

Aaahhhhhhh… what is happening to me?

A door creaked behind her. She spun around, heart hammering. Nothing. The hum in the walls, the weight in the air—it was all too much. Her hands shook slightly as she gripped the documents.

Somewhere in the shadows, faint movements followed her. Invisible threads were tightening, weaving a story she couldn’t yet see.

Later that afternoon, Vanya found herself in a large conference room, tasked with delivering reports to a small team she had never met. She stepped inside cautiously.

No one was there. Just chairs, tables, and the faintest hum of energy in the air. Goosebumps rose along her arms.

WHATTTTTT?!

She swallowed hard, feeling the pull again, stronger than before. Someone—or something—was near. Invisible, but tangible. Alive.

High above, Riven stood on the balcony, amber eyes scanning the streets. He could feel her energy clearly now, each heartbeat, each breath. It called to something deep within him, a resonance he couldn’t name, couldn’t ignore.

Aaahhhhhhh… human, yet extraordinary.

The pull grew stronger, but unseen forces—shadows in the distance—kept them apart. Threads manipulated by unknown hands.

Vanya returned to her small apartment that evening, utterly exhausted. The city lights shimmered through her window, but she barely noticed. The world felt heavier, more alive, charged with something unseen.

Aaahhhhhhh… what is this feeling?

She sank onto her bed, heart still racing. Something had brushed her life, and she could not shake it.

Threads of the Unknown

In the alleys and rooftops of Milan, the shadowy frames lingered. Silent, watchful, whispering in voices like silk:

“They sense nothing,” one said. “They do not know we exist.”

The other floated above, ethereal and unreadable. “Soon… their paths will collide. The game begins.”

They moved like whispers of fate, unseen and untouchable, manipulating threads in ways neither Vanya nor Riven could understand.

Later, Vanya and Lyra spoke over the phone, winding down the day.

“Vanyaaa, tell me everything! Aaahhhhhhh! How was it? Did you see the legendary Riven Ashford?”

Vanya laughed nervously. “No… not yet. Not even a glimpse. But something… felt strange. Alive. Like someone was… there, but not.”

Lyra gasped. “Aaahhhhhhh! That’s insane! Wait, you felt him?!”

“I don’t know what I felt. It’s hard to explain,” Vanya said.

“Okay… just promise me you’ll be careful. Aaahhhhhhh! Something about this feels… dark.”

Vanya nodded, sighing. “I promise.”

High above, Riven watched the city, feeling her energy once more. Each heartbeat, each movement, drew him closer, even though the shadows still kept her hidden.

Danger was coming. Threads were weaving. And in the darkness, some secrets were older than both of them could imagine. 🌑🖤