Chapter 1

The Night They Met

It was a crisp autumn evening in Ashwood, the kind of night

that made you want to curl up by the fire with a good book. Luca, ever the

recluse, had ventured out to the local tavern, seeking a brief respite from his

solitary existence. He sat at the bar, nursing a glass of red wine, his eyes

scanning the room with a mixture of curiosity and disinterest.

That's when he saw him – Elijah, with his striking features

and piercing green eyes. Elijah was sitting in the corner, his gaze fixed on

the piano player, his fingers tapping out the rhythm on the table. Luca was

immediately drawn to him, sensing something unique, something that set him

apart from the rest.

For weeks, Luca found excuses to visit the tavern, hoping to

catch a glimpse of Elijah. He learned that Elijah was a regular, always sitting

in the same spot, always alone. Luca began to wonder if Elijah was waiting for

someone, or if he was simply a loner like himself.

One night, Luca decided to take a chance. He walked over to

Elijah's table, his heart pounding in his chest, and cleared his throat to

announce his presence.

"Mind if I join you?" Luca asked, trying to sound

nonchalant.

Elijah looked up, his eyes locking onto Luca's, and for a

moment, they just stared at each other. Luca felt a jolt of electricity run

through his body, as if he had been struck by lightning.

"Not at all," Elijah replied, his voice low and

smooth.

Luca sat down, trying to play it cool, but his mind was

racing. They introduced themselves, exchanging small talk, but Luca couldn't

shake off the feeling that there was something more to Elijah, something that

he couldn't quite put his finger on.

As the night wore on, they discovered a shared love for

music, art, and literature. The conversation flowed easily, and Luca found

himself laughing, really laughing, for the first time in centuries.

As the tavern began to close, Elijah stood up, his eyes

never leaving Luca's. "Would you like to walk me home?" he asked, his

voice laced with a hint of mischief.

Luca's heart skipped a beat. He nodded, trying to play it

cool, but he couldn't help the excitement that was building up inside him.

As they walked through the quiet streets of Ashwood, the

moon casting an silver glow over the town, Luca knew that he was in trouble. He

was falling for Elijah, hard and fast.

Their walk was filled with easy conversation, but Luca

couldn't help but notice the way Elijah's eyes sparkled in the moonlight, the

way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck. He was drawn to Elijah's

confidence, his sense of self, and his infectious laughter.

As they stood outside Elijah's small cottage on the

outskirts of town, Luca felt a pang of disappointment. He didn't want the night

to end, didn't want to leave Elijah's side.

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