Shadow Of The Blackwood

th relics from an ancient time. The room smelled vaguely of cedar and lavender, the scent my

arted to descend behind the trees with a slow descent. Even though there were n

se quiet days in Ashwood, where nothing happened, and nothing ever seemed

eing alone. My grandmother, Maria, raised me but lately her pres

shop. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, and his dark hair caught the evening light. His sharp, almost unsettling gray eyes swept the room

u?" I asked with a fi

ach his eyes. "I was just passing by

im closely as he wal

red out what he was seeking. Though I couldn't say why, his presence made me anxious. Although

own?" I asked af

why I asked. " Yeah... yes

re f

ing his words oddly. "Just a few towns over. I've heard a lo

g here at all unless of course you're interest

felt a shudder run down my body. "Perhap

e people going to Ashwood had at least some idle curiosity in its

d on the counter. "Do you r

s usually have some

in, nearly displacing the air in the way. This man was different- tall but a little more slender than the first man, and a ma

re was more to it. His eyes-dark and power

d, smooth and rich.

myself together. "No, not at

was something guarded in his expre

ith tension, as though they were having wordless dialogue that I couldn't understan

e, "are you both here for the werewolf legends, o

eyes, stared at me with a blank look. "L

eep inside of me. Something was going on in Ashwood, something much big

ther questions, the se

extending his hand. His handshake was s

in shock. "How do

he kept going. "It's a sma

amiliar, but I just couldn't figure out why. The way he s

ornate box in the corner. "That's a unique item,

grandmother's most cherished possessions, a family heirloom that had been handed

my family. W

easingly oppressive, as though an unseen weight was bearing down upon them. The first man who still ha

he spoke softly, "Bonnie there's so

ced. "What

u're not just an ordinary person, Bonnie. You hold significance-m

o you mean, 'people searching for

an before he pressed on. "It's be

ooked at him, confused. "I don'

es finally chimed in. "You know the

my voice trembling. "Bu

y," Asher re

ing my head. "This is cr

replied, his tone

cover just how true t

side the shop. I flinched, my heart racing wildly. The two

that?" I

sharpened. "S

e, and I let out a terrified scream as a huge figure crashed through the opening, landing in a crouched po

ere

g its sharp teeth, and charged at me. Just as it was about to strike, Asher darted in wi

he shout

of me. Asher's body shimmered, his bones shifting and rearranging, while fur erupted from his skin, transforming him into

al. None of it made sense. Yet the sight of the two wo

escape. I

lf-Asher-met my gaze, and in that brief hour, I under

ing me from, it was only the beginni

howl resonated in the distance, a grim rem