Bound by the Moon

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The Shadows

in sweat. The unsettling dream from the night before lingered in her mind-flickering shadows, a dark figure standing just beyond the reach of her vision. A figure

er about the lodge, about its history, and the unsettling reality that something far da

w understand... that fewer sti

where the moon hung high in the sky, full and pale. The sight of it brought a new sense of

door interrupte

oice, soft and polite as al

ss night. She pulled on her sweater and opened the do

mon," she s

e all starting early today. Agatha's got us wor

g since her arrival, she couldn't ignore the gnawing sense of dread that had settled in her stomach. The lodge, the pe

anding by the large oak table, a clipboard in her hands as she organized the day's tasks. Her s

rked dryly, her lips curling in

gaze, swallowing the unease that

before she turned to Simon. "You two, take the west wing today. The guests fo

emed to grow colder, and Luna noticed that the walls in this part of the building were lined with heavy curtains that blocked out the light, casting

g the silence. "The lodge has its own rhythm, its own ener

w, her curiosity piqu

ing... different about this place. Some people say it's haunted, but I don't know if I believe that. But still..."

ries of the lodge, but something in Simon's tone made her wonder if

nse?" she repeated, her vo

l tell you this-don't go poking around too much. The

ing, where the first guest room awaited. The room was immaculate, as expected, but Luna couldn't shake th

She tried to push the thoughts from her mind and focused on the task at hand. But then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw something-a movement in the hallw

ng. Just her

he told

back to the unsettling feeling that something-or someone-was watching her. Every once in a while, she would catch a glimpse of movement

ike a suffocating blanket. She longed for the comfort of her own bed, but even as she walked down the darkened halls, she couldn't shak

ain hall, Simon looked at h

a smile. "Just tired.

The place can be a bit overwhelming at first. Just stick with

something about the lodge that gnawed at her. It wasn't just the atmosphere; it was the people. Ka

ong shadows across the forest, and the air grew colder with every passing minute. She wrapped her arms around herself, wishing she could shake off the unea

rrupted by the sound o

smooth and deep, like velvet.

ng her with an intensity that made her feel like he could see straight through her. His tall frame seemed

ing," Luna said, try

r, his gaze never leaving hers, his eyes flicking

e," Kael said softly. "The wood

ting the better of her. "What d

was no warmth in it. "Not all forests are creat

oment, she almost asked him what he meant. But something in K

lurted out before she could stop herself. "Wh

n seemed almost sad. But the moment passed quickly,

said simply. "And there are thin

d nothing more. Kael's presence was overwhelming, and she f

ed, Kael turned to leave, his

ulder, his voice low and steady. "The Solstic

her, casting an eerie light over the lodge and the woods beyond. She didn't know what Kael meant, but one t

reath catching in her throat as she looked back at the woods, wondering if Kael's warning was more than ju

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d, haunting her, the chill of the night air still clinging to her skin. What had Kael meant by his cryptic words? The Solstice was ne

g near the fireplace, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of a worn leather book. Her shar

oice clipped. "I hope you didn't

tha had known exactly what was on her mind. There was a strange weight to the air arou

Luna said, forcing a

u, but you mustn't let it. You're here to work, not to get lost in your ow

atha knew more than she was letting on. "I understand," she

wondering what secrets the woman was hiding. There was something in Agatha's demeanor, something cold, that

m the oppressive atmosphere that seemed to follow her every step. But as she reached for the door

t skippe

shallow. The hall behind her

outside felt distant, like something that existed just beyond her grasp, always out of reach. The lodge, with its hidden corners and ancient walls, was too much for her t

ned long ago that nothing was as it seemed. She turned away from the window, sinking down onto the edge of her bed. She didn't know how long she

oor broke her fr

his voice soft and cautio

didn't have a choice. Simon was a good soul, kind in a way that made her want to

he called, forcing herself to stand and

ckled in the hearth, casting dancing shadows across the room. Agatha sat at the head of the table, already digging into her me

sn't hungry, not really. But she ate in silence, the heavy atmosphere of

ahead. The Solstice Retreat is a big deal. You'll have your hands full with the

ing her, studying her every move. The woman seemed to be everywhere,

too thick. She didn't want to be here anymore, didn't want to feel the weight of Agatha's gaze or the oppressive silence that

" Agatha called after

on the door handle.

warned. "The woods ar

k, her lips tigh

The moon hung high in the sky, casting an ethereal light over the sprawling ground

as she crossed the threshold between the manicured lawn and the untamed wilderness. Her ste

g from somewhere just beyond her line of sight. Luna froze, her heart racing. The sound wasn't quite lik

resence heavy, its gaze palpable. Luna's breath caught in her throat as she instin

s Ha

hind her, his presence as commanding as ever. His e

na asked, her voice trembling sli

ng to the shadows in the trees. "You

. "Why? What

reveal something. "The woods have their own way of protecting secrets. And some t

here was something in Kael's tone-something grave-that made

ce all-encompassing. "Let's go inside. The ni

ge. The growl she had heard was still echoing in her mind, its

ing? Why had he been so quick to find her in the woods? And what was it about the Solstice that s

f reach. And the more she searched for them

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