Taste

randmother hummed softly as she poured lavender oil into the water, the scent filling the room.

ilence. Her voice was soft, but there was a certain weight to her w

s. "Why do you always say that, Grandmam

hair. "Roses are a symbol of beauty, strength... and danger," she re

"Grandmama, that's not fair. You can't keep

ing her hands. "The world has its secrets, my dear

illing the air. As she made her way to her seat, something on her desk

is here? Picking up the rose, she inspected it carefully. Its pet

Clara plopped into the sea

. "I don't know. It was o

d with curiosity. "O

ing the rose into her bag. "Pro

commanding presence. The lecture began with the usual discussion of myths and legends

most fascinating myths-vampires," the prof

ng against her notebook. Vampires

The origins of the myth are murky, but some believe they stem from real ind

"Professor, vampires aren't

many myths hold a grain of truth. Wh

lieve in vampires either, but there was somethin

ooks in the lecture hall. It was a routine she'd fallen into over the

ella," the professor said as s

sor," she replied

treets. Arabella wrapped her cardigan tighter around her as she began the familiar walk h

ered to life, and the crowds thinned. She glanced over her shoulder, realizing she was now

and the air grew colder. Arabella tried to shake off her unease

ng the street like a living thing. It moved unnaturall

nlike anything she'd ever seen. It wasn't just mi

hispered, taking a c

like ghostly fingers. Arabella's instincts screamed at

ut, her voice trembli

was no

elt her head spin, the ground shifting beneath her feet. She stumb

round her, chilling her

Who's there? How do

per into its embrace. The world blurred, and Arabella felt herself falling-no

thing she heard was the haunting

ne, replaced by cobblestone roads and towering Gothic buildings that loomed against a twil

ed to make sense of her surroundings. "Where...

hitecture was ornate yet menacing, with spires that seemed to pier

in the frigid air. A sinking feeling settled

ic laugh that sent chills down her spi

he demanded, her

in the distance. Arabella's heart raced as s

it felt off, and she had no idea how sh