The Library

Lilith

A nna is already sitting at our usual table when I walk into the café, waving me over with her bright, infectious smile. She looks like she doesn’t have a care in the world, and for a second, I wish I could be more like her—carefree, always living in the moment. But my mind is still tangled in shadows, haunted by thoughts of him , even though I know I shouldn’t be thinking about him at all.

I slide into the seat across from her and give her a weak smile, trying to shake the lingering unease.

“Okay, what’s going on with you?” Anna asks, narrowing her eyes the moment I sit down. “You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

“I’m fine,” I say, glancing down at the menu to avoid her gaze. “Just… stressed, I guess.”

“Uh-huh, sure.” She leans across the table, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “Lily, I know you. You’ve got that look on your face. Is it a guy? Oh my god, it is a guy, isn’t it? Spill. Who is he? What’s going on? Tell me everything!”

My heart races, and I grip the edge of the menu tighter, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s not a guy, Anna. I’ve just been stressing about school—term papers, exams, all that shit.”

Anna leans back in her chair, crossing her arms as she studies me. “Uh-huh. Right. I’m not buying it, but okay, we’ll go with that for now.” She tilts her head, smiling. “You need a break. Seriously, you’re way too uptight lately.”

“I’m just busy—”

“Busy, my ass,” she interrupts. “You need to let loose and stop acting like a fucking grandma. Lucky for you, I have just the thing to fix your little stress problem.”

I raise an eyebrow, dreading where this is going. “And what’s that?”

“There’s a Halloween party tonight,” she says with a wicked grin, practically bouncing in her seat. “Costumes only, and there will be tons of hot guys. Like, so many guys. The kind who will definitely take your mind off whatever’s got you in knots.”

I roll my eyes, but Anna doesn’t miss a beat. “I’m serious, Lily. You need to come. It’ll be fun. Music, drinks, and guys who will absolutely help you forget about all that ‘stress.’” She winks, and I can’t help but laugh a little.

“I don’t know, Anna…”

“Stop.” She holds up a hand, cutting me off. “You’re coming. No excuses. You need to get out of your head, and a party is the perfect way to do it. Besides, you can’t say no to a Halloween party. It’s a rule. Plus, you’re going to look so hot in the costume I’ve picked out for you.”

I groan, already dreading what she has planned. “Oh god, what is it?”

Anna’s eyes light up with mischief. “Something slutty and hot, of course. I was thinking a barely-there black dress, fishnets, sky-high heels, and an upside-down cross necklace for that sexy, rebellious vibe.”

I blink at her, already regretting agreeing to this. “An upside-down cross?”

“Yep,” she says proudly. “You’re going for sexy bad girl meets dark temptress. Trust me, you’ll be turning heads all night.”

I shake my head, but I know there’s no getting out of this now. “Fine, I’ll go. But I’m not promising anything.”

Anna claps her hands, grinning like she’s just won the lottery. “Perfect! You won’t regret it, I swear. Come over at eight. And don’t even think about bailing, or I’ll break into your apartment and dress you myself.”

I laugh, but it’s half-hearted. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

But as Anna chats on about the party and all the “hot guys” we’ll meet, my mind drifts again—back to him . The man I can’t stop thinking about. The man I know I should be running from, but instead, I’m drawn to him in a way that terrifies me.

I don’t even know his full name.

And yet, it feels like he’s already everywhere, always watching, always just out of reach. Even as I sit here with Anna, pretending to care about her party plans, I can feel him lurking in the back of my mind. He’s not just a passing thought—he’s a presence that refuses to leave.

* * *

It’s the night of the Halloween party, and I’m standing in front of the mirror in Anna’s room, adjusting my dress for what feels like the hundredth time. She lives in the apartment across from me, so I just went over there since she had my costume all planned out. The short black fabric hugs my curves a little too well, and the push-up bra she insisted I wear has my boobs practically spilling out. I tug at the hem of the dress, trying to pull it down, but there’s no use. It’s as long as it gets, and tonight I’m supposed to be sexy, dark, and dangerous. Or so Anna says.

“Stop fidgeting,” Anna scolds, coming up behind me and handing me a blood-red lipstick. “You look fucking amazing, Lily. I swear, if you don’t get laid tonight, there’s something wrong with the men at this party.”

I roll my eyes but take the lipstick anyway. Anna’s already dressed and ready, wearing a barely-there costume that looks like a sexy demon, complete with an upside-down cross necklace that matches mine. Her makeup is flawless—deep red lips, smoky eyes, and a confidence that radiates off her in waves. She was born for nights like this.

“I don’t need to get laid,” I mumble, applying the lipstick carefully. “I just need to get out of my own head for a little while.”

Anna smirks, leaning against the door frame. “Right. Because stressing about school is really what’s been on your mind lately.” She arches an eyebrow, giving me that look, the one that says she knows I’m lying. “Is it that guy again? The one from the bookstore? You never finished telling me about him, you know. Maybe tonight’s the night you finally run into him.”

My heart skips a beat at the mention of him, but I shake my head quickly. “No, it’s not… I don’t even know his full name. And besides, it’s just… nothing.”

Anna raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but she lets it go. “Whatever you say. But if you do see him, you better tell me all about it. He sounds hot as hell.”

“Yeah, well, he’s… something,” I mutter under my breath, turning away from the mirror. The truth is, I can’t stop thinking about him, even though I know I should. There’s something about the way he looked at me, the way he seemed to know me without saying a word. It’s unsettling, and yet… it thrills me in a way I can’t explain.

“All done?” Anna asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I nod, smoothing down the dress one last time. “Yeah, I guess.”

She grins and hands me a little blood bag filled with alcohol. “Here. This will help loosen you up. Drink it fast before we get there, or you’ll never stop overthinking.”

I laugh, accepting the bag and chugging it. The alcohol burns as it goes down, but it’s oddly sweet, like fake blood with a kick. “What is this?”

Anna winks. “Vampire blood, of course.”

* * *

By the time we arrive at the party, the house is packed with people in costumes. The music is loud, “I Put A Spell On You” by Austin Giorgio playing—bass thumping through the walls—and the entire place is lit with dark, moody lights. It’s the perfect setting for a Halloween party, and I can already feel the alcohol working its magic, making me a little less tense, a little more ready to let go.

We weave through the crowd, and I spot Derek near the bar. He waves us over, and before I know it, I have another drink in my hand, courtesy of him. He’s been trying to get with me for years, but it’s always been a firm “just friends” for me. Still, he’s harmless, and I don’t think too much of it as I take a sip.

After a few much-needed drinks, the party blurs into a haze of music, lights, and laughter. At some point, Anna drags me to the dance floor, and we start moving to the beat, her hips swaying as she laughs and spins around me. I let myself get lost in the moment, the music pounding through my veins. “If You Think I’m Pretty” by Artemas blasts through the speakers, and I can’t help but smile as Anna shouts the lyrics at the top of her lungs.

But then, something cold and sticky hits me, splattering across my chest and down the front of my dress. I stop mid-movement, looking down to see red liquid—fake blood from one of the alcohol bags—covering me.

“Shit!” I shout, laughing despite myself as Anna gasps. “What the fuck!?”

Before I can react further, I feel a presence behind me. Strong, dark, and all too familiar. I turn slowly, my heart racing as I meet the eyes I’ve been thinking about for days.

Sebastian.

He’s here.

My heart skips a beat as I lock eyes with him. Everything around me—the music, the crowd, even Anna—fades into the background. All I can focus on is him, standing there, his gaze fixed on me like he’s been waiting for this moment just as much as I have.