Vampire's Bride: Forbidden love

As the days passed, Emily's curiosity about Xavier's behavior grew. She had always known him to be a bit reserved, but lately, he seemed... different. Emily couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she sensed that something was off.

One afternoon, as Emily and Aria sat in the school's courtyard, Emily decided to confide in her friend.

"Aria, can I talk to you about something?" Emily asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aria looked up from her book, concern etched on her face. "Of course, Em. What's going on?"

Emily glanced around the courtyard, ensuring they were out of earshot. "It's about Xavier. I've been noticing some weird things about him lately."

Aria's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "What kind of weird things?"

Emily hesitated, unsure how to articulate her concerns. "I don't know... he just seems really secretive and withdrawn. And sometimes I catch him staring at things that aren't there."

Aria's expression turned thoughtful. "That does sound strange. But maybe there's a logical explanation?"

Emily shook her head. "I've tried to talk to him about it, but he just brushes it off. That's why I was thinking... maybe there's something more going on here."

Aria's eyes locked onto Emily's, a hint of excitement dancing in their depths. "You mean, like something supernatural?"

Emily nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know it sounds crazy, but I've heard rumors about this school being haunted."

Aria's grin grew wider. "I've heard those rumors too."

Emily leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "I've also heard that the school board hid an old cursed artifact deep within the school's main library. It's called the Old Wing."

Aria's eyes widened in surprise. "The Old Wing? I've never heard of it."

Emily nodded. "According to legend, the Old Wing shows you anything you desire. But be warned, Aria, the rumors also say that it comes with a steep price."

Aria's expression turned thoughtful. "I'm intrigued. Let's go check it out."

The two friends made their way to the school's main library, their hearts racing with anticipation. As they stepped inside, the musty smell of old books enveloped them, and the faint whisper of pages turning seemed to echo through the halls.

Aria led the way, navigating through the rows of shelves with ease. Emily followed closely behind, her eyes scanning the shelves for any sign of the Old Wing.

As they reached the back of the library, Aria stopped in front of a large, ornate mirror. The glass surface seemed to ripple, like the gentle lapping of waves on a summer shore.

"This must be it," Aria whispered, her eyes locked onto the mirror.

Emily felt a shiver run down her spine as she reached out to touch the mirror. As soon as her skin made contact with the glass, the room around her began to blur and distort.

The next thing Emily knew, she was standing in a dark, damp room. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the sound of scurrying rodents echoed through the space.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Xavier, but his eyes seemed... different. They seemed to bore into Emily's very soul.

"Welcome, Emily," Xavier's voice whispered in her ear. "I've been waiting for you."

As Emily watched in horror, Xavier's body began to shift and contort, his limbs twisting in ways that seemed impossible.

"What's going on?" Emily screamed, but her voice was drowned out by the sound of her own heartbeat.

The vision faded, and Emily found herself back in the library, standing in front of the mirror. Aria's concerned face hovered inches from her own.

"Emily, what happened?" Aria asked, her voice trembling. "You just... you just spaced out for a second."

Emily's mind reeled as she struggled to process what she had just seen. She knew that she had to tell Aria everything, but the words caught in her throat.

"It's Xavier," Emily whispered, her eyes locked onto Aria's. "He's... he's not what he seems."

Aria's expression turned grave. "What do you mean?"

Emily took a deep breath, the words tumbling out of her mouth in a rush. "I saw him... I saw him change. His body twisted and contorted in ways that aren't humanly possible."

Aria's eyes widened in shock. "That's impossible. There must be a logical explanation."

Emily shook her head. "I know what I saw, Aria. And I think we need to investigate further."

Aria nodded, determination etched on her face. "Let's do it."

As Emily and Aria left the library, they couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched. They quickened their pace, their hearts pounding in unison.

"I think we're in over our heads," Aria whispered, her eyes darting nervously around the empty hallway.

Emily nodded in agreement. "But we can't back down now. We have to uncover the truth about Xavier and the Old Wing."

Aria's expression turned resolute. "Then let's do it. Together."

The two friends clasped hands, a sense of determination and trepidation washing over them. They knew that they were about to embark on a journey that would change their lives forever.