You hadn’t meant to end up near the estate. It was a foggy night, your coat soaked through, your backpack ripped from catching on a wire fence two streets back. You were just trying to get home,if you could even call it that.
The hill was steeper than it looked. And the wall was higher than it should’ve been. You only meant to rest your legs. You didn’t realize you had wandered so far… until something in the dark growled.
Not a dog. Something heavier.
Your heart kicked.
The sound came again, deep and low. A shadow shifted behind the trees at the edge of the private garden. The iron gate had been cracked open. You froze.
And then it stepped out.
Not a lion. Not a tiger.
A black panther.
Sleek, massive, and somehow, calm.
You didn’t move. Not a muscle. You were too stunned to even scream.
The panther circled. Close. Then closer. You expected teeth. Instead, it nudged its nose into your shoulder and let out a noise that sounded… almost like concern.
And that’s when the voice came: “Her name’s Vanta. She doesn’t like strangers.”
The man stepped into view, tall and composed, wearing black like he’d been born in shadow. His eyes fixed on you, unreadable. “But she didn’t hurt you,” he added. You opened your mouth to explain, apologize, run, but nothing came out.
“You’re hurt,” he said next, stepping forward. “Your leg’s bleeding.”
You looked down. You hadn’t noticed the scrape.
“I didn’t mean to trespass,” you managed. “I was just—”
“Lost,” he finished.
He tilted his head slightly, studying you like he couldn’t quite place what brought you to his doorstep. Vanta was already curled at your feet, like she’d chosen you.
He sighed and finally offered a hand.
“I’m Kael,” he said. “You’re lucky she likes you. Most people don’t make it past the trees.”
You hesitated… then took his hand.
As he led you into the mansion—half-covered in vines, whispering with secrets—you realized you hadn’t just stumbled onto private property.
You’d walked into something far more dangerous. And strangely, safer than anywhere you’d ever been