Page 1 of Entranced By the Immortal

CHAPTER 1

EVER

Rumors had surrounded Dupont Manor for as long as I could remember. Some were more believable than others, but there was one thing everyone in town agreed on: it was haunted by something evil.

Buried in the tangled woods on the edge of Marion Forge, the manor was a breeding ground for myths and dangerous superstitions. Only a few people had ever been brave enough to test the allegations. Those who did came back injured, out of their minds, or they didn’t come back at all.

Such a shame, because it wasn’t always that way.

Once upon a time, way before my parents moved us to this little town, Dupont Manor was known for its extravagant parties. Pictures hidden in the city’s library showed society’s finest attending the festivities, dressed to the nines. I knew because I’d seen them more than once, looking for answers. None of the articles I found mentioned why the parties ended, however, or what had become of the Lord of Dupont Manor.

The legends surrounding the place had always fascinated me, and the manor itself often haunted my dreams. I wanted to know more. I wanted to?—

“Everett,” my mother’s voice cracked like a whip across the diner table, ripping me from my daydream. I had no idea what she said three seconds ago, but the look of annoyance on her face told me it was important.

“I’m sorry.” I adjusted myself in the worn vinyl booth, reining in my vivid imagination. “What did you say?”

A tiny sigh passed her lips and the annoyance disappeared, replaced by a sadness she couldn’t shake these days. Her hair,normally well-maintained and dyed dark, was now streaked with gray and tied haphazardly on top of her head. She hadn’t even bothered changing out of the T-shirt and leggings she slept in, even though it was almost one o’clock in the afternoon, and she had bags under her eyes.

“I asked if you were still going to help me move furniture Saturday?”

Moving furniture.Right.That’s why she wanted me to meet her at this little diner in the middle of town instead of using my day off to catch up on errands: to discuss her impending divorce from my father.

They hadn’t lived together in weeks, but she’d been working so much at the hospital she hadn’t had time to get all her things. I’d tried a few times to run by and grab what I could fit in the back of my truck, but my work schedule was hectic, so I hadn’t been much help. It also didn’t help that Dad’s new girlfriend was practically living there already.

“Of course.” I nodded. What kind of son would I be if I didn’t help?A terrible one.“Is Dad going to be there?”

“No.” I could tell she was fighting the urge to roll her eyes, probably for my benefit. Even though he cheated and asked her to move out in a text, she hadn’t bad-mouthed him once. Shewas a saint, better than I’d ever be. “They’re going camping and won’t be home all weekend.”

Of course he wouldn’t bother sticking around to help when all this was his fault to begin with.What a fucking tool.

“I’ll be there. No problem.” I offered a sympathetic smile just as the waitress showed up with our burgers.

The rich, savory smell hit my nose as she set them down, making my mouth water and my stomach growl. I thanked her, asking for a refill, and she winked, a smirk on her bright red lips.

“Sure thing, doll.” She walked away with her hips swinging.

My mother waited until she was out of earshot to snicker. “She's gonna be heartbroken when she finds out you're batting for the other team, huh?”

I laughed, nearly choking on my first bite of french fry, and frantically reached for my half-empty glass of sweet tea. Normally, I would have said no, but the woman hadn’t stopped flirting since I sat down at her table. I didn’t know whether to ignore her or ask if the bearded line cook was single to give her a hint.

“Maybe,” I muttered.

I ate in near silence while my mother rambled on about her weekend plans, nodding along to make it seem like I was listening. Iwaslistening, kind of, but I couldn’t get the Dupont Manor off my mind long enough to enjoy our meal. It had been nagging at me for months, practically calling to me, begging me to come investigate.

The strange call was getting harder and harder to ignore.

How did a place go from such grandeur to virtual obscurity? No one seemed to have the answers, and that mystery piqued my interest.

A forbidden landmark that made people speak in hushed tones and check over their shoulder when it came up in conversation was bound to hold unimaginable secrets. No onehad ever successfully explored the abandoned mansion, but I was determined to be the first.

Then, everyone would finally know what—if anything—was actually lurking in those woods.

Starting with me.

As we ate, an ambulance flew past the restaurant, sirens wailing. Another followed shortly after. It was rare to hear them blaring in town—little ever happened in Marion Forge—but it was not entirely unheard of. Hearing two so close together set me on edge, but I swallowed down the unlikely scenarios that came to mind.

It was probably a car wreck or something.

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