A stranger sat at her table, claiming to be her soulmate.


The chipped Formica of the table felt cold beneath Grace’s elbows as she sat quietly, contemplating the wreckage of her life, picking at the hamburger and greasy plate of fries in front of her, the only thing she could stand to eat. Between the demise of her marriage, lack of a home, and the crushing weight of her sadness and loneliness, food no longer held any appeal. Sitting strategically on the edge of Hemlock Grove, just off the highway exit, the Twilight Diner was her last stop on her escape from her past.


Then he arrived.


 He sat at her table, uninvited, and handed her a single white rose. Startled, Grace stared in awe. The man looked like he’d just wandered in from a movie premiere. Impossibly handsome, he was six feet tall, with Raven hair that curled slightly on his shoulders. His eyes, a mesmerizing hazel, held her captive with their warmth. And the suit, a sleek, black masterpiece paired with a black shirt and a tie, a deep, dark maroon, almost the color of dried blood, made him breathtaking. White roses were her favorite.


“For you,” he said, his voice a low, resonant rumble that sent a shiver down her spine.


Grace finally found her voice, a little shaky. “Thank you, but I...I don’t understand. Who are you?”


“My name is Ezra, and you and I are soulmates, Grace; our fates are intertwined for eternity,” he said in a low, captivating rumble. He watched, seemingly fascinated, as Grace examined the rose.


Grace scoffed, a harsh, bitter sound. “Right. And I’m about to win the lottery.” She swirled the lukewarm coffee in her mug, refusing to meet his gaze. “Look, mister, I’m not in the mood for games. I’m eating fries at a greasy spoon on the edge of nowhere, and frankly, I’m about to leave this town and never look back.” She fought the tears that were pricking at the corners of her eyes. “And how do you know my name?” she asked, looking back at him.


 “Destiny doesn’t care about your plans, Grace.” He leaned forward, his eyes burning into hers. “It has its way of unfolding. And as for your name, that’s something for another time.”


“Destiny?” she laughed, the sound hollow and devoid of humor. “Destiny, hope, joy, faith, happiness, they left me long ago. You walk in here, sit down, and tell me we are soulmates. I am nothing special. You know my name, yet I don’t know you. Now, if you’ll excuse me...” She said, taking a drink of her coffee.


“Grace, you are beautiful.” His words cut through her self-deprecating thoughts like a hot knife. “More beautiful than you can imagine.” He gazed into her eyes, unwavering. “I see doubt, sadness, fear, and loneliness in your eyes. Come with me and let them be replaced with hope, happiness, security, and love. Trust me, our destiny will guide us to so much more.”


Grace flinched and shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Beautiful? Whenever she looked in the mirror, she saw a tired, overweight woman ravaged by years of quiet unhappiness. “You, Ezra, are either blind or desperate. But please, don’t patronize me.”


 “I’m not. You carry a weight on you; I see it. It’s the weight of sadness and despair. “And a woman as beautiful as such things shouldn’t burden you.” He paused, his gaze intense. “Our fate, our destinies, are intertwined. We are meant for greatness together, my love, A greatness beyond your wildest dreams.” He reached across the table and took her hand. His touch was electric, sending a shiver down her spine. His hazel eyes held her captive, drowning her doubts. Grace blushed; this man had called her beautiful twice now.


“What kind of greatness?” she whispered, the question trembling on her lips.


“The kind that shapes the world, Grace. The kind that echoes through eternity.” He squeezed her hand. “We have a purpose, a calling. And we can only fulfill it together.”


His voice was hypnotic and persuasive. Reeling from the abrupt end of her marriage and desperately seeking something to fill the void, Grace found herself mesmerized. He spoke of a world waiting to be shaped by their hands. He painted a picture of a life far removed from the stifling confines of her small town, a life of adventure and purpose. What did this handsome stranger want from her? And why, against all reason, did a part of her desperately want to believe him?


“How can I trust you? I don’t even know you. You come here and tell me we are soulmates. I don’t believe in soulmates. I thought my husband and I were soulmates, but I was wrong. I can’t trust my judgment. I mean, you could be a lunatic or, worse, a serial killer. And you want me to go with you? Why should I?”


“You’re right, Grace. I am a stranger to you, but I am telling you, we are meant to be together. Please believe me. Let me take you away from this place, this town, and that worthless husband of yours, all of which have caused you so much sadness and despair.” He said as he held her hand and gazed deeply into her eyes.


Those words, his words. Like a hypnotic spell, their magic worked on her fragile mindset against her better judgment and the nagging voice of reason in the back of her mind. It told her that she should get in her car and run far away from this handsome man, promising her a future filled with adventure, purpose, and even love, something she desired more than anything.


She found herself nodding. “Okay,” she breathed, the word barely audible. “I’ll go with you.”


Ezra smiled, his lips curving into a slow, predatory expression. “Excellent, my love. Let us leave this place and fulfill our destiny together.” He said as he stood and offered her his hand.


Grace stared at his outstretched hand, her heart pounding against her ribs. Was she making a terrible mistake? Probably. Was she about to throw her life away on a whim with a man she knew nothing about? Almost certainly. But the thought of staying, of going back and trying to start over in a town where only pain and sadness awaited her, was unbearable.


She took a deep breath and placed her hand in his. His grip was firm and reassuring, sending another jolt of electricity through her. He pulled her to her feet, and for a moment, she felt a dizzying shift in perspective as if the world was tilting on its axis. Ezra raised her hand to his lips, gently brushing his lips across her knuckles with a soft kiss, making her believe his promises even more.


Paying for her meal, Ezra escorted Grace out of the diner without a word, his arm a comforting weight, wrapped tightly around her shoulders as he led her into the darkness of the night. Blinded by the allure of his promises, she had no idea she wasn’t just embarking on a new life but entering a world teeming with ancient bloodlines, concealed powers, and a darkness that had awaited her for centuries. Unbeknownst to Grace, she is descended from a long and powerful line of witches. And Ezra was not just a handsome stranger but a demon, drawn to the extraordinary, dormant powers within her.


He seduced her with promises of happiness, destiny, greatness, and love, but his real intentions were far more sinister. With her untapped power, Grace would unlock a gate to unleash a force that could plunge the world into chaos. He had found his key, and Grace, lost and vulnerable, had unknowingly handed it to him. Grace breathed deeply as they stepped into the cool, crisp night air, feeling her problems lifted from her shoulders.


She went to her car and grabbed her suitcases. Ezra led her to a sleek, black car, even more impressive than his suit; he led her to the passenger side and opened the door, wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her passionately. “You and I, Grace, we belong together. Let us go and discover our destiny, my love,” Ezra said as his lips left Grace’s skin, leaving her in a haze. Grace slid into the passenger seat; the leather felt cool against her skin, and Ezra shut the door. With one step into the car, she was leaving her old life behind forever.


As Ezra started the engine, a low growl resonated from the car. He took her hand and kissed it back, asking, “Are you ready? Love to start over.” Smiling at him, she said quietly, “Yes, let’s go.”


The question hung in the air, trembling on her lips: Could this be real? Could this stranger, with his impossible and intoxicating promises, indeed be the key to a life she had only dared to dream of? Or was he simply an illusion, a false hope destined to leave her even more broken than before? Only time would tell if Grace and the chance she took would give her the life she dreamed of. Looking back at the diner in the sideview mirror. The neon sign flickered, casting an eerie glow on the parking lot. It was a snapshot of the life she was leaving behind her. But the image wavered in her mind. The neon light seemed to pulse, and a faint, almost imperceptible shimmer surrounded the diner.


 As the car pulled out onto the highway, heading towards an unknown future, Grace glanced at Ezra. His eyes were fixed on the road, his expression unreadable in the dim light. The flickering lights of the diner seemed to be gone now. She knew she should be terrified, but she felt a strange sense of calm.


While the miles melted away and the highway hummed, it was no longer a lonely drone but a song of possibility. Her fear started receding, being replaced by an uncharacteristic excitement. As the car sped into the night, glancing at Ezra, his handsome features softened by the dim light. His eyes were fixed on the road, his expression unreadable. Grace couldn’t help but wonder and dare to hope that maybe, just maybe, he was right, that she was meant for something more. And how high would the price be for chasing her dreams?