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, contemplating the wreckage of her life while picking at the hamburger and greasy fries in front of her. Her marriage was over, she had no home to call her own, and the heavy weight of sadness and loneliness pressed down on her. Food no longer seemed appealing. Sitting 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 uninvited at her table and handed her a single white rose. Startled, Grace looked at him in awe. He looked like he had just come from a movie premiere—handsome. He was six feet tall, with raven hair curling over his shoulders. His hazel eyes, full of warmth, held her captive. His suit, a sleek black ensemble paired with a black shirt and a deep maroon tie—almost the color of dried blood—made him breathtaking. White roses were her favorite.


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


Grace's voice trembled as she says, “Thank you, but I don’t understand. Who are you?”


“My name is Ezra, and you and I are soulmates.” He watched, fascinated, as Grace examined the rose.


    Grace scoffed, a harsh 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 just want to eat my fries. I’m about to leave this town without a second glance.” She fought back tears that threatened to prick at the corners of her eyes. “How do you know my name?” she asks, looking back at him.


“Destiny doesn’t care about your plans, Grace,” he says, leaning forward with his eyes burning into hers. “It has its way of unfolding. Regarding your name, we’ll discuss that later.”


“Destiny?” she laughs, 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 yours. Now, if you’ll excuse me...” she says, taking a sip of her coffee.


“Grace, you are special.” His words cut through her self-deprecating thoughts like hot knives. “More beautiful than you can imagine.”


His gaze was unwavering. “I see doubt, sadness, fear, and loneliness in your eyes. Come with me, and I will replace them with hope, happiness, security, and love. Trust me, our destiny will guide us to so much more.”


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


 "I’m not. You carry a burden; I see it. It’s the weight of sadness and despair. Such beauty deserves freedom from burdens." He pauses, his gaze intense. “Our fates and destinies entwine. My love, our destiny together, is greater than your wildest dreams.” He reaches across the table and takes 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 whispers, her voice trembling with the question.


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


His voice was hypnotic and persuasive. Reeling from the sudden end of her marriage and searching for something to fill the emptiness, Grace found herself captivated. He spoke of a world waiting to be shaped by their hands. He described a life beyond her town’s limits, one filled with adventure and purpose. Why did this attractive stranger seek her out? She wanted to believe him; why?


How can I trust you? I don’t even know you. You come here and tell me we're soulmates. I don’t believe in the concept of soulmates. I was wrong; I thought my husband and I were soulmates. I can't trust my judgment. You could be a lunatic or, worse, a serial killer. You want me to leave with you? Why should I?


You’re right, Grace. I am a stranger to you, but I’m telling you, we’re together. Please believe me. I want to rescue you from this place, this town, and your husband, all of whom have caused you immense sadness and despair.” Holding her hand and gazing into her eyes, he spoke.


Those words, his words. Like a hypnotic spell, their magic affected her fragile mindset, overriding her better judgment and the nagging voice of reason in the back of her mind. Urging her to hop into her car and flee from the attractive man, promising a future of adventure, purpose, and perhaps even love—something she longed for above all else.


She nodded. “Okay,” she says, the word barely audible. “I’ll go with you.”


Ezra smiled, his lips curling into a slow, predatory expression. “Excellent, my love. Let us leave this place and fulfill our destiny together.” He says as he stands and offers her his hand.


Grace gazes at his outstretched hand, her heart pounding in her chest. Is this a terrible mistake? Could she be ruining her life for a fleeting fancy with someone she barely knows? Almost definitely. The thought of starting her life over after such pain feels overwhelming.


She takes a deep breath and places her hand in his. His grip is firm and reassuring, sending another jolt of electricity through her. Helping her stand, she experiences a moment of disorientation, a feeling that reality is askew. Ezra raises her hand to his lips, softly kissing her knuckles, making her believe his promises even more. Paying for her meal, Ezra escorts Grace out of the diner without a word, his arm a comforting weight around her shoulders as he leads her into the darkness of the night. She falls prey to his alluring promises, unaware of the truth: she isn’t starting over but entering a world filled with ancient lineages, secret powers, and a darkness waiting for her for centuries. Grace descends from a long and powerful line of witches. Ezra is not just a handsome stranger but a demon, drawn to the dormant powers within her.


He seduced her with promises of happiness, destiny, greatness, and love, but his real motives were much darker. With her untapped power, Grace would unlock a gate to unleash a force capable of plunging the world into chaos. He had found his key, and Grace, lost and vulnerable, had given it to him. Grace took a deep breath as they stepped into the cool, crisp night air, feeling her burdens lift from her shoulders.


She went to her car and grabbed her suitcases. Ezra led her to a sleek, black car, more impressive than his suit; he guided her to the passenger side, opened the door, wrapped his arm around her waist, and kissed her. “You and I, Grace, we belong together. Let us discover our destiny, my love,” Ezra says as his lips leave 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 came from the car. He took her hand and kissed it, then asked, “Are you ready? Love to start over.”


She smiled and accepted, “Let’s go.”


The question lingered in the air, trembling on her lips: Could this be real? Did this stranger, with his impossible, intoxicating promises, hold the key to her dreams? Or did he exist only to shatter her hopes and leave her more broken than ever? Time alone would reveal if Grace’s gamble paid off with the life she wanted. She glanced back at the diner in the side-view mirror. The neon sign flickered, casting an eerie glow on the parking lot. That image captured her past life. But the picture wavered in her mind. The neon light seemed to pulse, and a faint, almost imperceptible shimmer encircled the diner.


As the car merged onto the highway, heading toward an uncertain future, Grace looked at Ezra. He focused on the road. The diner’s lights no longer flickered. She knew she should be scared, but she felt an odd sense of calm.


With distance swallowed and the highway’s hum, the monotonous drone became a hopeful melody. Her fear faded, replaced by unexpected excitement. As the car sped into the night, she glanced at Ezra. The dim light softened his handsome features. His expression stayed inscrutable. Grace couldn’t help but wonder and dare to hope that maybe he was right—that a greater purpose awaited her. Her dreams: what will they cost?