📍 Setting

City: Ravenwood –

an isolated, misty mountain city surrounded by dense forests, often whispered about for its strange disappearances.

University: Blackthorn University –

an old, gothic-style campus with gargoyle statues, candlelit halls, and a library said to be haunted.

Police Station: Ravenwood Central Police Department (RCPD) –

where FL’s father is transferred.

🖤 Main Characters

Male Lead (Professor & Vampire):

Name: Lucian Duskbourne (Lucian \= light, ironic for a vampire; Duskbourne \= “born of dusk”)

~The youngest Literature professor at Blackthorn University, impossibly charismatic, secretive, mysterious and hiding his centuries-old vampiric curse.

Female Lead (Student):

Name: Selene Vale (Selene \= goddess of the moon, Vale \= valley/dark hidden place)

~New transfer student, 19 years old, daughter of a police officer. She has a mysterious aura that draws Lucian toward her against his will.

🌑 Side Characters

1. Elias Crowhurst –

another professor at Blackthorn, secretly a vampire hunter. Suspicious of Lucian.

2. Vivienne “Vivi” Moreau –

Selene’s bubbly, extroverted friend. She loves gossip and is obsessed with local legends.

3. Adrian Vale –

Selene’s father, newly transferred police officer. Protective, but always busy with work.

4. Cassandra “Cass” Whitlock –

a mysterious girl on campus with ties to the vampire world. She knows more than she says.

5. Dean Aldric Graves –

the strict head of Blackthorn University, who has his own dark secrets.

SYNOPSIS📚 :

Ravenwood is not the kind of city you move to by choice. Hidden deep in the mountains, surrounded by endless forests and swallowed by mist, it carries a silence too heavy to be natural. People whisper of strange disappearances, animal attacks that leave no trace, and shadows that move where light should fall.

For Selene Vale, it becomes home when her father is transferred here as the new police officer. Their house sits at the forest’s edge, where nights feel too long and the wind always carries a warning. She is determined to survive the loneliness of this forgotten place—until Blackthorn University pulls her into a world she doesn’t understand.

Because there, among ancient stone walls and candlelit halls, is Professor Lucian Duskbourne. Brilliant, untouchable, and far too young to be what he claims. His gaze lingers like a brand, his words cut deeper than they should, and every encounter leaves Selene questioning what kind of man could hold so much power over a room.

Something in Ravenwood is hunting.

Something in Lucian is dangerous.

And something in Selene is beginning to wake.

In a city where nothing is ordinary and every shadow has teeth, some obsessions can’t be ignored—no matter how deadly they might be.

Hey this is The Tulip Girl

I hope you will enjoy this reading journey as much as I enjoyed writing it....

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The road curled like a black ribbon through the mountains, narrow and silent except for the hum of their car engine and the crunch of gravel beneath the tires. The headlights carved through layers of mist, revealing only fragments of the world outside—jagged rocks, skeletal trees, and the occasional lonely road sign pointing toward Ravenwood.

Selene Vale pressed her forehead against the window, watching the trees rush past. It was almost evening, the sun already drowning behind the mountains, and the sky had that haunting, blue-grey hue she’d only ever seen in gothic paintings. The deeper they drove into the valley, the heavier the atmosphere seemed to grow, as though the city itself carried an invisible weight pressing down on every stranger who dared enter it.

Her father’s voice broke the silence.

“We’re almost there.”

Adrian Vale, always calm and steady behind the wheel, didn’t glance at her when he spoke. His police uniform still looked crisp even after hours on the road. Selene had grown up watching him juggle the chaos of work and the mess of home, especially after the divorce. Now, his transfer had dragged them here, to a town most people didn’t even know existed.

“Doesn’t really look like a city,” Selene murmured. “Feels more like… a forgotten place.”

Her father gave a small smile but didn’t argue. “It’s quiet. Safer in a way.”

“Safer?” Selene raised a brow, her voice soft but edged with doubt. “This place feels like something out of a horror movie.”

He chuckled lowly, though the sound lacked real amusement. “Don’t let your imagination run wild, Selene. People live here just like anywhere else.”

But as they passed through the town’s entrance—a rusted iron gate with the word Ravenwood etched across it in faded letters—Selene couldn’t shake the chill that crawled up her spine. Streets wound like veins through the fog. Old brick buildings leaned close together, their windows glowing faintly yellow in the dusk. Shops were closing for the night, their owners pulling down iron shutters with hurried hands. And in the distance, at the highest point of the valley, loomed the dark silhouette of Blackthorn University.

It wasn’t just a school. It looked like a castle, its towers stabbing into the mist, gargoyles crouched on the rooftops as if guarding secrets centuries old.

Selene stared. Something about it made her chest tighten—not fear exactly, but a strange awareness, like she had stepped into a place where the world tilted slightly off balance.

Finally, the car slowed in front of a stone house on the edge of town. It wasn’t far from the police station her father would be working at, but it sat disturbingly close to the forest that surrounded Ravenwood like an endless wall of shadows. The trees stretched high and thick, their branches intertwining as though to keep whatever lurked inside from ever escaping.

Adrian killed the engine and got out. Selene followed, her boots crunching against gravel as she tilted her head up to take in their new home.

It was old—two stories of dark stone, ivy crawling along the walls, shutters that creaked with the wind. The balcony on the second floor jutted out toward the forest, as though daring anyone to stand there and stare too long into the abyss of trees.

“Charming,” Selene whispered dryly.

Her father ignored her sarcasm. “It’s not perfect, but it’s solid. The department arranged it. Close enough for me to get to work quickly, and…” His eyes softened slightly. “I thought you’d like the view.”

“The view?” Selene looked at the looming forest again and shivered. “Dad, the forest looks like it wants to eat the house.”

“Don’t exaggerate,” Adrian said, though even he glanced at the treeline a second longer than necessary.

Inside, the house smelled faintly of wood and damp stone. The living room was spacious but bare, a fireplace cold with ash, the furniture modest but sturdy. Boxes were stacked in corners, waiting to be unpacked.

“Go check your room upstairs,” Adrian said, already pulling his phone out as it buzzed. Duty never left him alone for long.

Selene climbed the creaking stairs, her fingers trailing over the banister polished smooth with age. The second floor hallway stretched narrow and dim, lined with doors. At the end of it was hers.

The door squeaked as she pushed it open.

Her room wasn’t large, but it carried a strange charm. Wooden floors, walls painted a muted cream, and a balcony door framed by heavy curtains. Selene walked straight to it, pulling them aside and pushing the glass door open.

Cool air rushed in, carrying the scent of pine and earth. The balcony overlooked the forest, endless and dark, the trees swaying gently as though whispering secrets only the night understood. She stepped out, resting her hands on the iron railing.

It was beautiful in a haunting way, but it didn’t feel safe.

Behind her, her father’s voice echoed faintly up the stairs. “Selene?”

“Yeah?” she called back.

He appeared at her doorway, phone pressed to his ear, his face drawn. “I have to head to the station. They’ve had… another call.”

Selene frowned. “Another call?”

“Animal attack. A hiker found near the forest. It’s the third one this month.” His voice was clipped, professional. “Stay inside, alright? Don’t wander out. Especially not near the woods.”

She wanted to ask more, but he was already halfway down the stairs, pulling his jacket tighter. Within minutes, she heard the engine roar to life again and fade into the night.

Selene turned back toward the balcony. The forest stood silently, watching her as much as she watched it.

And then—movement.

Between the trees, a figure.

Too far to make out clearly, just a shadow against shadows, but it was there. Standing still, facing her.

Selene’s breath hitched. She blinked hard, leaning forward. But when her eyes focused again, the figure was gone. The forest was empty, or at least it seemed that way.

The unease crawled into her chest like ice. She shut the balcony door quickly and yanked the curtains closed.

The next morning dawned pale and cold. Ravenwood looked different in daylight, but no less strange. Mist still clung to the trees, and the streets seemed hushed, as if the city never truly woke up.

Adrian had already left for work by the time Selene came downstairs, leaving a note on the kitchen table: First day of classes. Good luck. Don’t be late.

She rolled her eyes but smiled faintly, grabbing a slice of toast before heading out.

Blackthorn University was even more imposing up close. Its arched gates loomed overhead, iron blackened with age, the crest of the school carved into the stone: a raven clutching a thorn branch. Students milled about the courtyard, their voices echoing against the tall walls, but even their laughter seemed muted in the shadow of the building.

Selene clutched her bag tighter as she walked inside.

The lecture hall was massive, ceilings high, chandeliers swaying faintly as if moved by an unseen draft. Stone pillars framed rows of wooden desks. She slid into a seat near the middle, trying not to look as out of place as she felt.

Then the room fell silent.

A man entered, his steps measured, coat brushing the floor like liquid shadow. He set a leather-bound book on the desk at the front without a word, his presence commanding without effort.

Professor Lucian Duskbourne.

Selene knew immediately he wasn’t like anyone else in this room.

He was young, far too young to carry the title of professor—at least, he looked it. Tall, lean, his black hair falling in careless strands that only made his sharp features more striking. His eyes, however, were what caught her, holding the room in a quiet, unyielding grip. Grey, like storm clouds before lightning.

“Good morning,” his voice carried, low and smooth, with the faintest trace of an old accent. “Welcome to Literature and Gothic Studies. I am Professor Duskbourne.”

The way he said it—like every syllable had been practiced a thousand times—sent a shiver down Selene’s spine.

When his gaze swept the room, lingering on each student in turn, she felt her stomach tighten. And when his eyes locked with hers, even for the briefest second, it was as if the world around her hushed.

Something ancient stared back at her.

Something dangerous....

---

💀🖤

The morning arrived reluctantly, a pale smear of light that clung to the horizon but never fully broke the gray veil. Selene had been awake long before the alarm, staring at the ceiling as if it might offer her answers. Every whisper of the wooden beams, every distant call from the forest had chased away sleep like a cruel trick.

She dragged herself from bed and crossed to the balcony. The glass was cool against her palm, breath fogging faintly against it. Beyond the railing, the forest stood like a wall of secrets—its branches too dense, too tangled, shadows folding into one another. She could swear it stared back at her.

Something shifted deep in the treeline, a faint rustle where the mist clung low. Her chest tightened. By the time she blinked, it was gone.

Her father’s voice downstairs broke the silence. “Selene! You’re going to be late!”

---

Adrian Vale was already dressed in his uniform when she reached the kitchen. The lines on his face looked deeper this morning, carved by something heavier than lack of sleep. A file folder sat open on the table, papers scattered like broken glass.

He shut it quickly when she entered. “Eat something.”

She grabbed a piece of toast, the edges burnt, and tried not to stare at the folder. “Another case?”

His jaw tightened. He didn’t answer immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was flat. “A teenager didn’t come home last night. Party out near the ridge. His bike was found abandoned at the trailhead.”

Selene froze. “The forest?”

Adrian’s silence was confirmation enough.

“Do they think it was…?” She couldn’t finish the sentence.

“Animal attack is the theory.” His tone made it clear he didn’t quite believe it himself. “No signs of him yet. Search parties are out.”

The toast turned to ash in her mouth.

Her father’s eyes softened, but only for a moment. Then he went to the drawer by the sink and pulled something out. A pistol. He set it on the counter between them with finality.

Selene’s stomach dropped. “Dad, I can’t—”

“You can and you will.” His voice was steel. “Keep it with you. This isn’t negotiable. If something happens—if you feel unsafe—you use it. Understand?”

Her fingers curled reluctantly around the cold weight. It felt wrong, like holding a promise she didn’t want to keep.

“I don’t want you frightened,” Adrian said, softer now. “But I do want you prepared.”

---

Blackthorn University was already humming with chaos by the time Selene arrived. The bell tower’s chimes split the mist as students rushed across the courtyard, voices clashing like an orchestra tuning before a storm.

She moved carefully, clutching her bag close, but her eyes kept wandering. Gothic spires scraped the sky, gargoyles crouched along the rooftops, and ivy clawed up the walls as though the buildings themselves were alive.

She nearly walked straight into someone.

“Whoa!”

Selene stumbled back, mumbling an apology. The girl she’d collided with laughed lightly, brushing a curtain of auburn hair from her face.

“Don’t worry, happens to everyone the first week.” Her voice was bright, a sharp contrast to the heavy air. She tilted her head, studying Selene with curious green eyes. “You’re new here, right?”

Selene nodded. “First week. Is it that obvious?”

“Obvious enough,” the girl grinned. “I’m Vivienne, but everyone calls me Vivi. And you are?”

“Selene.”

“Well, Selene, lucky you—you just bumped into the best unofficial tour guide on campus. Stick with me, and maybe you won’t get lost in this madhouse.” Vivi linked her arm through hers before Selene could protest, steering her toward the main hall.

---

The day unfolded in a blur of lecture halls, crowded corridors, and whispers that clung to the walls. Selene caught fragments whenever Professor Lucian Duskbourne’s name surfaced.

“He doesn’t even live in town.”

“Strict doesn’t cover it—he’s merciless.”

“Some say he watches people in class. Like he can see inside you.”

Each word lingered longer than it should, leaving Selene uneasy even before she stepped into his classroom.

The lecture hall was cavernous, light fractured through tall stained glass windows. Lucian entered without announcement, his presence commanding silence more effectively than any shout could. He moved like shadow given form—sharp, deliberate, unyielding.

His voice filled the room, low and smooth, weaving through the air like smoke. He spoke of Gothic literature, of darkness and beauty intertwined, and though Selene tried to focus on the words, she felt his gaze instead.

When it landed on her, the air thickened. Time faltered.

Her pen stilled. Her pulse hammered.

And then he looked away, leaving her both shaken and oddly hollow.

---

By the time classes ended, the fog had thickened into something oppressive. Selene walked home quickly, each step echoing in the hollow streets.

Her father wasn’t home yet. The house felt cavernous, the silence heavy. She set her bag down carefully, the pistol’s weight inside it pressing like an unspoken warning.

She tried reading. Then music. Then pacing. Nothing silenced the gnawing awareness that the forest was there, just beyond the balcony doors.

Eventually, she gave in. She stepped outside.

The night was cold, the mist curling like breath against her skin. The trees stood tall and waiting.

Something shifted. A figure between the trunks. Tall. Still. Watching.

Her breath caught. She reached instinctively for her bag—but a voice stopped her.

“You shouldn’t be out here.”

Her head snapped down.

There he was. Professor Duskbourne.

The moon carved silver edges across his face, leaving his eyes unreadable shadows.

“Professor—what are you—”

He didn’t step closer. His tone was calm, measured. “The forest isn’t safe after dark.” His gaze flicked to the treeline. When Selene looked again, the figure was gone.

Her throat tightened. “Do you live near here?”

Lucian’s lips curved faintly, though it wasn’t quite a smile. “Across the forest,” he said softly. “Close enough to keep watch.”

Before she could speak again, he turned, his silhouette dissolving into the mist as though it welcomed him back.

Selene gripped the railing, her heart pounding.

Across the forest.

Her professor.

Her neighbor.

And someone who carried more secrets than the night itself.

---

💀🌲🖤