She glanced down at the fuel gauge of her car, her heart sinking. She had been so preoccupied by the array of thoughts plaguing her mind that she had completely forgotten that she needed to stop for gas about 20 miles back. She did not know the area well, but she did know that there was not much in the way of civilization. As she drove around the sharp bend ahead, rows of what appeared to be grapes cascaded across the hills as far as she could see. A short moment later, she saw a rickety wooden sign right on the corner of a dirt road.

_Lovestruck Lane Vineyard_

The name was a bit saccharine for her personal taste, but whether or not she liked the name truly did not matter. All she needed was directions to the nearest gas station so she could be on her not so merry way. She turned onto the dirt road, her old Honda civic struggling clumsily over the potholes. The car had survived her many adventures this far, she thought, so it’d better make it down a simple dirt road.

Well, maybe simple was not the right word to use to describe this particular road. Despite its modest ground material, it was lined with gorgeous trees, from weeping willows to towering cedars. She was in awe of surroundings, the beauty temporarily distracting her from the frustration she had been feeling moments earlier. She reached the end of the road, at which sat a massive Victorian-style mansion. While the sign pointing visitors in the direction of the vineyard looked like it had survived seven hurricanes, the building before her was truly breathtaking. She parked the car along the side of the road and got out cautiously. With how isolated the location was, she couldn’t imagine that many people would make there way here. Her guess was they make all their money from selling wine to a international distributor. It must taste damn good to allow for this type of headquarters.

She walked up to a door that had another worn wooden sign above it, informing her that it was the entrance. As she slowly opened the door, a chime rang out, startling her. The room was filled to the brim with what appeared to be antiques and relics, the heavy air a mix of mustiness and fermentation. She approached the counter, which housed a glass case full of beautiful jewelry. She was admiring a particularly alluring sapphire ring when she heard a smooth voice coming from the opposite end of the room.

“If you’re hoping to purchase that ring today, I’m afraid you’ll be surely disappointed.” A man emerged from behind one of the large shelves, smiling mischievously at her. She was confused at how she did not see him when she first came in, but figured he had just been hidden behind the piles of items.

“Oh no, I was just looking. It is stunning, though.” She said quickly, turning to face the strange man. He was neither particularly old not particularly young, and he had a magnetic quality to him, similar to the sapphire ring she has been entranced by.