Elijah woke up after an hour of sleep, the scent of food wafting through the air. Being a vampire certainly had its perks—he didn't really need sleep, but when he did, it was a rare, heavenly experience. He usually slept in class, his senses more attuned while he was at rest than when he was awake. As long as his senses weren't actively controlled, he could still perceive everything around him.
He got dressed and made his way downstairs, where he found everyone already seated. Selene spoke up first. "I have news for you."
Elijah sat down, grabbed a plate, and took a bite of the food. His eyes widened as he chewed. "You cooked this?" he asked, looking at Selene. She shook her head and pointed at Astrid, who was blushing at the attention. Elijah smiled, knowing he had chosen the best ones.
"We need to turn you into a vampire immediately," he joked, still chewing. "This might be some of the best cooking I've had in a while."
Astrid blushed even more, thanking him for his praise. Selene, on the other hand, frowned and glared at him. Elijah only smiled. "Your cooking is very good dear sister, but my mother-in-law might just be an angel," he teased.
Astrid shyly responded, "Gerald said it wasn't very good… often calling it filth."
Elijah poured himself a glass of wine, taking a sip. "Well, it's a good thing he's dead," he chuckled. The others didn't laugh, but Astrid smiled at his comment. His praise clearly put her at ease—she'd feared her cooking was terrible all along.
Turning his attention to Selene, Elijah took another sip of wine. "So, what's with you? Usually, you look more… well, blank, but you have a small smile on your face. Did torturing me excite you?"
Selene, eating quietly, frowned. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but the food was excellent. "I don't particularly enjoy punishing you. It hurts me to see you in pain. But no, our grandparents are back home—and apparently for good."
Elijah's smile returned. "That's good news."
Selene raised an eyebrow. "So, are you going back home?"
Elijah's smile faltered. "Will Father be there?"
Selene frowned, knowing exactly what he meant. "You know the answer," she said softly.
Elijah sighed. "I think I'll forgive him in a millennia," he said, voice tinged with bitterness.
Selene shook her head. "You two are so petty and prideful. Cassandra said they convinced him to give up on you becoming the heir."
Elijah shrugged nonchalantly as he continued eating. "Oh, but it doesn't matter. I'm no longer a Velmont. Besides, I was never planning to become the heir anyway."
Selene's frown deepened. How petty could two men be? She thought. It was clear they both had too much pride to forgive each other. Like father, like son.
Realizing the conversation had come to an end, Selena shifted topics. "So, what kind of training will I be doing?" she asked, curious about how vampires trained.
Elijah looked at her thoughtfully. "Hmm, well, you'll probably train with me if that's still the plan, but most likely under Selene and Cassandra's guidance."
She looked at him skeptically. "Weren't you born a vampire? Your magical prowess is also considerably strong, considering you got rid of a body without a trace."
Elijah laughed. "Well, if it were up to me, I wouldn't. But I'm pretty sure Selene would just love for me to be stronger. Also, that's just because I have a high talent for magic. My grandmother is one of the strongest witches to ever live, and my mother, while she's a very strong witch—stronger than any living one—her power still dwarfs in comparison to my grandmother's."
Selena looked at him in awe as Elijah spoke about his mother being stronger than any living witch and how her power still dwarfed in comparison to his grandmother's. That kind of strength—true, unparalleled strength—was what she craved. She wanted freedom, the ability to make her own choices without anyone dictating her path. Unknown to her, her eyes began to glow faintly purple, resonating with her deepest desires.
Elijah noticed it immediately, leaning forward slightly. "Oh, is that the purple you two were talking about?" he said, pointing at Selena's eyes.
Selene, also noticing the glow, nodded, a bit surprised. "It seems you have the same ability with your eyes too, Selena. What were you thinking about just now?"
Selena froze, the flush of pink rising to her cheeks. They'd been talking about her eyes, but now they were asking what she was thinking about? Admitting to her dreams and ambitions felt too personal. Finally, she stammered, "…Well, I was just thinking I wanted to be strong like that too," her voice trailing off in embarrassment.
Elijah chuckled lightly, trying to ease her flustered state. "Why are you embarrassed? There's nothing wrong with wanting strength."
His words, while meant as encouragement, only made her blush deepen. She kept her head down, focusing on her plate while the others continued eating.
Selene, however, seemed thoughtful as she spoke. "Can we visit the house? At least for a little while. I want to see them—it's been over nine years."
Elijah raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you really want to go?"
She nodded, her voice soft but firm. "I do, but if you won't go, then I won't either."
Elijah sighed, leaning back in his chair. "If you want to go, of course I'll go. Besides," he added with a small smirk, "she gets to meet her in-laws. Though, if Father tries anything, I'll kill him."
Selena's face flushed crimson at the casual way he referred to his family as her in-laws, her mind racing despite knowing they weren't even romantically involved yet.
Selene's face brightened, her excitement visible as she began eating with renewed energy. She seemed intent on making plans to visit as soon as possible, her eagerness bringing a small smile to Elijah's lips.
Elijah leaned back in his chair, sipping more wine, looking unusually relaxed. Selene was cute when she wasn't scolding him, but that didn't last long. As he leaned further, he felt the chair tilt dangerously, and before anyone could react, he used his super speed to catch himself and the chair. Settling back down as if nothing had happened, he noticed Selene's glare.
"Stop leaning in your chair like a child," she scolded, her voice stern but not without a hint of amusement.
Elijah sighed dramatically, giving her a helpless look. "I can't even relax without being lectured."
Across the table, Selena and Astrid stifled their laughter at their playful bickering. With breakfast finished, Elijah glanced toward the cabinet. Dealing with his father required more than just wine. He stood, walked to the shelf, and retrieved a bottle of aged vampiric cognac—one of the finest in their collection. Ignoring the usual niceties of pouring a glass, he drank straight from the bottle, savoring the rich, complex flavor.
Selene raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "This early in the morning? I know you're an alcoholic, but something that strong?"
Elijah raised the bottle slightly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, as he mockingly toasted. "Sister, if I'm dealing with Father, I'll need something in my system." He took another long gulp, savoring the rich burn of the vampirically aged cognac as it slid down his throat.
Meanwhile, in the Velmont estate, a strikingly similar scene unfolded.
Lucien Velmont sat at the head of the grand dining room table, his hand tapping impatiently as he gave a curt order to Thomas. "Bring me a bottle. The one from the private reserve."
The butler nodded and disappeared, quickly returning with an ornate bottle of dark glass that mirrored the one Elijah had. Lucien uncorked it with practiced ease, pouring the liquid into a crystal glass before deciding that it wasn't fast enough. Abandoning the glass, he lifted the bottle itself and began drinking in long, deliberate chugs.
From across the table, Mireille, his wife, watched him with a mixture of concern and resignation. "Honey," she said softly, "I know you're nervous about seeing Elijah again, but this…"
Lucien exhaled heavily, setting the bottle down with a loud clink. His piercing gaze met hers, and for a moment, his voice softened. "I need something in my system to deal with that child of mine."
Mireille sighed, shaking her head. "You're more alike than you'd care to admit."
Lucien grumbled something incoherent and took another swig. She said nothing further, allowing him his moment, though the faintest hint of a smile tugged at her lips as she turned her attention to the window. She had faith that, no matter what tension lay between father and son, Elijah's return was the beginning of something more than just old arguments.
Selena hesitated before speaking. She had heard rumors about their father, but her concern grew seeing how Elijah prepared himself. "What… is your father like?"
Selene took it upon herself to answer, crossing her arms as she leaned back. "A man-child—much like Elijah. Though I wouldn't call him entirely bad. They used to be close when Elijah was still the heir."
Elijah scoffed, taking another swig from the bottle. "Key phrase: used to be."
Selena nodded but couldn't shake her unease. Was this another person who might want to kill her? She didn't want to voice her fears, but the thought lingered.
Realizing everyone was ready, Elijah asked casually, "Are we leaving now? Maybe I should turn my favorite mother-in-law into a vampire first. Taking a human to a house full of vampires doesn't seem smart."
Astrid blinked, clearly surprised. Favorite mother in law she thought, her face flushing pink.
Selene groaned, narrowing her eyes at him. "Fine, but I'm doing it. You've been far too close to enough women these past few days."
Elijah sighed at her logic but didn't argue. Turning a human into a vampire wasn't particularly difficult. While biting the neck was intimate, it didn't necessarily bind someone as a mate. That bond required a specific ritual involving the veins of the left hand, tied symbolically to the heart. Still, he let Selene handle it.
Astrid, understandably nervous, flinched slightly as Selene stepped behind her. When Selene bit down, Astrid was surprised—it didn't hurt. Quite the opposite, it was oddly pleasurable, though she would never admit that aloud. Selene wiped her neck with a towel as the small punctures began to heal.
"Done. Let's go," Selene said briskly, stepping toward the door.
Astrid hesitated as they neared the exit. "Wait, isn't it daytime? Isn't that… lethal for vampires?"
Elijah groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Who keeps spreading that nonsense? Just because we're pale doesn't mean we're allergic to sunlight."
Astrid flushed in embarrassment while Selena chuckled softly. "Don't worry," Selena said, continuing. "I asked the same thing."
Astrid smiled helplessly as the group stepped out into the sunlight, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
The group was traveling by car this time. Selene held the keys to one of their family's sleek luxury vehicles—an all-black, polished machine that exuded wealth and elegance. As they all piled in, Elijah, ever the gentleman, allowed Astrid to take the front passenger seat, both out of respect for her being older and because he didn't mind the backseat.
The drive was relatively quiet, though Astrid was noticeably more withdrawn. She stared out the windshield, her heightened senses overwhelming her. When they finally arrived, stepping out of the car was no easier. Astrid stumbled slightly, only for Selena to catch her with surprising swiftness.
"Are you okay?" Selena asked, concern evident in her voice.
Astrid nodded but hesitated. "I'm fine… it's just the wind and the voices—and the birds—I can hear it all. And the smells… I can smell everything."
Elijah leaned against the car, arms crossed, and explained calmly, "Focus. Imagine everything going in one ear and out the other. Once the sound of the wind feels soothing, you'll know you're in control of your hearing. As for the smell—that's just blood we keep in storage for when we're hungry. Nutritious, delicious, and quick." He turned to Selena. "Speaking of which, you should probably grab her a blood bag once we're inside. She might be ravenous if she goes too long without feeding, and we wouldn't want that."
Astrid tried to follow his advice, focusing on filtering out the overwhelming noise. It helped slightly, though the world still felt much louder than it should. She'd already adjusted her enhanced vision during the car ride by staring through the windshield and forcing herself to concentrate on one point. This… would take more practice.
Selene, satisfied that Astrid would manage, walked ahead to lead them inside. Both Astrid and Selena were left in awe as they approached the massive estate. Elijah had been right—the house was enormous, at least five times the size of the home they currently lived in.
"Rich people sure live differently," Selena muttered, glancing at Astrid, who nodded silently.
The front door alone was a spectacle, towering three times their height and reinforced with intricate engravings that spoke of old wealth and family pride. Elijah paused for a moment, as if contemplating knocking. Then, without warning, he pushed the door with such force that it came off its hinges, crashing down with a loud thud.
Selene sighed in exasperation at her brother's antics but said nothing as he walked inside nonchalantly. "Come on," she said, gesturing for Astrid and Selena to follow.
The noise had caused an uproar inside, and soon a figure appeared—the butler, Thomas, arriving first to see who would dare to disturb the Velmont family estate. He froze momentarily before bowing deeply.
"Lord Elijah," Thomas greeted respectfully.
Elijah waved a hand dismissively. "No need for that, Thomas. I'm no longer your 'Lord.'"
Thomas straightened but didn't let the comment slide. "Nonsense. I used to chase you through these halls to change your diapers when you ran across the walls and ceiling."
Elijah sighed heavily, muttering under his breath, while Selene stifled a laugh remembering the image.
Thomas, ever composed, continued, "They are in the dining room." He knew precisely where the group was heading and stepped aside with a nod.
Elijah and Selene both returned the gesture, and the three of them proceeded further into the grand estate.
As if remembering something, Selene called out without looking back, "Oh yeah, Thomas, a blood bag and a straw, please." The butler nodded silently and retreated to fulfill her request while the four of them continued toward the grand dining room.
Upon entering, Elijah's grandmother immediately enveloped him in a warm hug. "My eldest grandson! Hmph, I already dealt with your father for you. If he gives you any more trouble, just let me know."
Elijah chuckled, returning the hug before stepping back. "Thanks, Grandma."
He turned to greet his grandfather, who nodded in acknowledgment, and Selene followed suit, politely greeting him as well. Next, Elijah approached his mother, who pulled him into a tight hug.
"Hmph, threatening to kill me after I went through nine torturous months carrying you and your brother," Mireille said with a sharp glare as she lightly smacked him on the head.
Elijah blushed. "Well, it was the only way to get my point across," he muttered.
Finally, his gaze landed on his father, who stood at the far end of the table with his arms crossed, glaring at the door.
"Hmph," Lucien grumbled. "Breaking my door like that… do you have any idea how expensive it is? Brat."
"Yeah, yeah, cry me a river," Elijah retorted, rolling his eyes. "What's next—"
Before either could escalate further, Cassandra interjected sharply. "Stop acting like children!" Her piercing gaze shifted to Elijah. "And have you been drinking?"
Elijah stiffened, quickly deflecting, "Just wine—"
Selene cut him off with an exasperated look. "He chugged an entire bottle of aged cognac before we got here."
Mireille wasted no time pulling on Elijah's ear. "You really are so much like your father—it's sickening! And 18? Alcoholism at your age!"
Elijah winced, trying to pry her hand off. "Ow! Okay, okay, I get it! But I'll live for a long time—why does my age matter?" He smirked and shot a pointed look at his father. "Besides, when I was six, someone used to substitute my juice with wine. So maybe blame him."
Mireille's expression darkened instantly as she turned to Lucien. "Six!?"
Lucien muttered under his breath, "Snitch…" Then, louder, he added, "Hmph. It was to make him stronger as a man! My father did the same to me."
Amara, his wife and Elijah's grandmother, shook her head, unimpressed. "Now, honey, the boy is over 5,000 years old. Who cares about something so trivial from so long ago?"
And then, with a sickening snap, Amara twisted Lucien's neck, sending his limp body crumpling to the floor.
Astrid and Selena stood frozen, their mouths agape. What kind of family is this? For a moment, they both forgot that this was an immortal family until, seconds later, Lucien sat up, cracked his neck back into place, and stood as if nothing had happened.
Bella, the quiet and perpetually tired sibling, sighed audibly from her seat. "Can't I have one moment of peace and quiet in this house? Also, you two," she said, pointing to Elijah and Selene, "clearly don't care about the rest of us. Where are our hugs?"
Elijah and Selene exchanged sheepish looks before making their rounds, hugging their siblings. When Elijah reached Layla, however, she crossed her arms and hmphed, turning away.
Elijah chuckled at her reaction. "Baby sister, no hug for your big brother? That's so cruel."
Layla glared at him over her shoulder. "Maybe when my big brother stops killing people close to me, I'll give him a hug."
Elijah sighed deeply but said nothing. His father, who had been watching silently, stepped forward and began analyzing Selena with a scrutinizing gaze.
The room grew tense as Elijah's voice dropped into a dangerous growl. "Father…"
Lucien sighed as if dismissing his son's hostility. "So, this is her… your motivation."
He circled her slowly, still analyzing, but before he could get too close, Elijah took a step forward, his hand clenched into a fist, ready to intervene. But to his surprise, Lucien stopped, sighed again, and stepped back.
"Hmph," Lucien muttered, a complicated expression crossing his face. "I see."