The silence of Nocturne Academy felt different now. It wasn't the quiet peace I'd grown used to. No, this was the kind of silence that pressed against your skin, made your muscles tense, your mind race with uncertainty.
The game had changed.
And I was the piece on the board everyone was watching.
After my conversation with Sophia, I found myself unable to shake the feeling that I was being drawn deeper into something I couldn't control. The House Umbra's influence felt suffocating, the weight of its expectations pressing down on me like a storm cloud, waiting to burst.
My father's name echoed in my mind, a constant reminder that nothing about my existence was normal. I wasn't just another student at the Academy. I wasn't just here to survive. I was here because of him—because of the blood that ran through my veins.
The night after my conversation with Sophia, I couldn't sleep. The shadows under my bed seemed to stretch longer, and the weight of my own reflection haunted me. I could feel the weight of those dark alliances, those debts I'd inherited, creeping into my bones.
I needed answers.
I knew where to find them.
House Umbra wasn't just a collection of power-hungry vampires, werewolves, and half-bloods. It was a labyrinth of secrets, and I had barely scratched the surface.
The next day, I made my way to the deepest level of the Academy, to a place only a few students ever dared venture: the Archives.
The walls were cold, lined with ancient tomes and documents that had been locked away from prying eyes for centuries. As I stepped inside, I could feel the heavy, musty air pressing down on me, like a tomb. A tomb of secrets, and I was ready to unearth them all.
I walked past rows upon rows of leather-bound books, stopping in front of an unassuming shelf at the back of the room. I had overheard rumors about this place—whispers of forbidden knowledge about House Umbra's true origins, about the bloodlines that tied us all together.
With trembling fingers, I reached for a dusty tome buried deep in the corner. As I pulled it free from its resting place, a strange chill ran down my spine. This book had been hidden for a reason.
I opened it, flipping through the yellowed pages until I found what I was looking for.
There, written in faded ink, were the names of the founding families of House Umbra. But one name stood out to me.
Valen.
My heart skipped a beat. The page told the story of the Valen family's fall from grace, of a powerful vampire who had broken the laws of the House and paid the price. But there was something more—something I couldn't quite grasp. A connection between my father and the family's downfall.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, making me jump. I whipped around, heart pounding in my chest.
Kael.
"Careful," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You're poking around in things you don't understand."
I glared at him, closing the book and setting it back on the shelf. "You don't get to tell me what I do."
Kael's smile only widened. "Oh, I think I do. You're looking for answers, aren't you? The same answers that have haunted your family for generations."
I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out at him. "My family is none of your business."
"I beg to differ," Kael said, his voice low, almost mocking. "Your father made sure of that. You see, Eira, it's not just about power. It's about loyalty. And your father made a choice—a choice that tied him to House Umbra, but also to something far more dangerous."
He stepped closer, his voice growing more intense. "You think you can walk in here, claim your place, and rewrite history? Think again. Your bloodline is tainted with the consequences of your father's actions. And sooner or later, you'll have to pay for them."
My breath caught in my throat. "What did he do?"
Kael's lips curled into a cruel smile. "You'll find out soon enough. But I'll warn you, Eira—you're not ready for the truth. No one is."
Before I could respond, he was gone, disappearing into the shadows of the Archives. I stood there for a long moment, my thoughts a storm of confusion and anger.
The next day, I found myself alone in the courtyard. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the stone pathways, but there was no peace to be found in the stillness.
I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. The air felt thick, charged with something I couldn't identify.
"Eira."
I turned at the sound of my name. It was Sophia. She was standing at the far end of the courtyard, her arms crossed, her gaze steady and unwavering.
"What do you want?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
Sophia smiled, but it was far from friendly. "I know you've been digging into House Umbra's history. I know you're looking for answers about your father."
I stiffened. "How do you know that?"
She shrugged, her expression unreadable. "I have my sources. But I also know that the more you uncover, the deeper you fall into the web. Kael's not the only one watching you. There are others."
"Others?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Sophia stepped forward, her voice quiet. "The truth about your father's involvement in House Umbra isn't just about bloodlines. It's about betrayal. And betrayal isn't something you walk away from. You can't undo what's been done."
My pulse quickened. "Betrayal? What are you talking about?"
She shook her head, her dark eyes flickering with something like pity. "You think you're in control, but you're not. Kael, Lucien—they'll use you to get what they want. And when you're no longer useful, they'll throw you away."
I didn't want to believe her. I didn't want to think that my father had been involved in something so dark that it would forever taint my blood. But I couldn't shake the truth in Sophia's words.
Before I could respond, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the academy's looming buildings.
That night, I couldn't sleep. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place, but they didn't form a picture of safety or security. They formed a map—a map of betrayal, of power struggles, and of a history I wasn't sure I could survive.
My father had been a part of something far bigger than I realized. And whatever secrets he'd kept, whatever choices he'd made, they weren't just his to bear. They were mine now.
The darkness of House Umbra was in my blood.
And sooner or later, I would have to decide how far I was willing to go to survive it.