20 years later.
Nystrix stared at the annoying humans who were ordering her around like she was a machine.
"I hate this job," she muttered.
"What did you say?" the customer at the front questioned.
"Nothing, sir. I didn't get your order—could you repeat it?" Nystrix offered a polite smile, though she longed to blast this piece of trash from her sight.
She sighed, her mind drifting back to her father, Darius, and his words.
She didn't want to go back… but she wanted revenge.
How?
"Hello?" The man at the counter snapped at her.
"Your decaffeinated coffee, coming right up," she replied quickly, but it didn't ease his irritation.
"Such a lousy worker."
Nystrix rolled her eyes and sent the order to the kitchen, which came out in less than two minutes.
"Here you go."
The man huffed and walked away, leaving her to face the endless crowd. She pushed through the rest of the day with a busy attitude until the evening.
"Thank gawd!" she shouted as she left the restaurant.
Instead of heading home, Nystrix walked along a deserted path. She always went to the forest when she needed to clear her mind. She was almost at the place she called Peace Lane when a scream cut through the silence.
Nystrix froze. Her head snapped to the right—the sound came from there.
Her heart pounded as she moved toward it. Something pulled at her chest, a strange closeness, almost like family. As she walked deeper into the forest, the darkness wrapped around her, calling her.
"This one isn't sweet."
A man stood there, licking his lips, a frown creasing his exquisite features. His hair was long and silver, his pale purple eyes glowing like gems in the dark. He wore a black ancient robe embroidered with purple, layered over a matching inner tunic. Strikingly handsome, he captivated Nystrix—especially with those eyes.
Her gaze dropped to the lifeless human at his feet.
"Vampire," she whispered.
The man's eyes shifted from the corpse to her. A smile curved his lips. Her scent was different.
"A hybrid," he said, his voice melodic, magnetic, with an edge of danger.
Nystrix froze. He knew. Her instincts screamed that she was in danger. She needed to get out of there—fast.
She stepped back, ready to change into an animal and bolt, but his voice pinned her in place.
"Freeze."
His gaze locked on hers, piercing into her soul.
"Well, well. Look what I found," he said, moving toward her slowly.
Run! her mind screamed—and this time she listened.
Nystrix spun and sprinted. After three steps, she shifted into a bird, wings thrashing the air as she fled without pause.
"Ooh, interesting," the man murmured, watching her fly. He turned back and walked into the darkness. Soon, he stopped before a glowing tree. Stretching out his hand, he glanced back once more.
"See you soon, little hybrid."
And with that, he vanished into the tree.
Nystrix burst into her room through the window, crashing onto her bed. For minutes she lay there, breathing hard, before shifting back to her human form. Her thoughts returned to the vampire—no, to his eyes.
"How beautiful," she muttered.
But beauty aside, she knew this wasn't the last time she'd see him. He knew her identity—not just as a night creature, but as a hybrid. That truth weighed heavily as she dragged herself into the bathroom.
She dried her hair with a towel, staring into the mirror. She never liked using the hairdryer. Lifting the tips of her black hair, she noted the silver strands gleaming faintly. At the roots, a blue shimmer revealed itself. She sighed and made a mental note to dye it tomorrow.
Dressed quickly, she went downstairs, certain dinner would be waiting.
"Good evening, Dad," she greeted as she entered the living room.
Darius turned from the football match on TV, confusion flickering on his face.
"Good evening, dear. Did something happen today? You came back earlier than usual."
Nystrix hesitated, then decided to tell him. She walked to the sofa and sat.
"Dad, I met someone in the forest today."
His eyes hardened instantly. "Who?"
"I don't actually know him, but he knew I was a hybrid." She paused, watching his expression—a mix of shock and fear. "He wasn't human. He was a vampire. I think he's behind the recent disappearances. I saw him drain someone's life right in front of me."
Darius's jaw tightened.
"You're not allowed to leave the house for the next two months," he said firmly.
Nystrix expected this. She hated it.
"Dad, locking me away isn't going to help. I need to face them. I need to find my people. I need to know—"
"Never," Darius cut her off, voice sharp. "Not while I'm alive."
"Dad," she shot back, eyes burning with resolve, "you can't keep me caged. I wasn't born to hide. I was born as hope—my parents' hope—for revenge."
His eyes darkened, fists clenching.
"Your mother asked me to protect you..."
"Not cage me. Dad, I need to stop hiding. Trust me—I won't die so easily."
Her words struck him. Though she wasn't his blood, Nystrix was all he had. From the moment he'd found her—a fragile child with bright, tear-filled blue eyes—she had lit up his world. He wanted to keep her safe, but she was right. He couldn't cage her.
After a long silence, Darius finally softened. He placed his hand over hers.
"Alright. But promise me you'll be careful."
Nystrix smiled and hugged him. He hugged her back.
"I will."
"Good. Go eat dinner. Just heat it up, okay?"
"Yes, sir!" She stood at attention, giving a mock salute before marching to the kitchen.
Darius chuckled quietly.
Three weeks passed. No sign of the silver-haired vampire returned—only the grim news of Mary Slater's death, a woman Nystrix suspected was his victim.
At work, she had just finished serving a customer when her manager called her.
"Nystrix, an old friend of yours is here."
Frowning, she stepped away from her post while another girl took over. Old friend? Who the hell could that be? she thought. Maybe a prank.
But the moment she entered the office, her blood ran cold. That long silver hair, half-tied in a bun, froze her in place.
He turned. Nystrix spun to leave, but her manager's voice stopped her.
"Miss Nystrix!"
She cursed under her breath. The vampire heard it, of course. His lips curled slightly and told the manager,
"She's surprised—and angry—to see me."
"Miss Nystrix, don't turn your back," her manager scolded. "You can be angry, but not disrespectful."
Reluctantly, she turned back, forcing a polite smile for her manager, though her gaze at the vampire was ice-cold.
He only smiled.
"Could you excuse us?" he asked the manager.
"Of course, Mr. Veyron."
Nystrix's eyes widened. What a fool. He just sold me to the devil
"Close the door, Nystrix. You wouldn't want anyone finding out…"
She slammed it shut harder than intended. The manager frowned at the noise but shrugged it off.
Nystrix walked up to him, heart pounding.
"Could you leave?"
"I left the Vampire Realm just to meet you, and you ask me to leave? No, baby. That's not how it's done."
Her fists clenched. This vampire is going to be a tough nut to crack.
L
"How old are you?" he asked.
What a strange man.
Instead of answering, she shot back, "What's your name?"
"Luthien Veyron."
The name fit him perfectly.
"I'm twenty this year," she said.
"Good," he replied with a smile. "You're coming with me."
"Of course not." Nystrix rolled her eyes.
"You are."
"No."
His eyes gleamed. "I wonder what your manager would say if he knew about the silver in your hair, the blue roots… and your true identity."
He made a move toward the door. Nystrix blocked him instantly.
"No."
"Are you going to follow me?"
"Can I at least see my dad?"
"Is that a yes?"
She nodded reluctantly.
A smile curved his lips.
"No."
Her gaze dropped. Hands clenched.