Mukul Kamra had always known life wasn't fair. At school, his classmates mocked him for being quiet, bookish, and—most cruelly—weak. At home, expectations weighed heavily on him, though his parents meant well. He kept his head down, tried not to get noticed, and dreamed of a life far from the endless ridicule.
That all changed the night of his seventeenth birthday.
It started as a whisper. A subtle hum under his skin, like electricity coursing through his veins. At first, he thought it was stress—too many exams, too much pressure. But when he touched the small, antique pendant his grandmother had given him years ago, the hum surged, and the world shifted.
Mukul gasped as his reflection in the mirror seemed… off. His eyes glimmered, faintly red, and shadows moved where there should be none. His heartbeat thundered—not from fear, but from a strange exhilaration. Something ancient, something powerful, had awakened within him.
"You… are ready," a voice murmured from the shadows. Startled, Mukul spun around, but the room was empty. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
The pendant pulsed with warmth, and suddenly, visions flashed through his mind—vampires with centuries of wisdom, hidden societies, and battles that shook the earth itself. Mukul realized the truth: he was no ordinary boy. He carried a vampire lineage older than most empires, a power both a blessing and a curse.
His first instinct was panic. Vampires were dangerous. Stories had painted them as monsters. But as the hum in his veins steadied, fear transformed into fascination. He felt strong. Alive. Invincible.
Before he could explore this newfound power, a soft knock echoed from his window. Mukul froze. The glass rippled, and three figures stepped through effortlessly, as though gravity and walls had no hold over them. Each was striking, ethereal, and undeniably dangerous in their beauty.
The first, with hair black as midnight, bowed slightly. "Mukul Kamra," she said, voice smooth as silk. "I am Seraphine. Your journey begins tonight."
The second, golden-haired and radiant, smiled warmly. "I am Lysandra. And I've waited centuries for the one who carries the hidden blood."
The third, with silver eyes that seemed to see straight into his soul, stepped closer. "And I am Elara. Do not fear, young master. You are not alone in this."
Mukul's mind raced. Three… vampires? Brides? Protectors? Teachers? He didn't know. All he knew was that his ordinary life had vanished in a heartbeat.
"Wait," he managed, voice shaking. "I… I don't understand. Why me?"
Seraphine's eyes softened, but her tone was firm. "Because you have the blood. The power dormant in your veins. The world will notice it soon, and many will come for it—some to aid you, some to destroy you. You must learn quickly, or everything you care about will be lost."
Lysandra stepped closer, offering her hand. "And that is why we are here. Together, we will guide you."
Elara, silent until now, simply nodded. Her gaze locked onto his, and a strange warmth spread through him—a sense of belonging he had never felt before.
Mukul took a deep breath. His life had been ordinary, predictable, and cruelly quiet. Now, it was extraordinary, dangerous, and thrilling. He didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain: he could no longer be the boy who hid in shadows.
For the first time in his life, Mukul Kamra felt alive.