Bloodlines in the Dark
Blackville's nights were colder than Shadow remembered. Mist rolled in like a living thing, crawling through the streets, swallowing the edges of buildings and muffling distant sounds. The town transformed after sunset—what was familiar in daylight became foreign and uneasy in darkness.
Shadow sat on the porch steps of their new house, staring out toward the tree line. The memory of that night in the woods refused to leave him. He replayed Selene's impossible speed, the flash of fangs, the creature's hiss. None of it made sense, but every instinct screamed it had been real.
Ethan joined him quietly, handing him a warm cup of tea. "You've been zoning out a lot lately," Ethan said. "Is this about school, or… something else?"
Shadow hesitated. "I saw something, Ethan. Near the woods. Something that attacked me. And Selene—she… she moved like no human could. She saved me."
Ethan's expression sharpened. "The girl with the strange eyes?"
He nodded.
Ethan glanced at the forest. "I've been seeing figures at night. They never come close, but they're there. Watching. I think we walked back into something bigger than we realize."
A distant howl echoed from the woods, long and low. Both brothers fell silent.
The next day at school, Selene kept her distance. Shadow caught glimpses of her in the hallways, always surrounded by a quiet air of authority. Others seemed to part instinctively when she passed. But she never looked directly at him—until lunch.
He sat under a tree, staring absently at his untouched sandwich, when a familiar chill spread through the air. He looked up to find her standing there. Her amber eyes fixed on him, steady and unreadable.
"It's been a long time… Adrian," she said softly.
The name hit him like a jolt. Hardly anyone used that name anymore. It was his real name, one only family and a few childhood friends knew. He hadn't heard it spoken like that in years.
His brow furrowed. "How do you—"
Before he could finish, footsteps approached.
A tall student stepped forward—Marcus. "New guy," he said, crossing his arms. "You've been getting a lot of attention lately. You might want to keep your head down."
Shadow frowned. "Is that a threat?"
Marcus smiled without warmth. "A warning."
Before things could escalate, Selene's presence cut through the tension like a blade. "Marcus," she said evenly, "you have better things to do than provoke someone who doesn't understand the rules."
Marcus's eyes flickered crimson for a split second before he backed away. "As you wish, Princess," he muttered, then left.
Shadow stared after him. "Princess?" he echoed.
Selene sighed softly. "You ask too many questions for someone who's barely scratched the surface of this place." She turned to leave.
"Wait," he said, his voice firmer now. "How did you know my name?"
She paused for a heartbeat, her back still turned to him. "Some names," she said quietly, "are never forgotten." Then she walked away.
Selene's POV
The sound of his name on her tongue had felt strange after all these years—Adrian. She had used it deliberately, wanting to see if it stirred his memory. His confusion confirmed it: he didn't remember her. Not yet.
Every step she took away from him felt heavier. Shadow's scent lingered in the air, stirring memories of moonlit nights when they were children. She had been raised in the Royal Court, trained to lead, to hide her emotions behind a mask of grace. But seeing him again cracked that mask.
The Council's whispers had begun. The Royal Tribe sensed something stirring—an ancient bloodline awakening. And it was inside him.
She tightened her grip on the silver pendant around her neck, a symbol of her royal lineage. Protecting him meant protecting more than just a human boy. It meant safeguarding a destiny that could reshape everything.
Back at home, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling they were being watched. As he stood near the kitchen window, his reflection merged with the darkness outside. Something moved between the trees—a pair of red eyes flashed briefly before vanishing.
He didn't tell Shadow. Not yet.
Night fell again, and Shadow found himself wandering near the forest's edge, drawn by something he couldn't explain. He heard whispers—a language he didn't know yet somehow understood. His pulse quickened as he stepped closer.
Branches rustled. A figure emerged, cloaked and pale, eyes burning faintly. Not Selene. This one was different—older, colder.
"Found you," the figure hissed.
Before Shadow could react, the stranger lunged—but a blur of movement intercepted him. Selene. Her eyes glowed brighter than before, and this time Shadow saw it clearly: her fangs bared, her power unleashed.
The stranger growled, "Royal blood meddling where it doesn't belong."
"Leave him," she commanded. Her voice carried the weight of authority.
The stranger retreated into the darkness with a hiss.
Shadow stumbled back. "What are you?" he whispered.
Selene looked at him, her expression softening despite everything. "
The real question, Shadow, is—what are you?"