Chapter Four — The Gathering Storm
The air in Blackville grew heavier with each passing night, as if the town itself sensed the shift beneath its surface. Clouds rolled in low, swallowing the moon, and the whispering winds through the trees carried something more than the rustle of leaves—they carried warning.
Adrian stood in front of his bedroom mirror, staring at his reflection but thinking of her. *Selene.* The way she had moved in the woods, the way she had spoken his real name as if it had never left her tongue—it unsettled him. That night replayed over and over in his head, like a puzzle missing its final piece.
"Adrian," Ethan called from the doorway. "You're doing that thing again."
"What thing?"
"Staring at nothing like the world's ending," Ethan said, stepping into the room. "You've been different since we got here. You're not telling me everything."
Adrian hesitated. "Would you believe me if I said something attacked me in the woods again?"
Ethan crossed his arms. "After what I saw outside, yeah. I'd believe it."
The brothers shared a silent moment of unease. There were too many coincidences—strange figures, whispers, glowing eyes. Something was unraveling around them, and neither fully understood it yet.
---
At the same time, deep beneath Blackville, in a hidden network of catacombs carved centuries ago, a gathering was taking place. Vampires from different tribes filled the stone chamber, each carrying the scent and aura of their lineage. Some tribes were known for their speed, others for heightened senses or manipulation of shadows. At the far end sat the Royal Council, cloaked in midnight silk.
Selene entered gracefully, the murmurs fading as she stepped forward. Her presence commanded silence. As a royal, born of pure blood, her place at the center was unquestioned.
A tall figure rose from the Council's circle—Lord Draven, an elder vampire with skin pale as bone and eyes like burning coals. "He has returned," Draven said. His voice echoed through the chamber. "The boy with the blood that was lost to time."
Selene kept her face composed. "Adrian," she confirmed. "He's alive. And his blood hasn't changed."
The crowd stirred. Some whispered in awe, others in fear.
Another council member, Lady Viera, narrowed her eyes. "If his bloodline awakens fully, the balance between tribes will be shattered. Do you understand the gravity of this, Selene?"
"Yes," she replied calmly. "Which is why he must be protected. There are those who will try to claim him."
Draven leaned forward. "And what of your attachment to him? Childhood bonds have a way of blinding even the most disciplined minds."
Selene met his gaze without flinching. "I serve the Royal Court first. But I won't let them touch him."
The Council exchanged knowing glances. Her loyalty was unquestioned—but her heart was becoming a variable they couldn't control.
---
The next day brought a rare moment of sunlight, though the atmosphere remained tense. Adrian arrived at school to find a strange stillness hanging over the campus. Groups huddled together in whispers, eyes flicking toward him when they thought he wasn't looking.
Marcus approached again, this time without his usual swagger. "Word spreads fast," he muttered. "Some tribes know who you are now. If I were you, I'd keep your distance from the woods at night."
Adrian narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
Marcus leaned closer. "Because not everyone plays by Selene's rules."
Before Adrian could respond, Selene appeared at his side, her usual serene expression firmly in place. "Walk with me," she said, not as a request but as a quiet command.
They walked down a quiet path behind the school. Adrian kept stealing glances at her. She moved with such confidence, as if every step had been practiced for centuries.
"Why did you use my real name?" he finally asked.
She stopped, facing him. "Because that's who you are, Adrian. Not Shadow. Not the mask you've been wearing. I knew you before you built your walls."
His heartbeat quickened. "We knew each other?"
She nodded slowly. "We were children. Before your family left Blackville. I remembered you the moment I sensed your blood. It hasn't changed."
Her honesty disarmed him. There was no hesitation in her voice.
Before he could ask more, a gust of cold wind swept through the trees. Selene stiffened, her eyes flashing briefly. She grabbed his arm. "We need to move. Now."
---
They slipped into the forest edge. Adrian didn't understand why until he saw them—three figures standing among the trees, their eyes glowing faintly. They weren't Royal Tribe. Their posture, their scent—it was different. Wilder.
"Nomads," Selene muttered.
The leader, a tall woman with snow-white hair and a scar across her cheek, stepped forward. "Royal princess," she hissed. "You're far from your throne."
Selene positioned herself slightly in front of Adrian. "He's under my protection."
The woman smiled, showing sharp fangs. "Then you're protecting a prize you can't keep."
Without warning, the nomads lunged. Selene moved like lightning, intercepting two at once. Adrian stumbled back, his mind racing. She fought with a blend of elegance and brutality, each movement precise. But the leader broke through, heading straight for him.
Before she could reach him, Ethan appeared from the trail—he'd followed them. He swung a fallen branch with surprising force, hitting the nomad across the back. It wasn't much, but it distracted her long enough for Selene to pin her to the ground.
"This is Royal territory," Selene hissed. "Leave, or I'll make you regret stepping here."
The nomads melted back into the forest with snarls, their leader throwing Adrian one last hungry look before disappearing into the mist.
---
Breathing hard, Adrian stared at Selene. "What are they?"
"Hunters," she answered. "Not of animals. Of power. And now that they know who you are, they won't stop."
Ethan looked between them, confused. "Adrian, what's g
oing on?"
Adrian didn't have an answer. But deep down, he knew: this was only the beginning.