The basement of the Cullen house was a stark contrast to the elegant upstairs—cold concrete walls, dim fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, and the faint metallic tang of blood from past hunts. The vampire hunter, bound to a chair with chains that could hold a raging werewolf, glared at us with eyes like chipped flint. His name was Elias Thorne, or so he'd spat during the initial questioning. A member of the Eclipse Wardens, an ancient order I'd never heard of in the Twilight books. That meant my reincarnation had already rippled the canon, introducing elements from the expanded supernatural world I'd planned for my story.
Carlisle stood before him, arms crossed, his compassionate demeanor cracking under the threat to his family. "Why target Michael? He's just a child."
Elias laughed, a raspy sound that echoed off the walls. "Just a child? I've hunted your kind for centuries. But that boy... his aura reeks of the void. Witches whispered of a 'shadowborn' hybrid, a harbinger that could upset the balance. The Wardens won't let that happen."
Edward, leaning against the wall, delved deeper into Elias's mind. "He's telling the truth. The Wardens are a coalition—hunters, rogue witches, even some banshees. They enforce a code: No supernatural should dominate others. Michael's birth was foreseen in some prophecy."
Prophecy? I lay in Bella's arms, pretending to doze, but my mind raced. This was perfect fodder for my webnovel arc—early mysteries to hook readers. But in reality, it terrified me. If the Void was part of a larger lore, what else lurked out there?
The whispers returned, softer this time, like silk brushing my thoughts: *Knowledge is essence. Probe deeper.*
Was this another prompt? The hybrid system nudging me toward action? I focused, willing a shadow to creep from under the chair, invisible in the low light. It slithered up Elias's leg, tendrils delving into his skin—not harming, but siphoning. Flashes came to me: Images of a hidden Warden stronghold in the Cascade Mountains, rituals with glowing runes, a coven of witches divining my location through crystal orbs.
Elias jerked, eyes widening. "What... get out of my head!"
Jasper stepped forward, amplifying fear to loosen his tongue. "Tell us more. Who leads the Wardens?"
"A witch named Elara Voss," Elias gasped, sweat beading on his forehead. "She's old, powerful. Sees the future in shadows—ironic, considering your boy's gift. She wants him alive, to study or... harness."
Harness? The word sent a chill through me. No way was I becoming someone's lab rat. The shadow tendril retracted, and with it came a surge—a fragment absorbed, not from defeat, but from insight.
*Essence gleaned. Insight Branch unlocked: Shadow Probe—extract memories from touched targets.*
A upgrade! Subtle, organic, but with a system-like clarity. The Whispering Void was evolving, rewarding clever use over brute force. I felt stronger, the shadows in the room responding more fluidly to my will.
Upstairs, after Elias was... dealt with (humanely, per Carlisle's insistence—drugged and memory-wiped, then dumped far away), the family convened. The living room felt smaller with everyone present: The Cullens, Jacob lounging on the couch in human form, and even Seth from the pack, munching on pizza.
Alice paced, her visions flickering. "I see fragments—hunters gathering, but it's blurry. Michael's presence is disrupting my sight, like a shadow over the future."
"That's because his gift is unique," Edward said, glancing at me. I'd "woken" now, sitting on Bella's lap, playing with a toy to maintain the innocent facade. But he knew—his mind-reading caught glimpses of my adult thoughts, though I shielded them with mental noise, imagining static or nursery rhymes.
Renesmee, perched beside me, touched my hand, projecting an image: Me, older, commanding darkness like a superhero. She grinned. "Brother's special!"
Esme smiled warmly. "We need to protect him. Train him, perhaps."
Jacob snorted. "Train a baby? Good luck. But yeah, if these Wardens are real, we can't just sit here."
The discussion turned to strategy—fortifying the house, reaching out to old allies like the Denali coven. But I tuned out, focusing inward. The Void whispered again: *Allies beckon. Seek the witch's echo.*
An echo? Vague, but intriguing. Maybe a side quest. As night fell, I feigned sleep, waiting for the house to quiet. Bella carried me to the nursery, tucking me in with a kiss. "Sweet dreams, Michael."
Once alone, I slipped from the crib—my hybrid body already nimble, like a toddler on steroids. Shadows cushioned my steps, muffling sound. I crept to the window, peering into the forest. Moonlight filtered through trees, casting long silhouettes.
There— a figure in the treeline, cloaked, with a faint glow of magic. Not a hunter; this felt different. Welcoming, almost.
The whisper urged: *Approach. Absorb the lesson.*
Heart pounding, I willed a shadow portal—wait, no, too advanced. Basic tendrils would do. I extended one out the window, coiling around a branch, pulling myself silently into the night. Adrenaline surged; this was reckless, but necessary for growth.
The figure waited, hood lowered to reveal a young woman, maybe 20, with raven hair and eyes like storm clouds. A witch, judging by the runes tattooed on her hands.
"You're the shadowborn," she said, voice low. "I'm Lila Voss—Elara's daughter. But I'm not here to harm you."
Voss? Related to the Warden leader? Trap or opportunity?
She held up a hand, a swirl of dark energy mirroring my shadows. "Mother sees you as a threat. I see potential. An alliance against greater evils—celestials stirring in the stars, banshees wailing omens."
The Void reacted: *Echo found. Weave the bond?*
A choice prompt! Hybrid elements shining—organic meeting, system decision. If I bonded, perhaps a power synergy. But trust her?
Before I could decide, rustling in the bushes. Jacob's wolf form burst forth, growling, the pack alerted by my absence.
Lila's eyes widened. "Wait—"
Shadows flared instinctively, shielding me. Jacob lunged, but she vanished in a puff of mist, leaving a pendant on the ground—a black crystal pulsing with energy.
The family swarmed, Edward scooping me up. "What were you thinking?"
I couldn't answer aloud yet—hybrid or not, speech came slow. But in my mind, I projected to Renesmee: *Friend?*
She relayed it, confusion rippling through the group.
Back inside, Carlisle examined the pendant. "It's a conduit. Witch magic, tied to shadows."
As I touched it, essence flowed: *Bond initiated. Witch Synergy: Shadow Infusion—enhance spells with darkness. Fragment +1.*
Another upgrade! The Void was rewarding risks, building my arsenal early.
But the whispers darkened: *Betrayal looms. The Wardens march.*
Outside, in the distance, torches flickered—hunters approaching, faster than expected.
The real fight was coming.