Adrian’s Discovery
The vial of blood sat on Adrian’s desk, a beacon of unanswered questions. The liquid gleamed faintly in the flickering candlelight, its metallic tang faint but unusual. Adrian’s sharp crimson eyes studied it with an intensity that bordered on obsession.
He had spent nights gathering clues, observing Lyra and Eryon. Their avoidance of rituals, their precise but overly cautious movements, the energy they carried—it all pointed to something not quite right. And now, this vial might hold the answers.
Adrian uncorked the vial and carefully transferred a drop onto a thin, enchanted sheet meant to analyze blood properties. The sheet shimmered, colors shifting and swirling as it absorbed the drop. But instead of settling into the predictable crimson glow of vampire blood, the sheet flickered erratically before turning a deep silver.
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell are you?” he murmured, his voice low but edged with frustration.
The sheet gave no more answers, and Adrian leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. Vampire blood did not behave like this. But the implications of what it could mean were almost unthinkable.
***
Later that day, Adrian’s suspicions grew as he watched Eryon spar with another competitor. Eryon moved with a precision that seemed almost too practiced, too restrained. The frustration on his opponent’s face mirrored Adrian’s own growing unease.
“Why hold back?” Adrian whispered to himself. “What are you hiding?”
His thoughts were interrupted when he crossed paths with Lyra after training. She was alone, her silver eyes glinting with a mixture of determination and weariness.
“Lyra,” Adrian called, his voice carrying through the empty corridor.
Lyra turned to face him, her wolf stirring uneasily at the sight of him. “What do you want?” she asked, her tone guarded.
Adrian approached slowly, his gaze locking onto hers. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
“I’ve been busy,” Lyra replied curtly.
Adrian’s lips curved into a faint smile, but his eyes remained sharp. “Busy hiding something, perhaps?”
Lyra stiffened, her heartbeat quickening. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re not like the others,” Adrian said, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “And it’s not just me who’s noticed. Misery’s watching you, the King has noticed you… I’ve noticed you.”
Lyra’s breath hitched, but she forced herself to keep her expression neutral. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Adrian stepped closer, his tone soft but edged with something dangerous. “If you’re lying to me, Lyra… it won’t matter how much I care about you.”
His words hung in the air, heavy and raw. Lyra’s wolf growled faintly beneath her skin, sensing the threat in his tone but also the turmoil behind his words.
Adrian’s voice softened, almost breaking. “I’ll do what I have to.”
