Emily stormed out of the VIP lounge, heart thudding with guilt. She hadn't come here for drama, yet somehow let herself be swayed by Julian again. All she wanted tonight was peace, some fun with Riley. Now, everything felt off.
Outside, the air was heavy and cool. Neon lights flickered against damp pavement, but something was missing.
Riley... and Sara.
Nowhere to be seen.
Her gut twisted with unease.
"Hey, pretty lady."
Emily turned.
A tall man with chestnut brown hair smirked at her, eyes scanning her body like a predator. His voice oozed arrogance.
"Why are you all alone?"
She tensed, turning to leave without a word. But he stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
"I'm talking to you," he sneered, gripping her wrist.
"Let me go," Emily snapped, struggling to pull away.
He tightened his grip.
She took a deep breath, heart pounding. Then, in one swift movement, she lifted her leg and struck him...hard...between his legs.
"Ahh!" The man groaned and stumbled back, releasing her.
Emily didn't wait. She ran, weaving through oblivious partiers too lost in music and alcohol to notice anything wrong.
She pulled out her phone, fingers trembling as she dialed Riley.
"Bitch!"
The word sliced through the air behind her.
She turned...he was coming again.
Panicked, Emily darted into the side alley, breath hitching in her throat. She tried to dial emergency services, but her hands shook too much.
Then she heard voices. Familiar ones.
Julian and Sara.
Frozen in place, Emily blinked as they stepped into view under the alley light. Julian looked surprised to see her. Sara? Smirking.
Before she could speak, the man chasing her caught up and seized her arm again.
Julian's face darkened.
In a flash, he crossed the distance. One brutal snap—and the man dropped dead.
Emily gasped, backing away.
Sara didn't say a word. She simply turned and walked off, her smirk lingering in the shadows.
Emily's eyes shifted to the body, then to Julian.
"So all these years... you've been pretending to be human," she whispered.
He didn't deny it. The corpse disappeared...Julian had gotten rid of it swiftly, almost too efficiently.
"Are you afraid of me now?" he asked, watching her carefully.
Emily shook her head slowly. "No... I've seen worse."
Julian exhaled. He figured she must've seen plenty since getting close to Ethan.
"How do you know Sara?" she asked next, warily.
"She's... my foster mother."
Emily blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected that.
If he was that close to Sara, then surely... "Do you know Ethan?"
Julian's expression tightened. Her voice softened when she said that name. He hated how her eyes changed...how her face warmed. Even now.
"Yes. I know him."
He paused... then added,
"He killed my parents."
Emily's breath hitched. Her hand flew to her mouth.
"He... what?"
Julian knew this was dangerous territory. He couldn't tell her everything...not yet. Not about who she really was. But he needed her on his side. And Emily was soft. Gullible, even.
"You don't know him like I do," Julian said bitterly.
"He's killed many people, Emily. So has his spiky brother."
She didn't respond at first. Her heart twisted painfully.
"Ethan wouldn't do that..." she whispered.
But even she wasn't fully sure anymore.
She had seen the darkness in him...how far he would go to protect her. But what about before she came into his life?
Was he a killer before her? Was she just different?
Julian watched her carefully.
⸻
Year 1880, Whirlandia
The small house smelled of fresh soap and firewood. A young blonde-haired boy ran hand-in-hand with his twin sister toward a woman standing outside with a bucket of laundry.
"Mama!" both children squealed.
Grace, their mother, smiled and bent to hug them tightly. Her long golden hair was tied in a braid, and her hands were still wet from rinsing clothes.
Julian and Mariam. The rare vampire twins...so rare it only occurred once every few centuries.
"Papa isn't home yet?" Mariam asked curiously.
"No, my love," Grace replied.
"He's working for the Lord of Whirlandia. There's a lot happening lately."
"I want to grow up and be like Papa," Mariam said proudly.
Julian grinned. "And I want to be like you, Mama."
Grace laughed. "No, Julian. You'll be greater than me. Just like your father. You must make me proud."
They entered the house, unaware that their world was about to change forever.
That evening, Grace stirred a pot over the fire. The savory aroma of stew filled the room while the twins played quietly nearby.
A knock sounded at the door.
She opened it...her heart lit up. "Austin."
Her husband stepped in, weary and dirt-covered from travel.
The children jumped into his arms. Mariam giggled, clinging to him.
"How was work?" Grace asked as she returned to her stew.
Austin collapsed onto the couch with a groan. "I don't know how long this will go on."
Grace sighed. "The war between vampires and humans has always been bloody. And now with the old lord dead, the two heirs rule. Lord Ryder might be cruel, but he keeps order. And his half-brother, Ethan... he's even more ruthless."
"They've kept peace for now," Austin muttered.
Grace stirred quietly. She didn't tell him what she had seen in her visions...or the blood she sensed coming for them.
The twins were still laughing. Innocent. Unaware.
But destiny doesn't care for innocence.