Chapter 45

Shadowblood

In a distant corner of the cafeteria, at a lonely table, sat Ethan. The low hum of conversations and the occasional clatter of trays seemed to fade into the background, drowned out by the storm brewing inside him. His eyes, darkened by barely restrained fury, stayed locked on the scene before him: Alex and Thomas joining Raphael, the three of them laughing, joking, and teasing each other like they hadn’t a care in the world. The sight was a jagged blade twisting in his chest. Why couldn’t he be just as bold? The question burned in his mind, looping over and over like a cruel taunt. Why couldn’t he push himself to make a move on Raphael, to claim even a fraction of the light and warmth that surrounded him? Was it because he cared too much—felt too much—and that intensity, instead of fueling courage, had left him paralyzed? Now all he could do was sit there, watching helplessly as others got in his way, stealing the chance to make his desires come true. The ache in his chest was sharp, almost physical, a knot of frustration and helpless longing that only tightened the longer he sat there, pretending to sip his drink, pretending he didn’t care.

At some point, someone sat down at his table, breaking the fragile bubble of his dark thoughts. The scent hit him first—sharp, ancient, a lingering trace of iron beneath the casual facade. A vampire. Ethan’s body tensed instinctively, a low growl rising in his throat, unbidden.
— What do you want here? — he growled, his voice a low, rough rasp that vibrated with tension.

The stranger leaned back in his chair, unfazed, a lazy grin spreading across his face.
— Chill out, I’m not looking for trouble. I don’t want my beautiful face to look like the surface of this table — the other replied with a smirk, his tone light but edged with a subtle, knowing challenge.

Only then did Ethan glance down and realize his nails had lengthened into sharp claws, digging deep, ragged grooves into the wood. The sight startled him for a split second, a brief flash of alarm cutting through the haze of anger, but it did nothing to ease the heat simmering under his skin.

— Looks like something really pissed you off. What, another pack snatched something from right under your nose? — the stranger teased, his voice laced with mockery, his eyes gleaming with amusement that seemed to fan the flames in Ethan’s chest.

Ethan’s jaw clenched so tight it ached, his voice dropping to a dangerous, guttural whisper.
— Careful… you’re walking a thin line — he warned, narrowing his eyes, a flicker of heat pulsing behind them like a barely banked fire.

The stranger shrugged, entirely too casual, as if he relished dancing so close to the edge.
— Hey, you seem like a cool guy. If that rookie can’t appreciate it, that’s his loss. Clearly, he’s not worth you. Alright, I can see you’re not in the mood to talk, but if you ever need anything, just hit me up — name’s Cain.

Ethan could feel his blood boiling more with every word Cain spoke, each syllable stoking the inferno burning beneath his ribs. Dark emotions swelled in his chest, heavy and thick, wrapping around him like a suffocating fog. They pressed in, flooding his senses, narrowing his focus until it felt like the whole world had shrunk down to this table, this moment, this gnawing, relentless hunger for something he couldn’t even name. Maybe it was for the best that the stranger walked away… because Ethan wasn’t sure how this might have ended otherwise. A flicker of something dangerous—something he wasn’t ready to face—twisted in his gut. But the anger didn’t fade. It stayed, a constant, pulsing drumbeat beneath his skin, clawing for release. And since he had no other target, no other outlet, it started to focus—sharp, burning, searing—on Raphael.

Meanwhile, Cain, pleased with himself, sauntered off toward the Starlit Glade, his steps measured and unhurried, like a cat stalking its next opportunity. His task was done—now it was time to report back. The air grew colder as he neared the edge of the Land of Night, where whispers of shadow and the faint glimmer of starlight danced together in a haunting, otherworldly glow. The Starlit Glade stood quiet, yet buzzing with the unseen hum of hidden power. At the border, shrouded in mist and silence, was a passage to the vampire world—Erebos. Like all other passages, it pulsed faintly with the subtle force of the barrier filter, a veil that shimmered and warped around it. But Cain wasn’t worried. The family who had sent him were no amateurs; they were skilled players, cunning strategists who knew exactly how to shape their intentions, which operatives to select for which tasks, so that the filter’s web wouldn’t catch them.

Cain wasn’t doing anything wrong—his tasks were clear, precise: deliver the history and mission of the Shadowblood family to Kael. And the second task? Well… the classic game of toying with people’s hearts, playing on their weaknesses, stirring the pot. Even if Cain himself had long outgrown the age where it could be called “youthful mischief,” he still knew the rules—and the stakes.

After crossing into Erebos, Cain walked with the confident air of someone who had done this many times before, his footsteps steady and sure as he made his way to the headquarters of his clan’s Elders. The halls of the Shadowblood’s stronghold were dimly lit, lined with heavy stone columns and veiled in the scent of old blood and ancient power. The air crackled with a quiet, expectant tension, as if the walls themselves were listening. Cain approached the Elders’ chamber, his posture relaxed, but his mind sharp, alert, ready to give his report.

— Welcome back, Cain. I see you’ve returned from Amaltea. Did you deliver the information to Kael? — one of them asked, his voice deep, calm, yet weighted with authority that seemed to press into the very air.

— Yes, though I must say, he wasn’t too pleased. He’s seriously wrapped up in Amaltea’s matters. He truly believes in the values it represents, body and soul. I think he sees himself as some kind of guardian of order, balance, and harmony — Cain answered, his tone edged with dry amusement, though there was a flicker of something darker in his gaze, something cold and calculating.

— Well, sooner or later, he’ll have to choose. As for us, we don’t exactly see eye to eye with balance. Our family, Shadowblood, is one of the oldest in Erebos. I think it’s high time we earned proper treatment and respect. And there’s no better way to do that than by giving vampires what they’ve long desired — the ability to travel between worlds, collect new artifacts, gather new slaves… and indulge in new flavours that our world no longer offers. We’ve been stuck for too long, feeding on livestock or bred humans. The result? They all taste nearly the same. And even if there was a chance to taste something rare — like the blood of a child — we’ve got those ridiculous laws that forbid us from doing it. Honestly, we’re slowly suffocating in this world. It’s time for that to change.

The words hung in the air like smoke, dark and heavy, curling through the chamber like an unspoken vow.

— You’re right. No other family has the guts to say it out loud, let alone do anything about it — Cain agreed, his voice low, the shadow of a smirk playing on his lips, though a spark of pride flickered behind his eyes.

— I’m hearing rumours that something’s stirring in Amaltea — the balance is shifting, and as a result, the barrier is weakening. Do you know anything about that?

— Yeah, I’ve managed to hear different whispers — some more reliable than others — about strange signals and phenomena that have never happened before. It seems like something bad — or rather, something good for us — is happening in Amaltea. More and more often, an uninvited entity manages to slip through the barrier, and the patrols have their hands full — Cain said, his voice smooth, casual, but edged with the weight of secrets.

— Good. We need to stay vigilant. We don’t know exactly what’s causing these disturbances. Maybe it’ll all work out in our favour, but we have to be ready, because whatever is causing these events could also be a threat to us. Remember, our prophecies say that during a time like this, a powerful being may emerge — someone who will decide the fate of Amaltea and the entire universe. Unfortunately, we don’t know where, what, or who to look for. But once we find out who or what that entity is, we must do everything in our power to bring it over to our side. That way, we’ll be able to change the fate of the universe according to our plan and our needs.

— Understood. What are my next orders? — Cain asked, his voice calm, steady, the glint in his eyes sharp and focused like a blade waiting to be drawn.

— You’ll return to Amaltea. Keep working on Kael. He’s powerful, and let’s be honest — he’s one of us. It’d be good to have him on our side. Also, continue to stir up trouble. The more chaos, the more negative emotions, the easier it is to disrupt the balance. And try to get close to strong beings — those with exceptional powers. They could become valuable assets in the future.

— Got it. I’ll do as you wish — Cain replied, a faint, calculating smile flickering at the corner of his lips as he turned, the shadows of the chamber swallowing him whole.

Kael was sitting in his room, hunched over papers. The soft rustle of parchment and the quiet scratch of pen against paper filled the otherwise still air, a rhythm that had long since blurred into background noise. His shoulders were tense, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him, each report like another stone added to an already heavy burden. The dim light from a lamp on the desk cast long shadows across his face, deepening the lines of concentration and exhaustion. At some point, he heard a quiet knock—gentle, hesitant, as if the person on the other side was unsure whether to disturb him.
— Come in — he replied, his voice low, with a hint of weariness.

Elara appeared in the doorway, her posture slightly uncertain but her gaze steady.
— Hi. Am I not disturbing you? Can I take a moment of your time?

Her voice was soft, careful, as though she sensed the tension clinging to the air like static.

— No worries, come in. I think a little break from these papers will do me good anyway.

Kael leaned back in his chair with a quiet sigh, rubbing his eyes briefly as if trying to banish the fatigue. His voice carried a trace of dry humor, but the edge of strain was hard to miss.

— The number of reports, Headmaster Alexander asked me to go through, keeps growing — so many new incident reports, strange events…

He shook his head slightly, a tired grimace tugging at the corners of his mouth.

— And on top of that, the number of conflicts among the students has been rising alarmingly.

His tone darkened just a shade, frustration bleeding through the carefully composed exterior.

— I agreed to help, but I start to wish I didn’t.

A wry, self-deprecating smile ghosted across his face, gone almost as soon as it appeared.

— Well, I really don’t envy you…

Elara’s voice was gentle, touched with a faint note of sympathy. Her eyes lingered on Kael, concern flickering in their depths.

— As a prefect, I’ve noticed myself that the atmosphere in the school seems to have shifted a bit.

Her words trailed off slightly, as if the thought hung heavier in the air than she’d intended. Then, after a small pause, her tone shifted, more hesitant, tinged with something like worry.

— But that’s not why I’m here. I wanted to ask… have you talked to Raphael lately?

Her question seemed to hover between them, charged with unspoken concern. She shifted her weight subtly, a nervous flick of her fingers brushing the hem of her sleeve.

— It just so happens that I haven’t run into him at all recently.

Her voice softened, a thread of vulnerability woven into her words.

— In fact, I get the feeling he’s avoiding me — Elara said, clearly concerned, her brows knitting together, a quiet frown creasing her features.

— Honestly, I don’t know what to tell you.

Kael’s voice was low, his expression shadowed by the weight of his own thoughts.

— I get the same impression.

His gaze drifted, unfocused for a moment, as if replaying half-formed memories behind his eyes.

— I mean, I did see him recently, and we even managed to spend some time together, but…

Kael’s words slowed, the pause heavy with meaning, a faint crease appearing between his brows.

— He wasn’t really open to any deeper conversations.

There was a flicker of frustration there, but also a muted sense of helplessness, an echo of disappointment Kael didn’t voice.

— And I’m not sure if it’s that he’s avoiding them, or if he’s just too caught up in exploring school life, getting into new classes, meeting new people…

Kael’s tone shifted slightly, as if the idea left a bitter taste in his mouth.

— And there seems to be no shortage of those around him — Kael added with a touch of sarcasm.

A brief silence stretched between them, tense but not unfriendly, before he continued, his voice softer, almost reluctant.

— As for that conversation we had… so far, he hasn’t brought it up again.

He fell silent for a moment, then let out a quiet sigh, a slow exhale that seemed to carry more weight than just the breath itself.

— On the other hand… we should try to understand him.

His voice grew quieter, the words more thoughtful, as if he was thinking aloud rather than speaking directly to Elara.

— After all, he’s only been here a short while, and in that time, his whole life has been turned upside down.

Kael’s gaze seemed to drift somewhere far away, as if he was seeing not just Raphael’s life but the ripples it sent through all of theirs.

— So many things have happened… really incredible things, and very often, he’s found himself at the center of it all.

His tone was soft now, touched with something close to awe, but also a quiet undercurrent of concern.

— That can be overwhelming.

The words lingered in the air like a quiet truth, unspoken but deeply felt.

— Maybe he just needs some time to process it all on his own.

Kael’s voice was calm, almost resigned, yet there was a trace of hope woven into the thought.

— All we can do is be there for him. Be attentive to any signals that he really needs our support… even if he doesn’t say it out loud.

Elara nodded in understanding, her expression softening, though a shadow of worry still lingered in her eyes.

— Actually, it’s good you’re here — Kael changed the subject, his voice taking on a slightly different tone, as if shifting gears but still carrying the weight of what had been said.

— I wanted to apologize to you.

He let out a deep sigh, his shoulders tensing as if bracing himself for what he was about to say. His voice carried a tension that made it clear this wasn’t easy for him, the words scraping out as if they’d been waiting too long.

— I recently had a rather… interesting, though not exactly pleasant, conversation with my cousin.

His fingers tapped lightly against the table, a restless gesture that betrayed the storm beneath his composed exterior.

— And it turns out… the suspicions and accusations you once made against me…

Kael’s voice dipped lower, a shadow of regret flickering in his gaze.

— Kael, we agreed not to bring that up again — she interrupted him quickly, raising her hand as if to stop him, her tone firm but gentle, an old wound surfacing.

— Wait, let me finish — he said in a firm tone, his voice more decisive than usual, the sharp edge in his words signaling he wasn’t willing to let it drop this time.

— Those accusations… weren’t completely unfounded.

The weight of the admission seemed to settle over him, a heavy cloak he couldn’t shake off.

He looked at her with a heavy expression on his face, his eyes dark, almost haunted.

— Even though I personally didn’t do any of the things you accused me of, and I didn’t take part in any of that…

His voice was quiet now, but steady, the honesty in his words cutting through the air like a blade.

— My family was definitely involved. Or rather… deeply involved.

The admission felt raw, the words scraping out like an old wound reopened.

— Unfortunately, back then, I had no knowledge of it, so I couldn’t possibly have done anything about it.

His voice trembled slightly, the frustration and pain barely contained, his hands clenched into fists on the desk.

— And that’s why your accusations hit me so hard.

There was a crack in his voice, subtle but undeniable, a fracture in the mask he wore so carefully.

— I can only hope you can imagine how much of a blow it was for me now… to find out that most of it is true.

The weight of those words hung heavy in the air, a bitter truth laid bare.

— Oh, Kael… I’m so sorry. Honestly… I really wish I hadn’t been right back then — Elara said softly, her voice warm with empathy, yet tinged with regret, her gaze soft and searching.

— But… if that’s how the situation looks, what are you going to do about it?

Her question was quiet but direct, laced with both worry and a flicker of cautious hope.

Kael sank into the chair, rubbing his tired eyes, a slow, weary motion that seemed to echo the weight of the past few days pressing down on him.

— Honestly… I don’t know yet.

His voice was hoarse, the admission heavy.

— It’s all very fresh.

He let out a long breath, the air shaking slightly as it left him.

— Cain only recently told me most of this.

A shadow of tension crossed his face, the words tight and clipped.

— I need to analyse it calmly, sort it out in my head, and figure out what the actual consequences are — not just for me, for how I function here, but also for everyone else.

He looked up, locking eyes with Elara, the intensity in his gaze like a silent vow.

— One thing’s for sure: I’m not going to support the twisted ambitions and dangerous goals of those lunatics in my family. That I can promise you.

His voice was steady now, a quiet but unyielding resolve settling into his features.

— Well, you really have a lot on your plate now… and I come here, bothering you with Raphael’s situation…

Elara’s voice was gentle, almost apologetic, her words tinged with a flicker of guilt.

— Unfortunately — Kael shook his head with a heavy sigh, his shoulders sagging as if under an invisible weight — I’m afraid these matters might be connected.

His voice was low, somber, the thought heavy on his mind.

— If he really is the one mentioned in the ancient texts from our world… the one who was supposed to appear during a time of imbalance… then we have to protect him.

Kael’s voice grew more intense, the words carrying a quiet urgency, the tension in the air thickening.

— We have to make sure he has the space to grow, to strengthen his moral compass… and we have to ensure that when the time comes, he’s able to make the right decision, according to his own conscience.

A hint of worry crept into his tone, barely veiled, a quiet plea beneath the conviction.

— We can’t allow anyone to poison his mind and plant darkness within him. If that happens… we’re doomed.

The final words hung like a quiet echo, sharp and chilling in their simplicity.

— And not just us — Elara added quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, but the weight of the truth in her words was unmistakable.

— Unfortunately — Kael continued, his voice calm, but with an edge of unease in it, the air taut with unspoken fears — even if he’s not that unique being who was supposed to appear… even so, because of his abilities, his strength, and his growing powers, we have to make sure he doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

His voice sharpened slightly, a quiet warning threaded through the steady cadence of his words.

— That he doesn’t end up under the influence of the wrong people.

— I completely agree with you — Elara nodded, her tone firm, conviction shining through the concern in her eyes.