Rain poured over Blackthorn Academy, drenching the courtyard in silver streaks. The skies had opened without warning, thunder crackling like the sound of judgment descending from the heavens. But the halls remained quiet—unnaturally so.
Because they all knew.
Cain Morgan was no longer just a rumor.He was a presence.A whisper in every ear.A hunger behind every stolen glance.
Cain sat in his room, eyes closed, feeling the storm rage outside. The lightning in the sky was nothing compared to the storm twisting within him. His Hunger had fallen to manageable levels. His control over the academy had grown roots. But now, the next craving inside him stirred—blood.
His transformation into a Lustborne Vampire had gifted him powers beyond seduction, but also a thirst that no touch or confession could satisfy.
He needed blood.Real blood.
Not from guilt. Not from arousal. But fear.
A knock at the door.
Cain didn't answer.
It opened anyway.
Lilith stepped in, dressed in a high-slit black dress, her glowing eyes casting faint crimson against the dark room. The moment her foot crossed the threshold, the scent of burning roses filled the air.
"You're reaching your limit," she said.
"I'm aware," Cain murmured.
"You've been feeding on emotions—pain, shame, lust—but your body is changing faster now. That part of you… the true vampire…" she stepped closer, "needs blood, Cain."
He met her gaze. "I won't drink from them."
"You'll have to eventually," Lilith whispered. "Even the willing ones. And when you do… you'll understand a deeper level of control."
Cain stood, walking toward the window.
The storm lit up his pale face.
"I'll find someone else," he said. "Someone who deserves it."
Lilith smirked. "How poetic."
Cain walked out of the dorm that night, barefoot, shirtless, a black jacket loose over his shoulders. Rain soaked him instantly, but he didn't care. His body was burning, craving. His teeth throbbed beneath his lips. His fingers twitched with tension.
And in the shadow of the fence, he found his answer.
Dorian Slate.
The ex-boyfriend of Serena Vale.
The one who had pinned Cain to a locker once and whispered, "You were born to kneel."
The one who once joined in…Laughing while Cain begged for them to stop.
Dorian stood with two other boys, laughing as they smoked. He didn't see Cain approach.
Not until he was too close.
"Got a light?" Cain asked.
Dorian turned, squinting. "What the—? Morgan?"
Cain smiled. "Funny. You still remember my name."
Dorian blinked. "What the fuck are you doing out here? You look like a drowned rat."
The other two laughed.
Cain didn't.
He raised a hand.
[Skill: Hypnotic Pressure – Active]
The laughter died. The air grew cold.
The two boys staggered backward, suddenly breathless, their eyes wide. Cain's aura surged in the storm, wrapping around them like invisible coils. The rain itself seemed to pause in the air.
Dorian tried to move. He couldn't.
Cain stepped forward slowly, placing a hand on Dorian's chest.
"You remember that night in the showers?"
Dorian froze.
"You laughed. You spat on me."
"I—It was a joke, man—"
Cain's eyes turned red.
"I'm not laughing."
He bit down.
The moment Cain's fangs pierced Dorian's neck, the boy screamed—briefly—before silence took hold.
The blood was warm.Salty.Terrifyingly satisfying.
Cain drank deeply—not enough to kill, but enough to leave a mark.
When he let go, Dorian crumpled to the floor.
The other boys had fled.
Cain stood in the rain, fangs bared, breathing hard.
[Blood Consumed: 80ml][New Stats Gained]
Strength increased to 3
Endurance increased to 2
New Skill Unlocked: Blood EchoUpon consuming blood, Cain temporarily inherits emotional memories of the victim, gaining insight into fears, trauma, and secrets.
Back in his room, Cain stared at the mirror.
There was blood on his lips.
And he smiled.
The next day, Dorian didn't show up for class.
Neither did the other boys.
Rumors spread quickly.Some said they were in the hospital.Others claimed they'd dropped out overnight.
But one thing was clear:
Cain's name was no longer just whispered.It was feared.
That afternoon, Cain summoned his five.
Amara. Lena. Arielle. Serena. And Lilith.
They knelt in a circle within the old library.
"I need you to spread a new story," he said.
Serena bowed her head. "What story, Master?"
"That Dorian tried to drug one of you. That he's been expelled for it. That he'll never show his face again."
Arielle smirked. "Consider it done."
Cain raised his hand, and the glyph on Serena's collar pulsed red.
"You will tell the prefect council that you caught him red-handed. That I helped you."
Serena looked up. "But… why?"
Cain grinned.
"Because I want the school to think I'm a hero."
[Reputation Branching: Heroic Mask – Unlocked]Cain can now manipulate his public reputation. If Heroic Mask is active, staff and neutral students are more likely to support him. All actions are framed in a favorable light unless proven otherwise.
That night, Blackthorn Academy sent out a private memo.
"Cain Morgan assisted Prefect Serena Vale in preventing a case of sexual misconduct. The alleged students have been expelled."
Within hours, Cain's reputation skyrocketed.
Girls looked at him with admiration now.Boys offered him nods of respect.
And in the shadows, Cain smiled.
Because they hadn't seen the truth.
They hadn't seen the blood.
But they would.