The days that followed passed as if nothing had happened. The news of the missing boy had faded into whispers, and soon even those whispers died down. The teachers avoided the topic, the students pretended to move on, and Blackville High returned to its usual rhythm — laughter echoing through hallways, the slam of lockers, the dull hum of normalcy trying too hard to sound real.
Adrian had learned to play along. He smiled when he needed to, nodded when people spoke, and tried to bury the images of that night beneath homework and cafeteria chatter.
Ella made that easier.
They'd grown closer since the bonfire. She was warm, spontaneous, a little reckless — the kind of energy he didn't know he needed until it was right beside him. Sometimes they'd sit behind the gym and talk for hours about everything and nothing. Other times, they didn't talk at all.
---
It was a bright Wednesday morning when he finally saw Selene again.
She walked into class just as the bell rang, her presence as quiet and commanding as ever. Heads turned, whispers followed, but she didn't seem to notice. Adrian did.
He hadn't realized how much he'd missed her until now.
He caught up to her after class.
Adrian➡️ "You've been gone for days. Where've you been?"
Selene➡️ *smiling faintly* "Royal business. Things I couldn't ignore."
Adrian➡️ "Royal business, huh?" *He paused, his voice dropping slightly.* "It wouldn't happen to involve the missing student, would it?"
Selene froze, just for a moment — enough for Adrian to notice. Her eyes searched his face, a mixture of confusion and disbelief flickering behind them.
Selene➡️ "You think I had something to do with that?"
Adrian➡️ "I didn't say that. I just—"
Selene➡️ "Adrian…" *her voice softened, almost disappointed* "You should know me better than that."
Before he could respond, a cheerful voice cut through the tension.
Ella➡️ "Babe! There you are."
Adrian turned as Ella slipped her arm around him, smiling up at him like the world had no secrets. Selene blinked, caught off guard but masking it quickly.
Ella➡️ *grinning at Selene* "Hey, you must be Selene, right? Adrian's told me a little about you."
Selene➡️ *smiling politely* "Oh? I can't imagine what."
Ella➡️ "Just that you're, like, super mysterious." *She laughed, leaning closer to Adrian. "Come on, babe, we're late for lunch."
Adrian hesitated, glancing at Selene.
Adrian➡️ "We're going to grab something to eat. You wanna come?"
Selene➡️ shaking her head gently* "No. I'm fine. Go ahead."
Adrian➡️ "Alright… I'll see you later then."
He gave her a small smile and let Ella pull him away.
Selene watched them go — her expression unreadable, her gaze lingering on their intertwined hands.
When they disappeared around the corner, she exhaled softly, eyes darkening for a moment.
Selene➡️ (whispering to herself): "A girlfriend, huh? You really are full of surprises, Adrian Blackwood."
---
The cafeteria doors swung closed behind Adrian and Ella, their laughter fading down the hallway. Selene watched them disappear, her eyes unreadable. For a long moment, she stood there in silence, then turned away.
General POV
Far beneath the mortal world, where no light had ever reached. At its heart stood a throne carved from shadows themselves, and upon it — Reya Nightbourne, the eldest daughter of the Royal Bloodline, Selen's elder sister, She had the ability to bend shadows at will and make them do her bidding, she's the most feared vampire in the whole of the underworld, her name alone sends shivers down the spine of other vampires.
Her laughter echoed through the darkness — soft, melodic, and deadly.
Reya➡️ "Those pesky humans…" she purred, her voice rich with venom. "So fragile. So convinced of their superiority."
She rose from her throne, her gown of black silk flowing like living smoke, shadow curling around her wrists as if eager to obey her every thought.
"They build their little towns, with their so called rules, pretending they control this world. They forget whose blood feeds their night."
Around her, figures formed from pure darkness stirred — featureless silhouettes with burning eyes, her shadow minions. Each one breathed as she did, an extension of her will.
"I can smell it?" she whispered to herself, her tone intoxicatingly calm. "The scent of their fear. It's rising again."
Her lips curved into a dangerous smile.
" Soon, they'll remember who truly rules the dark."
She turned, her long silver hair glinting faintly in the crimson glow, and with a wave of her hand, the shadow army vanished into the walls — waiting, listening and ready to do her biddings.