As Alex stepped into his house, the warmth of familiarity enveloped him, but his heart still raced with the events of the day. He found his mother waiting for him in the living room, her expression a mix of worry and curiosity. She wasted no time in asking where he had been all day.
For a moment, Alex hesitated, considering his options. He wanted to protect his mother from the dangerous truth about the supernatural world he had stumbled into. However, as he looked into her eyes, he knew he couldn't lie anymore. With a heavy sigh, he decided to tell her part of the truth, leaving out the more shocking details.
"I went to Silverbrook, Mom," Alex said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I wanted to learn more about Dad and why he left us."
Maria's eyes widened in surprise and concern, but she stayed silent, encouraging Alex to continue.
"I met Samuel." he continued carefully, "but he didn't reveal much. I think Dad was involved in some government research, but that's all I know."
Maria's brow furrowed, and she reached out to touch Alex's hand reassuringly. "Thank you for telling me the truth, Alex. I understand you need to find closure, but be careful."
Alex nodded gratefully, relieved that his mother seemed to believe him. He didn't want her to worry more than she already did. He assured her that he would be cautious and that he wouldn't do anything reckless.
Later that night, as the moonlight filtered through his window, Alex sat on his bed, replaying the conversation with Samuel in his mind. His father's true identity as a vampire was still a jumble of emotions for him to process. He had guessed it when he found out that he was a vampire but confirming it still impacted Alex. The image he had held of Sol had been shattered, leaving behind a mosaic of uncertainty and doubt.
He wondered whether his father had always known that Alex would become a Sanguine. Was it some predetermined destiny, or had Sol simply taken a chance that fate would be kind? The revelation that their experiments had failed before made him question everything he knew about his father and the mysterious force he had warned about.
The uncertainty gnawed at him, leaving him restless and yearning for answers. What had driven Sol to delve into the research about Sanguine? What was the nature of the mysterious force he had warned about, and how was it connected to the disappearances in the city?
Alex knew he needed to find the truth, but he also knew that the path ahead was fraught with peril. He couldn't let his emotions cloud his judgment, especially with the safety of his mother at stake. The weight of responsibility pressed on him, and he knew that every step he took would be crucial.
With a deep breath, Alex finally laid down on his bed, determined to get some rest. But even as he closed his eyes, his mind continued to race, wrestling with the secrets of the past and the uncertainty of the future.