Alastair knelt on the cold, hard floor of the training room, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The pain from Kael's blows throbbed through his body, and despite his rapid healing, the sensation was all too real. His mind was a storm of confusion and determination,the fate of his family weighing heavily on him.
Slowly, Alastair pushed himself to his feet, his legs trembling. He needed answers, and he wasn't going to get them from the empty room. He glanced toward the door, where Kael had exited moments before. With a grimace, he limped after him, each step a reminder of the brutal training session.
As he reached the hallway, he could hear the distant murmur of voices. Sabrine's voice, soft and concerned, mingled with Kael's cold and dismissive tone. Alastair followed the sound, moving as quietly as he could despite his injuries.
"You didn't have to be so harsh, you know," Sabrine was saying as he approached.
"How I train the boy is none of your business," Kael retorted. "You didn't have any issues feeding Alastair blood, so why are you suddenly so worried?"
"That's beside the point, Kael," Sabrine said. "All I'm saying is you can at least try to be nicer. You literally kidnapped the boy and took him away from all he's ever known. The least you can do is pretend to care."
"Nicer?" Kael asked, irritation clear in his voice. "You think I have time to play a loving mentor in his life? Alastair is a vampire whether or not he accepts it. That much is a fact. He will face threats that his current self can't even dream of overcoming. Now is not the time to be emotional."
"I know that," Sabrine said, "but it wouldn't hurt to at lea-"
"You know, yet you still say these ridiculous things," Kael interrupted. "You know why he must train, so stop letting emotion cloud your judgment and leave me be."
"How do you know he's the one?" Sabrine asked, her voice tinged with concern. "How do you know he's not going to end up like the rest?"
Kael stopped and turned his head back. "I don't, but I'll still try anyway. That's my curse, my punishment, and it's the only way I can atone for my sins," he said before continuing on his way, leaving Sabrine alone.
Alastair stepped out from the shadows, his gaze fixed on Sabrine. "What did he mean by that?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Sabrine turned to him, her expression softening with sympathy. "Alastair, you should rest. You've been through enough for one day."
"No," Alastair insisted, shaking his head. "I need to know. What did Kael mean by 'atoning for his sins'?"
Sabrine sighed, looking torn. "Kael... he's done things he's not proud of. He's trained many like you, vampires who needed guidance. Most didn't survive the process. He's haunted by their deaths, driven by the need to make sure you succeed where others failed."
Alastair's eyes narrowed. "And what about my family? Why did they have to forget me?"
"It was to protect them," Sabrine explained gently. "If they remembered you, they would search for you, put themselves in danger. This way, they're safe. And once you're strong enough, you'll be able to see them again."
Alastair's heart ached with the weight of her words. "So I'm supposed to just accept this? Train like a monster while my family forgets I ever existed?"
"You're not a monster, Alastair," Sabrine said firmly. "You're still you, just... different. And you have the chance to become something greater, to protect them from the shadows. But you need to trust the process."
Alastair looked away, his jaw clenched. "Trust the process," he muttered. "Easy for you to say."
Sabrine placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's not easy for any of us, Alastair. But you're not alone in this. We'll help you through it."
Alastair met her gaze, seeing the sincerity in her eyes. He took a deep breath, the pain in his body a reminder of what he had endured and what lay ahead. "Alright," he said quietly. "I'll do it. But I want to know everything. No more secrets."
Sabrine nodded. "No more secrets," she promised. "But we'll talk about it later yeah? You need to rest "
With that, Alastair turned back toward the training room, a new resolve burning within him. He would master his new abilities and reclaim his place in his family's lives. No matter the cost.