Sebastian stood in the doorway, his eyes darker than I'd ever seen them. He wasn't the same cocky, smooth-talking guy who'd strolled into the vampire life like he owned the place. Something had shaken him deep down, and for the first time since I'd known him, I saw real fear.
"Sebastian," I muttered, still trying to process everything. "What the hell is going on?"
He stepped into the room, closing the door quietly behind him. The usual smirk he wore like a mask was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was an intensity in his eyes, an urgency I didn't like one bit.
"You don't get it, Eli," he whispered, his voice low, almost a growl. "You think this is just about vampires, about power. But it's bigger than that. Way bigger."
I frowned, trying to make sense of his words. My mind was still swimming from last night. Deathreign. Luna Winters. The note under my pillow. My bloodline. There were too many unanswered questions, and I didn't know where to start.
"I'm going to need more than cryptic warnings, Seb," I said, my voice sharper than I intended. "Tell me what's really going on."
Sebastian's eyes flickered toward the window, as if someone could be listening, even though we were alone. He took a deep breath and sat down on the edge of my bed, his posture slumped like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
"Deathreign isn't just some rogue vampire," he began, his voice quieter now. "They're part of something older, something that's been in motion long before either of us was born. They call themselves 'The Order of the Black Veil.'"
I blinked, feeling the tension in the air thicken. The Order of the Black Veil? I'd never heard of it, but from the look on Sebastian's face, it wasn't a bedtime story.
"They've been waiting for someone like you," he continued. "Someone with your bloodline. That's why they're after you, Eli. You're not just a vampire—there's something ancient in you. Something they need."
"My bloodline?" I repeated, my head spinning. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Sebastian sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Your family, Eli. You were born into a line of vampire royalty—descendants of one of the oldest and most powerful clans. But it's not just about power. Your blood carries something special… something that can unlock—"
He stopped suddenly, his eyes flicking to the door as if sensing something. The room fell into an uneasy silence.
"What is it?" I asked, lowering my voice.
"We don't have much time," he whispered, standing abruptly. His movements were quick and jerky, as if he was on edge. "If Deathreign found you once, they'll find you again. And next time, Luna might not be there to save your ass."
I tried to piece everything together, but it was like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces. My bloodline? Some ancient power? And this Order of the Black Veil? None of it made sense. But the fear in Sebastian's eyes told me that this wasn't just a nightmare I could wake up from.
"Why didn't you tell me any of this before?" I asked, my frustration growing. "If you knew—"
"I didn't know," he interrupted, his voice tense. "Not until last night. Not until I saw what they did to you. They want you, Eli, and they won't stop until they have you."
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. My hands trembled slightly as I processed what he was saying. They weren't just hunting me. They were hunting something inside me—something I didn't even know existed.
Before I could respond, a knock echoed through the room. My heart jumped into my throat. Sebastian and I exchanged a tense glance.
"Who the hell is that?" I whispered.
Sebastian shook his head. "Stay quiet."
The knock came again, this time louder, more insistent.
"Eli," a voice called from the other side of the door, one that sent chills down my spine. It was Luna. Her tone was calm but filled with urgency. "We need to talk."
Sebastian mouthed something I couldn't quite catch, but the look in his eyes was clear: Don't trust her.
I hesitated, my hand hovering over the doorknob. Everything felt wrong. The tension, the secrets, the fact that everyone around me seemed to know more about my life than I did. But one thing was clear—I was out of time.
"Open the door, Eli," Luna's voice was softer now, almost pleading. "I'm not your enemy."
I looked back at Sebastian, who shook his head, mouthing again, "Don't."
But the problem was, I didn't know who to trust anymore. My mind raced, heart pounding in my chest. I was caught between two worlds—one that I barely understood, and another that was closing in on me.
I took a deep breath and reached for the door, my hand trembling, I opened the door and...