Julian awoke to the sound of distant thunder rumbling in the sky. His heart was still racing from the events of the night before, his mind trying to make sense of what had happened. Had it been a dream? A hallucination brought on by exhaustion? But as he glanced at the window where the mysterious woman had appeared, the memory of her crimson eyes flashed vividly in his mind.
The air in his apartment felt different—
heavier, like it carried the weight of secrets and shadows. He got up, running his hands through his hair, trying to shake off the sense of unease. It wasn't just the woman; it was the feeling she had left behind, something he couldn't explain. There was an energy in the room, a magnetic pull that made his skin tingle.
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Just as Julian was about to grab his jacket and head to the library, a knock on the door startled him. His heart leaped into his throat. Who could it be so early?
With a cautious step, he opened the door.
Standing there was another woman, though this one was completely different from the first. She had fiery red hair that fell in waves down her back, and her emerald green eyes sparkled with mischief. She was dressed in a sleek black leather jacket, her lips curled into a half-smile, as if she knew exactly what he had been thinking.
"Julian, right?" she asked, her voice warm but with an edge. "I've been looking for you."
Julian blinked, confusion etching his face. "Who are you?"
The woman leaned against the doorframe, her eyes scanning him as if sizing him up. "I'm Eve. Let's just say I'm someone who knows how to deal with... the kind of trouble you've found yourself in."
His mind raced. "Trouble? What do you mean?"
Eve smirked. "Oh, don't play dumb. You had a visitor last night, didn't you? Ruby eyes, sharp fangs, all that fun stuff?" She stepped closer, and for a moment, Julian could smell the faint scent of smoke and spice clinging to her. "Yeah, I can tell. You've been marked."
Julian took a step back, feeling the walls close in around him. "What... what are you talking about?"
Eve's face softened, and she sighed, as if she'd explained this a thousand times before. "Look, there are vampires in this city—powerful ones—and the one who visited you last night? She's one of the most dangerous. Her name's Seraphina, and if she marked you, it's because she sees something in you."
"Marked?" Julian's head was spinning. "What does that even mean?"
Eve rolled her eyes, her patience thinning. "It means she's claimed you, Julian. You're in her sights now. And trust me, that's not a place you want to be unless you like the idea of being someone's eternal snack."
Julian felt his pulse quicken again. "I don't understand any of this! I didn't ask for this. I didn't even—"
"Ask?" Eve interrupted, her voice sharp. "Oh, no one ever asks. But that's not how this works. Vampires like Seraphina don't wait for permission. They take what they want. And she wants you."
Julian swallowed hard, trying to process her words. "Why? Why me?"
Eve shrugged. "Could be your blood. Could be something else. Vampires have their reasons, and most of the time, they're not for us to understand." She tilted her head, eyeing him thoughtfully. "But it's rare for someone like Seraphina to take a personal interest. That means you're either really lucky... or really cursed."
Before Julian could respond, the sound of glass breaking shattered the quiet tension between them. He spun around to see a figure darting into his apartment through the window—the same window Seraphina had entered the night before.
This time, it was Lila.
She was different now, though. Gone was the shy, quiet girl from the library. Her eyes blazed with intensity, and her once-braided hair now flowed wildly around her face. She moved with the grace of a predator, her gaze locking onto Eve with something like contempt.
"Lila?" Julian breathed, taking a step back.
"You need to leave," Lila said, her voice low, almost growling. "Now."
Eve crossed her arms, smirking at the sudden tension. "Well, well. This just got interesting."
"Lila, what are you doing here?" Julian asked, his voice shaky.
"I'm here to protect you, Julian," Lila said, not taking her eyes off Eve. "You don't know what you're dealing with."
"Protect him?" Eve scoffed. "Sweetheart, I've been doing this for years. I think I can handle a vampire's pet."
"Pet?" Lila snarled, her voice darkening. "You have no idea what's going on here. If you stay, you'll only make things worse for him. Leave now, or I'll make you."
Eve's smile faded, and she took a step forward, her hand resting on the hilt of a knife strapped to her waist. "You really think you can take me on? I'm not scared of a half-blood like you."
Julian's mind was spinning. Half-blood? What was going on? Lila, the sweet girl from the library, was a vampire? And not just any vampire—something different, something more?
"Lila, stop!" Julian shouted, trying to step between them, but the tension between the two women was palpable. They circled each other like predators ready to pounce.
Lila's eyes softened when they met Julian's. "I told you, Julian. There are forces you can't understand. But trust me, I'm on your side. I always have been."
Julian's heart raced. He didn't know who to trust. Eve had come to warn him, but Lila... she had always been there. And now Seraphina, the woman from last night, haunted his thoughts. Three women—each with their own agenda, each with their own claim on him.
Before he could speak, the door burst open, and in strode Seraphina, her ruby eyes glowing like embers in the dim room. Her smile was wicked, and her voice dripped with amusement.
"Well, isn't this cozy?" Seraphina purred. "Looks like my little pet has attracted quite the audience."
Julian froze, his world spinning out of control as Seraphina's gaze settled on him with an intensity that made his blood sing.
"Let the games begin."