Aurora's eyes snapped open, and she sat up with a start. She was lying on the ground, her head throbbing with pain. Bryson and Scarlet were still standing over her, their eyes locked in a fierce stare.
As she struggled to her feet, Aurora remembered the strange symbol on Bryson's hand. The symbol looked like a cross between a crescent moon and a star. "Bryson, what's going on?" Aurora asked, her voice shaking with fear. "What's happening to you?"Bryson's eyes dropped, and he looked away, his jaw clenched in anger."You don't understand, Aurora," he growled. "I'm not who you think I am. "Aurora's heart was racing with fear. What did Bryson mean? Who was he? That means all allegations seem true. And then, in a flash of insight, she remembered the stories her grandmother used to tell her. Stories about the supernatural creatures that lived in the shadows, hiding in plain sight."Bryson, are you...are you a vampire?" Aurora asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Bryson's eyes snapped back to hers, and he smiled, his fangs gleaming in the moonlight. "I'm not just a vampire, Aurora," he said, his voice low and husky. "I'm a prince of the night. A creature of the shadows. And you, my dear, are my mate." As Aurora stood there, frozen with fear, Bryson's smile grew wider. He took a step closer to her, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Or maybe I'm just a guy who likes to play dress-up," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe I'm just a normal guy who likes to pretend to be a vampire."Aurora's mind was reeling with shock and fear. She had never believed in vampires before, but now she was face to face with one. And to make matters worse, Bryson was telling her that she was his mate. What did that even mean? As she stood there, frozen with fear, Scarlet spoke up. "Aurora, don't believe him," she said, her voice urgent. "He's not what he seems. He's a monster, and he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants from at all cost", "What do you mean scarlet?" Aurora's eyes narrowed. Was Bryson telling the truth, or was he just trying to mess with her head? She looked at Scarlet, who was watching the scene with a mixture of concern and annoyance. "What's going on, Scarlet?" Aurora asked. "Is Bryson a vampire, or is he just kidding around?" Scarlet's expression was grim. "I don't know what's going on, Aurora," she said. "But I do know that Bryson is not what he seems. He's hiding something, and I'm not sure what it is." Aurora's eyes darted back to Bryson, who was still smiling at her with an unnerving intensity. "What's going on, Bryson?" she asked, her voice firm. "Are you a vampire, or are you just playing some kind of twisted game?" Bryson's smile grew wider, and he took another step closer to her."Why don't you find out for yourself?" he said, his voice low and husky. "Why don't you take a bite out of me and see if I'm a vampire?" Aurora's eyes widened in shock. Was Bryson serious? Did he want her to bite him?Aurora's eyes were fixed on Bryson's neck, her mind racing with the possibility of what he was suggesting. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she thought about the implications of biting him. "Bryson, what are you talking about?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.Bryson's smile grew wider, and he took another step closer to her. "I'm talking about finding out the truth," he said. "I'm talking about discovering what I am." Aurora felt a surge of fear mixed with curiosity. She didn't know what to do, but a part of her was tempted to take Bryson up on his offer.Just as she was about to make a decision, Scarlet intervened. "Aurora, don't do it," she said, her voice urgent. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into. He's a trap, believe me!" Aurora hesitated, unsure of what to do. But Bryson's eyes seemed to be drawing her in, tempting her to take a bite. And then, just as she was about to make a decision, everything went black.When Aurora came to, she was lying on the ground, her head throbbing with massive pain she could barely sit upright. Bryson and Scarlet were standing over her, their faces etched with concern. "What happened?" Aurora asked, trying to sit up.Bryson's eyes were filled with worry. "You fainted," he said. "I think it's because you're not used to being around...people like me." Aurora's eyes narrowed. What did Bryson mean by "people like me"? Was he implying that he was some kind of supernatural creature or an extraordinary being?As she looked at Bryson, she saw something that made her blood run cold. His eyes seemed to be glowing in the dark, and his skin was deathly pale. Aurora's heart was racing with fear. What was Bryson? And what do they all want from her? As Aurora sat up, Bryson helped her to her feet. Scarlet stood by, watching them. "Are you okay?" Bryson asked, his eyes scanning Aurora's face. Aurora nodded, still feeling a bit dazed. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little...shaken up." Bryson smiled and took her hand. "Let's get out of here," he said. "I'll take you home." As they walked out of the park, Scarlet followed behind them, her eyes fixed on Bryson's back to watch his every single step to avoid a shady scene...When they reached the sidewalk, Bryson turned to Aurora and smiled. "Hey, I'm sorry about what happened back there," he said. "I didn't mean to scare you."Aurora smiled back, feeling a little more at ease. "It's okay," she said. "I'm just a little...curious. "Bryson raised an eyebrow. "Curious?" Aurora nodded. "Yeah. I want to know what's going on. What's happening to you?"Bryson's expression turned serious, and he looked around nervously. "I'll tell you everything," he said. "But not here. Not now, when the time comes, okay!"Aurora nodded, feeling a sense of anticipation. She knew that Bryson was truly hiding something, and she was determined to find out what it was.As they walked to Aurora's house, Scarlet lagged, her eyes fixed on Bryson's back. She knew that something was off about him, and she was determined to expose him for what he truly was. But for now, she just watched and waited, her eyes fixed on the couple walking ahead of her.