Adrian's mind swirled with conflicting emotions as he followed Gabriel through the mansion. Everything felt unreal the servants, the ornate decor, the strange calm of the place. He was surrounded by the very creatures he'd been raised to think of as monsters, yet nothing here matched his expectations. The air was thick with a scent he couldn't place, and the faint sound of distant laughter only added to the surreal nature of his surroundings. Gabriel seemed calm, walking with a measured grace, his dark suit pristine. Despite his composure, there was a weight in his voice when he spoke. "I know you're confused, Adrian. You've had a lot thrown at you in a short time, and you're probably still in shock. But I think it's time you learned the truth about who we are and why your life can never go back to what it was." Adrian remained silent, his chest tightening with every word. He wanted to argue, to deny everything Gabriel had told him, but the reality of what had happened the inhuman strength, the hunger, the crest on his chest was undeniable. His throat felt dry, and for once, he didn't have the energy to resist.
As they walked, Gabriel gestured toward the servants who moved through the halls. "Look at them," he said. "Do they seem like monsters to you?" Adrian watched as one servant bowed politely to Gabriel, her movements graceful yet humble. She smiled briefly at Adrian before hurrying off, carrying a tray of drinks. He couldn't sense anything menacing about her or the others they passed. They were just people, or at least they seemed that way.
"They're vampires?" Adrian asked, his voice hesitant. "Yes," Gabriel said, a faint smile touching his lips. "Born and turned. They live their lives much like humans do working, raising families, finding meaning in their existence. The stories you've heard about us, the myths of soulless beasts who hunt in the night, are only part of the truth. There are those among us who embrace their darker nature, but not everyone is like that." Adrian frowned, the idea clashing with everything he had ever believed. "Then why does everyone think vampires are monsters?"
Gabriel's expression darkened, and he stopped walking, turning to face Adrian directly. "Because fear is powerful, Adrian. Fear of the unknown has driven humans to demonize us for centuries. It's easier to label us as monsters than to understand us. And when fear turns to hatred, it leads to violence."
He began walking again, leading Adrian down a staircase into a large room with tall windows that overlooked a courtyard. In the courtyard, children played under the dim light of the moon, their laughter echoing faintly. Adrian's gaze fixed on one figure in particular Eliana. She stood in the middle of the children, a radiant smile on her face as she helped a young girl catch a ball. Her crimson eyes, though striking, were filled with warmth and kindness.
"She… doesn't seem like a monster," Adrian admitted reluctantly.
Gabriel smiled faintly. "She's not. Eliana has always had a gentle heart, much like her mother."
Adrian turned to him, curious. "Her mother?"
Gabriel's expression grew heavy with sorrow, his shoulders stiffening slightly. "Yes. Éloïse DeLacroix, my wife. She was a remarkable woman kind, compassionate, and full of hope for a future where humans and vampires could coexist. She believed that the two races weren't so different and that we could find a way to live in harmony."
He gestured toward Eliana in the courtyard. "Eliana gets her optimism from her mother. Even as a child, Éloïse would always try to help others, regardless of whether they were human or vampire. She believed that kindness could bridge the gap between our worlds."
Gabriel's voice tightened, and his gaze grew distant, as if he were looking back through time. "But not everyone shares that vision. Humans, in particular, are quick to turn on what they don't understand. Éloïse's kindness made her a target. She tried to make friends with humans simple, innocent gestures of goodwill. But they couldn't see past what she was. They betrayed her, lured her into a trap, and attacked her. Even as she lay dying, she didn't fight back. She refused to harm them."
Adrian felt a chill run down his spine. "They… killed her?"
Gabriel nodded slowly, his jaw tightening. "Yes. And they justified it by calling her a monster. The very people she sought to befriend took her life and called it justice. Eliana was only a child when it happened. She saw everything." Adrian looked back at the courtyard, his chest tightening as he watched Eliana laugh with the children. It was hard to reconcile the image of her happiness with the pain she must have endured. Gabriel's voice softened. "Eliana has spent her life trying to honor her mother's memory, trying to prove that not all vampires are the monsters humans think we are. But it's not an easy path. The world is filled with fear and prejudice, and the hunters only make it worse."
"Hunters?" Adrian asked, his brow furrowing.
Gabriel's expression turned grim. "Yes. They're the ones who ensure that vampires remain myths and legends in the eyes of the public. The government uses them to hunt us down, to eliminate any threat to their control. And when a vampire is discovered, they don't stop until every trace of them and anyone connected to them is erased." Adrian's stomach churned as he remembered Gabriel's earlier words. "So… that why they killed me too, huh? The government. That's why I can't go back." Gabriel nodded solemnly. "Yes. To the world you knew, Adrian, you're already dead. They've erased your existence. Your face, your name everything about you is gone. If you were to return, they would kill you again, without hesitation. You're a threat to their fragile order now." Adrian clenched his fists, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "But why? Why do they have to kill us?" Gabriel placed a hand on Adrian's shoulder, his gaze steady. "Because power terrifies them. Vampires are stronger, faster, and capable of things humans can't begin to understand. To them, we're an uncontrollable force, and they'd rather destroy us than risk losing control." The weight of Gabriel's words pressed heavily on Adrian. He felt trapped, his old life ripped away and replaced with something he didn't understand. His gaze drifted back to the courtyard, where Eliana's laughter rang out like a beacon of hope in the darkness.
Gabriel's voice broke the silence. "There's one more thing you need to know, Adrian."
Adrian turned to him, his brow furrowing. "What?"
Gabriel's expression grew serious. "Lift your shirt." Adrian hesitated, a flicker of unease passing through him. But Gabriel's tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. Slowly, he lifted his shirt, exposing his chest. His breath caught as he saw the mark a hawk-like crest, intricate and shimmering faintly in the dim light. "What… what is this?" Adrian asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Gabriel's gaze was steady. "That's the Crest of the DeLacroix family. It appeared because of the heart Eliana gave you. It's a symbol of your connection to us a birthmark of sorts, tied to your new existence as a hybrid. It means you're under our protection."
Adrian stared at the mark, his mind racing. "So… this is permanent?" "Yes," Gabriel said. "It's part of who you are now. And while it protects you here, it also makes you a target for others. Vampires without a Crest will see you as a threat—or worse, as prey. You must be careful, Adrian. The world outside these walls is not kind to someone like you." Adrian nodded slowly, though the weight of Gabriel's words pressed heavily on him. The mark, the blood, the new reality he was living it was all too much to take in. But one thing was clear: there was no going back.
And the road ahead would only grow darker.