The Man in Black

The next morning felt surreal. I woke up wondering if the whole vampire attack was just some twisted dream. But the bruises on my arms and the wrecked car I passed on the way to class told me otherwise.

My mind was stuck on repeat: What the hell happened last night? And more importantly, What did that freak mean by 'You're one of them'?

After a painfully normal day, I decided to clear my head with a walk. Bad idea. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the streets started to feel like they were watching me. Every shadow, every corner felt like it was hiding something. Or someone.

"You're late, Cain," a voice called from behind.

I spun around so fast I nearly tripped. Standing in the dim light was a man in a long black coat, his face half-hidden in the shadows. He stepped closer, and I could finally see him clearly. He was older, maybe in his forties, with slicked-back hair and eyes that looked like they'd seen too much.

"Who are you?" I asked, heart racing.

He smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "Sebastian. Let's just say I'm an old... acquaintance of your family."

"My family?" I echoed, confused. My family wasn't exactly filled with mystery. A long line of nobodies, as far as I knew.

Sebastian took a step forward. "Yes. Your family. The Cain bloodline. Ever wonder why you're named Cain?"

"Uh, no? It's just a name," I shrugged, though something about the way he said it made me uneasy.

He gave a short, humorless laugh. "You have no idea, do you? The Cain name isn't just a coincidence. Your bloodline is tied to something ancient, something powerful... and something dangerous."

I blinked, trying to process what he was saying. "Wait, what does this have to do with last night? Some vampire freak tried to kill me, and then I—" I paused. "I don't even know what I did."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "You awakened."

"Awakened what?"

"The power in your blood, of course," he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "The Cain family carries a curse. A mark. You are one of the few left with a direct line to the original cursed blood."

I shook my head, laughing nervously. "Okay, this is insane. What curse? What bloodline? I'm just a normal guy!"

Sebastian's eyes darkened. "Does a *normal* guy send vampires flying without even knowing how?"

My mouth snapped shut. Okay, fair point.

He crossed his arms. "The vampires you saw last night aren't the only ones who know about you. The moment you activated your power, you sent a signal. And trust me, Cain, more will come. They always come for the marked."

I swallowed hard. "So... what now? Am I supposed to fight them or something? Because I'm not exactly equipped for that."

Sebastian smirked. "That's why I'm here. I've been watching over your family for generations, waiting for the day someone like you would awaken. I can help you survive. But first, you need to know what you're up against."

I shifted uncomfortably. "And what exactly am I up against?"

Sebastian's face turned serious. "The vampires you encountered are part of a much larger hierarchy. At the top are the Elders—ancient, powerful beings who have ruled from the shadows for centuries. They fear the Cain bloodline because it's tied to the prophecy of the Blood Eclipse."

"Prophecy? Blood Eclipse? You're really going all-in on this vampire thing, huh?" I said, trying to lighten the mood. But Sebastian didn't laugh.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "The Blood Eclipse marks the end of their reign. A Cain will rise and either bring balance... or destroy everything."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. This was starting to feel way too real. "So, what? I'm supposed to be some chosen one?"

Sebastian's eyes bore into mine. "You're not just chosen. You're cursed. And whether you like it or not, you've already been drawn into their world."

I took a deep breath, trying to wrap my head around all this. "So, what's the plan? How do I... not die?"

Sebastian smiled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "First, you learn. Then, you fight. But for now, we keep you alive long enough to figure out which side of the prophecy you fall on."

I stared at him, my mind spinning. Everything in me wanted to reject this, to run away and pretend none of it was real. But deep down, I knew something had changed. That power I felt last night—it wasn't something I could ignore.

"Alright," I said, squaring my shoulders. "I guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

Sebastian's smile widened. "No, Cain. You don't."

Just then, a rustle came from the nearby alley. I froze. Sebastian tensed.

"Looks like they're already here," he muttered under his breath.

I barely had time to react before two figures stepped out of the shadows—vampires. Their eyes gleamed with hunger, and their fangs glistened under the streetlight.

Sebastian pulled out a silver blade from his coat, the metal reflecting in the dim light. "Stay behind me. For now."

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn't ready for this. Not even close. But as the vampires stalked toward us, I felt that strange energy building up again inside me.

Maybe I wasn't as helpless as I thought.