Celestial_entity_

As humans, animals, and even the Earth itself begin to mutate and gain consciousness, a hidden conspiracy unravels, revealing Aurelia’s true origins and the dark forces manipulating the New Age. Alongside Lucian, a vampire with a mysterious lineage, and a cast of allies and enemies, Aurelia must navigate a world where nothing is as it seems. But as the planet awakens, so do the true villains—those who hide behind masks of virtue, their intentions far more sinister than anyone could imagine.

P.S The cover is not mine :)

The Vampire's Obsession

The rain fell softly on the roof of the little cottage by the sea. Selene sat by the fire, her hands wrapped around a chipped mug of tea, watching the flames dance. The shard—now quiet and still—rested on the table beside her, its silver veins catching the firelight.

Not until the scent of salt and lavender filled the room.

Not until a familiar voice, bright with laughter, whispered in her ear:

"Remember when we stole Old Man Harrick's apples?"

And suddenly, she did remember.

They were six years old, barefoot and sunburned, giggling as they sprinted through the orchard with stolen fruit bulging in their skirts. Aurelia's braids had come undone, her laughter ringing through the trees as Harrick's dog gave chase. They tumbled into the creek, apples bobbing around them, their shrieks of delight scaring the birds from the branches.

That night, as they lay in the grass counting stars, Aurelia had linked their pinkies together.

"We'll be best friends forever," she declared.

Selene, ever practical, had rolled her eyes. "Nobody's friends forever."

They were sixteen and furious with each other.

"You kissed him?" Selene hissed, shoving Aurelia against the schoolhouse wall. "You knew I liked him!"

Aurelia, unrepentant, grinned. "He's a terrible kisser. I did you a favor."

They didn't speak for a week. Then Aurelia showed up at Selene's window in the middle of the night, her arms full of stolen pastries. "Truce?"

Selene took a bite, scowling. "These are stale."

"That's why I stole them. Would've been a shame to take the fresh ones."

They laughed until their stomachs hurt.

They were eighty-three, sitting on a porch swing with grandchildren playing at their feet. Aurelia's hands were gnarled with arthritis, but her smile was as sharp as ever.

"Told you we'd grow old together," she said, nudging Selene with her elbow.

Selene snorted. "You also said we'd be rich. And famous. And married to princes."

"Details." Aurelia waved a dismissive hand, then winced as her joints protested. "Ow. Damn it."

Selene passed her the flask she kept hidden in her knitting basket. "Here. For your delicate constitution."

Aurelia took a swig, coughing. "This is terrible."

"That's why I saved it for you."

They sat in comfortable silence, watching the sunset paint the sky in gold and violet—the same colors as the shard's light, though neither of them remarked on it.

The fire crackled, pulling Selene back to the present. The shard pulsed once, gently, as if in farewell.

Outside, the rain slowed to a drizzle.

"Best friends forever," she whispered.

And somewhere, in the space between heartbeats, she heard Aurelia's answering laugh—bright and familiar and endless.

Chapter 101: A Thousand Different lives