Chapter 7: Whispers in the Dark

Elena barely slept that night.

Even with the covers pulled over her head, her bedroom locked, and her windows shut tight, she felt watched.

The image of Damien—his hoodie stained with blood, his silver eyes glowing in the dim school hallway—was burned into her mind.

She knew she should be terrified of him.

And yet…

A part of her didn't want to run.

A part of her wanted to understand.

Morning at Blackwood Academy

By the time Elena arrived at school, she was exhausted.

The halls were buzzing with gossip about Jason Carter's disappearance.

Apparently, he had gone missing after school yesterday. His car was still in the parking lot, but no one had seen him since.

Elena felt a sickening chill crawl up her spine.

Had Jason run into the same monster that Damien killed last night?

Or worse… had Damien done something to him?

"Elena."

She turned to see Natalie rushing toward her, grabbing her arm.

"We need to talk," Natalie said, her voice low.

Elena nodded, following her friend to an empty classroom.

As soon as the door closed, Natalie turned to her with wide eyes.

"You saw it, didn't you?"

Elena swallowed. "Yeah."

Natalie exhaled sharply, running a hand through her dark curls. "I was afraid of this."

"You knew," Elena accused. "You knew Damien wasn't… normal."

Natalie hesitated, then nodded. "I don't know everything. But there have been rumors about him since he transferred here. People say he doesn't eat, doesn't sleep. He disappears for days at a time. And…" She bit her lip. "Last year, a girl named Sophie Adams went missing. The last person seen with her? Damien Nightshade."

Elena's stomach dropped.

"Do you think he—?"

"I don't know," Natalie admitted. "But if Damien is involved with what happened to Jason too, we need to be careful."

Elena clenched her fists.

She needed answers.

And there was only one person who could give them to her.

The Confrontation

She found Damien on the rooftop of the old science building, sitting alone, staring at the sky.

His presence was different today—quieter, more distant.

But Elena didn't hesitate.

She walked up to him, crossing her arms.

"Jason Carter is missing."

Damien didn't flinch.

"I know."

Her jaw clenched. "Did you do something to him?"

Finally, Damien turned to look at her. His silver eyes were unreadable.

"No."

Elena exhaled. She wanted to believe him.

But belief wasn't enough anymore.

"I need the truth, Damien," she said, stepping closer. "What are you?"

For a long moment, he didn't answer.

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he said—

"A monster."

Elena's heart pounded.

"I need more than that."

Damien studied her, his gaze searching.

"You won't like the truth," he warned.

"I don't care."

Another pause. Then—

"I'm a vampire."

The words sent a shiver down her spine.

Hearing it out loud made it real.

"How old are you?" she asked.

Damien exhaled slowly. "Two hundred and seventy-four."

Elena's breath hitched.

"So… you're not just a high school student."

A ghost of a smirk flickered across his lips. "No."

Elena swallowed. Her mind was screaming at her to run, but she forced herself to stay.

"What happened last night? That other vampire—you killed him like it was nothing."

Damien's expression darkened.

"He wasn't like me."

"What do you mean?"

"There are two kinds of vampires, Elena." Damien's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "Those who can control their hunger… and those who can't."

Elena's pulse quickened.

"The one I killed last night?" Damien continued. "He was a feral. A vampire who's lost control—who only sees humans as food."

Her stomach churned. "And you're not like that?"

Damien's gaze locked onto hers.

"No."

Elena studied him, trying to find any hint of a lie.

But all she saw was exhaustion.

Pain.

Loneliness.

She exhaled. "Why are you telling me all this?"

Damien hesitated. Then—

"Because last night wasn't an accident."

Elena froze.

"What do you mean?"

Damien's expression hardened. "That vampire wasn't hunting at random."

A chilling realization settled over her.

"He was after… me?"

Damien nodded.

Her heart pounded. "Why?"

Damien exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair.

"There's something about you, Elena." His voice was almost… regretful. "Something that makes you a target."

Elena felt like the ground had just been ripped out from under her.

She had spent years believing she was ordinary. Just a regular girl in a small town.

But now, a vampire was telling her that she was special—special enough to be hunted.

"I don't understand," she whispered. "What am I?"

Damien's gaze darkened.

"I don't know."

But the way he said it—like he was hiding something—made her stomach twist.

And deep down, she knew.

This was just the beginning.

In the Shadows

Unbeknownst to Elena and Damien, a pair of glowing red eyes watched them from the darkness.

The wind carried the scent of blood—Damien's blood—and the whisper of a name.

"Elena Sinclair…"

A slow, sinister smile curled over his lips.

"So she's finally awakened."

Lightning flashed in the sky.

And the hunt began.