The Blood-Stained Past

^

"I could give you all your mom's information from when she lived in Morsvil," Aunt Sarah offered gently.

"That would be great. Thank you, Aunt," Aurora replied, grateful for the help.

But just as warmth filled her chest, Vivian's voice sliced through it.

"Why are you always concerning yourself with irrelevant things?" she muttered coldly from across the table.

Aurora turned to her, brows lifting.

"My mom's past is not irrelevant, Vivian." Her voice was calm, but her glare wasn't. She'd been quiet with Vivian long enough.

"Behave, Vivian," Aunt Sarah warned.

"She just likes to run her mouth," Peter added sarcastically, making Vivian shoot him a sharp glare before tossing another venomous glance at Aurora.

"That's enough from all of you," Aunt Sarah cut in. "Rora, your mother helped a lot of people here. She was incredible in her time."

Aurora managed a small smile. She liked hearing that. There was so much she didn't know about her parents...her mom's childhood, her dad's roots. They had always lived a quiet, peaceful life, but now... things didn't seem so simple anymore.

⸻

The next morning, Aurora stood outside a quiet hospital, the name from her mom's birth certificate carved into the sign overhead: Stally's Hospital.

She took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The place was calm, the distant hum of machines and occasional footsteps echoing softly through the white-tiled halls. She made her way to the front desk.

"Good day," she greeted politely.

The older nurse looked up. Her expression shifted as her eyes rested on Aurora.

"Dina..." the woman whispered.

Aurora blinked. "You knew my mother?"

"You look so much like her," the nurse said softly. Then, more directly, "What's your name, dear?"

"Aurora," she answered, heart thudding now.

"Come with me."

Without further explanation, the nurse stepped out from behind the desk, leading Aurora down a narrow corridor. Her heels echoed faintly against the floor. Aurora followed, suspicion and nerves building in her chest.

They entered a small office.

"Sit," the nurse said, motioning toward a chair.

Aurora obeyed, her eyes scanning the tidy room. The woman took her seat behind the desk.

"I know you're curious," she began with a sigh. "There's a lot you don't know... but your grandfather would be glad to see you."

Aurora's brows shot up. "My grandfather?"

"Yes. I suppose your mother never mentioned him," the nurse added, her expression unreadable. "Destiny has many plans, child."

Then came the part that made Aurora nearly laugh in disbelief.

"I delivered Dina when she was born," the nurse said.

"But—" Aurora blinked. "You look like you're the same age as her."

"I know it's hard to believe," the woman smiled faintly, "but you're still clueless about your origin."

She reached under the desk and pulled out a thick, aged book. She placed it gently on the table.

"Here. Read this."

Aurora reached for it—but it felt oddly... weightless. Lighter than it looked.

"Visit the library too," the nurse added. "You'll learn more about Morsvil than you ever imagined."

Aurora nodded slowly, gripping the strange book tightly as she exited the hospital.

⸻

Back in her room, she sat cross-legged on the bed and opened the book.

It didn't read like a history text.

It read like... fantasy.

It spoke of a time long ago, of the devil coming to earth and birthing a daughter. Of how humans were turned into monsters—vampires...creatures of blood and night.

Aurora frowned.

This couldn't be real. None of it made sense.

This is fiction. Right?

Still, something about it unsettled her. It wasn't just the words...it was how the book felt in her hands. Heavy and light. Real and not.

She closed it and dropped it on her bedside.

⸻

The next thing she knew, she wasn't in her room anymore.

She stood barefoot, in her pajamas... inside a graveyard.

The air was cold. Still. Eerie.

She glanced around. No sound but the wind whispering through the trees.

Suddenly, she saw a woman kneeling before a grave, crying softly.

Her dress was soaked in blood—an old-fashioned gown, like something from the 80s. Aurora stepped back, heart hammering.

Is this a dream?

Then came footsteps.

Two wild-eyed men emerged from the shadows. Aurora pressed her back against a grave, trying to stay out of sight.

One man yanked the woman's hair. She screamed in pain. The other bared his teeth—fangs, long and gleaming. His eyes burned red.

"No—" Aurora whispered, frozen.

They sank their teeth into the woman's neck. She thrashed, sobbing, trying to fight...but it was no use. The blood poured, staining the ground. They fed like beasts, draining her dry before tossing her limp body to the side.

The vampires licked their lips and vanished into the night.

Aurora couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

She stepped toward the grave the woman had been crying over.

The name carved into the stone sent chills down her spine:

Leah Vane

1858 – 1882

⸻

Her eyes flew open at a knock on the door.

She sat up quickly, sweat clinging to her skin.

Opening the door, she found Melanie standing there.