crimson oath

the hunters truth

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

The war drums echoed through Blackthorn Castle.

Ethan stood atop the castle walls, rain soaking through his clothes as he stared into the darkness below.

Torches burned like rivers of fire across the mountainside.

Hundreds of them.

The hunters had come prepared.

At the front of the army stood a familiar figure.

Commander Alaric.

The man who had raised Ethan after his parents died.

The man who had taught him how to hold a sword.

The man Ethan had called "Uncle."

His silver hair glistened beneath the rain.

His expression was unreadable.

Ethan's chest tightened.

"He came himself," he whispered.

Beside him, Lucien folded his arms.

"That surprises you?"

"He never leaves the capital."

"Then whatever he wants..." Lucien said quietly, "...must be important."

Ethan's hand drifted toward the sword at his side.

No.

Not important.

Terrifying.

Below them, Commander Alaric raised his hand.

The drums stopped.

Silence spread across the battlefield.

Then—

"Ethan!"

The commander's voice echoed through the rain.

"Come home."

Ethan froze.

The words sounded so normal.

So familiar.

As if none of this had happened.

As if Ethan wasn't standing beside the Crimson Prince.

As if his entire life hadn't begun to unravel.

"You've been deceived," Alaric continued.

"Those creatures have manipulated you."

Ethan clenched his jaw.

Lucien remained silent.

"Ethan," Alaric called again, "we can still fix this."

Memories flashed through Ethan's mind.

Alaric teaching him to hunt.

Alaric wrapping bandages around scraped knees.

Alaric praising him after training.

"We're proud of you, son."

Ethan swallowed hard.

"I should talk to him," he said.

Lucien turned sharply.

"Absolutely not."

"He deserves a chance to explain."

"And what if this is a trap?"

Ethan met Lucien's gaze.

"What if it isn't?"

Rain slid down Lucien's face.

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Finally—

"I'll come with you."

"No."

Ethan shook his head.

"If he sees you, this becomes a battle."

Lucien's eyes darkened.

"It already is."

Ethan stepped closer.

"Please."

Something vulnerable flickered across Lucien's expression.

"You ask dangerous things so easily."

"...Please."

Lucien closed his eyes.

Then nodded.

"Ten minutes."

"If I'm not back—"

"I know."

Lucien looked away.

"I know exactly what to do."

Ethan descended the castle steps alone.

Each footstep felt heavier than the last.

The castle gates opened behind him.

The rain intensified.

Commander Alaric waited in the space between both armies.

His stern face softened when he saw Ethan.

"You've grown."

Ethan stopped several feet away.

"You lied to me."

The commander's smile faded.

"Ethan—"

"Did you know?"

His voice cracked.

"Did you know about my parents?"

Silence.

"Ethan..."

"Answer me!"

Alaric looked older somehow.

Tired.

"Yes."

The single word shattered something inside Ethan.

"You knew," Ethan whispered.

"You knew all these years."

"We were protecting you."

"By lying to me?"

"You were a child!"

"You turned me into a weapon!"

The commander's eyes flashed.

"We turned you into humanity's salvation!"

Rain poured around them.

"You don't understand," Alaric said.

"Then help me understand."

Alaric exhaled slowly.

"Two hundred years ago, Lucien Valois slaughtered thousands."

"He nearly destroyed this world."

Ethan glanced back toward the castle.

"He said he ended a war."

"He started one."

Their eyes locked.

"Your mother believed peace was possible," Alaric continued.

"Your father agreed."

"They betrayed the Order."

Ethan's breath caught.

"They wanted to protect vampires?"

"They wanted balance."

Alaric's expression hardened.

"They were naïve."

"You had them killed."

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

"We tried to save them."

"Then what happened?"

Alaric looked away.

"The attack wasn't supposed to happen."

Fear crawled down Ethan's spine.

"What attack?"

A flash of lightning illuminated the battlefield.

Alaric finally looked at him.

"The Order discovered your Bloodfire Gift."

Ethan's heart stopped.

"They wanted to secure you."

"No..."

"Your parents refused."

Ethan backed away.

"No."

"They tried to flee with you and Lily."

The rain suddenly felt freezing.

"The village burned during the struggle."

Ethan's legs trembled.

"You're lying."

"Ethan..."

"You said vampires killed them!"

"We believed it was necessary."

Necessary.

Necessary.

The word echoed inside his skull.

"You let me hate them," Ethan whispered.

"You let me spend ten years hunting monsters..."

"...when the monsters were standing beside me."

Commander Alaric reached for him.

"Ethan, listen to me."

Ethan stumbled backward.

Tears mixed with rain.

"I trusted you."

"You were supposed to."

"I loved you."

Pain flashed across Alaric's face.

"And I loved you too."

Silence.

Then—

"Ethan."

The commander's voice became cold.

"Come back."

Ethan looked up.

The warmth was gone.

The man who had tucked him into bed.

Who had bandaged his wounds.

Who had praised his progress.

Had vanished.

In his place stood the leader of the Order.

"You belong to humanity."

Ethan stared at him.

"I belong to myself."

The battlefield fell silent.

Alaric's expression hardened.

"...Then you've chosen them."

"No."

Ethan wiped his tears.

"I've chosen the truth."

The commander's face twisted with disappointment.

"Then I have no son."

A sharp pain exploded through Ethan's chest.

He looked down.

A silver blade protruded from his shoulder.

He gasped.

One of the hunters had attacked from behind.

"Ethan!" Alaric shouted.

But it was too late.

More hunters surged forward.

The ground erupted into chaos.

Before Ethan could react—

A blur of black and crimson tore through the battlefield.

Lucien.

He stood in front of Ethan.

Red eyes blazing.

The air around him vibrated with fury.

He looked at the hunters.

Then at Alaric.

His voice was soft.

Terrifyingly soft.

"You had your ten minutes."

The temperature seemed to drop.

Rain froze against the earth.

Lucien's gaze returned to Ethan.

Blood soaked through Ethan's shirt.

"Did they hurt you?"

Ethan stared at him.

Despite everything—

Despite the lies.

Despite the fear.

Despite the blood.

Lucien's first concern had been him.

"...Lucien," Ethan whispered.

The Crimson Prince slowly turned back toward the army.

For the first time since Ethan had met him...

The mask fell away.

Ancient power surged through the battlefield.

Hunters froze.

Even Alaric took a step back.

Lucien's crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.

"You wanted war," he said quietly.

The wind screamed around them.

"Then come and face the monster you created