CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE PRICE OF CHOOSING HER
1584 Words
Evelyn didn’t speak to Kael after they left the courtyard.
She walked beside him through the silent corridors, her arms folded tightly across her chest.
He didn’t try to stop her.
Perhaps he knew she needed the silence.
Or perhaps he was afraid of what she might say.
Either way, the distance between them felt different now.
Before, there had always been questions.
Now there were answers.
And somehow, the answers hurt more.
Kael finally stopped outside her room.
“Evelyn.”
She continued toward the door.
“Please.”
She stopped.
Slowly, she turned.
“What?”
His expression was tired.
“I know you’re angry.”
“You lied to me.”
“I didn’t lie.”
“You hid the truth.”
“Yes.”
“That isn’t better.”
Kael lowered his eyes.
“I know.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You knew about my bloodline.”
“I suspected.”
“You knew about Selene.”
“I knew the name.”
“You knew enough to realize I wasn’t ordinary.”
“Yes.”
“And you still let me walk around this academy believing I was just some human girl who accidentally ended up in a vampire school.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“I wanted to protect you.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
She stepped closer.
“But nobody asks whether I want to be protected.”
His eyes met hers.
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
“You have it now.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I have pieces.”
Kael was silent.
Evelyn’s voice softened.
“And I’m tired of being the last person to know things about my own life.”
Something in her expression broke through his defenses.
He stepped closer.
“I was afraid.”
She stared at him.
“Of what?”
“That if you knew everything, you’d leave.”
Her anger faltered.
“Why would I leave?”
“Because of what I am.”
“You’re a vampire.”
“I’m more than that.”
His voice dropped.
“And you’re more than human.”
She looked away.
“I don’t know what I am.”
Kael gently touched her hand.
“You’re Evelyn.”
She looked at him.
“That’s enough for me.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
She hated that he could still make her feel safe after making her feel betrayed.
“I need time.”
Kael nodded.
“Take it.”
“And don’t follow me.”
His expression tightened.
But he nodded again.
“I won’t.”
She opened her door.
Before stepping inside, she looked back.
“Kael?”
“Yes?”
“If you ever hide something that important from me again…”
She paused.
“I won’t forgive you so easily.”
He gave a faint smile.
“I wouldn’t expect you to.”
The door closed.
Kael remained outside.
Alone.
⸻
Inside her room, Evelyn leaned against the door.
Her heart was pounding.
She wanted to cry.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to open the door again and tell Kael she didn’t mean any of it.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she walked to the mirror.
For a long moment, she stared at herself.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same person.
Yet everything had changed.
She touched her neck.
The place where Kael’s mark had appeared seemed warmer than usual.
Then a strange sensation moved through her body.
A whisper.
Barely audible.
Wake up.
Evelyn froze.
“Who’s there?”
Silence.
She stepped toward the mirror.
Her reflection stared back.
Then, for one brief second, her eyes changed.
Not brown.
Not even red.
Silver.
Evelyn stumbled backward.
“What the…”
The vision disappeared.
She touched her face.
Her breathing quickened.
Something was happening to her.
And she didn’t know how to stop it.
⸻
Across the academy, Kael entered the Council chamber.
Seven elders waited for him.
The oldest councilor stood.
“Where is the girl?”
“Her room.”
“You were ordered to separate yourself from her.”
Kael said nothing.
“You’re refusing the Council.”
“Yes.”
A murmur moved through the room.
The elder’s expression hardened.
“You understand what that means?”
“Yes.”
“Your title can be revoked.”
“I know.”
“Your access to the academy can be restricted.”
“I know.”
“Your family may consider you unfit to inherit.”
Kael’s expression didn’t change.
“I know.”
The elder stepped closer.
“And you would sacrifice all of this for one girl?”
Kael looked directly at him.
“No.”
The councilor frowned.
Kael continued.
“I would sacrifice it for what is right.”
The room fell silent.
“You believe the Council is wrong?”
“I believe fear is making you reckless.”
The elder’s eyes narrowed.
“Careful.”
Kael smiled coldly.
“I’ve been careful my entire life.”
He stepped forward.
“And look where it brought us.”
Nobody answered.
Kael’s voice lowered.
“Lucian breached our wards.”
“Yes.”
“He entered our academy.”
“Yes.”
“He reached Evelyn.”
Silence.
“And instead of asking why he was able to do that, you’re blaming the person he targeted.”
The councilors exchanged glances.
Kael continued.
“If Evelyn is truly connected to the Blood Veil, then removing her won’t solve anything.”
The oldest councilor stared at him.
“What do you propose?”
“Find the truth.”
“And if the truth is dangerous?”
“Then we face it.”
The councilor studied him.
“You sound like your mother.”
Kael froze.
For the first time, something vulnerable crossed his face.
“What did you say?”
The elder’s expression remained unreadable.
“Nothing.”
Kael stepped closer.
“You mentioned my mother.”
The councilor turned away.
“The meeting is over.”
Kael’s eyes darkened.
“No.”
The doors suddenly opened.
A guard rushed inside.
“Councilor!”
Everyone turned.
“What is it?”
“The western wards.”
“What about them?”
“They’re weakening again.”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“How long?”
“Minutes.”
The Council erupted into movement.
Kael turned toward the doors.
Then stopped.
Evelyn.
His promise not to follow her suddenly felt impossible.
He ran.
⸻
Evelyn heard the bells before she saw the guards.
She opened her door.
Students were pouring into the corridors.
“What happened?”
Nobody answered.
Then the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
And went out.
Darkness swallowed the academy.
Evelyn’s heartbeat accelerated.
She stepped backward.
A voice whispered from behind her.
“Evelyn.”
She froze.
She knew that voice.
Lucian.
Slowly, she turned.
He stood at the end of the corridor.
Not attacking.
Not moving.
Just watching her.
“How did you get in?”
Lucian smiled.
“I told you.”
He took one step forward.
“You are the key.”
Evelyn’s hands trembled.
“Key to what?”
“The Veil.”
She shook her head.
“I don’t know anything about it.”
“You will.”
Lucian’s eyes flashed.
“Soon.”
“Why are you doing this?”
He smiled.
“Because your mother stole something from me.”
“What?”
“Your future.”
Evelyn frowned.
“You’re insane.”
“Perhaps.”
He stepped closer.
“But your mother knew exactly what you would become.”
“What will I become?”
Lucian stopped.
His expression changed.
“You’ll remember.”
A sudden rush of wind swept through the corridor.
Lucian disappeared.
Evelyn stood frozen.
Then she heard footsteps.
Fast.
Familiar.
Kael appeared.
“Evelyn!”
She ran toward him.
He caught her immediately.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Did he touch you?”
“No.”
Kael looked over her shoulder.
“Where did he go?”
“He disappeared.”
Kael pulled her closer.
His breathing was uneven.
“I told you not to leave your room.”
“I didn’t.”
He stared at her.
“What?”
“I heard him.”
Kael’s expression changed.
“He came to you.”
She nodded.
“And he said something.”
“What?”
“He said my mother stole my future.”
Kael went still.
Then Evelyn noticed something.
His face had lost all color.
“You know what that means.”
He looked away.
“Kael.”
He didn’t answer.
“Tell me.”
His silence was enough.
Evelyn stepped back.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Kael finally looked at her.
“My mother knew Selene.”
Evelyn’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“They weren’t enemies.”
“Then what were they?”
Kael swallowed.
“They were allies.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“Against who?”
Kael’s voice dropped.
“Lucian.”
The pieces began falling into place.
The Blood Veil.
Selene.
Kael’s mother.
Lucian.
And somehow…
Evelyn.
Then Kael whispered the words that changed everything.
“Your mother didn’t disappear.”
Evelyn’s heart stopped.
“She was taken.”
“By Lucian?”
Kael shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
He looked toward the darkness beyond the corridor.
“The Council.”
Evelyn’s blood ran cold.
And somewhere inside the academy, a door slammed shut.
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