THE VAMPIRE'S FORBIDDEN BLOOD

THE VAMPIRE'S FORBIDDEN BLOOD 4

CHAPTER 4 — THE MAN IN THE DARKNESS

I couldn't move.

My father's voice was still echoing inside my head.

Elena...

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.

"That's impossible," I whispered.

Adrian didn't answer.

I turned toward him.

"You said my father disappeared."

"He did."

"You said you didn't know where he was."

"We didn't."

"But you just said that was him."

Adrian looked at me.

"I didn't expect him to find you this soon."

My heart pounded.

"Why is he looking for me?"

"Because you're his daughter."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Adrian sighed.

"Your father has been searching for you since the night you were born."

I stared at him.

"Then why didn't he come for me?"

"Because your mother made sure he couldn't find you."

"How?"

"She used magic."

The word made me laugh nervously.

"Magic?"

"Yes."

I shook my head.

"This is insane."

Adrian looked out the window.

"Your mother was a powerful witch."

I stopped breathing.

"My mother was a witch?"

"One of the most powerful witches I've ever known."

I looked down at my hands.

"Then what am I?"

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

Finally, he said, "That's what we're trying to find out."

A sudden knock hit the passenger window.

I screamed.

Adrian turned toward the glass.

Nothing was there.

Then another knock.

This time from my window.

I looked outside.

The man from the cemetery was standing beside my car.

My heart stopped.

Lucian.

My father.

He looked exactly as I had imagined him from the old photographs my mother had kept hidden.

But there was something different about seeing him in person.

He looked at me like he had been waiting his entire life for this moment.

"Elena."

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

Adrian immediately got out of the car.

"Stay away from her."

Lucian smiled.

"You still protect her."

Adrian stepped between us.

"You don't get to come back after nineteen years and claim her."

Lucian's smile disappeared.

"She is my daughter."

"She is not yours to claim."

I opened my door.

"Stop!"

Both men looked at me.

I stepped out.

Adrian turned toward me.

"Elena, get back in the car."

"No."

I looked at Lucian.

"Are you my father?"

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he nodded.

"Yes."

My throat tightened.

"Why did Mom tell me you were dead?"

"Because she was afraid of me."

"Did you hurt her?"

His expression changed.

"No."

"Then why was she afraid?"

Lucian looked at Adrian.

"Ask him."

I turned toward Adrian.

He looked away.

"What isn't he telling me?"

Lucian smiled sadly.

"Everything."

Adrian's eyes flashed.

"Don't listen to him."

Lucian took one step closer.

"Your mother didn't die naturally, Elena."

The world seemed to stop.

"What do you mean?"

Adrian suddenly grabbed Lucian by the throat.

"Enough."

Lucian didn't even struggle.

Instead, he looked directly at me.

"Ask Adrian who killed your mother."

My eyes widened.

I turned toward Adrian.

"Adrian?"

He released Lucian.

"Elena, listen to me."

"Did you kill my mother?"

"No."

"Then who did?"

He hesitated.

That hesitation destroyed whatever trust I had left.

Lucian stepped closer.

"I did."

I froze.

My father looked directly into my eyes.

"I killed your mother."

The words hit me like a bullet.

"No."

"She knew what you were becoming."

"What I was becoming?"

Lucian's eyes darkened.

"Your mother was trying to keep your true nature hidden."

Adrian moved toward me.

"Elena, don't listen to him."

But Lucian continued.

"She knew that when you turned nineteen, your blood would awaken."

I looked at my necklace.

The red symbol began glowing again.

Lucian smiled.

"Just like it is now."

The symbol suddenly exploded with light.

A wave of energy threw Adrian backward.

I screamed.

The road beneath my feet cracked.

Trees shook.

Every light in the nearby houses went out.

Then silence.

I looked at my hands.

They were glowing.

Lucian stared at me with something I had never seen in his eyes before.

Fear.

"My God," he whispered.

Adrian slowly stood up.

"She's awakened."

I looked between them.

"What am I?"

Neither of them answered.

Then a third voice came from the darkness behind us.

"She's something neither of you can control."

We all turned.

A woman stood at the edge of the road.

She smiled.

And her eyes were glowing red.

"Finally," she whispered.

"The last blood heir has awakened."