Chapter 7 — The Vastro Shadow
1685 Words
By morning, the Moretti estate no longer felt like a home.
It felt like a fortress.
Every entrance was guarded.
Every window had been checked.
Men Serena had never seen before stood along the corridors with earpieces and weapons, speaking in low voices whenever someone approached.
The message from the Vastro family had changed everything.
Serena stood by her bedroom window, watching the guards move across the grounds.
She couldn't stop thinking about the words.
THE VASTRO FAMILY HAS AWAKENED.
She didn't know what frightened her more—the fact that they had returned or the fact that Dante seemed genuinely concerned.
A knock sounded.
Serena turned.
Dante entered.
"You need to get dressed."
She frowned.
"Good morning to you too."
"We're leaving."
"Where?"
"Somewhere safer."
Serena crossed her arms.
"I thought this was the safest place."
"It was."
She stared at him.
"And now?"
"Now they know where you are."
Her stomach tightened.
"Who told them?"
"We don't know."
Dante walked toward the window.
"They shouldn't have been able to find this estate."
"But they did."
"Yes."
Serena watched him carefully.
"You're worried."
Dante looked at her.
"I'm cautious."
"That's not what your face says."
His jaw tightened.
"Get dressed, Serena."
She sighed.
"Fine."
Twenty minutes later, Serena walked downstairs wearing a simple dark outfit.
Dante was waiting near the entrance with Adrian.
Adrian looked at her.
"Ready?"
"As ready as someone can be when they're being moved because a supernatural crime family wants their blood."
Adrian smiled.
"You're adapting quickly."
"I don't have much choice."
Dante opened the door.
"Stay close."
They stepped outside.
A convoy of black vehicles waited in the driveway.
Serena looked at them.
"How many cars do we need?"
"Enough."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting."
She rolled her eyes.
Adrian laughed.
Dante gave him a look.
"Don't encourage her."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Serena smiled despite herself.
For a brief moment, everything felt almost normal.
Then the first car exploded.
The sound ripped through the morning.
Serena froze.
Dante grabbed her and pulled her behind the stone wall.
Another explosion followed.
Guards shouted.
Weapons were drawn.
Adrian pulled out his gun.
"Ambush!"
Dante looked across the grounds.
"Where?"
"North side!"
Gunfire erupted.
Serena crouched behind the wall, heart pounding.
Dante turned to her.
"Stay here."
"Absolutely not."
"Serena."
"You told me to stay close."
"This is not the time to argue."
"I'm not arguing."
She pointed toward the chaos.
"I'm terrified."
Dante stared at her.
At least she was honest.
He crouched beside her.
"Listen to me."
Serena nodded.
"If I tell you to run, you run."
"Where?"
"Anywhere away from the gunfire."
"What about you?"
"I'll find you."
She stared at him.
"Promise?"
The word slipped out before she could stop it.
Dante's expression softened.
"Promise."
Then he stood.
The next few minutes blurred.
Dante and his men pushed the attackers back.
Serena stayed behind the wall until she heard someone approaching.
Footsteps.
She held her breath.
A figure appeared.
Not a guard.
A woman.
She wore a black coat and had dark hair pulled away from her face.
She wasn't holding a weapon.
She simply stood there.
Looking at Serena.
"You shouldn't be here."
Serena stood slowly.
"Who are you?"
The woman smiled.
"Someone who knows what you are."
Serena's pulse quickened.
"What am I?"
"The last Vale heir."
The woman took a step forward.
Serena stepped back.
"Stay away from me."
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
"The Morettis are lying to you."
Serena's eyes narrowed.
"About what?"
"Everything."
A gunshot rang out.
The woman turned.
Dante appeared behind her.
"Step away from Serena."
The woman's smile disappeared.
"Dante Moretti."
He raised his weapon.
"Now."
The woman slowly backed away.
"You can't protect her forever."
Dante's expression hardened.
"I don't need forever."
He fired into the ground near her feet.
She disappeared behind the trees.
Dante immediately turned toward Serena.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
He searched her face.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
His shoulders relaxed slightly.
Serena looked toward the trees.
"Who was she?"
"A Vastro."
"She said you were lying to me."
Dante's face became unreadable.
"She would say anything to make you doubt me."
"But is she wrong?"
He didn't answer.
Serena noticed.
"Dante."
"Not here."
"Then where?"
"Back at the estate."
She stared at him.
"You promised me answers."
"And you'll get them."
---
The convoy eventually reached a second Moretti property outside the city.
Unlike the main estate, this place was smaller.
More isolated.
There were no large gates or impressive buildings.
Just a stone house surrounded by forest.
Serena stepped out of the car.
"This is safer?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because nobody knows about it."
Adrian looked at Dante.
"Almost nobody."
Dante's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
Adrian pointed toward the forest.
"Tracks."
Everyone became alert.
Dante moved forward.
Serena followed.
He immediately stopped her.
"No."
She frowned.
"What?"
"Stay here."
She looked at the ground.
There were footprints.
Fresh ones.
Someone had been watching the house.
Dante crouched.
"How many?"
Adrian examined the area.
"At least three."
Serena's stomach twisted.
"They followed us."
Dante stood.
"Apparently."
Adrian looked at him.
"Then we have a bigger problem."
Dante nodded.
"We do."
Serena stepped closer.
"What?"
Dante looked at her.
"The Vastro family doesn't want to kill you."
She frowned.
"Then what do they want?"
He hesitated.
"They want you alive."
"Why?"
"Because you're the key to finding the Bloodstone."
Serena stared at him.
"And if they find it?"
Adrian answered quietly.
"They can break the original pact."
Serena didn't understand.
"What happens then?"
Dante's eyes darkened.
"The balance between the supernatural families collapses."
Serena swallowed.
"And that affects me how?"
"The Bloodstone was created from Vale blood."
She stared at him.
"So if they use it..."
"They could control the bloodline."
Serena looked at her palm.
Her symbol began glowing faintly.
Dante noticed.
"Serena."
She looked up.
"What?"
"Your hand."
The glow intensified.
Then a sharp pain ran through her palm.
Serena gasped.
She grabbed her wrist.
Dante caught her before she fell.
"What's happening?"
"I don't know."
The world around her blurred.
Suddenly, she saw something.
A room.
Dark walls.
A stone altar.
A red light.
Someone standing beside it.
She couldn't see the person's face.
Then a voice whispered.
"Find the Bloodstone."
Serena opened her eyes.
She was back in Dante's arms.
He was staring at her.
"What did you see?"
She struggled to breathe.
"A room."
"What room?"
"I don't know."
"Tell me everything."
She closed her eyes.
"There was an altar."
Dante's expression changed.
"Anything else?"
"A voice."
"What did it say?"
Serena looked at him.
"Find the Bloodstone."
Silence.
Adrian looked at Dante.
"She's seeing it."
Dante nodded slowly.
"The awakening is accelerating."
Serena pulled away.
"What does that mean?"
"It means your connection to the Bloodstone is getting stronger."
"I don't want this."
"I know."
"Then stop it."
Dante looked at her.
"I don't know how."
For once, he sounded helpless.
Serena hated that.
She needed him to know what to do.
She needed someone to know what to do.
Instead, everyone seemed to be discovering the danger at the same time she was.
---
That evening, Serena sat alone on the balcony.
The forest stretched endlessly beneath the moonlight.
She heard footsteps behind her.
She didn't turn.
"Dante?"
"Yes."
He came to stand beside her.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Serena said,
"Tell me the truth."
"I will."
"All of it."
Dante nodded.
"The first Vastro leader was once part of the original pact."
Serena looked at him.
"Once?"
"He betrayed the other families."
"Why?"
"Power."
"And that's why they're enemies?"
"That's where it started."
She turned toward him.
"What happened to him?"
"He disappeared."
"Until now."
"Yes."
Serena looked toward the forest.
"So the woman today..."
"Was probably one of his descendants."
She was quiet.
Then she asked,
"Did my father know about them?"
"Yes."
"And he knew about the Bloodstone?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't he tell me?"
Dante's voice softened.
"Because he wanted you to have a normal life."
Serena laughed bitterly.
"That worked out well."
Dante looked at her.
"He tried."
She lowered her eyes.
"I miss him."
"I know."
She swallowed.
"Everyone keeps telling me what my father knew."
Dante remained silent.
"But nobody tells me what he was like before all of this."
Dante looked toward the sky.
"He was brave."
Serena looked at him.
"You knew him?"
"Yes."
"How well?"
"Better than you think."
Her eyes widened.
"What does that mean?"
Dante hesitated.
"Your father saved my life once."
Serena stared at him.
"When?"
"Years ago."
"How?"
"I was seventeen."
Dante's expression changed as the memory returned.
"My father was preparing me to take over the family. There was an attack."
Serena listened.
"I was trapped."
"And my father saved you?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"Because I didn't know if you wanted to hear stories about him."
Serena looked away.
"I do."
Dante nodded.
"Then I'll tell you."
She looked back at him.
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
A small smile appeared.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
For a moment, the world seemed quiet.
No enemies.
No blood pact.
No prophecy.
Just two people standing beneath the moon.
Then Serena's palm began glowing again.
She looked down.
The symbol was brighter than before.
Dante's expression changed.
"What?"
Serena slowly turned her hand.
The symbol wasn't simply glowing.
It was moving.
A thin silver line extended from the center of her palm.
It formed a shape.
A crown.
Dante stared.
Serena looked at him.
"What does that mean?"
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"It means the pact has started choosing."
Her heart dropped.
"Choosing what?"
Dante looked into her eyes.
"The king."
Serena swallowed.
"And who is the king?"
Dante didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
She already knew.
The silence between them became heavier.
Then, somewhere deep within the forest, a howl echoed through the darkness.
Serena looked toward the trees.
Dante stepped closer.
"The Blood Moon is coming."
And for the first time, Serena understood that the prophecy wasn't waiting for them.
It had already begun.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD