The Awakening of Blood

Shattered trust

The weight of Kieran’s words lingered in the air long after he had left. "That girl is your biggest weakness… and that's what will kill us." Elysia couldn’t shake the coldness of the truth, though she wouldn’t admit it aloud. The idea that her bond with Lily was a threat to herself and everyone around her gnawed at her insides, a constant, unsettling hum in the back of her mind.

But she refused to show weakness. That was something she’d long since sworn off.

As days passed, her thoughts often drifted to the conversation. Lily seemed distant, her usual bright smile replaced with a quiet wariness. Every time their eyes met, there was a flicker of hesitation. Elysia didn’t need to be a mind reader to know that the girl was beginning to sense something was wrong.

It didn’t take long for Lily to confront her.

One evening, after another quiet dinner in their shared space, Lily spoke up, her voice shaking ever so slightly. "Elysia, you have to tell me what’s going on. There’s something about you—something I don’t understand."

Elysia’s heart skipped a beat. She knew this moment would come. It wasn’t just Lily’s curiosity; it was her innocence, her complete lack of knowledge about the supernatural world. And now, that ignorance was starting to turn into suspicion.

"Please," Lily pressed, her eyes searching Elysia’s face for answers. "You’ve been acting strange... different. I—I need to know."

Elysia sighed, pushing her hair back and looking at the girl with a mix of sympathy and frustration. How much could she reveal without causing more harm?

"I’m not who you think I am," Elysia began, her voice low and steady. "I’m not just a woman you met one night. I’m... more."

Lily’s eyes widened. "What do you mean by more?"

Elysia hesitated, then said the words she had been dreading. "I’m a blood demon. A hybrid. I’m part werewolf, part vampire, part demon. And each of those sides gives me power."

Lily froze. Her face drained of color, her breathing shallow as the shock settled in. "You… you’re what?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Elysia took a step toward her, but Lily stepped back, her eyes wide with fear. "No, it’s not like that," Elysia said, trying to calm her. "I’ve controlled it for a long time. I’m not going to hurt you."

But Lily, visibly trembling, shook her head. "You’re a monster," she said, her voice filled with a mix of fear and betrayal. "You’re not… you’re not human."

The words stung harder than any physical blow. Elysia watched as the girl turned away, rushing out of the room without another word.

Elysia stood frozen for a moment, the sadness creeping into her chest like a dark shadow. She had never been a stranger to loss, but this felt different. This felt like the first time she had let someone in, only to have them turn away in fear.

But her good side—the one that cared, the one that tried to protect Lily—faded quickly. She had been foolish to believe that anyone could accept what she truly was. The darkness, the blood, and the violence in her nature would always drive others away.

Her eyes flickered crimson for a moment before she blinked, pushing the rage back. It wasn’t worth it. Not now.

---

Later that evening, as the cold wind howled outside the windows of the house in Hallowstone, Elysia gathered Ivy, Kieran, and Elias. It was time to continue her training. They needed to be ready.

"Listen up," Elysia began, her voice sharp and commanding as she looked at each of them. "You’re going to learn the full extent of my powers. It’s time you understood exactly who—and what—I am."

Ivy’s eyes narrowed with both curiosity and fear, while Kieran’s gaze flickered with concern, as if he was afraid of what she might reveal. Elias simply stood quietly, his expression unreadable.

"I’m a blood demon," Elysia continued, her voice growing colder. "My abilities are tied to my blood. The more blood I control, the more power I gain. I can manipulate it, control it, even bring the dead back with it." She paused, her eyes darkening. "Necromancy is a part of me now."

Kieran shifted uncomfortably. "So you can raise the dead?" he asked, his tone uncertain.

Elysia nodded. "Yes. And with that power comes control over the minds of others. I can compel, manipulate. Make people see and do whatever I want. But I don’t use it lightly. I don’t need to."

She turned to Ivy. "And then there’s blood magic. I don’t need to feed to survive, but the more blood I take, the stronger I become. The power is endless, but I have control over it. For now."

Ivy looked torn between awe and fear. "That’s... that’s insane. So you could kill anyone with just a thought?"

Elysia smirked, her gaze dark. "I could. But that’s not how I work. It’s not about killing. It’s about control. And it’s about survival."

She turned to Kieran next. "I can also transform at will. The werewolf side of me grants me the ability to change whenever I choose. And because of my vampire side, my speed, strength, and bite are lethal. To humans, to vampires—anyone."

Elias shifted uneasily but said nothing.

"And then, there’s the vampire side," Elysia went on, her voice taking on a more dangerous edge. "I have the ability to compel, to dive into minds, and yes—fly." She let that last word hang in the air, letting the weight of it sink in.

Kieran’s face had gone pale. "And you can only be killed by a stake in your weak point. Which, you still don’t know where it is."

Elysia nodded grimly. "Exactly. But until then, I’m invincible. And so are you—all of you. Don’t forget that."

Kieran opened his mouth as if to say something, but Elysia turned her gaze to him, silencing him with a single glance.

"Now," she said, her voice icy.

It was time to teach Ivy the true depths of power, the kind that Elysia had mastered over centuries of existence. Black magic. The magic that ran as deep as blood itself.

Ivy stood in front of her, hands trembling slightly, but her eyes were resolute. She was determined, eager to learn, but Elysia could sense the wariness in her. Ivy had always been different from Lily. Less trusting, more cautious, but equally curious about the powers she had yet to fully comprehend.

“Are you ready?” Elysia’s voice was low, almost a whisper as she stepped closer to Ivy, the room's shadows stretching with her every movement. The air felt heavier, thick with the anticipation of the dark magic that would soon fill the room.

Ivy nodded, though the faintest flicker of doubt crossed her face. "I think so."

Elysia raised her hands, her fingers curling as she began to call upon the blood magic that flowed through her veins. A dark, viscous energy swirled around her fingertips, the color of it a deep crimson, almost black. It was the kind of magic that could manipulate life and death, bend minds, and control wills. It was intoxicating, powerful—and it could easily consume someone unprepared.

“Feel the magic within you,” Elysia instructed, her voice smooth, coaxing. “Reach for it, draw it out. But beware—once you tap into it, there’s no turning back. This is the kind of magic that binds you, makes you part of the darkness.”

Ivy’s breath caught as she hesitated, unsure of how to begin. Elysia could sense the storm of emotions running through her, but she was patient, waiting.

Then, Ivy’s hand moved, fingers trembling as they hovered over her chest. The magic pulsed in the air between them, heavy and alive, as Ivy attempted to draw it from within herself.

At first, nothing happened. But then, Elysia felt it—a sudden crackle in the air. A tremor of power that seemed to vibrate from Ivy’s very core. Ivy’s eyes widened as the energy inside her began to respond. The room grew colder, and the air seemed to darken, suffocating in its weight.

“Good,” Elysia whispered, watching Ivy closely. “Now, push it outward. Feel how it moves through your skin. Let it consume you, but never let it take you completely. You are the master, Ivy. Not the magic.”

Ivy’s lips parted as the magic flowed through her, the force pulling at her, urging her to give in. She gasped as the darkness around her intensified, wrapping itself around her like tendrils. Ivy’s body tensed, and Elysia could feel the familiar thrill of power coursing through her own veins. But this was different. This was Ivy’s first taste of true power, and it was intoxicating, almost dangerous.

The air was thick, humming with energy. Elysia could hear Ivy’s breath quickening as she fought to control the swirling magic. It was like trying to tame a wild beast, but Ivy’s will was strong, and slowly, she began to bend the magic to her.

“Don’t fear it,” Elysia said softly, stepping closer, her voice low and commanding. “Embrace it. Let it consume you. You’re stronger than it, Ivy. You just need to believe that.”

The shadows in the room deepened, shifting in time with the dark power surrounding them. The air grew colder still, and Elysia could feel Ivy’s pulse quicken. The power was now fully coursing through her, and with it, the room seemed to pulse in rhythm with Ivy’s heart. Elysia smiled faintly, impressed.

“Good,” Elysia said, her voice a mixture of approval and something darker. “You’re learning.”

But even as Ivy’s control over the black magic grew, Elysia knew the real challenge was yet to come. The more power Ivy drew from the shadows, the closer she would come to being consumed by it. The magic had a way of making its users crave more—much more. And once you reached that point, there was no turning back.

But for now, Ivy was still in control, and that was enough.