Chapter 3: Confrontation in the Forbidden Area（1）
1530 Words
In the dim corridor, Rhett’s figure appeared especially imposing under the faint light, his cold gaze locked onto Leanna standing at the center of the room. An indescribable pressure filled the air, making each breath feel heavy.
Leanna clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and tried to remain calm. “Don’t you think you should tell me why this is a ‘restricted area’?”
Rhett slowly stepped into the room, his footsteps echoing on the stone floor. His expression remained stern, his eyes scanning her face before settling on the stone table. “Because what’s here isn’t something you should know right now.”
“Again with this!” Leanna raised her voice, glaring at him angrily. “Every time I want the truth, you brush me off with the same excuse. What are you so afraid of?”
He halted his steps, hands in his pockets, and after a moment of silence, he spoke slowly, “Leanna, some truths will only plunge you into greater danger, and I won’t let you bear those consequences.”
Her gaze shifted to the book on the stone table, its cover engraved with a blood-red full moon surrounded by strange symbols. She gritted her teeth and pointed at the book. “Is this what you don’t want me to see?”
A flicker crossed Rhett’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. “How much did you read?” His voice was deep, tinged with tension.
“Enough to know you’ve been hiding too much,” Leanna stared directly at him, her voice resolute. “The Moon Spirit’s power, my blood, and your so-called plan—what exactly are you keeping from me?”
Rhett approached her slowly, his gaze sharp as a hawk’s. “The more you see, the less you’ll understand. Those records are just the tip of the iceberg, and you’re not ready to face the whole truth.”
“Then help me get ready!” she retorted angrily, her hands trembling slightly but her eyes unwavering. “If my blood is connected to the Moon Spirit, I have the right to know everything!”
His expression darkened further, his eyes searching her face for something. Finally, his tone softened slightly. “Leanna, my duty is to protect you, whether you trust me or not. That won’t change.”
She let out a cold laugh, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Protect me? Or control me?”
“Those aren’t mutually exclusive,” Rhett replied flatly, his gaze still fixed on her.
A surge of anger rose within Leanna. Ignoring his warnings, she walked straight to the stone table and opened the book. A faint musty scent emanated from the pages, filled with ancient script she couldn’t fully comprehend. Yet some words pierced her consciousness clearly.
“Sacrifice… Guardian… Awakening…” she whispered, her eyes growing more complex.
Rhett’s voice suddenly sounded behind her, carrying a subtle warning. “This isn’t something you can casually touch.”
“But it’s about me,” Leanna turned to face him. “Don’t you think I have the right to know?”
His expression stiffened momentarily but quickly grew colder. “You can know everything if you insist, but you must bear the cost.”
“Cost?” She scoffed. “If I don’t even have the right to choose, what’s the point of talking about costs?”
Rhett was silent for a moment before speaking slowly. “Fine, if you insist, I can tell you some truths about the Moon Spirit. But I must warn you: once you know, you can’t unknow.”
Leanna lifted her head, determination shining in her eyes. “I don’t care. I need to know everything.”
He studied her, as if trying to gauge her resolve. Finally, he nodded slightly but kept his tone cold. “Follow me.”
Rhett led Leanna through the corridor to an even more secluded room. The walls were adorned with ancient reliefs, and at the center stood a massive stone monument carved with the figure of a woman. She held her hands high, lifting a radiant full moon, under whose glow wolves and vampires bowed low.
“This is the Moon Spirit,” Rhett’s voice was deep and solemn. “She is the balance between the two clans and also the source of chaos.”
Leanna’s gaze fixed on the monument, a strange sense of familiarity welling up within her. “What does she have to do with me?”
“Because you are the continuation of her bloodline,” Rhett said slowly. “Her power lies dormant in your blood, and this power can either maintain the balance between the two clans or utterly destroy them.”
The air before the stone monument seemed to freeze. Leanna couldn’t tear her gaze away from the statue of the Moon Spirit. Though merely a stone carving, the female figure seemed to possess an irresistible allure, causing her chest to tighten slightly.
“So, my blood contains her power…” she repeated Rhett’s words softly, a hint of confusion in her voice. “But why me?”
Standing beside her, Rhett gazed intently at the monument, his voice low and clear. “It’s not a coincidence but a choice.”
“A choice?” Leanna turned to look at him, her brow furrowed. “Whose choice?”
He met her eyes, a complex emotion flickering within his gaze. “Fate’s choice, and history’s choice.”
Leanna pressed her lips together, her fingers unconsciously clenching into fists. Her mind was in turmoil, all the clues tangled like threads she couldn’t unravel.
“What exactly can my blood do?” she finally asked, her tone a mix of unease and curiosity.
Rhett didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he walked over to the monument, reaching out to touch a symbol on its surface. “The Moon Spirit’s power is essentially balance, but it has never belonged solely to the werewolves or vampires. It can create, and it can destroy. Your blood is the key to it.”
“A key?” Leanna’s voice dropped lower, instinctively taking a step back. “A key to what?”
Rhett turned to face her, his eyes heavy. “A key to peace—or to destruction.”
His words hit her like a blow, leaving Leanna stunned. She felt her breathing quicken, a deep fear welling up inside.
“So you had me sign the contract to use my blood?” Her voice trembled, but her gaze remained sharp on Rhett.
He frowned slightly but maintained his calm tone. “Not exactly. I brought you here to protect you. Your power is too dangerous; if it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences would be unimaginable.”
Leanna let out a cold laugh, sarcasm evident in her voice. “Protect me? That’s your reason?”
“Yes.” Rhett’s gaze didn’t waver. “Whether you believe me or not, you must remember—this power is not a blessing but a curse.”
She looked down at her palms, as if trying to feel the so-called “curse.” Yet she felt nothing, only an invisible pressure weighing on her chest.
“Why me?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Why my blood?”
“Because you are the only awakened one,” Rhett said solemnly. “For centuries, both werewolves and vampires have awaited your arrival.”
Leanna looked up, a flash of anger in her eyes. “So I’m just the target of your struggle? Just part of your plans?”
“Yes.” His admission was blunt, but there was deep complexity in his gaze. “But I hope you’ll choose your own path, not become anyone’s tool.”
His words echoed in her mind, leaving her unsettled. Turning back to the monument, the female figure seemed to gaze back at her, eyes filled with an indescribable expectation.
“If this is a curse, how can I break it?” she asked softly, her tone tinged with suppressed pain.
“You can’t escape it,” Rhett replied, his words like cold water. “You can only learn to control it—or be consumed by it.”
His words caused her heart to sink. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
“So I have no choice…” she murmured wearily.
“Not entirely,” Rhett approached her slowly, a rare gentleness in his tone. “Your choice lies in how you use this power—for peace or for destruction.”
Determination returned to Leanna’s gaze. She looked up at Rhett, her voice firm. “If I’m to choose, I need to know the whole truth.”
He studied her for a moment, then nodded slightly. “Very well. The sooner you’re prepared, the better your chances of making the right choice.”
With that, he turned and left, his footsteps fading down the corridor. Leanna stood alone, her eyes fixed on the monument, her heart filled with conflict and doubt.
“Can I really control this power?” she whispered, emotions swirling within her chest.
- Writer
