The Blood Moon

Chapter two

Elena had always believed that monsters belonged in stories.

She had grown up hearing tales about creatures that lived beyond the mountains—werewolves that hunted beneath the moon, vampires that walked among humans, and ancient families bound by curses older than the village itself.

Her grandmother used to tell those stories whenever the electricity went out.

Elena had laughed at them.

She didn't laugh now.

The creature at the end of the hallway moved again.

Its eyes reflected the red light coming through the broken window.

Elena's breathing became shallow.

“Stay behind me,” Adrian said.

She barely heard him.

Everything that had happened within the last few minutes kept replaying in her mind.

The wolf.

The mark on her wrist.

Her parents' fear.

The vampires.

And Adrian.

She looked at him.

He was standing between her and the creatures, but he didn't look entirely human anymore. His eyes carried a strange golden glow, and something about his presence made the air around him feel heavier.

“You're really a werewolf,” Elena whispered.

Adrian didn't look back.

“Yes.”

“And those things are vampires?”

“Yes.”

Elena swallowed.

“How do you know all this?”

Before Adrian could answer, one of the vampires moved.

It happened so quickly that Elena barely saw it.

Adrian pushed her aside.

A violent crash shook the room as he collided with the creature.

Her father rushed forward with the silver dagger.

“Take Elena upstairs!”

Adrian glanced at him.

“You're sure?”

“Go!”

Adrian grabbed Elena's hand.

She pulled away.

“Don't touch me!”

He stopped.

Elena was trembling.

“I don't know you.”

“I know.”

“You keep telling me that you came to protect me, but you haven't explained anything.”

Adrian looked toward the hallway.

“We don't have time.”

“I don't care!”

For the first time, his calm expression broke.

“If you stay here, you may not survive the night.”

Elena stared at him.

Then another crash came from downstairs.

Her mother cried out.

Elena immediately turned.

“Mom!”

She tried to run toward her parents.

Adrian caught her before she could.

“Your father told us to leave.”

“My parents are down there!”

“And they're trying to give you time to escape.”

Elena struggled against him.

“No!”

Adrian's voice became firm.

“Elena, listen to me.”

She stopped.

“You're the reason they're here.”

The words hit harder than anything else.

“What?”

“The vampires have been searching for the person connected to the Blood Moon for years. Tonight, they found you.”

Elena looked at her glowing wrist.

“How?”

Adrian's eyes followed hers.

“Because the mark has awakened.”

A sudden silence fell over the house.

Then Elena heard her mother's voice.

“Elena!”

Her mother appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

There was a cut on her forehead, but she was standing.

“Go!” she shouted.

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

“Mom!”

“Take her!” her father yelled.

Adrian pulled Elena toward the back door.

She kept looking over her shoulder.

Her parents were still fighting.

Her father raised the silver dagger.

Her mother stood beside him.

Elena wanted to stay.

But Adrian forced the door open.

Cold night air rushed inside.

“Run.”

They stepped into the darkness.

The forest surrounded them.

Branches scratched against Elena's arms as she followed Adrian between the trees.

“Where are we going?”

“To my territory.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means somewhere they can't easily reach you.”

“You expect me to trust a werewolf I met five minutes ago?”

“No.”

Adrian continued moving.

“I expect you to stay alive long enough to decide whether you trust me.”

Elena almost laughed despite her fear.

“You're terrible at reassuring people.”

“I've never had to reassure someone during a vampire attack.”

“That makes two of us.”

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Elena noticed something strange.

Adrian was slowing down.

She looked at him.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“You're bleeding.”

He glanced at his arm.

A thin scratch crossed his sleeve.

“It's nothing.”

Elena stopped.

“Wait.”

Adrian turned.

She reached toward his arm.

He immediately stepped back.

“Don't.”

“Why?”

His expression became uncomfortable.

“Because your touch affects me.”

Elena frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“I don't know yet.”

Before she could ask more, another howl echoed through the forest.

Adrian's eyes changed.

“Keep moving.”

They continued deeper into the woods.

After several minutes, Elena noticed something strange.

There were no sounds of insects.

No birds.

No wind.

It was as though the forest itself was listening.

“Where are we?”

“Blackwood territory.”

Elena stopped walking.

“Blackwood?”

“My family.”

She stared at him.

“You said your name was Adrian Blackwood.”

“Yes.”

“And your family is...”

“Werewolves.”

Elena looked around nervously.

“How many?”

“Enough.”

“That isn't comforting.”

“It wasn't supposed to be.”

They eventually reached a clearing.

A large stone building stood between the trees.

It looked more like an old mansion than a house.

Several people stood outside.

The moment they saw Adrian, they approached.

A young woman with long dark hair stepped forward.

Her eyes immediately fell on Elena.

“Who's she?”

Adrian didn't answer.

The woman looked at Elena's wrist.

Her expression changed.

“Oh no.”

“What?” Elena asked.

The woman looked at Adrian.

“You brought her here?”

“She had nowhere else to go.”

“You know what this means.”

“I know.”

The woman stepped closer.

“My name is Mara.”

Elena nodded cautiously.

“Mara, this is Elena.”

“I know who she is.”

Elena felt a chill.

“How?”

Mara didn't answer.

Instead, she looked at Adrian.

“You need to speak with the council.”

Adrian's jaw tightened.

“They'll never agree to protect her.”

“They don't have to agree. If the prophecy is real, they have no choice.”

Elena stared at them.

“Can someone please tell me what this prophecy actually says?”

Mara hesitated.

Adrian looked at Elena.

“Inside.”

They entered the mansion.

The interior was surprisingly warm.

Fire burned in a large stone fireplace, and several people were gathered around a long wooden table.

The moment Elena entered, every conversation stopped.

Dozens of eyes turned toward her.

Some looked curious.

Others looked frightened.

One older man stood.

His face hardened when he saw Elena.

“You brought the human here?”

“She isn't completely human,” Mara replied.

The man's eyes narrowed.

“The mark proves nothing.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“You saw what happened.”

“I saw enough to know that bringing her here could start a war.”

Elena finally lost her patience.

“I'm standing right here.”

Everyone became silent.

She looked around the room.

“You're all talking about me as if I'm not a person.”

The older man stared at her.

“You don't understand what you carry.”

“Then explain it.”

He didn't.

Adrian did.

“The mark on your wrist belongs to an ancient bloodline.”

Elena looked down.

“What bloodline?”

“Your mother's.”

Elena's heart skipped.

“My mother is human.”

Adrian shook his head.

“She was born into one of the oldest supernatural families.”

Elena remembered her mother's strange behavior.

The locked basement.

The old books she was never allowed to touch.

The warnings about the forest.

Everything suddenly seemed connected.

“So my mother knew?”

“She knew enough.”

Elena's eyes filled with anger.

“She lied to me.”

“She was trying to protect you.”

“By keeping me ignorant?”

Adrian didn't answer.

The older man stepped forward.

“Your mother made a dangerous choice when she left this world.”

“What world?”

“Our world.”

Elena stared at him.

“You mean the supernatural world.”

He nodded.

“Your mother was once part of a powerful bloodline. Her family disappeared after the last Blood Moon.”

Elena looked at Adrian.

“And my father?”

“Human,” Adrian said.

“So I'm half-human?”

“No.”

His answer made her pause.

“You're something else.”

The room became silent.

Adrian continued.

“The Blood Moon doesn't awaken in ordinary blood.”

Elena felt a cold sensation spread through her.

“Then what am I?”

Nobody answered.

Suddenly, a loud horn sounded outside.

Everyone in the room froze.

Mara rushed to the window.

“They found us.”

Adrian immediately turned toward Elena.

“How?”

Mara looked outside.

“There are too many of them.”

The older man reached for a weapon.

“They're not alone.”

Elena heard a series of howls from the forest.

Then a voice echoed from outside the mansion.

“Give us the girl.”

Adrian stepped toward the door.

The voice came again.

“You cannot hide her forever.”

Elena's mark began glowing.

Adrian looked back at her.

His expression was filled with concern.

“What is happening?” she asked.

“The Blood Moon is reaching its peak.”

“And what happens then?”

Adrian stared at the red light coming through the windows.

“The person who controls your blood will control the fate of both worlds.”

Elena's heart pounded.

“Who controls my blood?”

Adrian didn't answer.

A massive explosion shook the mansion.

Windows shattered.

People screamed.

The doors burst open.

Adrian moved in front of Elena.

The vampires had arrived.

But this time, Elena noticed something different.

One of them wasn't attacking.

He stood among the others, staring directly at her.

His expression wasn't angry.

It was almost sorrowful.

He slowly whispered her name.

“Elena.”

She had never met him.

Yet somehow, hearing her name from his lips sent a strange feeling through her.

Adrian noticed.

“Don't listen to him.”

“Who is he?”

Adrian's eyes hardened.

“He's the last person you should ever trust.”

The stranger smiled.

“You still haven't told her the truth, Adrian.”

Elena looked between them.

“What truth?”

The stranger's smile widened.

“Ask him why the Blood Moon chose you.”

Adrian remained silent.

And Elena suddenly realized something terrifying.

Everyone around her seemed to know the truth about her.

Everyone except her.