Chapter 3: The City of Shadows
1381 Words
Morning arrived in Blackthorn like any other day.
The sun rose slowly over the quiet town, casting golden light across rooftops, streets, and the dense forest that surrounded it. Birds chirped from the tall trees, and the usual sounds of daily life returned—cars passing, neighbors greeting each other, the faint hum of the town waking up.
To anyone else, it was peaceful.
To Seraphina Vale, it felt like the calm before a storm.
She stood in the kitchen staring blankly at her cup of tea. Her grandmother sat across from her, flipping through the same ancient book from the night before.
Neither of them had slept.
Seraphina’s mind replayed everything that had happened—the glowing light in her hands, the voice in her head, the massive wolf in the forest.
And the words her grandmother had spoken.
The supernatural world felt your magic awaken.
Seraphina rubbed her temples.
“This is insane,” she muttered.
Evelyn didn’t look up from the book.
“What part of it do you think is insane?” she asked calmly.
Seraphina let out a frustrated laugh.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the part where you're telling me that vampires, werewolves, and witches exist?”
Evelyn turned a page.
“They do.”
Seraphina leaned back in her chair.
“And I’m supposed to believe that?”
“You already do.”
Seraphina froze.
Evelyn finally lifted her gaze.
“You saw the wolf last night,” she said quietly. “You felt the magic inside you. Deep down, you know something impossible happened.”
Seraphina didn’t answer.
Because her grandmother was right.
She did know.
And that terrified her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked softly.
Evelyn’s expression softened slightly.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
Evelyn closed the book.
“From them.”
Seraphina’s chest tightened.
“The supernatural world is not peaceful, Seraphina,” Evelyn continued. “Vampires, werewolves, witches… they have been at war with each other for centuries.”
She stood and walked toward the window.
“Five hundred years ago, they formed a treaty to stop the bloodshed.”
Seraphina frowned.
“What kind of treaty?”
“One that kept the balance between them,” Evelyn said. “A fragile peace.”
Seraphina folded her arms.
“And where do I fit into all this?”
Evelyn turned toward her.
“You were never meant to.”
Seraphina blinked.
“What?”
Evelyn walked back to the table and placed her hands firmly on the wood.
“There is an ancient prophecy,” she said.
Seraphina felt her stomach twist.
“A girl born under the Blood Moon will awaken with the power of the Blood Witch. Her magic will be unlike anything the supernatural world has seen in centuries.”
Seraphina’s voice barely came out.
“You think… that’s me?”
Evelyn didn’t answer directly.
But her silence said enough.
Seraphina stood abruptly.
“No,” she said. “No way. That’s ridiculous.”
She began pacing the kitchen.
“I’m just a normal girl. I go to school, I drink too much coffee, and I barely pass my math exams. There’s no way I’m some ancient magical witch.”
Evelyn watched her quietly.
“You were born during a Blood Moon.”
Seraphina stopped.
“What?”
Evelyn’s voice softened.
“The night you were born, the moon turned red. The sky looked exactly like it did last night.”
Seraphina’s heart began racing.
“You told me that was just a rare lunar event.”
“I lied.”
The room fell silent.
Seraphina stared at her grandmother.
“You lied to me… my entire life?”
“I was trying to keep you safe.”
Seraphina shook her head.
“Safe from what?”
Evelyn’s voice became deadly serious.
“From the moment you were born, powerful beings would have hunted you.”
Seraphina’s breath caught.
“Hunted me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Evelyn looked toward the ancient book again.
“Because the Blood Witch has the power to tip the balance between all supernatural races.”
Seraphina felt dizzy.
“And they would want that power.”
Before she could respond, a sudden loud knock echoed through the house.
Both women froze.
Seraphina frowned.
“Are you expecting someone?”
Evelyn’s expression darkened.
“No.”
The knock came again.
This time louder.
Seraphina walked toward the door.
“Maybe it’s just Mrs. Carter from next door,” she said nervously. “She always forgets her mail.”
But as she reached for the handle, Evelyn grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
Seraphina looked at her.
Evelyn’s eyes were filled with warning.
“Something feels wrong.”
The knocking stopped.
A moment of silence passed.
Then a voice spoke from the other side of the door.
“Seraphina Vale.”
Seraphina’s stomach dropped.
The voice was deep.
Smooth.
Dangerous.
Evelyn slowly reached for the silver knife hidden beneath the table.
“Do not open that door,” she whispered.
But Seraphina hesitated.
“Who are you?” she called out.
There was a brief pause.
Then the voice replied calmly.
“Someone who has been searching for you.”
Seraphina glanced at Evelyn.
Her grandmother shook her head.
But curiosity was stronger.
Slowly, Seraphina opened the door.
And immediately wished she hadn’t.
Standing on the porch was the most striking man she had ever seen.
Tall. Pale. Dark hair falling slightly across his forehead.
His sharp features looked almost too perfect to be human.
But it was his eyes that froze her in place.
They were deep crimson.
Like fresh blood.
The man smiled faintly.
“Good morning,” he said.
Seraphina’s throat went dry.
“Who… are you?”
The man stepped forward slightly.
“Lucien Nightfall.”
Evelyn appeared beside Seraphina instantly.
Her voice was ice cold.
“You are not welcome here, vampire.”
Lucien’s eyes shifted toward her.
Amusement flickered across his face.
“Ah,” he said softly. “The protective grandmother.”
Seraphina looked between them.
“Wait… vampire?”
Lucien turned his gaze back to her.
“Yes.”
Her heart pounded.
“You’re joking.”
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
Before she could answer, Evelyn stepped forward, placing herself between them.
“Leave,” she said sharply.
Lucien’s expression remained calm.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“And why is that?”
Lucien’s crimson eyes slowly returned to Seraphina.
“Because she belongs to the prophecy.”
Seraphina’s stomach twisted.
Evelyn’s grip tightened on the knife.
“You will not take her.”
Lucien chuckled softly.
“My dear woman,” he said. “If I wanted to take her… you wouldn’t be able to stop me.”
The air suddenly felt colder.
Tension filled the porch.
Seraphina’s heart raced as she realized something terrifying.
Her grandmother wasn’t the one in control of this situation.
Lucien looked at her again.
“I came here to talk,” he said calmly. “Not to fight.”
Seraphina swallowed.
“About what?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened slightly.
“About the war that’s coming.”
Evelyn’s eyes widened.
“War?”
Lucien nodded slowly.
“The supernatural world has been waiting centuries for the Blood Witch to awaken.”
Seraphina’s hands trembled.
“And now that she has…”
Lucien’s voice dropped.
“Everyone is going to want her.”
At that moment, a powerful howl echoed from the forest behind the house.
Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Well,” he murmured.
“It seems we’re already running out of time.”
Seraphina’s heart dropped.
“Why?”
Lucien turned toward the trees.
“Because,” he said calmly.
“The werewolves have arrived.”
From the edge of the forest, several large wolves emerged from the shadows.
Their golden eyes glowed in the morning light.
And at the front of them stood a tall man with wild dark hair and piercing amber eyes.
Kael Stormborn.
The Alpha of the werewolf pack.
His gaze locked onto Seraphina immediately.
Lucien sighed quietly.
“This,” he said.
“Is where things get complicated.”
- Writer
