Forbidden Blood

A New Life

“But you must remember, Jason, this is not a choice—it is an order.”

Victor’s voice was cold, final, leaving no room for argument. Jason stood before his father in the dimly lit study, his arms crossed, his face set in a scowl. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows over the stone walls, the heavy curtains drawn to block out the moon.

“I don’t need a babysitter,” Jason said flatly. “I can take care of myself.”

Victor’s piercing gaze met his son’s. “That is not for you to decide. You are different from them, but you are not invincible. The human world has dangers even for one like you.”

Jason clenched his fists. He had longed for this—freedom, a chance to live outside the confines of their world, among mortals. And yet, his father’s control still wrapped around him like chains.

“The one watching over you will not interfere unless necessary. But you must remain cautious. I will not have rumors spreading.”

Jason scoffed. “You care too much about what they think.”

“No, I care about survival.” Victor’s voice darkened, his presence like a shadow looming over Jason. “I am allowing you this…experiment. Do not give me a reason to end it.”

Jason said nothing, his jaw tightening. There was no winning against his father. Not now.

Victor’s expression softened, but only slightly. “You will attend a school in Glimmerwood. Someone I once knew studied there. The place holds…memories.”

Jason raised a brow. “Who?”

“That is not important. You will find out when the time is right.” Victor turned away, his dismissal clear. “Now go.”

Jason hesitated, but there was nothing left to say. He turned and left the study, stepping into the cold halls of their estate. His shadow stretched before him, but he knew—somewhere in the darkness, another shadow followed.

The journey to Glimmerwood was long, but uneventful. Jason had grown used to keeping his presence unnoticed, blending into the mortal world. But this time, things were different. This time, he was being watched.

His watcher was careful—never revealing himself, never stepping into the light. Jason knew the full-blooded vampire lingered in the unseen corners of every street, every turn. It irritated him. His father didn’t trust him.

He arrived at Glimmerwood High early in the morning, stepping out of the black car that had been arranged for him. A fake enrollment had been set up—his last name carefully omitted from the records, his presence erased from official documentation. The connections his father had ensured that no questions would be asked.

The school secretary, a tired-looking woman in her forties, barely glanced at him as she handed him a schedule. “You’ll start today. Homeroom is down the hall, third door on the right.”

He took the paper without a word and walked away.

The first half of the day passed in a blur. The teachers droned on about subjects he had already mastered centuries ago, the students barely acknowledging his presence beyond a few curious glances. He could feel their eyes on him—studying the new student, wondering where he had come from. But Jason remained distant, uninterested in their world of trivial gossip and fleeting friendships.

Lunchtime was no better. He sat alone, picking at the food he didn't need to eat, listening to the murmur of conversations around him. He caught bits and pieces—whispers about a girl named Brittany, arguments over an upcoming football game, complaints about an upcoming history test. None of it mattered to him. But the more he listened, the more he realized something unsettling: his father had sent him here for a reason, and he had no idea what it was.

The feeling of being watched never left him. Even when he turned corners, when he sat in class, when he walked through the halls, he could sense it—someone lingering just beyond sight, observing, waiting. It wasn’t just his watcher. There was something else.

As the final bell rang, Jason stepped outside, glancing at the sky as the sun began its descent. The air was crisp, the evening approaching. Students scattered in different directions, rushing to cars, bikes, or the sidewalk. Jason, however, walked alone. Until a voice broke the silence.

“You’ve had an uneventful first day, I see.”

Jason tensed. He didn’t turn around immediately, instead letting out a slow breath. Then, he faced the man leaning casually against a black car parked near the curb. His watcher.

Tall, dressed in dark clothing, with sharp eyes that glowed faintly under the dimming light, the vampire exuded an aura of quiet menace. Jason narrowed his eyes. “Did you expect me to start a fight in my first few hours?”

The vampire smirked. “No. But your father will want to know how you’re settling in.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “Of course he does.”

The man gestured to the car. “Come. We return to our world before night falls completely.”

Jason hesitated for just a moment before stepping toward the vehicle. He had questions—questions about why he was really here, about who had once studied in this school, about the presence that seemed to be lurking just beyond his reach. But he knew better than to ask now. He would find the answers on his own.

For now, he would return home. But tomorrow, he would be back.