SNOW WHITE IS A VAMPIRE

CHAPTER 7

A chill ran down my spine at Zian’s words. I looked over at Calyx, the man beside me. His face was tight, his fists clenched, every inch of him radiating anger as he stared down Zian.

“You don’t touch her,” Calyx said, his voice low and steady, like a warning bell in the night.

Zian tilted his head, dark amusement flickering across his face. “Oh, why? Because you started a blood contract with her? Without her knowing?”

Confusion surged within me. A blood contract? I hadn’t agreed to anything—had I?

Calyx’s jaw tightened, his silence louder than any answer he could give. Zian’s grin widened, clearly relishing the tension. He stepped closer, eyes glinting with menace, and the air crackled with unease.

“Playing protector now, Calyx? She’s a newborn. An unsanctioned one, at that. You know what happens to them,” Zian taunted, a predator toying with its prey.

Calyx stood his ground, a silent storm brewing in his eyes, like thunder on the horizon. “Not this one. She’s under my watch.”

The weight of Calyx’s words settled over me like a heavy blanket, sparking more questions than answers. Why would he protect me? And what exactly was this blood contract that seemed to bind us?

Zian chuckled, a low, sinister sound that echoed in the silence. “Fine. But remember, the council won’t be as lenient as I am.” With that, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving a lingering sense of dread.

I swallowed hard, the reality of everything sinking in like a stone. “What did he mean?” I asked, searching Calyx’s eyes, hoping for some clarity.

Calyx finally relaxed, his intense gaze softening as he looked at me. “It means things just got more complicated for both of us.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with implications I couldn’t yet grasp. The protective resolve in his voice was both comforting and alarming. I needed to understand this world I was unwittingly thrust into and the stakes that came with it.

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“Hey!” I called after Calyx, my voice echoing through the empty streets. I’d been calling out to him since we left that spot where Zian had ambushed us, but he didn’t even glance back. Frustrated, I kept following him, determined to get some answers.

I had so many questions swirling in my mind—about Zian, about the “contract,” about everything. But Calyx just kept moving, his steps steady, ignoring my every word.

Eventually, we arrived in front of a massive house, its structure towering above us in the dim light. It looked like something from a different era, with dark wood and high, arched windows. Shadows clung to the house, making it look even more imposing. The silence around us felt heavy, and I stopped, taking in the sight.

“You live here?” I asked, glancing up at the house, a bit wary of its looming presence.

He didn’t answer, just walked through the gate and headed inside the house without looking back. I followed closely behind, but just as I was about to step inside, I hit an invisible barrier. The impact knocked me back, sending me stumbling out of the doorway.

Confused, I tried again, reaching out to see if there was something there. My hand met an unseen wall, cold and solid, keeping me out. It was as if the house itself was rejecting me.

Calyx noticed my struggle and paused, turning to look at me with a faint smirk.

“You can’t come in unless you’re invited, Fiera,” he said, his tone a mix of amusement and warning.

“Invite me then,” I huffed, rubbing my shoulder from the unexpected barrier.

He shook his head slightly. “It doesn’t work like that. This isn’t just some rule; it’s a boundary you can’t cross unless I genuinely want you here.”

I stared back, frustrated but intrigued. This world of rules—vampire rules—was stranger than I’d imagined.

“Zian said you started a blood contract with me,” I said, my voice trembling with anger. “I didn’t ask for any of this! I never wanted it.”

Calyx met my gaze, his expression unreadable. “You think I wanted this for you?” he replied quietly. “A blood contract isn’t just a choice; it’s a binding, one that can’t be undone.”

I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of everything that had changed. “But why me?”

His face softened, just for a moment. “Because now, like it or not, you’re part of this world.”

I scoffed, looking up at Calyx. “Yes, yes, I’m part of this world, but you can’t even let me in?”

Calyx’s jaw tightened, and his expression softened slightly, though his eyes were serious. “It’s not that simple, Fiera. You may be bound by blood, but these rules—ancient as they are—they’re designed to protect us both. Inviting you in is more than just words. It’s a choice I have to make, and a risk I have to accept.”

“Then what am I supposed to do? Stand out here in the cold while you hold all the answers?” My frustration surged, my hands clenched in fists as I struggled to keep my composure.

Calyx held my gaze, his tone softening. “I get it. You’re new to all of this, and it’s overwhelming. But trust me when I say there’s no turning back once you’re fully inside our world. Every step forward binds you to it even deeper.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words settle heavily in the pit of my stomach. “So what does that make me? Just some pawn in a game I don’t understand?”

He shook his head. “No, you’re not a pawn. But you are… tied to things now. And I don’t want you hurt because of what’s happened. That’s why I’m here.”

I narrowed my eyes, feeling a strange mix of anger and fear. “Then tell me what’s going on. I don’t need you to protect me from the truth—I need you to help me make sense of this.”

For the first time, his defenses seemed to lower. There was a vulnerability in his gaze as he studied me, as if weighing whether to let me in fully, not just into the house but into the secrets he guarded.

“Alright,” he said finally, nodding with determination. “But remember, this isn’t a path you can walk back from. Once you’re in, you’re in.”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “I’m ready.”

He glanced back at the doorway, his fingers lingering on the edge of the frame. Then, with a deep breath, he looked me in the eyes and spoke the words that shattered the invisible barrier.

“Come in, Fiera.”