CHAPTER 4 , THE BLOOD OF THE PROPHECY
2455 Words
PART 1
“I want answers.”
Adrian stopped beside the door.
“You've been saying that since we arrived.”
“And you have been avoiding me since we arrived.”
“I have not.”
“You have.”
Adrian turned.
“What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
“That is impossible.”
“Then start with the important things.”
He studied her face.
“Your blood is important.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“My grandmother warned me about it.”
“What exactly did she say?”
“She told me never to let anyone see it.”
Adrian’s expression tightened.
“Nothing else?”
“She said people would hurt me if they knew.”
“She was right.”
“Then tell me why.”
“I don't know everything.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it is true.”
“You are a prince. Your family knows. You must know something.”
Adrian looked away.
“I know enough to understand that you are in danger.”
“From your family?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you bring me here?”
“To protect you.”
“Inside the home of the people hunting me?”
“It is safer here than outside.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It does to me.”
“Well, I am not you.”
“I know.”
“Then stop deciding what is best for me.”
“I am trying to keep you alive.”
“I don't need you to control me to do that.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“I am not trying to control you.”
“You brought me here against my will.”
“Because you were being hunted.”
“You could have asked.”
“You would have refused.”
“I am refusing now.”
“I know.”
She crossed her arms.
“Then let me leave.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because they will find you.”
“They found me because your people know where I am.”
“Not all vampires are my people.”
“They are still vampires.”
“Yes.”
“And you are one.”
“Yes.”
“Then how am I supposed to trust you?”
“You don't have to.”
“Then why should I stay?”
“Because I will not let them hurt you.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because I mean it.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
Adrian was silent.
“Why does your father want me?”
“I don't know.”
“Why do the hunters want my blood?”
“I don't know.”
“Why did you look at me like that in the forest?”
His eyes flickered.
“Like what?”
“Like you recognized me.”
“I didn't.”
“You're lying.”
“I am not.”
“You are!”
She turned away.
“I hate this.”
“What?”
“Not knowing.”
Adrian softened.
“I understand.”
“No, you don't.”
“You are right.”
She looked at him.
“You admit it?”
“Yes.”
“Then help me.”
“I will.”
“How?”
“I'll find answers.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
“That's another word for never.”
“It isn't.”
She turned sharply.
“Then prove it.”
“How?”
“Tell me something you do know.”
Adrian hesitated.
“Your blood is unlike anything I have ever encountered.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don't know yet.”
“Have you seen blood like mine before?”
“No.”
“Then why is everyone afraid of it?”
“Because someone told them to be.”
“Who?”
“My family.”
Isla stared.
“So your family knows.”
“Yes.”
“And they want me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
She threw her hands up.
“Again!”
“I am sorry.”
“I don't want your apology. I want the truth.”
“I know.”
“You are impossible.”
“So I've been told.”
She stepped backward, frustrated.
“I am leaving.”
“No.”
“You don't own me.”
“I know.”
“Then move.”
Adrian stayed still.
“Move!”
She tried to pass him.
Her hand caught against the edge of a broken metal ornament on the table.
“Ah!”
She pulled back.
A thin cut opened across her palm.
Adrian froze.
“Isla.”
“What?”
“Your hand.”
“It is only a cut.”
“Let me see.”
“No.”
“Isla, please.”
She looked at him.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Adrian's breathing changed.
“I need you to cover it.”
“Why?”
“Now.”
“You're frightening me.”
“Cover your hand.”
The scent reached him.
His pupils widened.
He stepped backward.
“Adrian?”
“Don't come closer.”
“What is wrong?”
“Your blood.”
She stared at her palm.
“It is bleeding.”
“I know.”
He clenched his fists.
His voice became strained.
“Wrap it.”
“Why?”
“Because I cannot trust myself.”
“What does that mean?”
He looked at her wrist.
“I don't know.”
She took another step.
“Adrian…”
“Stop.”
She stopped.
His breathing grew heavier.
He could hear her heartbeat.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
His fangs pressed against his lips.
“Your blood…”
“What about it?”
“It smells…”
He swallowed.
“Different.”
“Different how?”
“Like nothing I've ever smelled.”
She stared at him.
“Are you going to hurt me?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am trying very hard not to.”
Her expression changed.
“Then don't.”
“I won't.”
A drop of blood slipped down her wrist.
Adrian moved before he could stop himself.
He caught her wrist.
“Adrian!”
He froze.
His lips touched the blood.
For one impossible second, everything disappeared.
He tasted it.
His eyes widened.
Isla gasped.
“Adrian?”
He released her immediately.
He stumbled backward.
“No.”
“What happened?”
“My heart.”
She stared at him.
“What?”
His hand flew to his chest.
Thump.
A heartbeat.
Another.
Thump.
Adrian looked horrified.
“No…”
“What is it?”
“My heart.”
“Your heart?”
“It is beating.”
He pressed his palm against his chest.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
His eyes filled with disbelief.
“It hasn't done this in centuries.”
Isla stared at him.
“What did my blood do?”
Adrian looked at her.
“I don't know.”
For the first time, the immortal prince looked genuinely afraid.
Isla slowly looked at the small cut on her palm.
“This is impossible.”
“I know.”
“You drank my blood.”
“Only a drop.”
“And that made your heart beat?”
“I don't know why.”
“Then find out.”
“I will.”
“Promise?”
Adrian looked into her frightened eyes.
“I promise.”
Neither moved.
The silence between them felt heavier than before.
Adrian could still hear the unfamiliar rhythm inside his chest.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
He had lived for centuries without it.
Now, after one taste of Isla's blood, his heart was alive again.
And neither of them understood what that meant.
PART 2
Adrian stood alone in the corridor.
His hand remained pressed against his chest.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
“No.”
He looked around as if someone might have heard it.
“This isn't possible.”
His heart answered him.
Thump.
He closed his eyes.
He could still taste Isla's blood.
It was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
“Your blood…”
He whispered the words.
“What are you?”
He turned sharply.
A guard stood at the end of the corridor.
“Your Highness?”
Adrian immediately lowered his hand.
“What?”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes.”
The guard studied him.
“You look pale.”
“Leave.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The guard bowed and disappeared.
Adrian waited until the corridor was empty.
Then he walked quickly toward the royal archives.
He pushed open the heavy doors.
A cloud of dust rose.
“Find it.”
He moved between the shelves.
“Find what?”
He stopped.
The voice came from behind him.
Adrian turned.
An old royal archivist stood there.
“Your Highness.”
“I need the oldest records concerning human blood.”
The archivist frowned.
“Human blood?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Just find them.”
The archivist hesitated.
“Those records are restricted.”
“I am the prince.”
“I know.”
“Then open them.”
The old man swallowed.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He disappeared between the shelves.
Minutes later, he returned carrying a thick, black-covered book.
“This is the oldest record.”
Adrian took it.
“Leave.”
The archivist bowed.
Adrian opened the book.
The pages were yellow and fragile.
He turned one.
Then another.
“Nothing.”
He continued.
Then he stopped.
A symbol caught his attention.
A red moon.
Below it were ancient words.
He read slowly.
“Born beneath the eclipse…”
His eyes narrowed.
“A human…”
He turned the page.
“Whose blood…”
His fingers tightened around the book.
“Will end the immortal bloodline.”
Silence.
Adrian stared.
“No.”
He read the passage again.
The same words remained.
“A human born beneath the eclipse shall rise when the crimson moon returns. Her blood shall carry the power to end the immortal bloodline.”
Adrian's breathing changed.
“Isla.”
He looked at the page again.
“The prince who loves her will be the last to fall.”
His heart pounded harder.
“No.”
He closed the book.
Then opened it again.
He needed to be certain.
He searched through the records.
Eclipse.
Human.
Blood.
Immortal bloodline.
Every answer led back to the same prophecy.
Adrian whispered,
“She is the one.”
A sound came from behind him.
He turned.
The king stood at the entrance.
Adrian froze.
“What are you doing here?”
The king looked at the book.
“You tell me.”
Adrian closed it.
“I was searching for something.”
“About the girl?”
Silence.
The king walked closer.
“You have become curious.”
“I needed answers.”
“You were told not to search.”
“I was never told that.”
“You were told to stay away from the archives.”
Adrian stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because some knowledge is dangerous.”
“Then perhaps it should not be hidden.”
The king's expression hardened.
“What did you find?”
“Nothing.”
The king studied him.
“You are lying.”
Adrian remained silent.
The king stepped closer.
“Adrian.”
“Yes?”
“What happened between you and the girl?”
“Nothing.”
“Do not lie to me.”
Adrian's heart beat beneath his ribs.
Thump.
The king's eyes narrowed.
“What is that?”
Adrian froze.
“My heart.”
“Your heart?”
“It started beating.”
The king's face changed.
“How?”
Adrian said nothing.
The king's eyes moved toward the book.
“Her blood.”
Adrian's silence answered him.
The king took a step backward.
“She gave you her blood?”
“It was an accident.”
“You tasted it?”
“Yes.”
The king's expression became cold.
“Then the prophecy has awakened.”
Adrian stared.
“You knew.”
“I knew enough.”
“You knew who she was.”
“Yes.”
“And you brought her here anyway.”
“I needed to know whether the prophecy was true.”
Adrian's voice hardened.
“You used me.”
“I gave you a duty.”
“You knew what would happen.”
“I knew what might happen.”
“You sent me to her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she trusts you.”
Adrian's fists clenched.
“You wanted me to gain her trust.”
“Yes.”
“For this?”
“For the kingdom.”
Adrian shook his head.
“You don't care what happens to her.”
“She is a threat.”
“She is a person.”
“She is the end of our bloodline.”
Adrian stared at him.
“She hasn't done anything.”
“She doesn't have to.”
The king turned away.
“You will stay close to her.”
Adrian's voice was low.
“And if I refuse?”
The king looked back.
“Then you will prove that you are no longer worthy of the throne.”
Adrian said nothing.
The king left.
Adrian remained alone.
He looked down at the prophecy.
Then at his hand.
He remembered Isla's frightened face.
Her voice.
Her trust.
Her blood.
And the heartbeat that had returned because of her.
“She is the girl they've feared for centuries.”
He closed the book.
“But she doesn't deserve to die for it.”
He walked back toward Isla's room.
When he reached her door, he stopped.
His hand hovered above the handle.
Inside, Isla was still awake.
“Adrian?”
He froze.
“How did you know it was me?”
“I heard you.”
He opened the door.
She looked at him.
“Did you find answers?”
Adrian stared at her.
“Yes.”
Her expression changed.
“What did you find?”
He couldn't tell her everything.
Not yet.
“Your blood is connected to something very old.”
“What?”
“A prophecy.”
Isla slowly stood.
“What prophecy?”
Adrian looked into her eyes.
“The kind that could change everything.”
And for the first time, he understood that protecting Isla might mean standing against his own family.
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