Chapter 6: The Blood I Never Knew
1520 Words
When I opened my eyes, everything was blurred—the ceiling fan spinning slowly above me, the distant drone of voices downstairs, the tight ache behind my eyes. For a moment, I forgot what had happened.
Then it all came crashing back.
Melissa. The restroom. The blood.
The expulsion.
I sat up with a start, my sheets tangled around me like vines. My head throbbed and my limbs felt heavy, but the voices downstairs pulled me from the fog of sleep.
“…we can’t keep hiding it from her,” my dad’s voice murmured, low but sharp. “She needs to know.”
“She’s not ready,” Mom whispered. “We promised we’d never—”
“It’s the right decision. It’s already started.”
I blinked.
What the hell were they talking about?
I pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders and slipped down the stairs, keeping my steps silent. I hovered just beyond the hallway leading to the kitchen, their silhouettes visible in the soft light.
“What do I need to know?” I said, stepping forward.
They both turned sharply. My mom’s hand flew to her chest like I’d startled her spirit right out of her body.
“Imogen,” my dad said, standing quickly. “You should be resting—”
“No,” I cut him off. “What’s going on? What do you mean ‘she needs to know’? And what’s ‘already started’?”
Their eyes darted between each other again. It was the same look they gave each other in the principal’s office. That heavy, unsaid something.
“I deserve the truth,” I said more firmly, standing straighter even though my knees trembled. “After everything that’s happened—I need to understand.”
They didn’t speak for a long while. My mom looked at the floor, eyes glassy. My dad let out a slow breath.
Finally, he nodded.
“Come. Sit.”
We moved to the living room. The lights were dimmed, and my mom sat on the arm of the couch, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her cardigan.
I sat on the edge of the armchair, my pulse loud in my ears.
“I don’t know where to begin,” my father said slowly. “But the simplest way to say it is… Imogen, you’re not entirely human.”
I blinked at him.
I almost laughed. “Okay. Sure. Great start.”
“We’re serious,” my mom said, eyes locked on mine. “What we’re about to tell you is going to sound… insane. But it’s the truth. You’re a Lunaris.”
I stared at her. “A what?”
“Lunaris,” my dad repeated. “A werewolf. At least, partially.”
This time, I did laugh. It came out short and breathless. “I’m sorry, are we doing bedtime stories now? Because after the week I’ve had, I could really use a good laugh.”
My mom didn’t even c***k a smile. “Imogen.”
“No. No, come on. Werewolves? Like full moon, claws-out, silver-bullet werewolves? Seriously?”
“Not exactly,” my dad said, still patient, still painfully serious. “Our kind is more complex. We’re born with a bloodline connected to the elemental spectrum. Every Lunaris has what’s called a Manifesto—an ability that channels our connection to the natural world.”
“This is insane,” I muttered.
“It’s true,” my mom said. “I know it sounds like fiction, but we’re telling you the truth. We were both Lunaris—part of the world we call Lunareth. We left it behind to protect you.”
I shook my head, standing. “This is ridiculous. Is this because I pushed Melissa? Because I lost control? You think that’s some werewolf rage thing?”
My dad stood too. “Imogen, the surge of strength you felt—it wasn’t normal. Not for a human. That was your Manifesto beginning to stir.”
“No. No, I’ve lived seventeen years as a regular person. I’m not some secret werewolf princess or elemental ninja or whatever this is.”
“You didn’t develop your Manifesto like most Lunaris do,” my mom said softly. “You were born under a waning blood moon,” Dad added. “The odds of you manifesting powers were slim, so we decided to raise you as human. We thought you’d never awaken.”
“Awaken what?”
“Your Manifesto,” Mom replied softly. “It’s what channels your elemental power. Every werewolf—whether Lunaris or Lycari—has a unique connection to an element that reflects their soul.”
I stared at them. “You’re serious.”
“Dead serious,” Dad said. “The strength you used on Melissa… it wasn’t normal. It was raw Manifesto surge. You’ve awakened, Imogen.”
“So… you hid this from me?”
“To protect you,” my dad said. “Lunareth is not a safe world. It’s dominated by power, bloodlines, and survival. You’d be hunted—or used—if they knew about you. So we left. We erased our past.”
I laughed again. It was bitter this time. “So what? Now that I’ve hurt someone, you’re suddenly deciding I belong to this hidden world of yours?”
“It’s not just about Melissa,” my mom said. “There have been signs. The woman you met… in the mall.”
I froze.
The old woman. The glowing eyes. The strange, monotone prophecy.
“You… how did you know?”
“Because she’s one of the Seers of Lunareth,” my dad said. “She’s been watching you.”
“That’s not creepy at all,” I muttered.
“There’s more,” he added, voice grave. “You’ve been enrolled.”
I blinked. “What?”
Dad leaned forward. “There’s a school—hidden, ancient. It’s called Tenma High. That’s where all Lunaris and Lycari adolescents go once their Manifestos awaken. It’s not like any human school.”
“Clearly,” I scoffed. “Because I just got expelled from mine.”
“This isn’t punishment,” Mom said. “It’s… inevitable. The school summoned you. Your blood answered.”
“What does that even mean?” I said, overwhelmed. “Is this like Hogwarts for werewolves?”
“No,” Dad said. “Tenma High isn’t a fairy tale. It’s brutal. Competitive. Ruthless. And it’s the only place that can help you understand what you are.”
He stood and walked to the fireplace. He pulled down a framed photo and behind it, hidden in the wall, was a sealed envelope with a wax crest shaped like a crescent moon crossed by five elemental sigils.
He handed it to me.
I opened it slowly, fingers trembling. The letter inside was written in elegant, ancient script. My name was on the top.
Imogen Schreave,
Daughter of Lunaris Blood,
You are hereby summoned to Tenma High. Your Manifesto has awakened.
Report before the next full moon. You belong to the wild.
Failing to attend is a violation of Blood Pact Law.
I dropped the letter. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Tenma High is hidden deep within the veil of a bewitched mountain range,” Mom said. “Only those of werewolf blood can pass through. It’s guarded by magic older than civilization.”
“And what, I just show up there and start… what? Sparring with wolves?”
“Not wolves—students,” Dad said. “Each one born with an elemental Manifesto. The school doesn’t care about grades or status. Your worth is measured by power—how well you fight, how much control you have over your beast, and how well you bond with your element.”
I felt dizzy.
“What elements?”
“There are five Houses,” Mom explained. “Each tied to an elemental affinity. Students are chosen by the element that reflects their soul. You’ll understand more once you enter the school.”
“What elements?”
“The Houses compete,” Dad said. “Through training, combat trials, and lunar tournaments. Alliances are fragile. Rivalries define everything.”
“And I’m just… supposed to survive this?” I whispered. “Thrown to the wolves—literally?”
“You’re stronger than you think,” my mom said gently.
“I almost killed someone yesterday!” I snapped. “You think that makes me strong?”
“No,” Dad said. “It means your Manifesto’s coming out violently—and if you don’t learn to control it, someone will die. Next time, it might be you.”
I fell silent. Their words sank like stones in my chest.
“And Melissa?” I asked. “She framed me. She pushed me. And now I’m the monster.”
“Not a monster,” Mom said. “But yes, this all started something we can’t stop. It’s why you have to go.”
Then someone knocked on the door—once, twice, three times.
We all froze.
- Writer
