Chapter 4: A Deal with the Blood King

The night was alive with the hum of crickets and the distant howl of wolves as Aria moved silently through the dense forest. Her grip on her blade was firm, every muscle in her body coiled like a spring. She had tracked the vampire for hours, following the trail of broken branches and faint traces of blood left behind after its latest attack.

It wasn’t the first rogue to wreak havoc on Elden Hollow, and Aria knew it wouldn’t be the last. But this one was different—faster, more cunning. It had taken a child from the outskirts of the village, and Aria wasn’t leaving the forest without answers—or vengeance.

The trail ended abruptly in a small clearing, the moonlight spilling over the grass like a silver veil. Aria slowed, her heart pounding in her chest as she scanned the area. The stillness was unnerving, the silence unnatural.

Then, she felt it.

A shift in the air, the faintest whisper of movement behind her.

She spun, blade raised, just in time to block the attack. The rogue vampire snarled, its yellowed eyes glowing with feral rage as it lunged at her. Aria gritted her teeth, pushing back against its strength.

“You picked the wrong night,” she hissed, driving her knee into its side and breaking free of its grasp.

The vampire hissed, circling her like a predator sizing up its prey. It was gaunt and wild, its skin stretched tightly over its bones, but its speed was terrifying.

The fight was a blur of movement—slashes, dodges, and strikes that left the air vibrating with tension. Aria’s blade finally found its mark, sinking into the creature’s chest. It let out a guttural scream before collapsing to the ground, motionless.

Breathing heavily, Aria wiped the sweat from her brow. She knelt beside the body, examining it closely. There was something wrong—its eyes were glazed over, its veins dark and pulsing unnaturally. This wasn’t just hunger.

“What are you doing out here, hunter?”

The deep, familiar voice froze her in place. She looked up sharply to see Lucian standing at the edge of the clearing, his silver eyes glinting in the moonlight.

“You again,” she said, rising to her feet and tightening her grip on her blade. “Are you following me?”

Lucian stepped closer, his movements unhurried. “I could ask you the same. Do you always hunt alone, or are you just reckless?”

“I don’t need your help,” she snapped, gesturing toward the fallen vampire. “I’ve got it under control.”

Lucian’s gaze shifted to the body, his expression darkening. He crouched beside it, examining the veins with a practiced eye. “No, you don’t.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“This isn’t a rogue,” Lucian said, rising to his full height. “At least, not in the way you think. This vampire was tampered with—poisoned.”

“Poisoned?” Aria frowned, crossing her arms. “By who?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out,” Lucian replied. He stepped closer to her, his presence commanding but strangely calm. “But I can’t do it alone. Neither can you.”

Aria bristled, her instincts screaming to push him away. “I don’t work with vampires.”

“Then you’re a fool,” Lucian said bluntly, his silver eyes locking onto hers. “Whatever is happening, it’s bigger than you or your village. These attacks are coordinated. If you want to stop them, you’ll need my help.”

Aria hated how much sense he made. She hated the way his calm confidence unsettled her, made her doubt herself. But more than anything, she hated the thought of trusting a vampire.

“Why should I believe you?” she demanded. “For all I know, you’re the one behind this.”

Lucian’s jaw tightened, his voice colder now. “If I were behind it, you wouldn’t be standing here arguing with me. I’ve spent centuries protecting humans from monsters like this. Believe what you want, but if you turn your back on me, more innocent lives will be lost.”

Aria hesitated, the weight of his words settling over her like a heavy cloak. She thought of the child taken, the blood-streaked fields, the fear in the villagers’ eyes.

She sheathed her blade reluctantly. “Fine. But this doesn’t mean I trust you.”

Lucian smirked faintly. “Trust is earned, hunter. And I don’t expect yours anytime soon.”

---

The unlikely pair moved through the forest together, their silence punctuated by the crunch of leaves underfoot. The tension between them was palpable, their every step charged with unspoken challenges.

“So, what’s your angle?” Aria finally asked, breaking the silence. “Why do you care what happens to humans?”

Lucian’s expression was unreadable. “Because I know what happens when humans and vampires go to war. I’ve seen it before, and I won’t let it happen again.”

“That’s convenient,” Aria said dryly. “A vampire with a conscience.”

“I’m not doing this for you,” Lucian replied sharply. “I’m doing it because balance is fragile. And because, whether you like it or not, you’re at the center of this.”

Aria stopped, narrowing her eyes at him. “What does that mean?”

Lucian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stepped closer, his voice lowering. “It means you’re part of something much bigger than yourself, hunter. And if we fail, there won’t be a village left to protect.”

His words sent a shiver down her spine, but she refused to let it show.

“Then let’s get to work,” she said, pushing past him.

Lucian followed, a shadow at her side, his thoughts a storm of conflicting emotions. Protecting Aria was more than a duty—it was a necessity. But as the night deepened, so did the pull he felt toward her.

And he wasn’t sure which would destroy him first: the prophecy or his growing feelings for her.