chapter 4 : unveiling secrets

Alina had been at Crimson Academy for almost a week, and it still felt like she was stumbling through a maze, blindfolded. Every day, new strange things seemed to happen—whispers behind her back, the feeling of eyes on her, and the eerie silence that lingered in the halls. But today, something felt different. It was as if the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

As Alina walked down the corridor to her next class, the feeling of being watched returned. She had gotten used to it by now—always feeling like there was someone just behind her, lurking in the shadows. But today, the sensation was stronger than ever.

She turned the corner, glancing over her shoulder, but there was no one there. Only the empty hallway, with flickering light fixtures and cracked stone walls.

She sighed, brushing it off as her imagination running wild. But as she reached the door to her next class, a figure appeared at the end of the hall—a tall, shadowy figure with glowing eyes.

Lucian.

He was standing in the shadows, watching her, his posture casual but somehow menacing. His piercing gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment, Alina felt like the world had stopped. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t move.

“Do you always follow me?” Alina finally asked, trying to keep her voice steady. She hated how small she felt in that moment.

Lucian didn’t smile. He didn’t need to. His mere presence was enough to send chills down her spine. “I don’t follow. I simply observe.”

Alina frowned, feeling a wave of frustration wash over her. “What do you want from me, Lucian?”

His lips quirked up at the corners, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You’ll find out soon enough, Alina. But for now, just know this: You can’t escape me.”

Later that afternoon, Alina met up with Maya and Theo for a quick break between classes. As usual, the three of them sat together, chatting about trivial things. But something was off today. Maya’s usual lightheartedness was replaced with a noticeable tension.

“I don’t like it,” Maya muttered under her breath as she glanced around the cafeteria. “Lucian is bad news, Alina. I don’t care how charming he is, or how much attention he gives you. He’s dangerous.”

Alina tried to keep her voice casual, but her heart was beating faster. “I’ve noticed that. He’s not exactly friendly.”

Theo, who had been unusually quiet, now spoke up. His voice was serious, darker than it had been before. “Lucian doesn’t play by the rules. He does what he wants, and everyone here knows it. But he’s not just any vampire, Alina. He’s... special.”

Alina raised an eyebrow. “Special?”

Maya nodded grimly. “He’s one of the oldest vampires in the academy. And the last person who got too close to him didn’t make it out alive.”

Alina felt her stomach drop. “Wait, what? What do you mean?”

Theo leaned in closer, his expression intense. “I mean he’s not just any vampire. He’s dangerous—more dangerous than you think. If he wants something, he’ll do anything to get it. And you’ve caught his eye.”

Alina’s mind was racing. Was this all because she was human? Or was there something else?

“I don’t know what he wants from me,” Alina whispered, her voice shaking slightly. “But I need to figure it out.”

Maya placed a reassuring hand on Alina’s arm. “Just be careful, okay? Don’t let him manipulate you. He’s good at that.”

That night, as Alina walked back to her dorm, the strange feeling of being watched returned. She tried to shake it off, telling herself she was just paranoid, but it didn’t help. The shadows seemed deeper than usual, the night air colder. And there—just out of her line of sight—she thought she saw a figure standing in the darkness.

Her pulse quickened as she turned the corner. But when she looked, there was no one there.

She sighed in frustration, about to continue on her way, when a soft voice echoed in the night.

“Alina…”

Her heart stopped. It was a whisper, so faint she wasn’t sure if she’d imagined it. But then it came again—closer this time.

“Alina…”

She froze, her breath caught in her throat. She slowly turned around.

And there, standing at the end of the hallway, was Lucian. His crimson eyes glowed in the darkness, and his smirk sent a chill through her veins.

“I told you, you can’t escape me.”

The next morning, Alina found herself unable to concentrate in class. She kept thinking about the events from the night before—Lucian’s cryptic words, his presence in the shadows. She was starting to feel like she was losing control of the situation. And when she finally saw him again, standing at the entrance of the courtyard, she knew something had changed.

Lucian didn’t wait for her to approach. He simply walked toward her, his stride confident and sure, like he was walking toward something he already owned.

“Good morning, Alina,” he said softly, his voice like velvet. “Did you sleep well?”

Alina stood her ground, trying to mask the nervousness building inside her. “What do you want, Lucian?”

He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “I want you to stop fighting it. You’re drawn to me, just like I’m drawn to you.”

Alina’s breath hitched in her chest. “No. I’m not. I don’t want anything from you.”

Lucian tilted his head, his gaze softening. “You don’t have a choice. You’re mine now.”

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving Alina standing there, her heart pounding in her chest.

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