The Binding Fates SEASON 1: The Past

Chapter 3: Invitation to The Academy Part 1

Elyse awoke from a dream of crashing waves and a heartbroken woman, her blue-tinged purple eyes reflecting the sorrow of the moonlit sea. The dream lingered, a poignant reminder of the pain and loss that had become a constant companion.

A week had passed since she had been brought to Maria's mansion, a haven of luxury and privilege. The opulent surroundings, the lavish meals, the attentive servants - it was a world she had only dreamed of, a world she longed to share with her family.

But her family was gone, victims of a cruel and senseless attack. She missed her brother Luke's laughter, her parents' gentle warmth. She longed to share this new life with them, to show them the beauty and comfort she had found in this strange new world.

Driven by a desperate hope, she sought solace in the mansion's library, a haven of knowledge and forgotten stories. As she browsed the shelves, her fingers brushed against a dusty, ancient book, its cover devoid of any title.

Inside, a faded letter, tucked between the pages, caught her eye. It was a message from a woman named Lucia, a woman who had once walked the halls of power, a woman whose name was whispered in hushed tones, a woman who had been condemned as a villain.

"To my dearest friends," Lucia had written, her words filled with a warmth and tenderness that seemed at odds with the legend that surrounded her. "As I am writing this, the night is cold, and it's making me tremble. This will be the last letter that I will be sending to you. I can still remember the day - the very first day I have met you all. I entered the walls of Olympia, and you all welcomed me. I was overwhelmed, to join hands with the people who are known to be more powerful than anyone. I am glad to be able to meet you all. I hope in my next life we will all meet again."

Elyse's heart skipped a beat. This Lucia, the woman who penned these words, was not the ruthless, power-hungry monster she had read about in countless tales. This Lucia was a woman of love, of warmth, of a deep and abiding friendship.

She flipped through the pages of the book, realizing it was not a mere book but a diary, a chronicle of Lucia's life, her journey into the world of the Alphas.

The Alphas, a group of powerful individuals, had once ruled the Empire with an iron fist. They were shrouded in mystery, their past a tapestry of both glory and tragedy.

Elyse remembered the legends, tales of betrayal, of greed, of a woman named Lucia who had turned against her own kind, who had become a villain in the eyes of the world. But this diary painted a different picture, a picture of a woman who had loved and lost, a woman who had been betrayed, a woman who had sought a better world.

As she continued to read, a faded photograph slipped from the diary's pages, fluttering to the floor. It was a group portrait, a snapshot of a time long past. In the center stood a woman with a radiant smile, her eyes filled with a warmth that seemed to radiate from the page.

Flanking her were two other women, their smiles tinged with sadness, their eyes filled with a sense of longing. Behind them stood a young boy, his arms raised in a peace sign, his face alight with joy. And on either side of the group stood two men, their expressions serious yet kind. One had ash-black hair, the other blue-ish hair.

On the far right stood a man with blond hair and blue eyes, his face a picture of regal handsomeness. Elyse recognized him instantly - King Samuel, Lucia's husband, a man who had loved his wife with a devotion that had become legendary.

"If he is His Majesty, King Samuel, then these gentlemen and ladies are..." Elyse murmured, her mind racing with a new understanding.

"The Alphas," a voice said from behind her. Elyse turned to see a young man, his hair disheveled, his eyes a deep, mysterious black.

"Yeah, uh- I'm sorry, I didn't take that off from the shelf," he apologized.

"No, no! It's okay. I-I'm just curious," Elyse stuttered, her heart pounding at the sight of his handsome face.

"Uhm... Madam is calling for you," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine.

Elyse, her mind swirling with questions and newfound knowledge, hurried to Maria's office.

"Did you call for me?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

"Yes... this is urgent," Maria said, her voice laced with a seriousness that sent a chill down Elyse's spine.

Three men, their red eyes burning with an otherworldly intensity, stood behind Maria, their presence radiating a power that made Elyse's breath catch in her throat. They were vampires, pure-blooded, their lineage tied to the ancient power of the Master.

"Elyse," Maria said, her voice firm and resolute. "You're going to The Academy."

Elyse froze, her mind reeling from the sudden announcement. The Academy, a place of learning, of magic, of power - it was a world she had only dreamed of, a world that now seemed both alluring and terrifying.