Dark Allure

Shadows of Doubt

The moon hung low in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the grounds of St. Agatha's Academy as I slipped out of my dormitory. My mind buzzed with a whirlwind of emotions, the weight of the revelations from my conversation with Alex and the possibility of Christian being my brother pressing down on me like a heavy burden.

My footsteps were silent on the dew-kissed grass as I made my way to the secluded spot where Alex and Arabella awaited me.

The air was thick with anticipation as I approached. "Rose," Alex greeted, his voice a soft murmur in the stillness of the night.

"Alex," I replied, my voice tinged with uncertainty. 

Alex's expression was somber as he regarded me, his eyes reflecting the weight of the revelation he was about to share. "I've been thinking," he began, his voice cautious. "Given everything that's happened... maybe we should consider doing a DNA test."

My heart skipped a beat at the suggestion, a surge of apprehension flooding through my veins. A DNA test. The very thought sent a shiver down my spine, a stark reminder of the magnitude of the truth we were seeking.

"Do you think it's necessary?" I asked, my voice trembling with uncertainty. "I'm not really sure if I want to know."

Alex nodded, his gaze unwavering. "It might help to put your mind at ease," he said. "And if Christian truly is your brother, then it could provide the proof we need to confirm it."

My mind raced with conflicting thoughts and emotions. On one hand, the idea of finally having concrete proof of my brother's identity was tantalizing, a glimmer of hope in the darkness that had plagued me for so long. But on the other hand, the thought of facing the truth, of discovering that Christian might not be my brother after all, filled me with a sense of dread.

"I'll do it," I said, voice firm with determination. "I need to know the truth, no matter what."

As we made our way to Arabella's secluded hideaway, my heart buzzed with the weight of the decision I had made. With each step, I felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me like a heavy burden, threatening to consume me with its suffocating embrace.

When we arrived, Arabella greeted us with a weak smile, her pale features drawn with exhaustion. My heart ached at the sight of her frailty, a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the healing she had to go through after the venom.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, my voice soft with concern.

Arabella shrugged, her eyes clouded with pain. "Better," she admitted. "But still not great."

As we settled in, Alex turned to me, his expression serious. "Did you bring the hair sample?" he asked.

I nodded, reaching into my pocket to produce the small vial I had carefully hidden away. "Here," I said, handing it to him with trembling hands. "It's all there."

Alex accepted the vial with a nod of gratitude, his gaze lingering on my face for a moment longer before turning to Arabella. "Let's get started," he said, his voice soft but determined.

The secluded hideaway was shrouded in darkness, the only illumination coming from the soft glow of the lanterns that cast flickering shadows against the trees. I stood beside Arabella and Alex, my heart pounding in my chest as they prepared to perform the DNA test.

Arabella approached me with a syringe, her movements steady and sure despite the weariness that etched lines of exhaustion on her face. "I'm sorry, Rose," she murmured, her voice tinged with regret. "But we need a blood sample to compare with the hair."

I nodded, steeling myself for the prick of the needle as Arabella drew a vial of blood from my arm. The pain was fleeting, a sharp sting that faded into the background as I focused on the task at hand.

Once the blood sample was collected, Alex carefully combined it with the hair sample from Christian, his movements precise and deliberate. With a sense of finality, he sealed the vial and shook it gently, the contents swirling together like a tempest of uncertainty.

"This should give us the answers we need," he said, his voice tinged with hope.

As we prepared to part ways since they said it would take a few days, Alex handed me a small vial containing blood, his expression grave. "Take this," he said, his voice serious. "It'll help you stay in control."

I accepted the vial with a nod of gratitude, tucking it safely into my pocket before bidding my friends farewell and slipping back into the night.

The dormitory loomed before me like a fortress, its windows dark and foreboding in the dim light of the moon. With each step, I felt the weight of my actions pressing down on me like a heavy burden, threatening to crush me beneath its suffocating embrace.

As I stepped into my room, I was met with a sight that sent a shiver down my spine. Stan, Alberta, Ava, and Christian stood before me, their expressions grave and solemn as they regarded me with a mixture of disappointment and concern.

"Oh, shit." I groaned. "I missed training."

"Rose," Stan began, his voice stern. "We need to talk."

My heart sank at the seriousness in Stan's tone, my mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions. Had they found out about my late-night excursions? About the blood I had taken from the clinic a few nights back?

With a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I braced myself for the confrontation that was sure to follow. For in the shadows of doubt and uncertainty, I knew that the truth would always find a way to surface, no matter how deep it's burried.