Bloodbound

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Blood Ties

Emma awoke the next morning, her head buzzing with the memory of her encounter with Adrian. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to process everything he had told her. The idea that she wasn't entirely human was absurd, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that it explained so much about her life—her strange dreams, her sense of never quite fitting in.

She eventually dragged herself out of bed and went through the motions of getting ready for the day. Her reflection in the mirror looked the same as always—dark hair, pale skin, and hazel eyes. But now she wondered what lay beneath the surface.

At the breakfast table, her mother was already up, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper. Emma hesitated, then sat down across from her.

"Morning, Mom," she said, trying to sound casual.

"Morning, sweetheart," her mother replied, glancing up with a smile. "You look a little tired. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just had some weird dreams," Emma said, avoiding her mother's gaze.

Her mother nodded sympathetically. "I get those sometimes too. Maybe it's just the change in weather."

Emma forced a smile, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She needed to find out more about her family's history, about this supposed vampire lineage. And she knew just where to start—her grandmother's old journals, which were stored in the attic.

After breakfast, Emma made her way to the attic, a dusty, cluttered space filled with old furniture and forgotten treasures. She rummaged through the boxes until she found the one she was looking for—a wooden chest filled with her grandmother's belongings.

She opened the chest and carefully lifted out a stack of leather-bound journals, their pages yellowed with age. Her grandmother had been a prolific writer, documenting everything from daily life to family history. Emma hoped to find some clue, some hint of the truth Adrian had spoken of.

She spent hours reading, losing herself in her grandmother's words. The journals painted a picture of a woman deeply connected to the natural world, with a fascination for folklore and the supernatural. But it wasn't until she reached the journal from her grandmother's youth that she found what she was looking for.

In a passage dated August 15, 1945, her grandmother wrote about meeting a man named Lucian, who claimed to be a vampire. She described their encounters in vivid detail—their midnight conversations, his strange abilities, and the undeniable connection she felt to him. It was clear that Lucian had left a lasting impression on her grandmother, one that she had kept secret from the rest of the family.

Emma's heart pounded as she read on, piecing together the story of her grandmother's hidden romance with Lucian and the possibility that their union had produced children—children who carried the vampire bloodline. It was a revelation that both thrilled and terrified her.

Lost in thought, Emma didn't hear the footsteps on the attic stairs until it was too late. She looked up to see her mother standing in the doorway, a concerned expression on her face.

"Emma, what are you doing up here?" her mother asked, her voice gentle but firm.

Emma hesitated, then held up the journal. "I found Grandma's old journals. There's something I need to ask you about."

Her mother sighed and stepped into the attic, closing the door behind her. "I suppose it's time you knew the truth," she said, sitting down beside Emma. "What do you want to know?"

"Did Grandma really know a vampire named Lucian?" Emma asked, her voice trembling.

Her mother nodded slowly. "Yes, she did. Lucian was... different. He claimed to be a vampire, and while it sounded impossible, there were things about him that couldn't be explained any other way."

"Did she have children with him?" Emma pressed, her heart racing.

Her mother looked away, her expression pained. "Yes, she did. And that bloodline has been passed down to you."

Emma's mind reeled. It was true, then. Everything Adrian had said was true. She was part vampire. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, struggling to keep her voice steady.

"I wanted to protect you," her mother said softly. "I thought if you didn't know, you could live a normal life. But I see now that was a mistake. I'm sorry, Emma."

Emma felt a mix of emotions—anger, confusion, relief. "What happens now?" she asked.

"Now," her mother said, "we figure out how to deal with this together. You're not alone in this, Emma. We'll get through it."

As they sat in the dusty attic, surrounded by the remnants of the past, Emma felt a newfound resolve. She didn't know what the future held, but she was determined to face it head-on. With her mother's support and Adrian's guidance, she would uncover the full truth of her heritage and learn to navigate the world of vampires.