Chapter 19: Morning After

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The first light of dawn barely filtered through the cracks in the mausoleum's stone walls as Ben stirred, his mind still heavy with the weight of the ritual from the night before. Ethan's steady breathing filled the room, a relief to everyone after the harrowing experience. They had bound the entity, but that wasn't all that had happened. Ethan had changed—he was no longer just a human. But only Flower and Robin knew the full truth.

Ben rubbed his tired eyes and glanced at his phone. It was early, too early for anyone to be fully awake, but they had all passed out in the mausoleum after the ritual, too exhausted to move. Sam was curled up against a pillar, her arms wrapped around her knees, while Tom sat slumped in a corner, his arms crossed over his chest, still alert even in sleep. Robin, though, wasn't resting. She had been the first to wake, pacing quietly near the entrance, her gaze distant as she scanned the cemetery for any lingering threats.

Flower stood not far from her, her expression thoughtful as she stared into the fog beyond the mausoleum. Ben pushed himself up, careful not to disturb the others. His legs were stiff, and his back ached from sleeping on the cold stone floor. He approached Flower, glancing at Robin, who gave him a brief nod but remained focused on the surroundings.

"Flower," Ben said quietly, coming to stand beside her. "You okay?"

Flower didn't turn to face him, her voice soft as she answered, "I should be asking you that."

Ben frowned, his gaze flicking to Ethan's still form. "It worked, right? The ritual?"

Flower's lips pressed into a thin line. "It worked. The entity is bound, and Ethan's... safe."

Ben didn't miss the hesitation in her voice. "But?"

"But Ethan isn't just Ethan anymore," she said, finally turning to meet his eyes. "He's different now. He's... like me."

Ben's brow furrowed in confusion. "Like you? What do you mean?"

Flower sighed, her gaze drifting to Ethan once more. "The ritual wasn't just a binding. My blood—First Blood vampire blood—mixed with the magic. It wasn't just about sealing the entity. It was a transformation."

"Transformation?" Ben's stomach dropped. "You mean Ethan's a...?"

Flower nodded, her expression solemn. "He's a First Blood now. He's like me."

Robin, who had been listening quietly nearby, stepped forward. "So... he's not fully human anymore?" Her voice was calm, but there was a layer of concern in her tone. "How's that going to affect him?"

Flower hesitated, glancing at Robin. "He'll still be Ethan, but he'll have... urges. Stronger ones than normal. His senses will change, he'll be stronger, faster. But there's more to it than that. The First Blood legacy comes with... complications."

Ben opened his mouth to ask something, but Robin took a step closer, lowering her voice to a near whisper. "There's something else you should know."

Ben and Flower turned toward her, a mix of confusion and curiosity on their faces. Robin glanced back at Sam and Tom, who were still asleep, before leaning in closer to them.

"I was the werewolf," Robin whispered, her voice low and urgent. "That night... when you saw the creature. It was me."

Ben's eyes widened, and Flower's expression shifted into something between surprise and understanding.

Robin continued in a hushed tone. "I didn't want to say anything before because I wasn't sure, but... I bit Ethan that night, when I was trying to help subdue the dark spirit inside him. I think it might have changed him."

Ben's heart raced. "Changed him? You mean he could be—"

"A werewolf," Robin finished. "It's possible. I don't know for sure, but the bite could have triggered something in him. The combination of vampire blood and my bite... I don't know what it'll do to him."

Flower's eyes darkened with concern. "He's already transforming into a First Blood. If he's becoming a werewolf too... that's unheard of."

Ben ran a hand through his hair, his mind spinning with the implications. "What are we supposed to do? We can't tell Tom or Sam... not yet."

Robin nodded, her expression tense. "That's why I'm telling you two now. We need to keep this quiet until we know for sure. They don't need to be dragged into this."

Ben swallowed hard, glancing back at Ethan, who was still unconscious. His friend wasn't just becoming a vampire—he might be turning into something else entirely. A hybrid. The thought terrified him, but he couldn't let that show. Not now.

"Alright," Ben whispered back. "We won't say anything. But we need to figure this out... fast."

Robin's jaw tightened as she gave a small nod. "We will. Just keep an eye on him. If he shows any signs of... anything, we'll deal with it."

Before Ben could respond, a quiet rustling from the back of the mausoleum drew their attention. Ethan was stirring. Sam had already woken up and was kneeling beside him, her hand gently resting on his arm. Tom, too, was on his feet, his eyes watchful as Ethan's eyes fluttered open.

"Ethan?" Sam whispered, her voice filled with hope.

Ethan blinked, his gaze unfocused for a moment before he slowly turned his head to look at Sam, who was kneeling beside him. His lips parted, but no sound came out at first. Then, in a hoarse whisper, he asked, "What... what happened?"

Ben exchanged a quick glance with Flower before stepping forward, kneeling beside Ethan. "You're okay. We... we stopped it. You're safe now."

Ethan's brow furrowed in confusion, and then his eyes went wide as he suddenly sat up, looking down at himself. Panic set in, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. "Why... why am I only wearing my underwear? What the hell happened to my clothes?"

Sam quickly put a reassuring hand on his arm. "Ethan, it's okay! We found you like this... in the cemetery."

Ethan's face flushed red, a mix of embarrassment and fear. "You found me? In the cemetery? Like this?"

Tom, standing nearby, crossed his arms and offered a calm but firm explanation. "You were taken, Ethan. We had to perform a ritual to save you. Your clothes were gone when we found you."

Ethan's gaze darted between them, his breathing still uneven. "A ritual? And I was just... lying there in my underwear?"

Ben tried to calm him down, keeping his voice steady. "Yeah, but it's alright now. You're safe. We'll explain everything, but you need to rest for now."

Ethan looked down at himself again, shaking his head. "This is crazy..."

Robin stayed back, watching carefully, but the tension in the air was palpable. They had a lot to explain to Ethan, but getting him to calm down was the first step.

The hours that followed were a blur of quiet conversations and awkward silences. Once everyone had gathered their strength, they decided to head back to Ben's house to regroup and figure out their next move. The cemetery felt colder and more dangerous in the light of day, as if the shadows still held onto the dark energy from the night before.

As they walked, Robin stayed close to Ben and Flower, her eyes constantly scanning the area. She didn't let her guard down, knowing full well that Ethan's situation was far more complicated than any of them had anticipated.

Flower, on the other hand, lagged behind, her thoughts spinning. She hadn't expected to feel so conflicted about what had happened. Saving Ethan had been their priority, and they had succeeded. But now, there was a new problem. Ethan wasn't just a part of their group anymore—he was tied to the First Blood family. And now, with Robin's revelation, he might be something even more dangerous.

And Flower knew that her parents would be coming for him soon.

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