Shadowed Arrows

Chapter 9

The old Queen family library had long been neglected, a relic from a time when Oliver's ancestors held sway over the city not only in business but in the shadows as well. The wooden shelves, covered in dust, creaked under the weight of centuries-old tomes and manuscripts. As Oliver sifted through the piles of books, he felt as if he were retracing the steps of his ancestors, trying to uncover what they had left behind for him.

For days, Oliver had immersed himself in the history of his bloodline, scouring every record, diary, and cryptic note he could find. The Queen family had been more than just vampire hunters—they had been the guardians of a secret, one that could either save the city or doom it entirely. The more he read, the more he realized that the key to defeating the vampires wasn't brute force or strategy—it was buried in the ancient bloodlines of the families who had fought them for generations.

Sitting at the grand oak desk in the center of the library, Oliver opened another journal, this one belonging to his great-great-grandfather, Charles Queen. The faded ink told stories of battles fought in the streets of old Starling City, when the vampires had first made their presence known.

"The coven is cunning," Charles had written. "They do not strike blindly. They manipulate, corrupt, and subdue until the city is theirs. But we, the hunters, carry the blood of their enemies—the blood of those who were chosen to fight back."

The phrase stuck with Oliver. Chosen. Was there something unique about his family's blood? Could that be why the vampires had taken such an interest in the Queens? He continued reading, and a passage further down the page caught his attention.

"The bloodline is sacred. It holds power over them, though they would never admit it. Our ancestors knew this, and they passed it down to us—the knowledge that in our veins runs the means to end their reign of terror."

Oliver's mind raced. If the bloodline truly held power over the vampires, then perhaps his family's history wasn't just a record of hunters. It was a weapon. But what did that mean for him? Was his blood the key to defeating Selina and her coven?

The realization brought a mixture of dread and resolve. He was not just fighting for the city; he was part of an ancient battle, one that had been waged for centuries. His blood made him both a target and a weapon, and Selina, with her centuries of knowledge and power, understood this far better than he did.

As he pondered this new revelation, he heard the door to the library creak open. Thea stepped inside, her face serious. She had been by his side throughout this journey, and though she hadn't fully grasped the supernatural implications of their fight, she had become an integral part of the team.

"Find anything?" she asked, walking over to where Oliver sat.

Oliver nodded, handing her the journal. "Our bloodline. It's not just about being hunters. It's... different. Powerful, somehow."

Thea's brow furrowed as she skimmed the pages. "So what? You're telling me we have magic blood or something?"

"Maybe not magic," Oliver said, standing and pacing the room. "But something that makes us a threat to them. Something that gives us an advantage."

Thea set the journal down, her gaze intense. "And Selina knows this, doesn't she? That's why she's been toying with you."

Oliver nodded, his jaw clenched. "I think she wants to control it. Or maybe destroy it. I'm not sure yet."

Thea's eyes darkened with concern. "Then we need to figure it out before she makes her move."

Oliver paused, staring out the window into the darkening city. "I'm not going to let her use me. I'll find out what the Queens knew, and I'll stop her."

Thea stepped closer, her voice soft but determined. "We'll stop her. We're in this together, Ollie."

Her words gave Oliver strength, a reminder that he wasn't alone in this fight. As they left the library, Oliver couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out. The blood in his veins held a secret—one that Selina was desperate to control. And he had to uncover it before she did.