Bloodline of Shadow

Chapter 20: Shadows in the Night

The Tension Builds

For a week, Ethan found himself caught in a whirlwind of confusion and determination. His training continued with the same rigor, his days filled with grueling practice and strategic discussions with the senior members of the Tenth Family. But amid all this, his mind was clouded with worry and indecision about Amelia and Lila.

Both girls had stopped speaking to him, creating a chasm of silence that stretched on endlessly. They were struggling too—torn between their deep feelings for Ethan and the impossible situation of sharing him. They could hardly eat, lost in their thoughts and overwhelmed by their emotions. Ethan could see the toll it was taking on them and knew he had to do something before he left for the Tenth Palace in a month's time.

One evening, he decided it was time to address the issue directly. He needed to lay everything out in the open and hopefully find a path forward that could work for all of them. He called Amelia and Lila, asking them to meet him by the lake in the forest under the cover of night—a place that had always held a sense of calm and reflection for him.

A Night of Confessions

As the moon rose, casting a silvery glow across the still waters of the lake, Ethan waited, feeling the weight of what he was about to do pressing down on him. He could hear the sounds of the forest around him—the rustle of leaves in the wind, the distant call of an owl—but all he could focus on was the tension building in his chest.

Amelia and Lila arrived separately, their expressions guarded and uncertain. Despite their distance over the past week, they were drawn by the same desire for resolution.

"Thank you for coming," Ethan began, his voice steady despite his nerves. "I know this situation has been incredibly difficult for all of us. And I know I've put you both in an impossible position."

Amelia looked at him with a mix of hope and sadness. "Ethan, we don't know how to handle this. We both care about you deeply, but we can't keep going on like this."

Lila nodded, her usual fire dimmed by the weight of her emotions. "I don't want to lose you, but I also don't want to feel like I'm just one of two. It's not fair to anyone."

Ethan took a deep breath, his heart pounding. "I've thought about this a lot. I've decided that I'm not going to leave either of you. I love you both, and I can't choose between you. But I understand that's not fair to you. So, I'm leaving the decision to you. Whatever you decide, I will respect it."

Both girls were silent for a moment, their eyes locked onto Ethan's, searching for a sign, some kind of clarity. The tension among them was thick, heavy with unspoken words and emotions.

Suddenly, a chill ran down Ethan's spine. His senses, honed from years of intense training, picked up on something—a presence unlike any he had ever felt before. It was dark, overwhelming, and filled with an eerie energy that sent a cold shock through his body.

His eyes darted around, trying to locate the source of the disturbance. Across the lake, in the shadows, he saw it—a figure cloaked in darkness, standing unnaturally still. It was watching them, its presence ominous and suffocating.

Amelia and Lila followed his gaze, their confusion growing as they saw the fear and urgency on Ethan's face. "Ethan, what's going on?" Lila asked, sensing something was terribly wrong.

Ethan didn't answer. His body was tense, his breath shallow as he kept his eyes fixed on the figure. Then, without warning, the figure began to move—gliding across the water with a speed that defied logic. Within moments, it stopped just a few meters away from them, still hovering above the water. Only its glowing red eyes and a twisted smile were visible beneath its hood, sending shivers down Ethan's spine.