Bloodline of Shadow

Chapter 21: A Battle of Blood and Shadows

A Scene of Desperation

Lila and Amelia stood frozen, their eyes wide with horror as they watched Ethan struggle to stay upright. His breath was ragged, his body battered and bruised from countless blows. His face was etched with pain, yet his eyes burned with a fierce determination that refused to fade. Each second that passed felt like an eternity, and both girls felt their hearts breaking at the sight of him in such a state.

"Ethan..." Lila whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anguish. She could barely recognize the man she loved beneath the blood and bruises. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched Amelia's hand, drawing strength from the only other person who understood what she was feeling.

Amelia, though terrified and confused by everything unfolding around her, was driven by a single, overwhelming emotion—love. She wasn't sure what was happening or why Ethan was in this monstrous fight, but she knew she couldn't stand by and watch him suffer.

As they held onto each other, the shadowy figure stood on the water, a mocking smile stretched across its face. "Is this really how you plan to lead the Tenth Family?" the figure taunted, its voice dripping with contempt. "Bleeding in the dirt, hiding behind your little friends?"

Ethan struggled to keep his footing, his body screaming in agony with each movement. The mocking laughter of his opponent cut through him like a blade, stoking a fire within him that refused to be snuffed out. He clenched his fists, readying himself to charge again, but his vision blurred, and his knees threatened to give out beneath him.

Lila, who knew more than she had ever let on about the vampire world, made a sudden decision. She moved closer to Ethan, her voice filled with urgency. "Ethan, you need to drink my blood. It will help you heal."

Ethan's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, he hesitated. "Lila, I can't—"

"You have to!" she insisted, her tone fierce despite the fear in her eyes. "If you don't, you'll collapse! Just do it."

Ethan, desperate and in pain, nodded reluctantly. He leaned closer to Lila, his heart heavy with the gravity of the moment. As he drank, he felt a rush of strength flowing back into his body, his senses sharpening and his pain dulling slightly. But he knew he couldn't take too much. As he pulled back, he could see the color drain from Lila's face, and she staggered, her body trembling from the sudden strain.

"You need more," Lila said weakly, her voice barely a whisper. "You have to take more."

Ethan shook his head, his eyes filled with concern. "No, Lila. If I take more, you could be in danger."

Amelia, who had been watching with a mixture of shock and disbelief, suddenly stepped forward, her expression resolute. "If it will help you, Ethan... you can drink my blood too."

"Amelia, you don't understand—" Ethan started, but she cut him off.

"I don't care," she said, her eyes filled with determination. "I don't understand everything, but I know that I care for you, and I won't lose you. Not like this."

She moved closer, offering her wrist. Ethan, though conflicted, knew he had no choice. He took her wrist gently and bit down, taking only what he needed. Amelia gasped softly, feeling a wave of weakness, but also a strange sense of connection. As Ethan withdrew, she too felt her energy draining, her legs buckling slightly. Lila caught her, holding her up with what little strength she had left.

The shadowy figure watched all of this unfold, an amused smile on its lips. "You're just like your father," it said, a note of derision in its voice.

Ethan's head snapped up. "Who are you? Do you know my father?" he demanded, his voice laced with desperation and fury.