𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺.

Fifteen.

As they neared the cabin, Akira felt the comforting warmth of the lantern light flickering through the trees. The cabin stood as a fortress against the unknown, surrounded by tall pines and veiled in shadows, yet it was a place that felt safe.

Renetta stopped at the entrance, turning to Akira. "Remember, whatever mysteries or dangers you face, you're not alone. Kael, Rowan, and I are here to guide you, just as your grandfather intended."

Akira nodded, a mixture of gratitude and confusion churning within her. The more she learned, the more questions she had. Why had her grandfather set all this in motion? What truths lay hidden within the forest and beyond?

The cabin door creaked open, and Kael's voice called out. "Akira, Renetta? Is everything all right?"

"We're fine," Renetta replied, stepping inside. "Just a little swim." She shot Akira a knowing smile, and Kael raised an eyebrow with a smirk, catching the joke.

Rowan appeared behind him, her eyes sharp with curiosity. "Did anything happen out there?" she asked, glancing between them.

Akira shook her head, though her mind raced. "Just... more than I expected," she said, her voice steady but laced with intrigue.

Renetta walked further into the room, the seashell necklace glistening under the warm light. "Let's talk later," she whispered to Akira. "There's much you still need to know, but for now, rest. You're safe here."

And for the first time in a long while, surrounded by people who promised protection and mystery alike, Akira allowed herself to believe it.

She wondered what Renetta would tell her.

After Akira settled into the cabin and found a moment of rest, the soft hum of voices from the other room stirred her curiosity. She lay still, listening.

Renetta's voice was low but urgent. "I'm telling you, she might not be ready for the truth yet."

Kael sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "She deserves to know. She has a right to understand the real truth about her grandfather."

Rowan, leaning against the wooden wall with her arms crossed, looked between them, her expression conflicted. "What if knowing changes everything? What if she's not prepared for what it means?"

Renetta glanced back toward the room where Akira rested, her eyes filled with worry. "Whether she's ready or not, secrets don't stay hidden forever."

Kael's gaze hardened with resolve. "Then we have to make sure she hears it from us, before someone else tells her with twisted intentions."

Akira strained to hear more, her heart thudding in her chest as she caught snippets of their conversation.

"How can we tell Akira that her grandfather was never actually human—that he was, in fact, a vampire?" Rowan's voice carried an edge of hesitation as she looked at Kael. "She's right, Kael. This isn't just any revelation."

Akira's eyes widened, a cold shiver running down her spine. A vampire? Was that the hidden truth that had been shrouded in mystery her whole life? And if her grandfather was one, did that mean she shared his blood, his legacy? The questions swirled in her mind, each more overwhelming than the last.

Akira stepped out from the shadows, the weight of their conversation pressing heavily on her. She had heard everything, and the truth resonated within her, stirring both fear and determination. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she readied herself to confront them, her eyes meeting theirs with unwavering resolve.

Kael, Rowan, and Renetta turned abruptly, their expressions a mix of surprise and guilt as they realized Akira had overheard. Kael's face tightened, but his eyes were soft with concern.

"You weren't supposed to hear that yet," Rowan said, a hint of regret lacing her voice.

Akira clenched her fists, stepping closer. "I deserve to know. If my grandfather wasn't human, then what does that make me? Why has this been kept from me for so long?"

Renetta shifted uneasily, glancing at Kael for guidance. He nodded, stepping forward. "Akira, you're right. The truth is painful, but it's yours to have. Your grandfather was more than just a founder of the Academy; he was a powerful vampire who worked tirelessly to protect those he loved. And you... you carry part of that legacy within you."

Akira's breath caught, the reality of it settling in like a storm. "So, I'm not human either, am I?"

Rowan's voice was gentle but firm. "No, Akira. You're not. You're something more—something powerful. And that's why you've always felt different."

Silence fell over the room, heavy with unspoken thoughts, as Akira tried to process the magnitude of this revelation.

"Then why don't I feel like one? I've felt normal my whole life. I don't understand—I feel human," Akira said, confusion etched across her face.

Kael stepped forward, his eyes serious but kind. "That's because your vampire side was suppressed when you were just a baby. Your grandfather, knowing the immense power and danger it held, locked away your abilities to protect you and those around you. For now, you've only known what it's like to be human."

Akira's mind raced as she tried to piece together the truth. Everything she thought she knew was shifting beneath her, leaving her in a world that suddenly felt foreign.

Rowan's expression softened, and she reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Akira's shoulder. "Your grandfather did what he thought was best, Akira. He wanted you to live a life unburdened by the expectations and dangers that come with being what you are."

Renetta stepped forward, her sea-shell necklace glistening softly in the dim light of the cabin. "And now that you're here, it's not just about discovering who you really are—it's about preparing for what's to come. The suppression spell won't hold forever. When it breaks, you'll need to know how to control your power."

Rowan nodded, her voice steady. "That's why Kael and I are here. That's why Renetta is here too. We've all been watching over you, ready for the day when you'd start to uncover the truth."

Akira's eyes darted between them, a mix of fear and determination stirring within her. "Then teach me. If this is who I am, I need to know how to face it."