Bloodlines of the Damned

Bloodlines of Erebus

The night before the Full Moon Ceremony at Valerian Academy. The ancient ritual is a significant event at the academy, where the purebloods renew their vows to their bloodlines, reaffirming their power and commitment to the vampire legacy. The night is tense, with the students anticipating the ceremony and its many formalities. For Lyra, it's another reminder of the hierarchy she'll never be part of, and for Vane, it's a moment that brings his family's expectations into sharp focus.

POV: Vane's perspective

The candlelight flickered across the walls of the grand Erebus estate, casting long, jagged shadows on the stone. Vane sat in front of the large, ornately-carved mirror in his chamber, staring at his reflection. His dark hair fell over his face, his sharp eyes locked on his image as though trying to see something beyond the surface.

He reached up and touched the silver chain around his neck. It wasn't much-just a simple, ancient pendant passed down through his bloodline-but to Vane, it was a symbol of the weight he carried.

House Erebus. The oldest and most powerful vampire family in the city. Their lineage was tied to the foundation of Valerian Academy itself, and their bloodline had been ruling over vampires for centuries.

But power, Vane had learned, came with a price.

The door to his room creaked open, and Vane turned to see his father, Lord Darian Erebus, standing in the doorway. His father's tall figure was imposing, his icy blue eyes like those of a predator watching its prey. Lord Darian wore the black-and-crimson robes of House Erebus, symbols of their bloodline's dominance, the family crest gleaming on his chest.

"You're not ready," his father said without preamble, his voice cold and detached.

Vane didn't flinch. "I'll be fine."

"You always think you will be." Darian stepped into the room, his voice lowering in a tone Vane knew all too well. "But you don't understand the gravity of tomorrow's ceremony. It's not just a ritual, Vane. It's a declaration. It's your place in this world. The strength of House Erebus relies on you."

"I know what's at stake," Vane replied, his voice flat, though his jaw tightened in frustration. "I don't need a reminder."

Lord Darian moved closer, his presence oppressive. "Do you? Do you truly understand what it means to carry this family's name? To rule over the others?" His eyes narrowed, as though trying to gauge his son's very soul. "Tomorrow, you'll swear fealty to your bloodline, to your legacy. And when you do, you will bind yourself to it, Vane. Forever."

Vane turned away, staring at the large window overlooking the city of Noctis. The moonlight bathed the world below in silver, but it did nothing to lighten his mood.

He hated this. The pressure, the expectations-it was suffocating.

"I'm not interested in ruling," Vane muttered, though he knew his father would hear him.

Lord Darian's eyes flashed dangerously. "You will be interested, or you will be discarded. The Erebus name is not one that can be ignored."

Vane clenched his fists. "Then maybe the Erebus name is a curse."

The words hung in the air for a long moment, thick with unspoken tension. His father's gaze hardened.

"You are not a child anymore, Vane. It's time you start acting like it. Your actions reflect upon the house-upon all of us."

Vane's pulse quickened, a deep anger rising in him. But he controlled it, pushing it back beneath layers of indifference. "I'll be there tomorrow," he said, his voice even, his gaze fixed on the moon.

Lord Darian nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer, but there was a glint of something darker in his eyes. He stepped back toward the door, but not before leaving Vane with a parting thought.

"You will follow the rules. Our rules. You're not above them, no matter what fantasies you've entertained in that rebellious mind of yours."

As his father's footsteps retreated down the hall, Vane stared at his reflection in the mirror. His face was hard, his expression cold, but inside, a storm was brewing.

You want me to rule? he thought bitterly. Then you'll have to let me decide how I do it.

POV: Lyra's perspective

Lyra leaned against the cold stone wall near the academy's entrance, her eyes tracing the darkened silhouettes of the academy's towers. She had overheard some of the other students gossiping about tomorrow's Full Moon Ceremony. It was a night when the purebloods of Valerian Academy would swear their loyalty to their families, renew their power, and, for some, solidify their hold on the future.

To Lyra, it was just another reminder of the invisible walls that kept her on the outside.

She pulled her hood tighter around her shoulders, trying to block out the distant laughter of students talking about the event. A part of her wished she didn't care. Wished she didn't feel the ache of wanting to belong somewhere, anywhere. But she was a half-blood. She would never be allowed inside the inner circle, no matter how hard she tried.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a presence nearby. Her heart skipped. She knew that walk, that confident stride.

Vane was here.

She turned slowly, her breath catching when she saw him standing at the foot of the stairs, a shadow against the dim light of the courtyard. His expression was unreadable, his eyes scanning the grounds. He wasn't looking at her-he rarely did. But something about the way he carried himself tonight was different.

He seemed... burdened. Almost lost.

Vane caught sight of her then, and for a moment, their gazes locked. Lyra couldn't tell if he was surprised to see her or if he had been expecting her.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice unusually soft. He wasn't mocking her, wasn't teasing her like usual. He almost seemed... uncertain.

Lyra blinked. "I could ask you the same thing."

He took a step closer, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. "Don't get any ideas," he said, his tone regaining some of its usual edge. "I'm not here for some... heart-to-heart."

Lyra crossed her arms, trying to ignore the sudden flutter in her chest. "I wasn't expecting one."

Vane stared at her for a long moment before speaking again, his voice quieter, almost distant. "Tomorrow is the Full Moon Ceremony. I'll be... expected to participate. To pledge my loyalty to my family, my bloodline." His lips twisted in something close to disgust. "It's a farce."

Lyra didn't know what to say. She didn't care about the politics of the vampires, not really. But the way Vane spoke about it-so full of contempt-made her curious. She couldn't help herself.

"What do you mean?" she asked before she could stop herself.

He glanced at her, as if surprised she was even asking. But his eyes softened for just a fraction of a second. "You wouldn't understand. You've never had to carry the weight of an entire bloodline on your shoulders."

Lyra didn't answer. She wasn't sure what to say. But she couldn't shake the feeling that Vane's problems-his burdens-were not as simple as he made them seem.

Before she could respond, he turned on his heel, starting to walk away.

"Stay out of my way tomorrow, Lyra," he said without looking back. "I'm not interested in dragging you into this mess."

She watched him go, the echoes of his footsteps fading into the night.

But as she stood there, alone in the cold, she couldn't shake the feeling that their paths were becoming more and more entwined. And whether she liked it or not, tomorrow's ceremony would change everything.