Bloodlines of the Damned

Web of Secrets

The next day at Valerian Academy, the air feels thicker than before. Lyra is now more aware of the dangers surrounding her, and Vane is beginning to realize that keeping her in the dark is no longer an option. Meanwhile, other forces are at play—both allies and enemies are moving behind the scenes.

POV: Lyra's perspective

The first rays of morning light filtered through the curtains of Lyra's dormitory. She had barely slept, her mind tangled in thoughts of Vane, the warnings from Thorne, and the strange, sinister feeling that had settled over her like a dark cloud. As much as she wanted to believe Vane when he said he cared for her, the reality was beginning to sink in: House Erebus was dangerous, and she was caught in its web.

She swung her legs out of bed, the cool stone floor sending a chill through her. She had to find answers—answers about her past, about Vane, and about what Thorne had hinted at. But the problem was that no one at Noctis was trustworthy.

Except maybe him.

She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Vane than he was letting on. She'd known him for so long, but ever since he'd opened up about their past, things had felt different. She wasn't just trying to piece together the mystery of her memories—she was trying to understand him, too.

Before she could get lost in her thoughts, the sound of a knock at her door interrupted her.

"Lyra, are you up?" called a familiar voice.

Lyra turned, relieved to hear the voice of her closest friend.

"Come in, Elara," she called, straightening her blouse.

Elara pushed the door open with a smile, her blonde hair bouncing with each step. She was the embodiment of bright energy, always smiling, always cheerful—her polar opposite in terms of personality. But Lyra had grown to trust her more than anyone at Noctis.

"How are you this morning?" Elara asked, her eyes narrowing with concern as she noticed Lyra's distant expression.

Lyra hesitated. She could tell that Elara was one of the few people who actually cared about her—really cared—but how could she explain the mess her life had become without dragging her into the dangerous world of the purebloods?

"I'm fine. Just... tired," Lyra said, forcing a small smile. "It's been a long night."

Elara gave her a knowing look. "Long nights tend to lead to long days. Want to talk about it?"

Lyra hesitated but shook her head. "Not right now. Maybe later."

Elara seemed to sense that Lyra wasn't ready to share everything, and she didn't push her further. "Alright. Just know I'm here, okay? If you need me."

"Thanks, Elara," Lyra said quietly.

Before Elara could respond, a loud voice rang out from the hallway, making Lyra jump.

"Oi, where are you two going?"

A tall, dark-haired boy appeared in the doorway—Kai. He was a mischievous troublemaker from a lesser noble family, always poking his nose into places it didn't belong. Though he didn't have the same social status as most of the students at Noctis, he had a way of making his presence known. His playful smirk always seemed to be a step ahead of everyone.

"Kai, what are you doing here?" Lyra asked, frowning as she crossed her arms.

Kai leaned against the doorframe. "Well, if you two are done with your little chat, the academy's organizing a training session today. Something about a 'new initiative' for the elites. I figured you could use a little... distraction."