Bloodlines of the Damned

The Hidden Game

Vane's POV: The Choice

Vane stood at the edge of the shadows, watching as Lyra and Lucian continued their conversation, the distance between them growing in more ways than one. The pit in his stomach deepened, his thoughts swirling in a dark haze. The weight of his decision loomed over him, but he couldn't ignore the nagging feeling in his chest.

Why does it matter so much?

Why did he care if Lucian Thorne was getting closer to Lyra? Why did every laugh, every glance, twist his insides into knots?

It wasn't jealousy. No, not at all. It was about control. Power. He had spent two years training in the Dark Forest, learning the very depths of what it meant to be an Erebus. He had gained power beyond what anyone had expected—beyond even his father's wildest dreams. But what was power if you couldn't protect the ones you loved? If he couldn't keep her safe?

Lyra.

Damn it, why is this so hard?

He had promised himself that he wouldn't let his feelings get in the way of his duty. That he wouldn't allow distractions to cloud his vision. But the more time passed, the more his connection to her grew. And the more he realized that there were forces at play that he didn't understand—forces he might not be able to control.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. He could feel the change in himself, the shift that had come with the power he had unlocked, but he wasn't sure if it was enough to protect Lyra from what was coming. From what he was about to face.

The Thorne family.

Lucian.

Their connection was becoming clearer. Lucian had a purpose here, and it wasn't just to befriend her. He wanted something. Lyra was a pawn in a much larger game—a game that Vane was now tangled in.

Lyra's POV: A Distant Heartbeat

Lyra watched Vane's retreating figure for a long moment, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and regret. The sadness in his eyes, the way he looked at her when their gazes had met, felt like a wound. Something was wrong—she could feel it. She had known Vane for so long, and yet there was a distance in him now that she couldn't explain. The man who once comforted her, who held her hand without hesitation, was a shadow of himself.

Lucian, however, was standing beside her now, talking, but his voice felt muffled. The words didn't reach her ears. Her mind kept drifting back to Vane. The uncertainty in his eyes. The way his presence felt... off.

"Lyra," Lucian's voice broke through her fog, sharp and impatient. "Are you listening?"

She blinked, refocusing on him. His smile was a little too wide, his posture a little too perfect. There was something in his eyes that made her skin crawl—a subtle, calculated gleam.

"Sorry, I was—" Lyra began, but Lucian was already stepping closer to her, his presence overwhelming. It was as though he was pushing into her personal space, closing the distance she hadn't realized was there.

"Something on your mind, Lyra?" he asked, his tone too soft, too knowing. His hand brushed lightly against hers, just a touch, but it sent a jolt through her that made her heart race.

"I'm just—" Lyra started, but she didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to explain that she felt... torn. That her heart was pulling in two different directions, like the strings of a broken bow, each tugging in opposite ways.

"I think you're distracted," Lucian said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And you have every reason to be." He paused, studying her face, reading the confusion and the conflict she couldn't hide. "Vane isn't the same, is he? Something's changed."

Lyra froze. "What do you mean?"

Lucian tilted his head, the corner of his mouth lifting in a half-smile. "You can't hide it, Lyra. I see it. I feel it. The distance between you two. You're not as close as you used to be."

Her heart skipped a beat. She didn't want to admit it, but Lucian was right. There was a wall between her and Vane now. But why? What had happened during his training? What had he seen that made him so distant?

"I don't know what you're talking about," Lyra said, though her voice lacked conviction.

Lucian's gaze softened, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's alright," he said in that same smooth, dangerous voice. "We all change. We grow. And sometimes... things fall apart."

Lyra opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a low growl interrupted them. It was not from a beast, but from the depths of the shadows—Vane, watching them from the far end of the garden.

Vane's POV: A Forbidden Decision

Vane's fingers curled into fists as he watched Lucian and Lyra. His thoughts, sharp and jagged, swirled in his head, but there was one that cut through it all.

I can't let this happen. Not again.

He had always known that his path would be lonely. That the weight of his family's expectations would follow him like a shadow, like an iron chain around his neck. But now, it was more than that. It was about Lyra. It was about keeping her safe, keeping her away from the very thing he feared most—Lucian Thorne.

He had never felt so torn. His power, his strength, everything he had done in the Dark Forest, had all been in preparation for this moment. But now, standing on the edge, he wondered if it was enough. If he could protect Lyra from what was coming.

From Lucian.

He took one last look at them. Lucian's eyes were locked on him, like they always were. It was a challenge. And Vane knew, deep down, that he had no choice. He couldn't allow Lucian to weave his webs around Lyra any longer.

Lucian's POV: A Game of Shadows

Lucian could feel Vane's presence now, even from a distance. He had known this would happen. He had felt the growing tension, the unspoken words. Vane had been watching, waiting. And Lucian... well, Lucian had been waiting, too.

Everything was falling into place.

He leaned closer to Lyra, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You know, Lyra, you're not the only one who can feel the change in the air. Vane's not the same as he once was. And I think... I think he's hiding something from you."

Her eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, Lucian could see the flicker of doubt in her gaze. He pressed on.

"There's more to him than he lets on, more to his training in the Dark Forest. And I think you know it, deep down. He's not the boy you remember."

Lyra shifted, uncomfortable. "What do you mean?"

Lucian smiled, cold and knowing. "The bloodline of Erebus isn't just about power, Lyra. It's about control. And sometimes... when you grow too powerful, you lose yourself." His gaze lingered on her, heavy with implication. "I think Vane's at that point. And I'm just trying to help you see it. To help you see the truth."

Lyra opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, the sound of footsteps interrupted them. Vane was moving towards them now, his eyes locked on Lucian with a force that could have shattered glass.

Vane's POV: The Breaking Point

Vane's heart pounded in his chest as he took each step toward them. Lucian was still talking, his words a soft murmur that Lyra was clearly hanging on to. Vane could feel the distance between them growing by the second.

No more.

He had made his decision. He had trained for two years in the Dark Forest for moments like this. Moments when the line between enemy and ally blurred.

And Lucian? He was no friend. He was a threat.

As he stood before them, his eyes locked onto Lyra's, his voice barely a whisper. "We need to talk."