Divided

Supernatural Blood

Hiiii:)

Athan's POV

Celeste and I walk together down the grand hallway of the vampire castle. The walls are adorned with tapestries, their colors muted in the dim light that flickers from the torches lining the stone walls.

"I know you're hurt, Athan," Celeste says gently, her voice soft but filled with understanding as we take slow, measured steps. "But not every human is trying to get us. Caterina came to this world without a choice."

I nod, though I don't feel much comfort. The pain of knowing that my brother has found a mate in a human still lingers. "I know," I reply, the words heavy in the air.

"You know I can feel the emotions of others," she continues, her eyes thoughtful. "Caterina doesn't give off much, but I can sense that she's nervous. She's afraid, Athan."

I turn to her, the frustration building inside me. "But why does she have to be my brother's mate? Couldn't it have been someone else? Anyone but her..."

Her gaze softens, and she stops walking for a moment, letting the silence stretch between us. "You know we can't choose our mates," she says quietly, then sighs. "This situation... it's something out of the ordinary. I have a feeling that Caterina might have an ancestor who was a supernatural. But still... she is human in so many ways."

I stop walking, my heart heavy with her words. "Supernaturals can't be with humans unless there's supernatural blood running through their veins," I murmur.

Celeste nods slowly. "Exactly. I know it's hard to understand, but there's more to Caterina than what meets the eye."

Caterina's mom POV

I walk briskly, my hands trembling as I tape another flyer to the lamp post. My eyes scan the streets for any sign of my daughter.

Where are you, Cat?

A tear slips down my cheek, and I quickly wipe it away, pushing the pain deep down. There's no time for weakness. I have to find her.

I rush to my car, sliding into the driver's seat and starting the engine. My mind races with everything I've already done—reporting her missing, speaking to her classmates, reaching out to her school... yet there's still no trace of her. It's like she's vanished into thin air.

But then, just as I'm about to give in to the feeling of helplessness, something strange stirs in my gut. A thought, or maybe a feeling. I try to brush it off, but it lingers.

She walks home every day...

The thought hits me suddenly, sharp and clear. My heart skips a beat.

The forest.

She often cuts through the woods on her way home, but I never thought she would... What if she went inside? The thought makes my pulse quicken. Could that be where she is?

Without a second thought, I slam my foot on the gas pedal and speed toward the forest near our house. The trees loom ahead as I drive, the familiar, serene landscape now feeling ominous.

Minutes later, I park on the side of the road, my car's engine cutting off as I leap out of the vehicle. My breath comes in quick gasps, my chest tight with anxiety.

I look ahead at the forest, the towering trees swaying gently in the breeze. It seems so ordinary, almost peaceful, yet my heart is pounding in my chest. Something is telling me she's here, somewhere.

She's in there... I feel it.

I can't explain why, but the certainty hits me like a wave. Without thinking, I rush forward, my feet pounding against the dirt path.