CHAPTER 21: THE REVELATION

CHAPTER 21: THE REVELATION

AMBER'S POV

I didn't ask another question.

Not because I didn't have any, but because I knew Steele would not answer them while we were standing inside my destroyed condo with the scent of vampires still lingering in the air.

He pulled me toward the door, his hand firmly wrapped around mine.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"My place."

"Again?"

He glanced at me. "Do you have a better idea?"

"Actually, yes. We could stay here and wait for another supernatural creature to break through my window."

His lips twitched.

It was barely noticeable.

But I saw it.

"You really have a terrible sense of humor."

"I've been told that."

We stepped outside.

The hallway was strangely quiet.

Too quiet.

I looked behind us at my condo.

The broken window, overturned furniture, and damaged walls were enough evidence that tonight had never been a normal night.

But something bothered me.

The neighbors hadn't come out.

No one had called the police.

No one had even knocked on the door.

"Did you do something?" I asked.

Steele looked at me.

"What?"

"The neighbors. No one heard anything?"

"I took care of it."

"You made them forget?"

"Yes."

I sighed.

"That's going to be a problem for me someday."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a detective. I tend to notice when impossible things keep happening around me."

"You've already noticed."

"Exactly."

He said nothing.

We continued toward the elevator.

As soon as the doors opened, I stepped inside.

Steele followed.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then I looked at him.

"You were afraid."

His eyes immediately turned toward me.

"I wasn't."

"You were."

"No."

"When that vampire mentioned Simon, you changed."

His jaw tightened.

"Amber."

"I saw it."

"You don't know what you saw."

"I know you."

His brows lifted.

"You've known me for what? A few weeks?"

"Long enough."

He looked away.

I smiled faintly.

"Still impossible to read, though."

The elevator doors opened.

He walked out first.

I followed him toward the parking area.

His silver car was waiting.

He opened the passenger door for me.

"Get in."

I stopped.

"You're not going to let me drive?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you have a tendency to get yourself kidnapped, attacked, almost killed, and chased by supernatural creatures whenever you drive alone."

I stared at him.

"When you say it like that, it sounds bad."

"It is bad."

I got inside.

He closed the door and walked around to the driver's side.

The moment the engine started, I looked through the window.

"Steele."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

He glanced at me.

"For what?"

"For coming."

His expression became unreadable again.

"You called me."

"I didn't."

His hands tightened around the steering wheel.

"You didn't?"

"I left my phone at home. Remember?"

He looked at me sharply.

"Then how did I know you were in danger?"

I didn't answer.

Neither did he.

But we both knew the answer.

That strange connection between us.

The pain in his chest.

The way he had found me without knowing where I was.

The way he had kissed me to bring me back to consciousness.

There were too many questions surrounding it.

And I wasn't sure I wanted to ask the most dangerous one.

Why did he care so much?

---

STEELE'S POV

Amber was quiet beside me.

That was unusual.

She was usually asking questions, challenging everything I said, or finding a way to irritate me.

Tonight, she was staring through the window.

I knew what she was thinking.

Anna.

Simon.

The vampires.

The mark.

Her blood.

Everything she had learned in such a short time was enough to overwhelm even someone who had lived among our kind for centuries.

But Amber wasn't ordinary.

That was the problem.

She was stronger than she realized.

And that strength was exactly what would put her in danger.

I glanced at her.

She was touching the mark on her neck again.

"Stop touching it."

She looked at me.

"Why?"

"It responds to your emotions."

She frowned.

"What?"

"The seal."

I could feel her heartbeat quicken.

"Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"Because you didn't need to know."

"Apparently I need to know everything now."

I sighed.

"The mark is not a tattoo."

"I figured that out."

"It is a seal."

"What does it seal?"

I hesitated.

"Something that should remain dormant."

Her eyes narrowed.

"That's vague."

"It's supposed to be."

"Steele."

I remained silent.

She crossed her arms.

"Fine. If you don't want to tell me, I'll ask Stan."

I immediately glanced at her.

"Don't."

She smiled.

"That got your attention."

"Stan will tell you whatever he thinks will cause the most trouble."

"He helped me before."

"He almost got you killed."

"But he also led you to me."

"He didn't know a vampire would be waiting there."

"So you believe him?"

"No."

She stared at me.

"Then why did you say you don't trust him?"

"Because I don't."

She gave me a confused look.

"You're making no sense."

"Welcome to my world."

She laughed softly.

I didn't.

Because I could smell something.

My grip tightened on the steering wheel.

Someone had followed us.

I turned toward the rearview mirror.

Nothing.

The road behind us was empty.

But the scent remained.

Vampire.

One.

Maybe two.

I slowed down.

Amber noticed.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"You're lying."

I looked at her.

"Stay inside the car."

She immediately frowned.

"Again?"

"Amber."

"I hate when you say my name like that."

"Stay."

I pulled the car over.

Before she could argue, I opened the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To make sure we're alone."

I stepped into the darkness.

The wind moved through the trees.

I could hear everything.

The insects.

The distant vehicles.

Amber's heartbeat inside the car.

And then—

A branch snapped.

I turned.

"Come out."

Nothing.

I narrowed my eyes.

"I know you're there."

A figure emerged from behind the trees.

A man.

Pale skin.

Dark clothes.

Red eyes.

Vampire.

But something was different.

He wasn't attacking.

He stood several meters away, staring directly at me.

"I don't want to fight you," he said.

"Then why are you following us?"

"I came to warn you."

I laughed coldly.

"Vampires don't warn werewolves."

"Normally, no."

He looked toward the car.

"She doesn't know, does she?"

"Know what?"

"The reason they want her."

I stepped forward.

"Speak carefully."

"Her mother wasn't killed because of the plane."

My body went rigid.

"What did you say?"

The vampire continued.

"The plane was only part of it."

I felt anger rising.

"You were there."

"No."

"Then how do you know?"

"Because I know who ordered it."

Everything inside me went still.

"Who?"

He looked at me.

"Someone from your own kind."

My eyes turned gold.

"You're lying."

"I have no reason to."

"Who?"

The vampire smiled sadly.

"You already know his name."

Before I could grab him, he disappeared into the darkness.

I stood there for a moment, unable to move.

Someone from our kind.

Someone I already knew.

I returned to the car.

Amber was staring at me.

"What happened?"

I opened the door and sat down.

She immediately knew something was wrong.

"Steele."

"Nothing."

"Don't lie to me."

I looked at her.

"The vampire wasn't here to attack us."

"What did he want?"

I hesitated.

"To warn us."

"About what?"

I started the car.

"Amber, I need you to promise me something."

"What?"

"Whatever happens, don't go anywhere alone."

She stared at me.

"That's not an answer."

"I know."

"Who was he talking about?"

I said nothing.

Her expression changed.

"You know something."

I looked straight ahead.

"I know someone may have betrayed us."

"Who?"

"That's what I need to find out."

---

AMBER'S POV

We arrived at Steele's house almost an hour later.

It was nothing like I expected.

The residence was enormous, hidden deep within the woods and surrounded by tall trees. The architecture looked old, almost like it had been standing there for centuries.

Which, considering what Steele was, was probably true.

He unlocked the door.

I stepped inside.

A woman immediately appeared from the hallway.

She had long black hair and sharp features.

She looked at me.

Then at Steele.

"You're late."

Steele's expression remained flat.

"We had a problem."

Her eyes immediately went to my neck.

She froze.

"Steele."

"I know."

"What is she doing here?"

"She's staying here."

The woman looked at me again.

"Does she know?"

"Yes."

Her expression changed.

"Then we're already too late."

I frowned.

"Who are you?"

She ignored me and looked at Steele.

"The seal has awakened."

"I know."

"And the vampires found her."

"I know."

"Then you need to tell her everything."

Steele's eyes hardened.

"Not yet."

The woman sighed.

"You're still protecting her."

"Yes."

"Just like you protected Anna."

Silence.

I looked between them.

"Who is she?"

The woman finally looked at me.

"My name is Elena. I am Steele's assistant."

"Nice to meet you."

She gave me a strange look.

"You don't seem afraid."

"I'm tired of being afraid."

Steele walked past us.

"Prepare a room."

Elena nodded.

But before I could follow him, she grabbed my wrist.

I looked at her hand.

She immediately released me.

"Sorry."

"What?"

Her eyes remained fixed on my neck.

"I've seen that mark before."

My heart skipped.

"Where?"

She hesitated.

"On Anna."

I stared at her.

Steele stopped walking.

"Elena."

"I'm sorry."

"No."

I stepped forward.

"You already said it."

I looked at Elena.

"Where did you see it?"

She swallowed.

"Years ago."

"Before she died?"

Elena nodded.

"Yes."

"Then tell me what it means."

She looked at Steele.

He closed his eyes briefly.

Then he spoke.

"It means Anna knew she was going to die."

My chest tightened.

"What?"

"She knew the vampires were coming."

"Then why didn't she run?"

Steele looked at me.

"Because she wasn't trying to save herself."

I couldn't breathe.

"What was she trying to save?"

He walked toward me slowly.

"You."

The room went silent.

My fingers curled into fists.

"But I was only a child."

"I know."

"Why would she sacrifice herself for me?"

"Because you were the reason they wanted her."

My eyes widened.

"Why?"

Steele's voice became quieter.

"Because Anna wasn't simply their target."

He looked at the mark on my neck.

"She was carrying something they wanted."

"What?"

He stared into my eyes.

"Not something."

"Someone."

My blood ran cold.

"Who?"

Steele didn't answer.

Instead, he looked toward the window.

Outside, the forest was completely dark.

Then Elena whispered something that made my heart stop.

"Simon."

I looked at Steele.

His expression had completely changed.

"Simon is alive," I whispered.

Steele's eyes darkened.

"Yes."

"And he knows about me?"

"We don't know."

"Then we find him."

Steele immediately shook his head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because if Simon is alive, then there is a reason he stayed hidden for twenty-two years."

I stared at him.

"And you're afraid of what happens if we find him."

He didn't deny it.

For the first time, I understood something.

Steele wasn't afraid of vampires.

He wasn't afraid of Stan.

He wasn't even afraid of death.

He was afraid of the truth.

And whatever had happened twenty-two years ago wasn't finished.

It had only been waiting for me to remember.

Then the mark on my neck suddenly burned.

I gasped and grabbed it.

Steele rushed toward me.

"Amber?"

I looked down.

The mark was glowing again.

But this time, something else appeared beneath it.

A thin line of black spread across my skin, forming a symbol I had never seen before.

Elena stepped backward.

Her face went pale.

"That's impossible."

Steele stared at the mark.

"What?"

She whispered,

"That's not Anna's seal."

I looked at both of them.

"Then whose is it?"

Nobody answered.

And somehow, I already knew the answer was going to change everything.

Because from somewhere deep inside the house, a man's voice suddenly echoed through the darkness.

"Mine."

I froze.

Steele's eyes turned gold.

And somewhere upstairs, a door slowly opened.