CHAPTER 9

The building didn’t feel safe anymore.

It felt like a trap.

Thalia could feel it in her chest… that tight, uncomfortable pressure that wouldn’t go away.

“They’re coming back,” Kael had said.

And somehow… she believed him.

Dorian moved first.“We can’t stay here,” he said, already heading toward the back of the building.

Damon followed without arguing.

“There’s an exit behind. We can cut through the trees.”

Dracula didn’t speak.

He just watched Kael for a second longer… then turned away.

“Move,” he said shortly.

Thalia hesitated.

Her eyes moved between them.

The triplets.

Kael.

Everything felt wrong.

Too fast.

Too confusing.

“Thalia.”

Kael’s voice pulled her back.

She looked at him.

“Stay close,” he said again.

Not harsh.

Not controlling.

Just… firm.She nodded.

They moved quickly.

Out the back door, into the cold night air.

The forest stretched ahead of them.

Dark.

Quiet.

Too quiet.

Damon took the lead, his senses sharp.

Dorian stayed behind, watching their back. Dracula stayed close to Thalia… closer than before.

She noticed.

But she didn’t say anything.

They ran.

Branches scratched against their clothes.

Leaves crunched under their feet.

Thalia struggled to keep up.Her breathing grew heavier with every step.

“I… can’t keep this pace,” she said between breaths.

Dorian didn’t slow down. “Then push harder.”

“Dorian,” Damon warned.

“What? We don’t have time to babysit—”

Before he could finish—Kael stopped suddenly.

Everyone halted.“What now?” Dorian snapped.

Kael didn’t answer.

He was listening.

Then—“They’re ahead.”Thalia’s heart dropped.

“Ahead?”Damon cursed under his breath.

“They surrounded us.”

Dracula’s eyes darkened. “Split formation.”

“No,” Kael said immediately.

All three of them looked at him.

“No?” Dorian repeated.

“And why not?”

“Because that’s what they want.”

Silence.

Dorian scoffed.

“And you know that, how?”

Kael didn’t even look at him.“Because I know them.”

That shut him up.

For now.

“So what do we do?” Thalia asked quietly.

Kael finally looked at her.

“We go through them.” Her eyes widened.“…What?”Dorian let out a short laugh.

“Now that’s something I agree with.”

Damon shook his head.

“We don’t know how many—”

“We don’t have a choice,” Dracula cut in.

Silence followed.

Because he was right.

Thalia swallowed.

Her chest felt tight again.

This wasn’t just fear anymore.

It was something else.

Something building inside her.

And she didn’t understand it.

“Stay behind me,” Kael said.

“I’m not weak,” she replied quickly.

“I didn’t say you were.”

“Then don’t treat me like I am.”

Their eyes met.

For a second… neither of them spoke.

Then Kael nodded once.

“Fine,” he said.

“Stay close then.”

It wasn’t the same.

But it was enough.

They moved again.

Slower this time.

Careful.

The forest felt tighter now.

Like it was closing in on them.

Every sound felt louder.

Every shadow felt alive.

Then—A figure stepped out.

Right in front of them.

Thalia froze.

Another followed.

Then another.

Within seconds… they were surrounded again.

The leader stepped forward.

Same man from before.

Unharmed.

Like nothing had happened.

Thalia’s stomach twisted.

“How are you—”

“Still standing?” he finished for her, smiling faintly. “You’d be surprised.” Dorian stepped forward, anger clear on his face.

“Try that again and see what happens.”

The man ignored him.

His eyes stayed on Thalia.

“You’ve been a problem for too long,” he said.

“I don’t even know you,” she replied.

“That doesn’t matter.” Kael moved slightly in front of her.

“You’re done here,” he said.

The leader sighed.“You again.”

“Yes.”

“This is getting annoying.”

“Then leave.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Tense.

The leader’s smile faded.

“I was hoping we could do this the easy way,” he said.

“No such thing,” Dorian muttered.

The man’s gaze flicked to him briefly.

Then back to Kael.“You can’t protect her forever.”

Kael didn’t respond.

“Sooner or later,” the man continued, “she’ll have to face what she is.”

Thalia’s chest tightened.

“What does that mean?” she demanded.

No answer.

Again.

Her frustration snapped.

“Stop talking like that!” she shouted.

“Just say it clearly for once!”

Everyone went quiet.

The leader studied her.

Then—“You really don’t know, do you?” Her jaw clenched.

“No.” He smiled.

“That’s interesting.”

Before anyone could react—He moved.

Straight toward her.

Fast.

Too fast.

Thalia barely had time to react before—Something inside her snapped.

The world went quiet.

Her heartbeat grew louder.

Stronger.

Faster.

Everything around her slowed down.

She could see it.

The movement.

The attack.

Clear.

Too clear.

Her body moved on its own.

She stepped forward.

And pushed.

Hard.

The leader flew back.

Like he had been hit by something heavy.

He crashed into a tree with a loud crack.

Silence followed.

Complete silence.

Thalia stood there.

Frozen.

Her hand still slightly raised.

Her chest rising and falling rapidly.

“What… did I just do?” she whispered.

No one answered.

Because no one expected that.

Not even Kael.

Dorian stared at her.“…Did you see that?”

Damon nodded slowly. “I did.”

Dracula didn’t speak.

But his eyes…His eyes had changed.

The leader groaned, pushing himself up slowly.

Blood at the corner of his mouth.

But he was smiling.

Actually smiling.

“Finally,” he said.

Thalia’s heart dropped.

“Finally what?”His eyes locked onto hers.

“That’s what we were waiting for."

Fear spread through her chest.

“ What do you mean?”

“You’re waking up,” he said simply.

Kael stepped forward quickly.

“That’s enough.”

The leader chuckled. “Is it?”

“Yes.”

“Because from where I’m standing…” he glanced at Thalia again, “this is just getting interesting.”

The tension snapped again.

The fight continued.

But this time—Everything felt different.

Because now… They weren’t just chasing her.

They were watching her.

Waiting.

For something more.

And Thalia—For the first time—Was no longer just running.

She was changing.