Chapter 4

ELENA'S POV

I didn't sleep.

How could I? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw those vampires. Saw their claws. Heard Lucian's cold voice: "She means nothing to me."

I lay in that bed, staring at the ceiling, one hand on my stomach, the other clutching my phone.

"Meet me tomorrow at midnight. Central Park, Bethesda Fountain. Come alone, or your secret dies with you.”

What secret? What did Viviana know?

And why did she want to meet me alone?

It was obviously a trap. Even I, with zero experience in supernatural politics, could see that.

But what if it wasn't? What if she actually knew something important? Something about my baby? About the Nightshade bloodline?

I had to know.

Sunlight crept through the window. Morning. I'd made it through the night.

I sat up slowly, my body aching from running, from fear, from everything. My hand went to my stomach instinctively.

"Are you okay in there?" I whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for all of this."

A knock on the door made me jump.

"Elena? Are you awake?" Seraphine's voice.

"Yes," I called out.

She entered, carrying a tray with food, real food. Eggs, toast, fruit, orange juice. My stomach growled loudly.

"Eat," she commanded, setting the tray on the bed. "You need your strength. Both of you."

I didn't need to be told twice. I grabbed the fork and started eating like I hadn't eaten in years.

Which, honestly, wasn't far from the truth.

Lucian had barely fed me enough to survive.

Seraphine watched me with a mixture of pity and anger. "He starved you."

It wasn't a question.

I swallowed a bite of eggs. "He said I was getting too thin. That it was unpleasant to look at me." I laughed bitterly. "Funny how he still managed to get me pregnant though."

"The Blood Moon Ritual," Seraphine said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Tell me everything you remember about that night."

I set down my fork, trying to recall. "It was two months ago. Lucian said he needed a living donor for some ancient ceremony. He chose me because..." I paused. "Actually, I don't know why he chose me. He had other blood servants. Prettier ones. Healthier ones."

"He chose you," Seraphine said quietly, "because on some subconscious level, he recognized what you were. Nightshade blood calls to powerful vampires. It's intoxicating.

Addictive. Even dormant, your blood would have drawn him."

I thought about all the times Lucian had looked at me with disgust, yet he kept me close. Kept me as his personal servant when he could have easily replaced me.

"The ritual happened in his penthouse," I continued. "There were candles everywhere.

Symbols drawn on the floor in what looked like blood. Other vampires were there, members of his inner circle. They chanted in a language I didn't understand."

"Old Vampiric," Seraphine said. "Continue."

"Lucian cut my wrist. Let my blood drip into a chalice. Then he..." I felt my cheeks heat. "He drank from my neck. Not from the chalice.

Directly from me. And his eyes... they changed.

They weren't silver anymore. They were gold. Glowing gold."

Seraphine's eyes widened. "Gold?"

"Yes. Why? What does that mean?"

She stood abruptly, pacing. "Gold eyes mean the vampire has accessed their true ancient power. It only happens during moments of profound supernatural significance. The fact that his eyes turned gold while feeding from you..." She spun to face me. "Elena, do you know what a true mate bond is?"

I shook my head.

"In the supernatural world, there are arranged marriages, political alliances, and casual relationships. But a true mate bond is rare.

Sacred. It's when two souls are destined for each other. And when a vampire finds their true mate, their eyes turn gold during the first blood exchange."

My heart stopped. "No. That's not... Lucian hates me. He rejected me. He chose Viviana."

"What he chose and what fate decided are two different things," Seraphine said. "If you are his true mate, and the gold eyes suggest you are, then rejecting you would have caused him immense pain. Physical pain. A true mate bond can't be broken without consequences."

"Then why did he do it?" I demanded, anger rising. "Why did he throw me away if it hurt him?"

"Politics. Power. Fear." Seraphine sat back down. "Viviana Drakov comes from one of the oldest vampire families in Europe. An alliance with her would give Lucian tremendous influence. And if he's being pressured by the vampire council, threatened, blackmailed..."

She shook her head. "Powerful men make stupid choices when they're backed into corners."

"I don't care about his reasons," I said coldly.

"He made his choice. Now I'm making mine. I'm going to protect my baby, learn to use whatever power I have, and make sure no one ever controls me again."

Seraphine smiled. "Good. That's the Nightshade spirit I was hoping to see." She stood. "Come. Your training begins now."

She led me downstairs to what looked like it used to be a living room, but now was completely empty except for weapons hanging on the walls and strange symbols carved into the floor.

"First lesson," Seraphine said. "Your Nightshade abilities are awakening, but they're still dormant. The pregnancy is accelerating the process, but you need to learn to access them consciously."

"What kind of abilities?" I asked nervously.

"Superhuman strength and speed, like all vampires. But Nightshades have something more. Blood manipulation. You can control blood, your own, others', even the blood in vampires' bodies. At your full power, you could make an ancient vampire's heart explode with a thought."

I stared at her. "That's... that's terrifying."

"That's survival," she corrected. "Now, hold out your hand."

I did.

She pulled out a silver dagger and before I could react, sliced across my palm.

"Ow! What the—"

"Watch," she commanded.

I looked down at my bleeding palm, ready to be angry. But then I saw it.

The blood wasn't dripping. It was hovering. Tiny droplets suspended in the air, glowing faintly with a golden light.

"Oh my God," I breathed.

"Now," Seraphine said, "try to move it. Just think about the blood moving, and it will obey."

I focused on the floating droplets, imagining them moving to the left.

They moved left.

"Holy—"

"Again. Make them circle."

I concentrated harder. The blood droplets began to circle my hand, faster and faster, until they formed a glowing red ring.

"Excellent," Seraphine said. "Now pull them back in."

I thought about the blood returning to my body.

The droplets flew back to the cut on my palm, and I watched in amazement as the wound sealed itself, leaving no scar.

"I healed myself," I whispered.

"You'll heal faster than normal vampires.

Another Nightshade gift." Seraphine moved to the weapons wall and pulled down two wooden practice swords. "Now let's test your physical abilities. Attack me."

"What? I can't—"

"Attack me!" she barked. "Don't think. Just move!"

Instinct took over. I lunged at her, swinging the practice sword.

She blocked easily, but her eyes widened.

"Again! Faster!"

I attacked again. And again. Each time, I moved faster than I thought possible. My body felt different. Stronger. More alive.

Seraphine blocked every strike, but she was smiling now. "Do you feel it? The power waking up inside you?"

I did. It was like electricity in my veins. Like I could run forever, fight forever, never tire.

We trained for hours. Seraphine taught me basic combat moves, how to sense other vampires nearby, how to shield my mind from psychic attacks. By the time we stopped, I was exhausted but exhilarated.

"You're a natural," Seraphine said, handing me a bottle of water. "In a few weeks, you'll be formidable. In a few months, unstoppable."

I drank deeply, then checked my phone.

6 PM.

Six hours until I was supposed to meet Viviana.

I hadn't told Seraphine about the text. I knew she'd try to stop me, or insist on coming with me. But Viviana had said to come alone.

"I need to rest," I lied. "All this training... I'm exhausted."

Seraphine studied me suspiciously. "You're hiding something."

"No, I just—"

"Don't lie to me, Elena. I can hear your heartbeat accelerate when you lie.”

Damn it.

I pulled out my phone and showed her the text.

Seraphine's expression darkened. "Absolutely not. This is obviously a trap."

"Maybe. But what if it's not? What if she knows something about my baby? About why Lucian really rejected me?"

"Then she can come here and tell you in a safe location."

"She won't," I said. "You know she won't. This is my only chance to get answers."

"It's suicide."

"Then come with me," I said. "Stay hidden. If it's a trap, you can save me like you did last night. But I have to know what she wants. I have to."

Seraphine was silent for a long moment.

Finally, she sighed.

"Fine. But we do this my way. I'll position myself nearby. At the first sign of danger, I'm intervening. And you wear this." She pulled a small pendant from around her neck and handed it to me. "It's a protection charm. Won't stop a vampire, but it'll give you a few seconds of warning if someone tries to attack you with magic."

I put on the pendant. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet," she muttered. "You might not survive the night."

At 11:45 PM, I stood at the edge of Central Park, my heart racing.

The park was dark, empty. Dangerous.

Seraphine was somewhere in the shadows, watching. Protecting me.

I hoped.

I walked slowly toward Bethesda Fountain, my footsteps echoing. The fountain was beautiful even in darkness, but I wasn't here to admire the scenery.

I checked my phone. 11:58 PM.

Two minutes.

I waited, every nerve on edge, my hand unconsciously resting on my stomach.

At exactly midnight, I felt her presence.

Viviana stepped out from behind the fountain, wearing a long black coat, her dark hair perfect, her ruby eyes glowing in the darkness.

We stared at each other.

"You came," she said. "I wasn't sure you would."

"You said you had a secret," I said, keeping my voice steady. "So talk."

Viviana smiled, but it wasn't cruel. It was... sad.

"My pregnancy is fake," she said quietly.

I blinked. "What?"

"I'm not pregnant with Lucian's child. I never was." She stepped closer. "It's all a lie. A desperate lie to force him to choose me."

"Why are you telling me this?" I demanded.

"Because," Viviana said, her voice breaking, "I'm dying. And I need your help."

Before I could respond, she collapsed.

I rushed forward on instinct, catching her before she hit the ground.

Her skin was burning hot. Vampire skin was supposed to be cold.

"Viviana? What's wrong with you?"

She looked up at me, and I saw real fear in her eyes.

"Poison," she gasped. "The vampire council... they found out I lied. They're killing me. And they're coming for you next."

Her hand gripped mine desperately.

"Run, Elena. Run. Save your baby. Because they're not going to stop until both of you are dead."

Then her eyes rolled back, and she went limp in my arms.