The hunger was unbearable.
Sol's breath came sharp and shallow as he stood in the middle of a rain-slicked street, the neon glow of the city reflecting in distorted puddles at his feet. Every sound around him was amplified—the rhythmic pounding of countless heartbeats, the subtle rush of blood flowing through veins, the scent of life saturating the air like a heavy perfume. His throat felt dry, as if something inside him was cracking apart, demanding to be fed.
This wasn't normal hunger. It was something deeper, more primal, something that clawed at the edges of his control and screamed for satisfaction. His fingers twitched, his jaw clenched. He could feel his instincts pushing against his will, a whisper in the back of his mind telling him to take, consume, feed.
A figure moved past him, oblivious, the scent of their blood so thick in the air that Sol had to take a step back. His hands curled into fists, nails digging into his palms. No. This isn't real.
Something was wrong—more than just the hunger. He looked around, trying to ground himself, to focus on something solid. But the city around him felt... off. The lights flickered unnaturally, bending like liquid. The people walking past him had faces that didn't fully form, shifting slightly as though reality itself couldn't decide what they should look like.
This is an illusion.
Sol latched onto that thought, gripping it like a lifeline. Elias had said this was a test. A glimpse into what eternity would demand of him. That meant none of this was real—but his body wasn't listening. His instincts were still screaming, his hunger still burning, his control slipping.
He needed to stop this before it overwhelmed him.
Sol shut his eyes and forced himself to focus. If this was an illusion, that meant it could be manipulated. He had used illusions before, bending perception, tricking reality. That meant there had to be a way out of this.
He started small. Change the sounds. The relentless drumming of heartbeats around him softened, muffled, fading like a distant echo. The scent of blood in the air dulled, replaced by the sterile, metallic tang of rain hitting pavement.
The hunger resisted, gnawing at him, but he pushed forward. Change the people. He opened his eyes and focused on the figures walking past him, their blurred faces shifting. One moment they were real, tangible, tempting—then, with a thought, they were nothing. The people became statues, motionless, lifeless, devoid of warmth or blood.
His body wavered, still feeling the phantom hunger, but it was weaker now. He wasn't feeding it. He was starving it out.
The illusion pushed back. The statues cracked, splintered, turned into monstrous, snarling versions of themselves. Their mouths stretched too wide, their eyes empty pits of darkness. They lunged at him, whispering in twisted, distorted voices.
Feed. Give in. Become.
Sol clenched his jaw. "No."
He changed the rules again. This world doesn't exist.
The city around him flickered, colors bleeding out like ink in water. The neon lights shattered, falling into a sky that wasn't there. The pavement cracked apart, revealing an abyss beneath him. Everything was coming undone—but the hunger was still there, clinging to him, refusing to let go.
Then, he made the final move.
If the hunger is part of the illusion, then I don't need to feel it.
Sol focused inward, on himself. His body. His mind. He wasn't a vampire yet. The hunger wasn't real. It was fabricated. Forced upon him by Elias' test.
So, he erased it.
The moment he did, the illusion shattered like glass.
The twisted figures lunging at him dissolved into mist. The broken city crumbled, fading into nothingness. And then, just as suddenly as it began—
It was over.
Sol gasped, stumbling forward as he snapped back to reality, knees hitting the cold stone floor. The hunger was gone. His body felt solid again, real. His senses no longer twisted, his thoughts no longer clouded.
Elias stood nearby, watching him with an expression that was both impressed and amused.
Sol took a shaky breath, looking up. "So? Did I pass?"
Elias smirked. "You survived. That's more than most can say."
Sol let out a slow exhale, running a hand through his hair. "That was one hell of a test."
Elias tilted his head slightly. "And? What did you learn?"
Sol let out a dry chuckle. "That hunger sucks."
Elias laughed, deep and rich. "That it does." He studied Sol for a long moment, then nodded. "You didn't just resist it. You dismantled it. You bent the illusion to your will. That is something most could never do."
His expression shifted slightly, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "How interesting… I wasn't expecting that. An affinity for illusions." He tilted his head, considering. "Most don't even realize when they're trapped, much less find a way to manipulate the fabric of the illusion itself. But you? You unraveled it like it was second nature."
Sol frowned, stretching out his fingers as if testing reality. "Yeah, well… wasn't exactly easy. Felt like I was pulling myself apart just trying to keep my mind together."
Elias smirked. "That's because you weren't just fighting the illusion—you were rewriting it. That's a rare ability, Sol. One that makes you… unique."
Sol scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "Great. Another thing to add to the 'I don't know what the hell I'm doing' list."
Elias chuckled. "You'll figure it out. In time."
Sol stretched his sore limbs, still shaking off the lingering effects of the trial. "So, what now? Another test? Or do I finally get that beginner's guide to being a vampire?"
Elias laughed, shaking his head. "No more tests—just one final question."
Sol arched an eyebrow but straightened as Elias stood. The air in the room shifted, heavy with something ancient. Slowly, Elias spread his arms, and with them, his wings unfurled—massive, dark, and gleaming as if woven from shadows themselves. The very air crackled, his presence growing heavier, his silver hair lengthening slightly as his figure became more imposing, ageless, powerful. His face seemed to shift, as if time was rolling backward, revealing something younger, something untouched by the centuries yet still carrying the weight of them.
Sol swallowed. He wasn't sure why, but instinct told him to stay still.
Elias' voice, now lower and reverberating with something deep and ancient, broke the silence. "Are you willing to be blooded? To turn?" His piercing gaze locked onto Sol. "Once you decide, there is no going back. If you go through with it, it is more than just being turned."
He took a slow step forward. "The connection between a vampire and the one they turn is eternal. It is a bond beyond simple existence. Not just power—not just hunger—but a tie that cannot be severed. You will not simply be reborn; you will be bound. Like family, like kin—linked in ways mortals could never understand."
Sol inhaled slowly, his mind racing. This wasn't just about immortality. This was about something deeper, something binding.
Then, without missing a beat, he smirked. "Do I get those cool-ass wings? 'Cause if so, then most definitely."
The tension in the air paused—stumbled, even. Elias blinked, his imposing form still looming, the weight of his words still pressing heavily—
—and then he sighed, running a hand down his face. "You really know how to ruin a moment, don't you?" He muttered, shaking his head. "Here I am, setting the stage, unveiling the gravity of an eternal bond, and you're focused on aesthetics."
Sol shrugged. "I mean, they're pretty badass. Just saying."
Elias exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Unbelievable." But despite his exasperation, there was amusement in his voice. His wings folded back, his presence dimming slightly, but his gaze remained sharp. "Let's be clear, Sol—this isn't just about wings or power. This is a decision that will bind you to something greater than yourself. You will walk eternity carrying its weight. Are you truly prepared for that?"
Sol let out a breath, his smirk fading as he met Elias' gaze. "I know what you're trying to say. That this isn't just about me, that it's not just some power boost or escape hatch from mortality. That it comes with obligations, with bonds I can't just walk away from. I get that."
He leaned back slightly, arms crossing. "But tell me this—what's the difference between this and everything else? Life already binds people together in ways they don't always choose. Family, loyalty, debts, responsibilities. You think eternity is different? Maybe it just makes it more obvious. More permanent. But isn't everything already that way? The moment you decide to care about something, you're tied to it. The moment you let people in, you're bound to them."
Elias' expression shifted, something flickering across his face that Sol couldn't quite place. He had expected flippancy, maybe hesitation. Not this—not clarity.
Sol exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "So yeah. If I get wings, that's a bonus. But I already knew what I was signing up for the second I started considering it. You just wanted to hear me say it, didn't you?"
Elias chuckled, shaking his head. "You never fail to surprise me, Sol." He studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Very well. You understand what this means. That is more than most ever do before making this choice."