Flashback II: The Father's Threat
My father Darian's voice was relentless, sharp like a freshly honed blade. His words were not warnings, but commands disguised as choices. On the desk in front of me lay photographs of my classmates. Each one a silent threat.
"If you don't take the Red Moon mission, I'll send one of them in your place," he said without looking at me, his usual coldness sparking my fury.
The weight of his threat sank deep into my chest. The images were painfully familiar: friends who had trusted me. Faces that didn't deserve to suffer for my choices.
"I'll do it," I finally said, my voice thick with bitterness as I clenched my fists. "But using others as bargaining chips... How low you've fallen, Father. You know I'm your greatest creation, Doctor Darian."
Darian offered a faint smile, clearly satisfied with my response. He didn't need to say a word—I knew he had won once again.
That night, I couldn't sleep. My mind was tormented by the name written on the mission document:
Sanathiel Rodrigo Golmish of Ruanda. A name that echoed endlessly inside me.
A dove's cry at my window snapped me from my thoughts. A message sent to my shadow. But something felt off.
Where was Varek?
I rushed out of my room without even changing clothes.
When I reached the director's office, the scene before me stopped me cold.
"Varek! You shouldn't be here!" I shouted, grabbing his hand.
He didn't move. His eyes shifted between my father and me, full of disbelief... and something else I couldn't name.
"Why didn't you tell me, Aisha?" he asked, his voice heavy with disappointment. "Your father… he controls everything. Even us, the protectors."
I looked at him desperately, my eyes filled with fear and rage. I squeezed his hand, begging him to understand.
"Answer me, Aisha."
His pain was clear. His words pierced me like thorns. But before I could speak, Darian stepped in with his usual calculated calm.
"Aisha, your mission is more important than anything. If you're not ready, I'll find someone who is."
That threat froze my blood. I couldn't let anyone else pay the price.
"I'll do it," I said firmly, turning to Varek. "But you have to leave. Now."
I tried to pull him away, but Varek stopped. His eyes locked on mine with a mix of pain and frustration.
"I don't even know who you are anymore, Aisha," he said before walking away.
"Get out, Varek!" I shouted, panicking, and shut the door behind me. I knew my father could use this against us.
Varek looked at me one last time, his eyes full of disappointment.
"I don't even recognize you anymore, Aisha," he whispered sadly as he walked off.
That was the last time I saw him with trust in his eyes.
End of Flashback
The Dance Under the Red Moon
The present hit me like a cold slap.
In the courtyard, Rodrigo dragged me to a secluded corner of the academy, away from the noise. His posture was relaxed, but his golden eyes shone with an intensity that made me nervous.
"You're even more beautiful than I remembered," he said, his words teetering between sincerity and mockery.
He took a diamond-encrusted medal from his pocket; its gleam reflected the crimson moonlight.
"Imagine what it would be like if we joined our destinies," he added as he placed it around my neck. His hands brushed against my skin as if he were marking territory.
"This wasn't part of the plan, White Wolf," I replied, pulling away from his touch.
Rodrigo chuckled—a low, guttural sound that echoed in the thick air.
"What will you do now, Aisha?" he asked as he kneels in front of me, his eyes flashing like those of a hunter who has just cornered his prey.
Before I could answer, a figure emerged from the shadows: Noah, dragging someone behind him.
My heart stopped as I recognized Falco, my brother. Hurt and weakened.
"You caught him, Noah. Well done," Rodrigo said, clearly pleased.
Rage consumed me. I couldn't let things spiral out of control.
I pulled out the poisoned bracelets I had hidden and slashed Rodrigo's face, paralyzing him for a moment.
"I'm not your prey, Rodrigo," I growled as I activated the beetle-shaped device Falco had given me.
Mechanical arms shot out, piercing Rodrigo's skin and locking into him like claws.
Rodrigo struggled to free himself, his face twisted in pain and fury.
"The moon is my ally, Aisha," he said through clenched teeth. "But remember this: destiny will always be mine."
With a swift motion, Noah lunged at me. I barely had time to react. The dagger strapped to my thigh flashed under the red light as I plunged it into his abdomen.
Noah collapsed. Motionless.
"This isn't over," Rodrigo said, staggering as he broke free of the mechanical beetle.
The red moon blazed above, watching every move, every choice.
I knew the climax of this night was near.
With one final pivot, I aimed the dagger at Rodrigo, ready to finish what I'd started.
The wind stirred dust. Shadows stretched. The weight of my choices pressed down on me.
Rodrigo stood tall, defying me with every breath. But in his eyes, beyond the fury, there was something else: admiration. As if he couldn't help but respect my resolve.
"What will you do now, Aisha?" he asked, a mix of challenge and curiosity in his voice.
As the crimson glow of the moon bathed the scene, I knew this night would be a turning point.
** The war between hunters, protectors, and supernatural beings had just begun.**