The Vireya estate was silent.
Selene stood at the edge of the training yard, her wooden blade gripped tightly in sweat-slicked palms. The late evening sun bathed the crimson stones in gold, casting long shadows that reached like fingers toward her feet.
"Again," her instructor barked.
She obeyed, pivoting hard on her heel, ducking an invisible enemy, slicing the air. She moved smoothly, she'd trained since she was a kid so her movements had become refined. But it wasn't enough. Not today.
Not after what she'd heard.
"Good enough," the instructor muttered. "Go wash up."
Selene didn't move. "What if it's true?" she asked.
He paused. "What?"
"The rumors...about the Binding."
The instructor's face twisted. "That's not your concern."
But it was. It was all anyone could whisper about since the Council meeting last night. A proposal from the Dravara clan—the vampires. A truce sealed by blood. Not war, not another massacre...a binding through marriage; a Vireya heir and a Dravara prince.
---
The halls of the estate echoed with footsteps and hushed voices. Selene passed portraits of ancestors who stared down at her with carved eyes and silver-stained swords. She entered her father's study without knocking.
He sat by the hearth, hands steepled, a folded letter on his lap.
"You've heard," he said.
She nodded.
He didn't look up. "You were never meant to carry this burden."
"I'm not afraid," she lied.
"You should be."
Selene crossed her arms. "They killed Uncle Garran, uncle Kraven, and Aunt Athena and now they want peace?"
"They want a future," her father said. "and they could get that future without the rest of the clan in it...except you", he paused "you're the only hope of our clan Selene"
Uncomfortable silence fell throughout the study
Finally, he looked up. His cold, worried eyes softened as they met hers.
"They chose you because you're the only one they fear and respect. You're the last pure blood vampire hunter"
Selene's voice cracked. "And what if I say no?"
"Then we get ready for war," he said simply.
She turned away, chest tight.
"You were never raised to be sacrificed," he added quietly. "But sometimes we bleed so others won't."
Selene couldn't hold back the tears anymore at that point, she let it all out and drenched her father's shoulders with hot, salty tears.
---
That night, Selene climbed the outer wall of the estate, sat beneath the stars, and tried to regain her composure. She'd always prided herself in her ability to stay calm no matter what, but she'd totally lost it today.
As the wind whispered quietly through the trees, she heard another sound in it's melody—a soft growl, low and restless.
She turned around and at the edge of the clearing stood a boy. No, not a boy—a man. Ragged shirt, wild eyes, breathing hard like he'd run for miles.
She reached for her blade.
He raised both hands. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"You're trespassing."
"I got lost," he said. "I didn't know this was... private land."
She didn't believe him. But something about him was off...not dangerous. Just different, she just couldn't place her hands on what was different about him.
But he gave off a weirdly familiar feeling, something she could relate to.
"What's your name?" she asked.
He hesitated. "Rowan."
No last name. No clan.
"You're not from here," she said.
"Not really from...anywhere."
Their eyes met briefly and she could see his eyes had a unique silver touch, they were compelling...it felt like they were searching her soul.
She quickly shrugged it off 'well, I guess old Harold's mind training isn't all that worthless after' she thought
"I should arrest you," she said.
"You don't look like a guard." he said smirking
Selene hated his smirk
"I'm not one, but I control a bunch of them" she said trying to sound as tough as she could
"I'm sorry for trespassing" he said softly and turned his back to leave
For some reason Selene felt like she had a knife to her heart as soon as he turned to leave, she felt pity for him; he looked liked he needed help and urgently too.
But then he turned back... "By the way, did you see how I got here?"
All the pity suddenly turned into anger and disgust "just get out of here" she yelled and motioned violently pointing him out of the estate.
Selene didn't know why she let him go. Maybe because he looked as lost as she felt.
As she watched him disappear into the woods, she smiled unconsciously...'yuck, why?' she forced a disgusted face and jumped back into the estate.
She quietly made her way into her room and lay on the bed solemnly, it'd been a long, sad day and she was glad it had finally ended...but as she closed her eyes, the thought that the next morning, the Binding was to be announced resurfaced. 'In one week, I'll would be delivered to the Dravara stronghold to wed Prince Kaelen Dravara' she repeated it over and over until sleep totally deserted her.
Cold, gentle breeze suddenly blew in from the window; as her fingers brushed the velvet curtain to let in more of the breeze, a sudden chill swept through the room—like a whisper from an ancient being... watching. She thought it was the wind until the shadows shifted behind her, and a voice—silken and impossibly familiar—spoke her name..."Selene"