The manor was quiet that evening.
A rare calm settled over the ancient halls of Vaelthorne Manor.
Sylvanna sat upon the chaise near the fire, wrapped in a velvet shawl, her hair like braided threads of moonlight over her shoulders. Caelum leaned gently against her side, small and quiet, listening intently.
Seraphine stood by the window, arms crossed, her gaze flicking between the stars and the reflection of the woman who, even after centuries of sleep, radiated timeless grace.
Alaric entered last, placing a crystal decanter of wine and glasses on the low table. He glanced at his sister, then at his son nestled close to her.
"Are you certain you're ready to talk about him?" Alaric asked gently.
Sylvanna let out a long breath and looked up, her silver eyes shadowed with the weight of memory. "Yes," she whispered. "You must all know the truth… about Marlik."
The room fell still.
"Long ago, after the fall of the Elven Court," Sylvanna began, "there were few of us left. But among those who survived, one bloodline was believed extinct—the Beurie Clan. They were powerful soul-mages, once the most devoted servants of the Elven royals. Their power was ancient… sacred. But history remembers what power does when left unchecked."
She paused, brushing a hand through Caelum's hair as if needing to anchor herself.
"Then, I found him. A child, no older than ten, alone in the remnants of a destroyed temple. A boy with silver eyes and quiet strength. Marlik Beurie. I took him in, raised him as my ward. He was… good. Thoughtful. Brilliant. His control over magic was astonishing. He studied hard, served the people quietly. There was no trace of corruption in him."
Alaric lowered his eyes. "But something changed."
Sylvanna nodded slowly. "He fell in love. Not with royalty or a sorceress… but with an ordinary human girl. Her name was Eileen."
"She was kind, brave, and full of laughter. Marlik adored her. And I… I gave them my blessing. I saw how she softened him. She was his light."
Caelum looked up. "What happened to her?"
Sylvanna's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Her voice trembled.
"The girl's parents discovered his magic. They were terrified. They spread whispers through the village… called him a demon in disguise. They tried to take her away. She defied them. Ran away with him. For a while, they lived hidden, building a quiet life together in the woods. But fear spreads faster than truth."
She clenched her jaw. "One day, while Marlik was out hunting, the villagers found their cottage. They dragged Eileen out and tied her to a stake. They called her 'Witch', thinking she was turn to a witch by him. They thought they were killing the mage."
Alaric paled. "They burned her… alive?"
Sylvanna nodded.
"He returned to find nothing but ashes and the scent of her still in the wind. He didn't scream. He didn't cry. He buried what was left of her and walked into the heart of the village..."
She went silent for a moment, letting the horror settle.
"He destroyed it in a single night. Not just the villagers—their homes, their land, even the memory of their names. And after that, Marlik was gone. The boy I raised died that night."
Seraphine whispered, "And the monster was born."
"No," Sylvanna said softly. "Not a monster. A man who believed love cursed him. Who believed the world would never accept what he was."
Caelum clenched his little fists. "That's not fair!"
"It isn't," Sylvanna agreed, stroking his hair. "And that's why he turned to practice his forbidden magic—soul binding. He believed if he could bind himself to the body of an immortal, he would never be weak again. Never lose love again."
Alaric's brows furrowed. "And now… he wants Caelum. For that same reason."
Seraphine turned sharply. "Because of the royal elven blood. Because our son was born of love and legacy. The perfect vessel."
Sylvanna's voice broke. "He wants to steal your child's future… just as his was stolen from him."
A silence fell, thick with grief and fury.
Seraphine crossed the room and sat beside her son, wrapping him in her arms. "We won't let him," she whispered fiercely. "He may have been broken… but we will never let him break Caelum."
Alaric stood and turned toward the darkened halls. His expression had shifted. The calm, regal stillness of the vampire king was now eclipsed by something more ancient. Something fierce and dangerous.
He would protect his family.
No matter what it took.