A Vampire's Evolution

"Silver, how have you been?" Alexander said as he entered the room.

It wasn't Marcus but his son who came to meet me.

"Fine, but where is Marcus? Is he okay?" I asked, my face full of worry.

"Yes, but unfortunately, he's been poisoned," he said as he moved to sit down.

"How could that happen? Marcus wouldn't get sick from just poison; he's a Vampire Lord," I said, inspecting Alexander closely.

Alexander was too calm for someone whose father had been poisoned, as he claimed.

"That's what I find strange too. He just collapsed a few days ago," Alexander said.

"Did you try looking for an antidote?" I asked.

"Yes. We brought in a medicine specialist, but they said it was a type of poison they'd never seen before," Alexander replied.

"Do you know who did it?" I asked.

"No… but I think I know who might have," he said, studying my every move.

"Who?"

"Ivan. He's been acting strange ever since Father died," Alexander said in a calm tone.

"No, it can't be him. He's been with Marcus for years. Why would he decide to poison Marcus now?" I said.

"I don't know, but he's the only one Father would lower his guard around," he said, insisting it was Ivan.

If that's true, then why couldn't you have done it? I thought.

We then heard a knock on the door.

"Enter," Alexander replied.

"Sir, there is a guest waiting for you in the main hall," Ivan said, bowing.

"Tell them I'll be there in a minute," Alexander replied.

"Yes, sir," Ivan said before leaving the room.

"Silver, I need to leave now. An important guest has just arrived," Alexander said as he stood up.

"No, it's fine. But can I go see how Marcus is doing?" I asked, also standing.

"I'm sorry, but the specialist said we should limit his visitors—it might negatively affect his condition," he said.

"I'll contact you when he gets better, so don't come here so often," he added, turning the door handle.

"Okay. I'll be waiting for good news," I said as I left after him.

During that whole conversation, something bothered me.

Both he and Ivan were acting differently.

I wanted to use [EI], but using it causes a slight spike in your magion, alerting the one you're targeting.

I couldn't let them know I suspected them—especially Alexander.

Ivan then escorted me outside.

As I was about to leave, he suddenly spoke.

"Young master Silver, please be careful… Alexander…" he said while holding his head.

It looked like he was in pain.

"Ivan, what's happening? Are you okay?" I asked, rushing to him.

"Yes… just leave… now, before…" he said, struggling to speak.

"I can't leave when you're clearly in pain," I said, holding his shoulders.

"Go!... Please." He screamed pushing me away from him.

"Fine, but you need to see a herbalist," I said.

He didn't reply; he simply closed the door behind him.

What was happening inside that house? And what did he mean by 'be careful'?

Of who? Alexander?

These thoughts kept running through my head, but I decided to push them aside because tomorrow was a very important day.

The opening ceremony for Scarlet Academy.

I left the main gate and returned to the Academy.

***

(Alexander's POV)

"Finally, that nuisance is gone," I said angrily.

"Behind whose back are you talking like that?" Albert said, walking up the stairs.

"Albert, did you finish your mission?"

"I failed, miserably at that," Albert said with a nonchalant demeanor.

"How can you act so carefree?! You had one job—to kill Emily Bloodsworth, a weak student—yet you failed?"

"Don't be so upset. I'll think of something else," he said, patting me on the shoulder.

"This is your last chance, or the Council will have to get involved," I said, pushing his hand off me.

"Our plans have truly gone awry. Your failure, and now I have to deal with that pest, Silver," I said, walking through the hallway, my expression full of anger.

"Oh, that reminds me. I met a silver-haired boy during my mission. If it weren't for him, Emily would be long dead now," he said, following me.

"Wait… you mean Silver?" I asked.

"Who's that?"

"A boy. He looks more like a girl—silver hair."

"Yes, that's what he looked like," Albert replied.

"He's dangerous. We need to get rid of him."

"Why? He seemed extremely weak when I saw him," Albert said.

"No, that's not the reason. He's smart—too smart. He's begun to suspect me," I said as we reached the end of the hallway, stopping in front of a large door.

"Should I go after him too?" Albert asked.

"No. Leave him for now. I'll send someone else after him," I said, placing my hand on the orb in the door's center and channeling my magion into it.

We entered the room.

"Is this it?" Albert asked.

"Yes, it is," I said, touching the sword with a somber expression.

"But… will this really be okay?" Albert asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what if a Progenitor gets involved? They won't just sit back during the Endless Night," he said.

"Let them come! We have Progenitors on our side too," I said confidently.

"That's not what I meant. A fight between two Progenitors would cause massive damage. If the barrier cracks…"

"We have ways to prevent that," I interrupted, picking up the sword.

I placed it in the middle of a spell circle.

"Now, we just need the blood of our Founding Ancestor," I said.

"So, a hunt for a Pureblood?" Albert asked, his expression serious.

"Yes."

***

(Silver's POV)

After returning to the Academy, I searched for someone named Melody, but she was nowhere to be found.

What exactly was this thing she dropped? It looked like a necklace with a keyhole.

It seemed important, so I decided to keep it with me until I saw her again.

I returned to the dorms to rest until the next day—not that I needed it.

But something that constantly went through my mind was the situation with Marcus. I felt that something wasn't right. The whole atmosphere inside that house felt different—sinister, like something was there that shouldn't be: something evil and dark.