CHAPTER 27: WHO IS THE TRAITOR?

Aven’s POV

The sigil that has been protecting us against the vampires has been compromised again. The vampires have proven to be resilient fighters; we have fought them and sealed the sigil repeatedly, but some have always found a way to penetrate.

The sigil is getting weaker the more they penetrate," Dad sounded like he was scared. I’ve never heard him speak in such a tone. "If they keep compromising the sigil, they might cause an inevitable war."

"I’ll be home soon, Dad." I packed my bags hastily and left the apartment.

The night was so cold and eerie, but it also felt strange; It was as if unseen eyes were following me.

The constant breaching of the sigil can weaken the code. We need to find the vampire that broke into our world and kill it before it goes back to its world.

This had to come at the wrong time; exams were drawing close, and now I had to work with my dad in sealing the sigil back.

The Dravaris who helped seal the first sigil are almost extinct, and if they all go extinct, we may be in danger.

By the time I reached the stronghold, tension clung to the air like a suffocating fog. Inside the council chamber, the council members sat with long faces, talking in hushed tones.

You are here, Aven. Now we have to get to work."

Typical of my father, no greeting, no hearty welcome, always business.

My father stood at the head of a long table, a massive map of the borderlands spread out before him, runes etched into its surface. I’ve seen this scene before, but it was before that war.

To his right was Commander Vale Loome, whom I always second-guessed his loyalty to the family. He was too forward on issues most of the time. I disliked him, and I’m sure he disliked me too.

On his left was Sorin, the last Dravari mage anyone knew of, his crimson eyes narrowed in grim focus as he studied the map. The Dravaris are mighty creatures, with heightened senses and reflexes immune to vampires’ compelling, but they were also dangerous.

One thing is for sure: someone is giving information to the vampires, the sigil has been sealed multiple times since the Second War, yet it keeps getting compromised, suggesting that the traitor is within.

It can’t be a Dravari; everything suggests it can’t be, but Commander Vale Loome is highly suspicious.

Four armed sentinels flanked the doors, very similar to the Argent sentinel statue in the middle of the hallway in Ashwood Academy. Their expressions were sharp and unreadable.

"Get him a glass of water," my dad ordered the butler who stood beside him, gesturing towards me.

"We track tonight," Dad said, his voice cutting through the heavy silence. "The vampire is still in our world. If we lose it, we may never find it again until it’s too late."

Sorin’s voice was a low murmur, but it was very audible to everyone in the room. "This one is different. Stronger. It didn’t just breach the sigil; it twisted it. I can feel the corruption in the wards."

A chill crawled down my spine.

Dad tapped a red mark on the map. "It was here an hour ago." The mark showed my academy, could it be that they were in Ashwood? No wonder I felt followed.

A sentinel stepped forward, his face pale. "Alpha... you need to see this." He handed Dad a crumpled scrap of parchment, stained with dark, dried blood.

Were they attacking already?, My mind raced to Aria. I hope she is safe. Why do I still think of her at this odd time?

Dad opened it, and the moment his eyes scanned the words, written with the dark dried blood, the colour drained from his face.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice tighter than I intended.

His gaze met mine. "It’s... your name."

Before I could speak, the torches flared violently, shadows twisting along the walls. The temperature in the room plummeted, our breath fogging the air.

Then, from somewhere beyond the stronghold walls, came a sound low, raspy, and impossibly close.

Everyone froze. I was actually being followed

Sorin’s crimson eyes glinted in the dim light. "It’s here."

The room stayed frozen for a heartbeat too long. Then my father’s voice cut through the air like a blade.

"Lock down the stronghold. Now!" Every guard, maid and sentinel started pacing frantically towards the stronghold.

The sentinels moved, but they were too slow. The doors to the chamber rattled violently, the lightnings began to flicker, and in seconds the room was covered with a shadow.

Sorin lifted his hand, and glowing red runes spiralled into existence around his palm. "It’s feeding off the sigil’s corruption," he said, his voice tight. "If it gets in here, none of you will be safe."

A deep, rasping breath echoed from the hallway beyond, followed by the slow drag of claws against the wall.

I reached for the blade strapped to my back, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. Dad’s hand shot out, stopping me.

"Don’t engage unless I tell you," he ordered. "It’s not here for a fight, it’s here for you."

"Then let me fight for myself." I fired back. "No son, this is unlike anyone you have ever fought, and this one aims at you."

The words had barely registered when the doors blew inward. Splinters and shards of iron were scattered across the chamber floor, and a freezing gust followed them.

The thing in the doorway wasn’t obvious, more like a shadow than flesh, but its eyes burned like molten silver in the dark.

It was a weird kind of vampire. I wonder what kind of vampire breed that was.

Sorin hissed in a language I didn’t know and unleashed his runes. Crimson light flared, slamming into the creature, but it only staggered back for a second before straightening again.

It smiled. Fangs glinted in the dim light.

"That is not a scout," Commander Vale muttered, drawing his sword. "That’s a hunter."

I swallowed. I couldn’t help but notice Commander Vale’s movements.

My father stepped in front of me, but I could feel the creature’s gaze fixed directly on me, like it was peeling away layers of my skin just by looking.

Then, in a voice that was both a whisper and a roar, it spoke my name. And just then, it appeared in its human form, dropping from the ceiling.

Then you have got me," I stepped drastically and instinctively in front of Dad, and he shoved me towards the door.

"Get him out of here," He commanded one of the sentinels.

And that is when it clicked. He wasn’t here for me; he had other plans.