Pain.
That was the first thing Desmond registered as consciousness slowly crept back in. His body felt like it had been through a meat grinder—aching, bruised, weak. But he was alive. That much, he was sure of.
The second thing he noticed was the smell.
Earthy. Woodsy. A mix of pine and damp soil, with a faint trace of something wild. It wasn't the sterile scent of a hospital, nor the familiar warmth of home.
Slowly, he forced his eyes open.
He was in a cabin.
The walls were made of rough, aged wood, and a dim fire crackled in a stone fireplace across the room. The only light came from the fire and the faint moonlight filtering through a small window.
Desmond tried to sit up—bad idea. A sharp pain shot through his ribs, making him hiss. His entire body protested the movement, reminding him of the fight.
The vampire.
His head snapped up, memories crashing back all at once. The alley. The attack. The werewolf.
And then—
"Careful. You took a hell of a beating."
Desmond flinched at the voice, his gaze darting to the corner of the room.
A man stood there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and radiated an aura of raw strength. His dark hair was slightly unkempt, and his sharp golden eyes locked onto Desmond with an intense gaze.
Definitely not human.
The realization sent a chill down Desmond's spine.
"You're… a werewolf," Desmond muttered, his voice hoarse.
The man smirked. "Sharp kid." He pushed off the wall and stepped closer. "The name's Elias."
Desmond's mind raced. Werewolves exist. Vampires exist. I just fought one and nearly died.
He swallowed hard. "You saved me."
Elias shrugged. "You looked like you needed it."
Revelations
Desmond clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling inside him. "Why?"
Elias sighed, dragging a chair closer and sitting down. "Because that leech was about to kill you, and I don't particularly like leeches running around my city."
The casual way he said it made Desmond's stomach twist. He was talking about vampires like they were nothing more than pests.
"How… how long have you known?" Desmond asked, his voice quieter now. "About all of this? Vampires. Werewolves."
Elias gave him a long look, as if deciding how much to say. "My whole life."
That answer sent another wave of realization crashing down on Desmond.
There was a world hidden beneath the one he knew. A world of monsters and supernatural beings. And now—he was in it.
Desmond exhaled shakily. "So, what happens now?"
Elias leaned back in his chair. "That depends on you, kid."
Desmond frowned. "What do you mean?"
Elias's golden eyes gleamed. "You're not normal. You already know that, don't you?"
Desmond stiffened. He did know that. His shield. His strange connection to energy. He had always felt like he didn't fully belong.
"I've seen a lot of things in my time," Elias continued. "But I've never seen a human fight off a vampire like that. You're different. And different means dangerous—to both their kind and mine."
Desmond swallowed. "So… what? Are you going to kill me?"
Elias barked out a laugh. "Not yet."
Not yet?
Desmond wasn't sure if he should be relieved or terrified.
A New Path
A heavy silence settled between them before Elias finally spoke again.
"You've got two choices," he said. "You can pretend none of this ever happened. Go back to your normal life, ignore the things lurking in the dark, and hope they ignore you too."
Desmond already knew that wasn't an option.
"And the other choice?" he asked.
Elias's expression turned serious. "You learn. You train. You prepare—because now that a vampire's gotten a taste of you, more will come. And next time, there might not be someone around to save you."
Desmond stared at him, his heart pounding.
Normal life was over. He had felt it the moment that vampire's teeth sank into his skin.
And deep down, he knew.
This was the path he had to take.
He met Elias's gaze, determination settling in his chest.
"Teach me."