Blood of Shadows Chapter 3
Chapter 2: Awakening the Shadows
The night was colder than Kain remembered. The scent of damp earth clung to his senses, mingling with the unfamiliar hum of distant machines. He stood motionless at the edge of the ruined crypt, his crimson eyes fixed on the human woman stumbling away through the dense underbrush.
Her face was a dagger to his heart. She looked exactly like her—like Alaria.
Kain’s fists clenched at his sides. Centuries of torment had dulled his emotions, but the sight of her had awakened something long buried. Yet, this wasn’t Alaria. It couldn’t be. Her aura was different—fragile, mortal, untouched by the weight of their shared history.
He inhaled deeply, his senses sharpening as they adjusted to his newfound freedom. The air tasted foreign, tainted with chemicals and electricity. The stars above, once bright and eternal, seemed dimmer, their brilliance veiled by a haze of light pollution. The world he knew was gone, replaced by something colder, louder, and infinitely more alien.
Kain’s knees nearly buckled under the weight of his awakening. Though his vampiric strength had preserved him, centuries of imprisonment had drained him. His body ached with a hollowness he hadn’t felt in eons, his power diminished to a whisper of what it once was.
Still, his instincts were razor-sharp, honed by years of solitude. He felt the weight of unseen eyes in the shadows, heard the faint rustle of leaves that did not belong to the wind.
They knew.
The Blood Monarchs had kept him entombed for centuries, and now they would come. They would know of his escape, of his weakness. And they would not hesitate to strike.
His gaze shifted back to the woman—Elena, he had overheard her name in the echoes of her mind. She was the reason he stood here now, her blood the key to unlocking his prison. He didn’t know why fate had chosen her or why she bore Alaria’s likeness, but he owed her a debt he could not repay.
And yet, he could not face her.
Kain turned away, retreating deeper into the shadows of the forest. Each step was a battle against his own curiosity, his own longing. He wanted to confront her, to demand answers, to understand why the universe had thrust her into his path. But he also feared what he might find.
As he walked, the distant glow of a nearby city caught his attention. It pulsed faintly on the horizon, a beacon of light that seemed to mock his darkness. Kain hesitated, a wave of unease washing over him.
The modern world was a mystery to him. Its rules, its people, its weapons—all unknowns that could prove deadly. He had no allies here, no power base to rebuild his strength.
But he had no choice.
As Kain approached the outskirts of the city, the sounds assaulted him. The roar of engines, the chatter of voices, the incessant hum of electricity—it was overwhelming. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to adapt. He would not falter now.
In the distance, he spotted his reflection in a shattered storefront window. His once-pristine attire was torn and coated in the grime of his tomb, his hair disheveled, his crimson eyes blazing with a feral intensity.
A predator out of time.
Kain smirked bitterly at the sight. This is what they feared? he thought, shaking his head. The Blood Monarchs had gone to great lengths to imprison him, but now, in his weakened state, he barely resembled the fearsome creature they had once called their prince.
But he would rise again.
The faint scent of blood lingered on the air, drawing his attention back to the city. It was a reminder of his hunger, of the darkness that still pulsed within him. Kain forced the instinct down, knowing he could not afford to be reckless.
For now, his focus would remain on survival—on understanding this strange, new world. And on her.
Even as he tried to push thoughts of Elena aside, her image burned in his mind. The way she had looked at him—half terrified, half mesmerized. Her blood had awakened him, but her presence had stirred something deeper.
“Alaria,” he whispered to himself, the name tasting like ash on his tongue.
No, this woman was not Alaria. But she was connected to her, somehow. Kain was certain of it. And whatever that connection was, it would bring danger.
The faintest shift in the air caught his attention, a subtle ripple that only his heightened senses could detect.
They were coming.
The Blood Monarchs wouldn’t waste time. Assassins would already be on their way, drawn by the energy released during his awakening. Kain turned toward the shadows, his jaw tightening. He might be weakened, but he was no stranger to war.
“Let them come,” he muttered, his voice low and cold.
But even as he prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation, his thoughts drifted back to Elena.
Stay away from me, human, he thought silently. For your sake—and mine.
