Chapter 2: The Blood Within
The night air felt heavier than usual. Ajay sat by Diya's hospital bed, watching her sleep. Her breathing was steady now. The doctors said the surgery had gone well, but recovery would be slow. Very slow. They didn't sound hopeful about her walking again.
But Ajay wasn't ready to give up hope. Not after everything that had happened.
His hand rested over his chest, feeling the faint pulse of the dragon-sword symbol etched into his skin. It was warm—alive. Sometimes, it glowed when he felt strong emotion. Sometimes, it whispered.
And that night, it pulsed again—this time with urgency.
The Hidden Letter
After Diya fell asleep, Ajay returned home. He had barely walked into their old study room when something strange happened.
A gust of wind blew open the window. The room turned unusually cold. Papers flew. The bookshelf trembled slightly. And then…
A book fell to the floor.
Not a regular one. It was thick, leather-bound, and coated in a fine layer of dust.
Ajay picked it up. Inside was a hollowed-out compartment—and in it, a letter, sealed with a wax crest shaped like a dragon wrapped around a crescent moon.
His hands shook as he opened it.
To my son, Ajay—
If you are reading this, then you have awakened.
You are not ordinary. You never were.
You are the heir to two ancient bloodlines—one of the Vampires of the Red Court, and one of the Dragon Clans of the East.
Your mother, Amara, was a Dragon Princess. I, your father, was once the Vampire Lord of the Western Bloodlines.
Together, we tried to unite the clans in peace. But others feared what our child would become. You.
They came for us. Betrayed us. Burned our home.
We died… but you lived.
You carry both bloods. Fire and shadow.
Find the Temple of Aagna. Find the Book of Origins.
Only then will you understand what you must become.
Do not trust anyone—not even those who smile at you.
The prince must rise. Or the world will fall.
—Your father, Arkon
Ajay stared at the letter, breathless.
Vampires? Dragons? His parents?
It all sounded impossible. And yet, his body said otherwise. The strength. The senses. The vision.
And now—this truth.
The Awakening Grows
Over the next few days, Ajay's powers began to evolve.
He could hear people's heartbeats.
He could smell fear.
His eyes glowed in the dark.
And when he focused, he could move objects without touching them.
But there was more. One night, he had a dream—or maybe a memory.
He was in a vast, underground throne room. Massive stone pillars shaped like dragons curled around the ceiling. Shadows kneeled before him. And above all stood a dragon's spirit, speaking in riddles.
"One who holds both flame and fang… shall decide the fate of both night and day."
He woke up gasping, sweat pouring down his face.
Enemies in the Shadows
Unbeknownst to Ajay, others had felt his awakening.
In a secret chamber far away, cloaked figures gathered.
The Crimson Order—vampires who had once followed Ajay's father—were restless.
"He lives," one of them hissed.
"The child has awakened. The prince of balance."
"He must be either controlled… or destroyed."
And across the sea, in the floating temples of the dragon monks, the Elder Dragons stirred from centuries of slumber.
"The fire in him burns too hot," a deep voice echoed. "He is no longer hidden."