Morning, at the Holler family estate — a grand Victorian mansion surrounded by dense forest
The soft clink of plates against the table echoed through the spacious dining room, illuminated by a crystal chandelier and tall windows welcoming the pale morning sunlight.
Edward sat at the head of the table.
Across from him stood Hill, his father, leaning lightly against the window frame to avoid the sunlight. A cup of warm blood rested in his hand, faint steam still rising from it, but his gaze remained fixed on his son with a thoughtful expression.
"The explosion last night…" Hill finally spoke."That wasn't just a nightmare, was it?"
Edward paused slightly before placing his fork down with a quiet sigh.
"No… I didn't lie to you, Father. But I didn't tell you everything either."
"Then say it plainly." His father raised an eyebrow.
"Henry and I were training our powers behind the house. My abilities… they're getting harder to control every day."
His father fell silent for a moment. Then he set the glass of blood down and walked over, taking a seat opposite him. His dark brown eyes—once filled with unwavering strength—now held unmistakable concern.
"Edward… I know you're carrying far more than any eighteen-year-old should have to bear. But you also know this isn't a place to experiment with dangerous powers. If the neighbors see—"
"We used a sound barrier spell. No one could hear us."
"But I heard it," Hill replied immediately.
"And if I could hear it… someone else might too."
Edward lowered his head, his hand clenching into a fist.
"I just don't want what happened before to happen again… If Tyler returns—if he hurts someone again—I need to be ready."
"I understand your intentions," Hill said calmly."But Henry isn't a proper trainer. His own power isn't exactly stable either."
"He's my friend," Edward replied quietly."And he understands what I am better than anyone else."
"Except Alice," Hill said with a faint smile.
Edward fell silent for a moment before speaking softly.
"Alice shouldn't be involved in any of this."
"But she already is."
Hill stood up.
"You can't protect everyone, son. Sometimes… you have to learn to trust others to protect you too."
The final words made Edward freeze.
The certainty in his eyes flickered slightly.
"I… I'll be more careful," he said at last.
Hill nodded.
"Good. And if you really want to train… use the family's underground chamber. Your grandfather built an old magic circle down there. It's safer."
Edward looked up in surprise.
"You're allowing it?"
"I'm not allowing foolishness," Hill replied."But I'm allowing you to grow… the way you should."
He patted his son gently on the shoulder.
"Now go get ready for school. Before Alice starts complaining that you're late."
A faint smile appeared on Edward's face for the first time that morning.
"Yes, Father."
Istanbul High School — Break Time
The sky had begun turning orange-red as the bell rang for break.
Students streamed out of the school buildings.
But behind the gymnasium, in the shadow of the structure, something else was waiting.
Alice was walking alone today, her head lowered as she typed a message on her phone to Edward.
"I'm leaving the gym. Heading back to class."
Suddenly—
A faint metallic scent of blood drifted through the air.
Soft footsteps echoed behind her, light as the breath of something that should not be alive.
Alice turned cautiously.
Nothing.
But in the next instant—
A tall figure with corpse-pale skin and dim crimson eyes emerged from the shadows.
It lunged without warning.
Slash!
Long claws tore through her jacket.
Alice twisted aside, but not fast enough. The claws sliced across her left shoulder.
Hot blood splattered.
"Ah—!"
Gritting her teeth, she ran down the narrow alley between the school buildings.
The creature's footsteps followed close behind.
A hoarse laugh whispered near her ear, as if the predator were savoring the hunt.
"Your blood… smells sweeter than ordinary humans…"
"You're quite the premium meal, little wolf."
Alice vaulted over a hedge fence, rolling hard across the ground. Her breath shook violently as she struggled to rise.
Her hands were covered in blood.
From inside her boot she pulled out a small silver dagger—the one her brother had given her for protection.
"Come on then… you bastard," she said, tears filling her eyes but her voice steady.
The vampire servant lunged with monstrous force.
CRACK!
It seized her throat and slammed her onto the ground.
Her head struck the concrete. The world spun violently.
Claws slashed downward again—
WHOOOSH!
A violent gust tore through the air.
The creature's body was suddenly hurled backward, smashing into a wall so hard the concrete cracked.
"DON'T TOUCH HER!"
Edward's roar thundered through the alley.
He appeared like a storm, moving faster than sight itself.
Henry rushed in from the opposite side, his face twisted with fury.
"Alice!!"
Edward dropped to his knees beside her, brushing blood away from her forehead with trembling fingers.
"Damn it… you're badly hurt!"
The vampire staggered to its feet again, laughing darkly.
"Dangerous half-bloods…"
It never finished its sentence.
Edward launched forward.
His fist struck with explosive force.
BOOM!
Ribs shattered as the creature flew three meters across the ground.
Meanwhile Henry dragged Alice behind a corner wall for cover.
He pulled a talisman from his coat, crushing it in his palm while whispering a spell.
"I call upon the power of life—Stay the fading of this soul!"
Silver light spread across Alice's body.
Her wounds faded slightly.
The bleeding slowed—if only temporarily.
Alice whispered weakly,
"Edward… don't kill him…He might know who sent him…"
But Edward's eyes burned with vengeance.
Dark veins crept along his neck.
Something within him was beginning to lose control.
Henry approached the crippled vampire.
"Who sent you?" he asked coldly, grabbing the creature by the collar.
The monster's eyes widened in pain and fear.
It didn't answer.
Instead it smiled through blood-stained teeth.
"You… will never stop him…"
"Stop who?" Edward demanded.
No answer.
Only a mocking laugh.
Henry slowly raised his hand.
Sharp spiritual energy gathered at his fingertips and struck straight into the creature's forehead.
A horrifying scream burst from its throat.
"I gave you a chance," Henry whispered.
The vampire convulsed violently.
Henry ripped fragments of memory from its mind.
But everything was shrouded in darkness.
A spell had erased the truth.
"Someone destroyed its memories," he muttered.
"Who has power like that?" Edward asked.
"Only Tyler… But this one is useless now."
Before the creature could draw another breath—
Henry drove his palm into its chest.
Purple-black magic erupted outward.
Bones shattered.
The vampire convulsed once… then fell silent.
Dead.
Henry stood up and turned away from the body without a second glance.
"No time to play mind games with corpses."
Edward nodded slightly.
Then he turned back to Alice.
The rage in his eyes had quieted—
but the fire inside him still burned.
Alfred's House
The large wooden door burst open.
Footsteps shattered the house's quiet.
"Alice!"
Alfred's voice echoed through the entire home as he rushed down the stairs.
Behind him came Lonewolf, her older brother, his eyes wide with shock.
Edward carried Alice in his arms.
Her clothes were soaked with blood.
Though she had regained some consciousness, her face remained deathly pale.
"What happened!?" Alfred demanded, fear and fury mixed together.
Lonewolf stared at his sister—the same sister he had hugged only that morning—now barely able to open her eyes.
Edward spoke quietly.
But guilt and rage trembled beneath his voice.
"They ambushed her… at school."
Henry nodded.
"We killed one. But there are more hiding in the shadows."
Alfred's hands trembled—not with fear, but with a father's fury.
"I should've been with her…"
Edward gently laid Alice on the sofa and knelt beside her.
Then he turned to face Alfred and Lonewolf.
His voice was low.
"It shouldn't have happened…"
"I was there… only a few meters away from her."
His voice began to shake.
"But I let her get hurt… because I was too slow."
He bit his lip until blood appeared.
The eyes that were always cold in battle now carried unbearable pain.
"From now on… I won't let her face danger alone again."
His crimson eyes met Alfred's.
"I promise… I will protect her with my life."
Later, when Alfred went into the kitchen to prepare medicine, silence settled over the living room.
Until Lonewolf's footsteps echoed softly.
Edward looked up.
Lonewolf stood before him.
Calm.
But his gaze was cold as steel.
"You'll protect my sister with your life?"
Edward nodded.
"Yes. Every breath I take will be her shield."
Lonewolf looked at Alice before continuing quietly.
"Since our mother died… my father and I nearly gave up our lives just so this girl could grow up in a safe world."
Edward listened silently.
"But ever since you became involved with us…"
Lonewolf turned and stared straight into his eyes.
"Alice's world hasn't been safe anymore."
Edward inhaled slowly.
"But I won't let her be hurt again. No matter what comes."
Lonewolf studied him for a long moment.
"If she's wounded again…"
He stepped closer.
"…I'll be the one who kills you. No matter what it costs."
Edward gave a faint smile.
Not challenging.
Just sincere.
"I accept that. You can take my life if that happens."
Their eyes locked.
There was still suspicion between them—
but within that silence, the first fragile trace of trust began to form.