Chapter 17: Resonating Blood Lines

Steevan quietly stepped back into the underground bedroom where Ethan and Iris lay completely still. Setting his wooden herbal box down on a nearby side table, he walked over to the bed and stood there, staring down at the pale, battered children.

Suddenly, a faint, ragged breath cut through the silence of the room.

"Iris... Iris..." Ethan weakly whispered in his unconscious state.

Steevan's eyes widened in absolute shock. He... he's alive!

Spurred into action, Steevan frantically rushed to his medical box, pulling out his healing herbs, clean water, and tight bandages. He immediately got to work, meticulously cleaning the deep cuts and treating the poisoned arrow wounds on both Ethan and Iris.

Two grueling hours passed before Steevan finally finished wrapping their injuries. Exhausted, he stepped out of the bedroom and closed the wooden door behind him. Noorin was waiting for him in the main hall, her arms crossed.

"Why did it take you so long in there?" Noorin asked quietly.

Steevan let out a heavy, defeated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I tried everything I could to save them... but their bodies have taken too much damage. I don't think they can survive the night."

Noorin looked down, a wave of profound sadness washing over her face. "I told you, Steevan... they were already too far gone."

Deeply disappointed and heartbroken, Steevan turned and walked away into the shadows of their underground home, praying for a miracle he didn't think would come.

---

Meanwhile, inside the locked, silent room of Prince Advard's capital mansion, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Princess Cecelia sat on the polished floor, her glare icy as she looked up at the boy standing over her. "How dare you do this to me, Advard?!" she snapped, her voice trembling with royal fury.

Advard smoothly leaned down, offering his hand to her. "Please, don't be afraid, My Lady. I would never do anything to harm you."

"You wouldn't harm me?" Cecelia countered, crossing her arms defensively. "Then what do you call locking me in an empty room?!"

Advard sighed, looking away for a brief second before locking his gaze back onto hers. "I am sorry. Truly."

Cecelia hesitated for a moment before finally taking his hand. Advard gently pulled her up to her feet.

"I wasn't trying to scare you, Cece," Advard explained, his voice dropping to a soft, sincere register. "The truth is... I have deeply liked you ever since the first moment I saw you. But you were always by Maximilian's side."

Cecelia's breath hitched, her eyes widening. "You... you like me?"

"Maybe the timing is terrible, given what just happened," Advard continued smoothly, stepping closer until there were only inches between them. "But I really do love you. Cecelia... would you do me the honor of becoming my fiancée?"

Cecelia frantically looked down, her face exploding into a bright crimson blush. "We... we are still just kids, Advard!"

"Maximilian was a kid too," Advard pointed out casually.

Cecelia bit her lip, her heart pounding against her ribs. "I... I will think about it."

A charming, triumphant smile spread across Advard's face. "Then I will be waiting anxiously for your answer, My Lady."

"Now... can you please unlock this door?" Cecelia murmured, trying to hide her burning cheeks.

"Of course." Advard turned the key, swinging the heavy wooden door wide open.

Cecelia stepped out into the hallway, raising an eyebrow playfully. "Now, are you actually going to give me the tea we came here for, or was that a lie too?"

"Sure thing," Advard chuckled. He raised his voice, clapping his hands twice. "Everyone, you can come out now!"

In an instant, doors all along the corridor opened, and a full staff of royal servants perfectly lined the hallway, bowing deeply.

Cecelia gasped, her jaw dropping. "Wow... where on earth were they hiding?!"

"I ordered them to stay hidden in the back quarters," Advard admitted with a mischievous smirk. "I wanted this main estate to be completely empty when I spoke to you."

Cecelia smiled, shaking her head at his antics. "What absolute nonsense. Come on, let's go get that tea."

Together, the Prince and Princess walked down the grand hall, the servants quickly moving to prepare their lavish afternoon.

---

Back in the quiet depths of the underground stone room, Ethan's consciousness was drifting through a dark, empty void. Suddenly, a familiar, deep voice echoed right inside his soul.

Hahaha... are you not feeling lonely all by yourself in the dark, Ethan?

Ethan's spiritual form bolted upright. "What happened?! Why can't I move my body?!"

Because you are technically dead, the entity replied casually.

"How is that even possible?!" Ethan demanded, panic flaring. "I'm right here! I can think!"

The entity smiled within his mind. An ordinary human or a standard vampire would have died from a cliff fall like that. But a hybrid? A hybrid cannot die so easily from a mere fall.

Ethan's thoughts instantly flew to his companion. "Where is Iris?! Is she fine?!"

The entity let out a low chuckle. Oh? Even in the afterlife, you are already this worried about her?

"Answer me!" Ethan roared.

She is also a hybrid now, the voice explained, its tone turning serious. Your blood is actively running through her veins. Use your supernatural form and stay alive... or else give up and die right here.

"Can I really live?" Ethan whispered.

You can.

"Then... help me!" Ethan pleaded. "Give me the strength!"

I cannot help you anymore, Ethan, the voice murmured, beginning to distort. From this point on, it is entirely up to you. I am nothing more than a fading illusion inside your mind.

"Wait! Don't go!" Ethan yelled as the darkness around him began to crack.

The entity offered one last, genuine smile as its form dissolved into particles of light. Stay happy, Ethan...

With a sudden, violent gasp, Ethan's eyes snapped open.

He was back in his physical body, but his hybrid vampire form had automatically activated. His eyes burned a vivid crimson, his fangs slid past his lips, and his hair shifted to pitch-black. He held up his hands, staring at his completely healed fingers in disbelief. "Did it... did it really work?"

He frantically spun around on the mattress, his eyes landing on the girl lying right beside him. "Iris!"

He lunged across the bed, cradling her small hand in his. Her skin was still dangerously cold, her breathing light. "She's still trapped in the dark..." Ethan whispered, his chest tightening with fear.

Closing his eyes, Ethan gripped her hand with every ounce of strength he had left. He locked his mind onto their ancient imprinting bond, sending a desperate, fierce command through his thoughts: Come back, Iris... please, just come back to me!

The second his mind connected to hers, the matching sigils on their wrists flared with a blinding, burning heat.

Suddenly, a massive surge of pure, white-hot magical energy erupted from their joined hands. The raw magic shot straight up toward the stone ceiling, mixing with a vibrant, swirling aura of crimson blood magic.

Ethan opened his eyes, staring up at the illuminating power in absolute awe. "What... what is happening?!"

---

[Chapter Ended - To Be Continued]