Breaking In

Breaking In
The lock clicked open under Viv's shaking fingers. She froze, listening for any sound in the huge empty house. Nothing. She pushed the heavy wooden door, wincing at the creak of old springs.

"Come on," she whispered to herself. "You can do this."

Viv slipped inside Damien's father's library, her heart beating so hard she was sure someone would hear it. The room smelled like old books and secrets. Rain pattered against the tall windows, lightning sparking every few seconds.

Three days had passed since the disaster in the ritual room. Three days since they'd escaped as the ground split open. Three days of Damien getting sicker while acting he was fine.

Viv reached for the light switch, then stopped herself. The glow might be seen from outside. Instead, she clicked on the small flashlight from her keychain and swept the beam across rows of old books.

She only had two hours before Damien returned from his doctor's visit. His parents had gone with him, leaving the house empty.

"Where would they hide a book about blood rituals?" Viv mumbled, scanning the shelves. Her link with Damien had grown stronger since their blood mixing, but it didn't help her find hidden books. Sometimes she caught flashes of his thoughts, felt his pain when it got bad. Right now, he was worried about her. He knew she was up to something.

Viv ran her fingers along the edges of leather bound books, looking for anything that might help. After what happened with Lilith, she couldn't trust anyone but herself to find the truth.

A sudden crash of thunder made her jump, nearly dropping the flashlight. As lightning flashed again, she noticed something strange – a shadow on the wall that didn't match the shelves.

Moving closer, Viv pushed against the shelves. One part moved slightly. A secret door!

It took all her strength to slide the heavy bookcase sideways, showing a small room beyond. Inside, a single pedestal held one huge book bound in what looked like dark red leather.

"Bingo," Viv whispered.

As she approached the book, a strange tingling feeling rippled through her body. The silver knife in her pocket grew warm against her leg.

The book had no label on its cover, only a symbol that looked like a drop of blood with a flame inside it. Viv took a deep breath and opened it.

The pages were yellowed with age, covered in handwritten notes and elaborate drawings. Some of the writing was in languages Viv didn't recognize, but much of it was in English – old fashioned English with weird spellings, but still readable.

Viv flipped through the pages, searching for anything about blood rituals or curses. Her flashlight beam caught a page with a drawing that made her gasp – a perfect sketch of Damien's face. No, not Damien, she realized, but someone who looked exactly like him, dressed in clothes from hundreds of years ago.

Below the picture were the words: "Lord Damien Blackthorn, last pure descendant of the royal bloodline, carries the Crimson Curse that will claim his life before his thirtieth year unless the ritual of blood binding is performed."

Viv's hands shook as she turned the page. There was a detailed account of the ritual Lilith had tried to perform. The words jumped out at her:

"The willing sacrifice of one with the Blood of the Dawn will break the curse upon the Blackthorn line. The sacrifice must give all their blood to save the cursed one. Their life force transfers to the recipient, breaking the curse forever."

Viv felt sick. Lilith hadn't lied about that part. The rite would have killed her to save Damien.

But further down the page, something else caught her eye:

"However, if the blood is freely shared rather than taken in sacrifice, a different kind of bond forms. The two become blood linked, sharing one life force between them. Neither fully human nor vampire, but something new. This path is dangerous, for if one dies, both shall perish."

That's what she and Damien had accidentally done in the ritual room – started a blood bond instead of a sacrifice.

Viv turned the page and found a picture of a creature with glowing red eyes rising from a crack in the earth. Below it were the words: "The Ancient One sleeps beneath the ritual grounds. If awakened by the blood of a true bond, he will rise to claim what was promised to him centuries ago – dominion over both vampire and human worlds."

Viv's blood went cold. That's what they had woken. That's whose eyes they had seen.

She read on frantically, looking for ways to stop what they had started. The next pages explained something called "The Binding of Souls" – a way to complete the blood bond that would give both partners extraordinary powers. Enough power, perhaps, to fight the Ancient One.

But the final step needed "the sacrifice of that which each holds most dear."

What did that mean? What did she value most? What did Damien?

A loud bang from somewhere in the house made Viv jump. She wasn't alone anymore.

"Hello?" she called softly. "Damien?"

No answer. Just the steady clicking of the grandfather clock in the hallway.

Viv turned back to the book, taking pictures of the important pages with her phone. As she was about to close it, she spotted writing on the inside back cover that looked newer than the rest. The handwriting was familiar – it matched the notes Damien's father left around the house.

It read: "The blood of my son grows weaker each day. The curse advances faster than in previous generations. I have located a girl with the Blood of the Dawn. Her name is Vivienne Thorne. When the time comes, we must use her to save my son. Lord Erebus has promised to help with the ritual in exchange for the Ancient One's awakening."

Viv stumbled back, nearly dropping the book. Damien's father was working with Lord Erebus? They had been planning to sacrifice her all along?

And Damien... did he know? Was their entire friendship just a plan to get close to her?

No. Through their blood tie, she would have felt deception that deep. Wouldn't she?

Viv carefully closed the book and returned it to its stand. She needed to get out of here and think. She slid the bookcase back into place and rushed toward the library door.

As she reached for the handle, the door swung open.

Damien's father stood there, his face a mask of confusion that quickly turned to understanding.

"Vivienne," he said softly. "I see you've been exploring."

"I was just looking for a book to borrow," Viv lied, backing away. "Damien said it would be okay."

Mr. Blackthorn stepped into the room, closed the door behind him. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

The way he asked made Viv certain he knew exactly what she'd been doing.

"I should go," she said, trying to edge around him toward the door. "Damien will be wondering where I am."

"Damien is still at the hospital," Mr. Blackthorn said. "They're running more tests. He's getting worse, Vivienne. Surely you can feel it through your bond."

Viv froze. "How do you know about our bond?"

Mr. Blackthorn smiled sadly. "I've been studying the prophecy my entire life. Waiting for someone like you to appear."

"To sacrifice me," Viv said, anger rising to replace her fear.

"To save my son," he amended. "But things have changed now. Your partial blood bond has awakened the Ancient One. He'll be coming for you both."

"We'll fight him," Viv said definitely.

"You can't. Not as you are now." Mr. Blackthorn reached into his pocket and pulled out a small tube of dark liquid. "But there is another way. A way to complete your bond and gain the power you need."

Viv eyed the vial suspiciously. "What is that?"

"Blood," he said simply. "Very old, very powerful blood. It will accelerate and strengthen your bond with Damien."

"And why would you help us fight the Ancient One when you were working with Erebus to wake him?" Viv asked.

Mr. Blackthorn's face darkened. "Erebus betrayed me. He never intended to cure Damien. He only wanted to use his royal blood and your Dawn blood to control the Ancient One himself."

Viv didn't know what to believe anymore. Could she trust Damien's father? Could she trust anyone?

"Take it," Mr. Blackthorn said, handing out the vial. "When Damien is at his worst, when you feel him slipping away, share this blood between you. It will complete your bond."

Before Viv could decide, the library doors burst open again. Lilith stood there, her clothes torn, blood on her face.

"Don't trust him, Vivienne," she gasped. "The vial contains the Ancient One's blood. It won't save you. It will enslave you both."

Mr. Blackthorn's face twisted with rage. "You dare come into my house, vampire?"

"Viv," Lilith begged, "Erebus is coming. He knows you're here. We have to leave now."

A faraway howl echoed through the night, followed by the sound of breaking glass downstairs.

Mr. Blackthorn thrust the vial into Viv's hand and pushed her toward a secret panel in the wall. "Go! Whatever you decide, don't let Erebus find you!"

As the panel slid open showing a dark passageway, Viv clutched the vial of mysterious blood. She had what she came for – the truth about the practice. But now she held something much more dangerous.

The power to save Damien or kill them both.

Behind her, she heard Lilith scream as something huge crashed through the library door.