A NIGHT AT NEXUS HEIGHTS.

Even the

feared

Adrian, known for his ruthlessness, was not immune to nightmares. He

jolted awake,

soaked with sweat and

his chest heaving. He feared waking Diana from her sleep, and he

struggled to regain his composure.

He had trouble sleeping again,

so he got up from the bed and walked over to the balcony to get some fresh air and drink some whisky.

Diana

noticed

his absence in the bed not long after, prompting her to search the room. To her surprise, she

slighted him on the

balcony. Fueled by curiosity, she decided to go and check up on him.

“You

sneaked

out of bed to drink whisky

by this time? Or did something happen to you?" She inquired as she walked over to take a seat beside him.

He was surprised to hear her voice; he never

expected her company. “Mhm, I just couldn’t sleep."

She

smiled softly. “You look worried."

The dull look on

him

disappeared and was replaced with a smile: “Worried? Seriously! I’m a monster, which they are afraid of; they should be worried instead."

With a playful shiver, she responded. "Well, you certainly know how to send chills down my spine."

Their laughter filled the air. After a moment, she broached a sensitive topic. "Speaking of your return,

do

you plan to visit your parents?"

His

gaze

turned to her, and his

eyes reflected

a mix of emotions. "Nope, they’ll

come

instead, once they learn I'm back."

Diana searched his eyes. "You really think so?"

He sighed, his voice tinged with resignation. "Yeah, I do, since they

believe it's their duty to end my life, given that they brought me into this world, so they will obviously come after me to continue from where they stopped."

"Perhaps don't be too certain; what if

they

feel remorse for their past actions

and seek your forgiveness?” She suggested.

 

She noticed that Adrian seemed confused, so she went on to explain, "Like, I mean, they are your parents and..."

He

let out a bitter chuckle and interrupted her. "Forgiveness? Maybe after they are successful in taking my life.”

She

released that

the situation was

far beyond what she thought of, while

he

took another sip of whisky, his thoughts heavy with memories of his near-death experience.

He leaned back in his seat and

gazed at the night sky. "You know, Diana, that time when I almost died... my father, he..."

Diana, who had always been a

sensitive

and empathetic partner, reached out and gently touched

his

hand. "You don't have to tell me if it's too painful."

Calmly, he reassured her, “No, it's

fine."

With a deep sigh, he

revisited those dark days. "My father is a ruthless and powerful vampire; he almost killed me years

ago. It was a brutal confrontation.”

Diana listened

attentively, her heart aching for

him, who had faced such cruelty. "But I still don’t get it. Even though everyone sees you as a monster, shouldn’t your parents be the ones to protect you against harm? Instead, they are also trying to kill you.”

“They want to correct their mistake by killing me,” Adrian replied, his jaw clenched. "But luckily, he underestimated my strength, and I managed to escape, wounded. I ran as far as I could, away from the city and my past."

Diana placed her hand on his

head, offering comfort. "I can't imagine what you

have been through, Adrian."

He

chuckled. "And I was blessed with you, Diana. After I

left, you're the only one who

has ever seen me for who I am, not as a monster but as a person who's been through hell and back."

As her heart swelled with love and understanding, she attentively listened while Adrian bared his soul. "Adrian," she spoke softly. "I've always seen the good in you, Adrian, and I believe in your dream of a better life."

His eyes were filled with determination.

"That's why I have to find this witch, the one who can perform the de-hybridization ritual. It's the only way

to have the family we have always dreamt of—a family where our children won't inherit the darkness that has plagued me."

She understood the high

stakes but was determined

to support him. "We'll find her together

and

face whatever challenges come our way."

Adrian's gaze softened, and she held

her

hands tightly. "With you by my side, I believe I can find my true place in this world and

ensure

our children don’t face the cruel reality that

befell

me."

A

message notification interrupted

their conversation. They exchanged a puzzled glance as he

released

her

hand and reached out for his phone.

He checked

the message, and

the sender turned out to be Roger:

“Look at who is back in town."

Diana's curiosity got the

better

of her as she inquired, "Would you be willing to share?"

His reply was filled with a sense of accomplishment: "My plan to locate the witch is underway; Roger has taken the bait. I'm eager to witness how events will unfold."