Chapter 4 Alaric Vale. The Football Captain

Third person's POV

The room was enormous and shrouded in shadows, creating an almost eerie atmosphere. Strips of artificial light sliced through the gloom, illuminating patches of the sleek black tiles that stretched across the floor. On the far wall, a gigantic screen commanded attention, flanked by a multitude of smaller monitors, each flickering with its own unique display, creating a chaotic yet mesmerizing visual landscape.

"I believe it's prudent for the Throne family to interact with the humans," the council leader proclaimed from his elevated position at the table.

One of the council members rose to speak, asserting, "The Silas brothers will be completely oblivious to the Throne's presence in the human realm. We've successfully wiped all traces of them from the internet."

The leader nodded in agreement, clearly pleased with the strategy. "Excellent decision. Now, what did the prophecy reveal about our chosen one?" he inquired, shifting the focus back to their critical mission.

The room was enveloped in a heavy silence as the council members exchanged uneasy glances. After a brief pause, one of the members finally broke the stillness, rising to address the group. "Lillith is going to try to overturn everything we've established; she's going to throw our entire system into chaos."

The leader of the council felt a knot tighten in his throat. "Continue," he urged, his voice steady despite the tension.

"She's going to fall for a human boy, which is strictly forbidden by our laws. This will spell disaster for her, pushing her toward a series of misguided choices and unfortunate paths." With that, the member took her seat, her ominous prediction hanging heavily in the air.

The council head let out a weary sigh, contemplating the implications. "I need to pay a visit to the Throne home," he declared, standing up and swiftly exiting the room, leaving the others to ponder the gravity of the situation.

*************

Lilith POV

"Hey Mom, I'm back!" I announced as I walked through the door. My parents were positioned on opposite ends of the living room, and next to Arden was a stranger I didn't recognize. The moment I entered, all eyes shifted toward me, and I felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension as I took a few steps closer to the group.

"Take a seat," my dad instructed, prompting me to drop my backpack on the floor. The stranger rose from his chair and approached me, exuding a presence that was almost intimidating. Dressed in a long black robe, he had a face that bore the marks of time and authority, likely in his sixties or seventies. As he reached out and placed his thumbs on my forehead, I instinctively recoiled, feeling an overwhelming force that made it hard to maintain any space between us.

"Your fangs made an appearance today, didn't they?" he said, as if he could pluck the thoughts right out of my head. It was unsettling how he seemed to know exactly what I was feeling without me saying a word. How was he even doing that?

"Who are you?" I shot back, rising to my feet. "Mom, Dad, who is this guy?" My heart raced with confusion and anger.

"He's your uncle," Mom replied quickly, trying to calm the situation. "Don't worry; he just wants to talk."

"Uncle?" I was taken aback. "I thought everyone turned their backs on us because of my selection."

"Not the Throne family," Mom reassured me. "And he's actually the head of the council."

I glanced at him, fighting the urge to scowl. "I have homework due tomorrow," I said, attempting to keep my tone even. "Can we skip to the important stuff?"

"Don't be disrespectful, Lillith," Dad interjected, giving me a disapproving look. "Just sit down and let him check on you. You need to give him your consent."

"Why should I? He invaded my privacy without even asking."

"You need to show him everything," Arden chimed in, cutting through the tension. "That's the only way he can figure out if the prophecy holds any truth."

I turned to my mom, ready to hear her thoughts, but before she could say anything, the stranger raised his hand, signaling her to stop. He settled into his seat, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.

"There's a prophecy concerning you," he said, his tone serious. "If it comes true, you could bring down everything we've worked for. That's why I need you to let me into your mind."

I felt a knot of anxiety twist in my stomach, but I nodded, saying, "Alright, go for it."

"As the chosen one, you have the fate of many in your hands," he cautioned, his hand resting gently on my head as he began to chant a spell. I was taken aback; was he some kind of witch? I had no idea. After a brief moment, he opened his eyes, and his expression shifted. "That boy," he said, his voice tight with urgency.

"A boy?" I echoed, struggling to grasp what he meant until he elaborated.

"I saw him playing with a ball on a field, surrounded by others."

My mind raced, and I blurted out, "Alaric Vale?" It felt surreal, piecing together the fragments of this strange conversation, but something told me this was just the beginning of a much larger story.

The man gave a slight nod and pulled his hand away. "Is that what he's called?"

"Yeah, but I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet."

"Then it's best if you don't. Trust me, steering clear of him could save a lot of lives."

"How could just chatting with someone put lives at risk?" I asked, feeling confused.

"He's not like us; he's just not the right fit for you."

"I'm not sure what you mean by that, but okay. I won't reach out to him." I turned toward the stairs. "I need to get started on my homework."

**************

I flopped down on my bed, resting my head on the pillow. Just then, my phone vibrated with a message from an unfamiliar number.

"Hey there! It's Elena. I got your number from the class group chat." I saved her contact and replied, which led to a phone call where she invited me to an after-party celebrating Alaric's victory. Hearing his name brought back the warning from my "uncle," so I politely declined, saying I had homework to tackle. By 6 p.m., I figured a quick walk might help clear my mind. I changed into something more comfortable and quietly slipped out of the house.

Elena had sent me the address even after I insisted I wouldn't show up. As I wandered around aimlessly, I found myself standing at Camilla's gate, staring up at it with mixed feelings. Should I really go in? A part of me was eager to see Alaric again, but another part was screaming for me to turn back. I had made a promise to myself that I wouldn't talk to him after today, and here I was, teetering on the edge of breaking that vow.

Suddenly, a voice called out from behind me, making me jump. "Boo!" I turned around to see Elena, who looked a little tipsy and was clearly in a playful mood.

"Geez, you scared me," I said, trying to catch my breath.

She laughed, leaning on me a bit too heavily. "I know," she replied, her words slightly slurred. I was curious how she knew I was outside since I hadn't told her.

"How did you know I was out here?"

"Easy pissy." She pointed to a security camera on the fence, saying, "Saw you through that. I knew you would show up. It is Alaric afterall."

I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. "How many people saw me?" I asked, half-joking.

"I don't know, just me, I think," she said, but before I could respond, my phone buzzed with a message from Mom. I sighed, glancing back at Elena, who pouted, "No, don't leave me again."

I felt torn, I really wanted to attend the party. Perhaps see Alaric again, but replied, "I have to. Mom needs me. I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow." With that, I started to run back home.