Hybrid !

Attius Vandaryn

The clang of weights hitting the rack echoed in the gym as Attius dropped the barbell with a grunt, wiping sweat off his brow. The air smelled of metal and effort, a satisfying reminder of the hours he had spent perfecting his form. Beside him, the heavy sword he'd been practicing with leaned against the bench, its edge dulled from relentless swings against the training dummies.

He reached for his water bottle, taking a long gulp, when the sound of hurried footsteps broke his focus. Attius turned just in time to see Enzo barreling through the double doors, his face tight with focus. In his hands, he clutched an old, weathered book, the kind their grandfather used to keep locked away.

"Enzo?" Attius called, watching as his cousin sprinted across the gym, barely sparing him a glance. "What's—"

Before he could finish, Enzo was gone, disappearing into the hallway leading to his room. Attius raised an eyebrow, the scene strange enough to pull him out of his post-workout haze.

Moments later, Aegon appeared, striding in after Enzo. He looked annoyed, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a furrowed brow and a tension in his shoulders. He stopped in the middle of the gym, muttering something under his breath before turning to Attius.

"Did you see that?" Aegon asked, his voice low but clearly irritated.

Attius leaned back against the bench, crossing his arms. "See what? Enzo running past like he's got a pack of wolves on his heels? Yeah, I saw."

Aegon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He's been like this all day. Sneaking around, grabbing things he's not supposed to. And that book—" He paused, his jaw tightening. "It's from the restricted section in the library."

Attius arched an eyebrow. "Isn't everything in that section restricted?"

"You're not helping," Aegon shot back, pacing now. "He won't tell me what he's looking for. Says he has to 'clarify something.'" Aegon shook his head, his frustration clear. "He doesn't even know what he's messing with."

Attius smirked, grabbing his towel and tossing it over his shoulder. "So stop him, then."

"I tried," Aegon snapped, pointing toward the hallway. "You think he listens? He just ran past me like I wasn't even there."

Attius chuckled, grabbing the sword from where it rested. "Well, whatever it is, it's clearly got him fired up. Maybe let him figure it out on his own?"

Aegon stopped pacing, his gaze sharp. "Or maybe it'll get him killed. You don't know the kind of things hidden in those books."

Attius watched Aegon for a moment, the tension between them thick. Aegon stood nearby, leaning casually against a punching bag, his arms crossed as he watched Attius with a faint smirk. "You've been slacking," Aegon teased. "Last week, you could press more than that."

Attius rolled his eyes, grabbing his water bottle. "Yeah, well, it's hard to focus when half the family's gone AWOL."

Aegon raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I haven't seen Arya, Bonnie, or Donna ."

she's up to something. And Arya? She usually hangs around Bonnie."

"Exactly," Attius said, tossing his towel over his shoulder.

"Exactly," Attius said, his voice dropping. "It's like they vanished. I tried asking Diego about it yesterday, but he brushed me off like I was imagining things. Something's going on, Aegon."

Aegon nodded slowly, a shadow crossing his face. "You're not wrong. I've noticed some strange things too."

"Like what?" Attius asked, straightening.

Aegon hesitated, glancing around the empty gym before lowering his voice. "I saw Scarlett yesterday. She was... different. She wasn't just her usual cold, calculating self—she was on edge. And she wasn't alone."

Attius raised an eyebrow. "Who was with her?"

"A guy in a white coat," Aegon said, his expression darkening. "Looked like one of those lab types. They were talking near the basement entrance, and whatever it was about, she didn't want anyone overhearing. The moment she noticed me, she stopped talking and walked away."

Attius's brow furrowed. "You think it has something to do with that file?"

Aegon's gaze snapped to him. "What file?"

Attius sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was in the tech lab yesterday, poking around. There was a file on one of the computers—VAM Termination, Stage 3 Failure Logs. The name caught my attention, so I opened it."

Aegon leaned forward, his body tense. "And?"

"I didn't get much before Scarlett showed up," Attius admitted. "But it mentioned failure rates and hybrid compatibility. It felt... wrong, Aegon. Like it wasn't meant for us to see."

"What did Scarlett do?"

"She lost it," Attius said, his voice rising slightly. "She grabbed my arm and demanded I close it. Said it was classified. She was furious, Aegon—like I'd betrayed her just by looking at it. She took the file before I could read more."

Aegon's jaw tightened, his mind racing. "That's not like Scarlett. She doesn't lose her cool unless it's serious."

"Exactly," Attius said, nodding. "And now you're telling me she's talking to some shady lab guy in a white coat? It's all connected, Aegon. It has to be."

Aegon stood, pacing as he processed the information. "If hybrids are involved, this isn't just some routine Sentinel operation. Scarlett's hiding something—something big."

Attius hesitated before speaking. "Do you think it's about us? About our family?"

"It has to be," Aegon said, his voice firm. "She wouldn't react like that otherwise. But if it's about us, why keep it a secret? What's she so afraid of?"

Attius's mind raced as he thought back to Scarlett's reaction. "You don't think... whatever's in that file could hurt us, do you?"

Aegon shook his head. "Not directly. But it might explain things we don't even know about ourselves. If she's hiding it, there's a reason. We just have to figure out what it is—and why."

The air between them grew heavy as they exchanged a tense glance. Neither said it out loud, but they both knew one thing for certain: whatever Scarlett was hiding, it was dangerous.

"We need to be careful," Attius said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "If Scarlett finds out we're digging into this, she won't let it slide."

Aegon nodded, his jaw set. "Agreed. But we can't ignore this, Attius. "I know someone," Aegon said, his tone carrying a certainty that caught Attius off guard.

Attius frowned, straightening. "Someone? Who?"

Aegon's lips curled into a faint, grim smirk. "Someone who can get me the information we need. Someone Scarlett won't see coming."

Attius stared at him, a mix of curiosity and unease bubbling in his chest. "And you trust them?"

"Not them her "His smirk fading into a more serious expression. "But if anyone can crack this wide open, it's her. And I'm willing to take the risk."

Attius crossed his arms, his brows furrowing. "You sure about this, Aegon? If Scarlett finds out…"

"She won't," Aegon said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I'll make sure of it."

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the tension between them heavy and unspoken

Enzo Vandryn 

Enzo stormed into his room, slamming the door with enough force to rattle the shelves lining the walls. The ancient book titled Blackstorm was clutched tightly in his hand, its leather cover worn and crackling under his grip. The room was dimly lit by a single lamp on the desk, casting long shadows across the chaos that surrounded him.

His eyes immediately landed on the sprawling wall at the far end of the room—a chaotic masterpiece of threads, pinned notes, and clippings. The sections were meticulously divided, their contents a testament to Enzo's relentless pursuit of answers:

The Pillars: Now and Past: Cramped with faded portraits of the supernatural elite, some faces marked with traitor and others with unknown allegiance scrawled beneath.Hybrid Extinction: Grim newspaper clippings and crude sketches of fire-covered ruins, symbolizing the brutality faced by their kind.Hybrid Rulers: The largest section, with threads sprawling outward like veins from names such as Azrael Vandaryn and Damon Zevrin, both circled prominently. A glaring question mark hovered over Blackstorm, its thread leading to every corner of the wall.Awakening and Powers: A chaotic cluster of hurried notes about rituals, sacrifices, summoning, and spells. Words like cost, danger, and potential stood out in bold strokes.Killing the Supernatural: Sharp and chilling, the section detailed methods of destruction. The notes described blue puya, a rare substance found in unmarked places, and ancient swords infused with the serum, capable of killing even the strongest creatures.

Enzo strode to his desk and placed the book down with care, flipping it open to the first page. His hand trembled slightly as he traced the title: Blackstorm. The room seemed to breathe with him, the faint flutter of pages from the books scattered around filling the silence.

"The first true hybrid," Enzo murmured, his voice low and steady. He read aloud as if speaking to the room itself. "Savior of vampires, werewolves, and the Pillars. Blackstorm united factions in a fractured world, wielding powers that transcended bloodlines. Strength, speed, and magic unparalleled."

The pages glowed faintly in the dim light as he turned them, diving deeper into Blackstorm's legend. His deeds were etched into history—how he brokered peace, fought enemies that threatened the supernatural order, and ultimately became a symbol of unity.

But a warning scrawled in the margin caught Enzo's attention: Beware the call of greatness—it demands sacrifice.

Enzo let out a sharp breath, the weight of the words settling heavily on him. Sacrifice. It was always about giving something up—whether blood, freedom, or even lives. He clenched his jaw and turned to the Awakening and Powers section of his wall. Pinning a note beneath Hybrid Rulers, he wrote: Who or what was Blackstorm? Savior or something more?

Turning the pages, Enzo stopped at a section that spoke of the main power of hybrids: magic strong enough to counter low-level spells cast by witches. He read the passage aloud:

"A witch's power to destroy memories can be overcome by a hybrid who has fully awakened their magic. This power, unique to hybrids, allows them to dispel low-level spells cast on others or themselves. However, only hybrids with rigorous training in their magic can achieve this."

Enzo leaned back, the words sinking in. The implications were enormous. If he could master this, the Vandaryns could protect themselves—not just from witches, but from anyone who tried to manipulate or control them

As he stepped back to survey the wall, his gaze drifted to the Killing the Supernatural section. His eyes lingered on a specific note: Deep wounds, mixed with blue puya. Rare, found in dangerous places. Ancient swords infused. The fight with the werewolf flashed in his mind, the desperation, the pain. His jaw tightened.

Another note caught his eye under Awakening and Powers: Hybrids heal faster through magic, especially after awakening. A thought began to form, wild and reckless. He glanced at his arm, still encased in the cast from his battle.

"If I'm already starting to awaken…" he murmured, his voice steady but tinged with curiosity, "then why do I still need this cast?"

Without a second thought, Enzo grabbed the edge of the cast and began tearing it off. The fiberglass cracked and splintered as pieces fell to the ground in a messy pile. Finally, his arm was free. He flexed his fingers, twisting his wrist and stretching his hand.

The skin was smooth, unblemished. No scars. No pain. His arm looked… perfect.

Enzo stretched it further, rotating his shoulder. A slow, triumphant grin spread across his face. "Guess I won't be needing this anymore," he muttered, nudging the broken pieces of the cast with his foot.

Enzo let out a slow, measured breath as his eyes flicked to the remnants of the hidden camera dangling from the corner of the ceiling. Its lens was cracked beyond recognition, shards of glass catching the dim light like tiny daggers. The metal casing was bent inward, crushed as if by sheer force, exposing the tangled mess of wires within. The wires swayed gently, still connected to the ceiling, but their loose ends sparked faintly, casting brief, flickering glows into the shadows.

The destruction was absolute. Bits of the camera's outer shell lay scattered across the floor near his desk, a silent testament to his frustration and strength. He remembered the moment vividly—how his fingers had gripped the device, the satisfying crunch as he crushed it, and the sound of sparking wires as he ripped it free from its hiding place.

A slow, knowing smirk spread across Enzo's face as he studied the ruined device. His expression was sharp, confident, and tinged with a hint of defiance. "If this is what awakening feels like," he muttered under his breath, his gaze lingering on the camera's shattered lens, "then they'd better start watching their backs."

He straightened, the smirk remaining as he turned back to his notes. The message was clear: whatever games Scarlett was playing, he wasn't going to be a passive participant.