Hybrid !

Enzo Vandryn

Enzo's mind was a storm of thoughts as he walked through the crowded hallways of school the next morning. Everything he had read the previous night—the history, the awakening process, the purpose of their family—echoed in his mind like a drumbeat. He had a plan, and he knew exactly what he needed to do. His cousins had to understand the truth; they deserved to know who they were and why their lives were so intertwined with this hidden legacy.

He knew he couldn't keep this a secret anymore. If they were to survive, they had to stand together, aware of the reality they'd been born into. There was a quiet urgency in his every step, his gaze sharp as he scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces.

He spotted Donna near her locker, her head tilted as she chatted animatedly with a friend. She was laughing, carefree, entirely unaware of the weight that had settled on his shoulders. Enzo took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he was about to ask.

He approached her, and she looked up, a wide smile breaking across her face. "Enzo! What's up?" she greeted him warmly, her usual cheer evident.

"We need to talk," he said quietly, his tone serious and unyielding. He didn't want to alarm her, but he needed her to understand that this was important.

Donna's smile faded slightly, her expression shifting as she noticed the intensity in his eyes. "What's going on?"

"After school," Enzo replied. "Can you bring Bonnie? There's something I need to tell both of you. It's… family business."

Donna's eyes widened a bit, curiosity and a hint of apprehension flickering across her face. She glanced over at her friend before nodding. "Yeah, sure. I'll bring him."

"Thanks," Enzo murmured, giving her a small nod before continuing down the hall. He left Donna standing by her locker, still watching him with a puzzled expression.

Enzo's next stop was the science lab, where he knew Arya would be finishing up a project. He found her at her workstation, her attention focused intently on a set of glass slides under a microscope. He hesitated for a moment, knowing how she got when someone interrupted her while she was working. But this couldn't wait.

"Arya," he said, keeping his voice low so as not to startle her.

She looked up, surprise flashing across her face as she straightened up, adjusting her glasses. "Enzo? What are you doing here?"

He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "I need you to meet me after school. It's about our family—something important."

Arya blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Our family? What's this about?"

Enzo hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "I can't explain it here. Just trust me, okay? I need you there."

She studied him for a moment, searching his face for answers. Whatever she saw in his expression must have convinced her, because she gave a slow, reluctant nod. "Alright. I'll be there."

With a brief nod of thanks, Enzo left, feeling a small measure of relief. Arya was rational, cautious, but he knew she wouldn't back down from something if it involved their family. He just hoped she'd understand what he was about to tell them.

Enzo spotted Diego on the outdoor basketball court, casually shooting hoops as if he didn't have a care in the world. Diego was a bit of a free spirit, always dodging anything he deemed too "serious," but Enzo knew he couldn't leave him out without at least trying to get him on board.

He approached, calling out, "Hey, Diego!"

Diego looked over, flashing his usual playful grin. "Enzo! Don't tell me you came here to challenge me. I'm on fire today. You don't stand a chance!"

Enzo forced a smile, though his thoughts were far from lighthearted. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something important. It's… about our family."

Diego raised an eyebrow, catching the ball and dribbling it idly. "Oh yeah? Family meeting time?" he teased, clearly not taking Enzo seriously.

"Diego, listen to me," Enzo said, trying to keep his voice calm. "This isn't a joke. There's something you need to know—something all of us need to know. I want you to come to a meeting after school. It's about who we are, where we come from."

Diego laughed, tossing the ball at the hoop. It bounced off the rim, but he didn't seem to care. "Enzo, seriously? You're starting to sound like one of those conspiracy nutjobs. What's all this 'where we come from' nonsense?"

Enzo took a deep breath, frustration simmering under the surface. "I'm not kidding, Diego. There's a lot you don't understand. We're part of something… something bigger than just high school, homework, and basketball."

Diego scoffed, shaking his head. "You know, you could've led with, 'Hey, Diego, want to hang out and play some games?' But no, instead, you're all dramatic about 'family destiny' or whatever."

"Diego, come on," Enzo pressed, trying to keep his patience. "Just this once, put aside the jokes and listen. I wouldn't ask you to come if it wasn't serious."

Diego spun the ball on his finger, his expression one of complete disinterest. "Look, man, I get it. You're on some deep soul-searching quest, but that's not my style. You didn't help me with that history homework last week, so why the hell should I care about whatever this is?"

Enzo clenched his jaw, feeling his patience slipping. "I'm giving you a chance to understand, Diego. A chance to be part of something that affects all of us, whether you believe it or not."

Diego shrugged, smirking. "You go ahead, have your little meeting with whoever else you convinced. I'll be here, working on my three-pointer. You know, something real."

Enzo looked at him, a mix of frustration and disappointment in his gaze. He had tried, more than once, and Diego's stubbornness was leaving him no choice.

"Fine," Enzo said, his voice steady but resigned. "If you want to ignore this, that's on you. Just know that when things get dangerous, when you need answers, you had a chance to be prepared."

Diego's only response was a dismissive wave. "I'll take my chances, cousin. Now go have fun with your 'big family revelation.'"

With a final, disappointed look, Enzo turned and walked away, accepting that Diego wasn't going to listen. He had other cousins who needed him, and he couldn't waste any more time on someone who refused to take this seriously.

As he walked off, he couldn't shake the feeling of regret, but he pushed it aside. Diego had made his choice. Enzo would protect his family, with or without him.

Arya Vandryn 

Arya stood in the dimly lit clearing, glancing around at her cousins who had gathered as promised—everyone except Diego. She felt a slight pang of irritation. Her brother's absence wasn't surprising, but it was still frustrating. Donna had been the first to notice his absence.

"Why are we here?" Donna asked, her gaze shifting between the group. "What's so important?"

Enzo held up a hand, a calm but serious look on his face. "Just wait. I'll explain everything when everyone's here."

As Donna nodded reluctantly, Arya noticed her cousin's gaze drift toward the darkened forest. There was an odd look in Donna's eyes, a sort of trance-like fascination that made Arya feel uneasy. She nudged Donna gently. "Hey, you okay? You keep staring out there like something's watching."

Donna blinked, looking slightly embarrassed. "Oh, yeah. Sorry. Just… thought I saw something."

Before Arya could press further, the sound of a car engine rumbled through the air, breaking the quiet of the evening. The headlights of a dark sedan came into view, illuminating the clearing. The car pulled up, and Aegon stepped out, gesturing with a casual wave.

Attius sat in the passenger seat, "Shotgun!" Attius had announced victoriously when he'd snagged the front seat, as if that somehow spared him from the chaos in the back.

Arya was squished against the window, her knee jammed against the side of the door while Donna and Bonnie were practically sitting on top of each other in the cramped back seat. Aegon's car, which might have been generously described as "compact," felt more like a clown car with all of them crammed inside.

"Nice of you to claim the only decent seat in the car," Arya muttered, rolling her eyes. "Some gentleman."

Attius shrugged, looking smug. "Hey, survival of the fittest. I'm just making use of my natural advantages."

Donna, wedged between Arya and Bonnie, looked like she was ready to explode. "Could you not have borrowed a bigger car, Aegon?" she snapped, her voice laced with frustration. "I swear, my knees are practically in my chest here."

"Oh, sorry, Princess," Aegon replied, smirking as he adjusted the rearview mirror to look at her. "I didn't realize you needed a throne to travel in comfort."

Donna rolled her eyes. "A throne would be better than this death trap. Seriously, why didn't you just bring the van?"

"Because," Aegon said with exaggerated patience, "some people—" he glanced at her meaningfully "—don't even have a license to drive the van."

"Would you stop bringing that up?" Donna huffed, her face turning pink. "Not everyone passes their test on the first try, okay?"

"Oh, not the first try?" Attius quipped. "I think she means the fourth try. Isn't that right, Donna?"

"Keep talking, Attius, and I'll make sure you're sitting in the trunk next time," Donna shot back, her glare icy.

Arya laughed, enjoying the bickering as she tried to wiggle her elbow for a bit of extra space. "You know, Donna, if you keep failing, maybe you should switch to a tricycle. Then you could drive all you want."

"Shut up, Arya," Donna grumbled, shoving her slightly. "At least I don't have a collection of traffic cones with my name on them."

"Oh, don't worry, Donna," Aegon added with a grin, "we'll find you a nice bike with training wheels."

Bonnie sighed dramatically, looking up at the roof as if she might find some escape there. "Would all of you just keep it down? I'd like to survive this trip without a headache, thank you very much."

Aegon glanced back at her, flashing a grin. "Bonnie, relax. Think of this as family bonding time."

"Family bonding?" Arya echoed, laughing. "More like family torture."

Donna rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath. "I don't know what's worse—the cramped car or the nonstop commentary."

"Hey, this is important," Enzo cut in, looking around at his squabbling cousins. "Can we just try to act like adults for five minutes?"

"Sure, says the guy who spends his weekends reading about ancient history instead of hanging out with people," Arya teased, earning a glare from Enzo.

Aegon chuckled, completely unfazed by the chaos. "Relax, everyone. It's a field trip, alright? Trust me, you'll thank me later."

"Field trip?" Donna groaned. "This isn't a field trip—it's carpool hell."

Attius rolled his eyes, adjusting his seatbelt like he was preparing for a rollercoaster. "So where's this big, mysterious place we're going to, Aegon? And if you don't give us an actual answer this time, I might just throw you out of your own car."

Aegon smirked. "Fine, fine. We're going somewhere that'll make you all stop whining. Just sit tight."

"Oh, I'm sitting tight alright," Donna muttered, shifting uncomfortably. "I'm wedged in here so tight I might never walk again."

Bonnie looked at Aegon, her patience clearly wearing thin. "Alright, enough. Tell us where we're going, or I'll start walking."

Aegon raised his hands defensively, still grinning. "Relax, it's just up the road. You'll all understand soon enough. Think of it as… an adventure."

"Adventure?" Attius snorted. "Is that what you call driving us all around town in this clown car? Because I call it a bad idea."

Aegon just shook his head, clearly entertained by the complaints. "Trust me, it's worth the cramped legs and bruised elbows. And you'll get to stretch your legs soon enough."

The rest of the drive continued with a chorus of groans, sarcastic comments, and exaggerated sighs. Arya threw in a few pointed remarks about how she'd rather be doing her homework, while Donna kept complaining about the lack of legroom. Attius looked ready to strangle Aegon more than once, and Bonnie had long since given up on trying to restore order.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Aegon pulled into a parking lot in front of a tall, imposing building—the town hall. He parked with a satisfied smile, and before he could even say anything, his cousins spilled out of the car like they'd just been released from captivity.

"What. The. Hell?" Arya groaned, stretching dramatically. "You dragged us all the way here for a trip to the fricking town hall?"

Bonnie gave her a stern look. "Language, Arya."

Donna shook her head, rubbing her neck. "I could've been doing literally anything else."

Attius crossed his arms, looking at Aegon with narrowed eyes. "All this for the town hall? Really?"

Aegon just grinned, unbothered by their exasperation. "Trust me, this isn't your average town hall visit."

With a sigh, the group followed Aegon toward the building, exchanging irritated glances and muttering under their breaths. Whatever lay inside, they were going to need some serious answers to make up for the cramped ride and Aegon's mysterious field trip.

Attitus Vandryn

Attius followed his cousins into the dimly lit, echoing hallways of the town hall. The silence was unsettling; the building was usually bustling with council members and clerks, but today it felt like they had walked into an abandoned set from a movie.

He glanced at Arya, who looked equally confused. "Where the hell is everyone?" she whispered, her voice echoing slightly.

Donna snickered. "Maybe they're all hiding from Aegon's 'field trip.' Can't say I blame them."

"Very funny, Donna," Aegon replied, a smirk playing on his face. "You're about to eat those words."

They walked deeper into the building, the light from the high windows casting long shadows that seemed to stretch and shift with each step. Every now and then, Attius swore he could hear the faint hum of machinery, hidden somewhere beneath their feet.

Finally, they reached an old-fashioned lift tucked into the corner of the hall. It looked ancient, with brass buttons and a metal gate that rattled as Enzo tugged it open.

"Come on, everyone," Enzo called, gesturing for them to step inside.

Aegon stepped in first, followed by Arya, who gave the lift a dubious glance as if it might collapse at any moment. "Great, so we're all getting squashed again," she muttered as the rest piled in, filling the small, creaking space.

Once everyone was packed in, Enzo leaned forward and pressed a seemingly random button on the panel. Suddenly, a mechanical voice spoke, startling everyone.

"Welcome, Enzo Vandaryn, the smartest hybrid."

Aegon chuckled, nudging Enzo. "We can customize this thing? I want it to call me 'The Coolest Hybrid."

Bonnie said 'hybrids?'

Enzo smirked. "Sure thing. As long as you promise to call me 'Mastermind' from now on."

Bonnie looked around, her face a mix of confusion and suspicion. "What the heck is this place? And why exactly are we going down?"

"Prepare yourselves, family. You're about to enter the heartbeat of our legacy, a place where myths are real, and power is forged. Welcome to The Sentinels—the last line of defense between humanity and the darkness." Aegon grinned, a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

As he finished his dramatic monologue, the lift came to a smooth stop, and the doors slid open, revealing a vast, sleek facility that looked nothing like the old town hall above.

Attius stepped out, his jaw practically hitting the floor as he took in the sight. The ceiling was high, with lights embedded in a glossy white surface that gave the room a futuristic glow. People in white coats were bustling around, holding clipboards, tapping on tablets, and talking into earpieces. Security guards in sleek black uniforms were posted at various points, their eyes sharp and vigilant.

He could barely process it all. This wasn't some basement—it was an entire underground facility. His mind struggled to reconcile the high-tech scene before him with the mundane town hall above.

"Wait… this place has been under our feet all along?" Attius murmured, shaking his head in disbelief. "I… I don't believe it."

Just then, a woman with sharp eyes and a commanding presence approached them, her steps confident. She wore a sleek black uniform with a faint red insignia on her collar, marking her as someone important.

"Welcome, Vandaryns," she greeted, her gaze sweeping over the group. "My name is Scarlett, and I run things around here. This organization has been in the family for generations, dedicated to protecting the world from supernatural threats."

Everyone looked around, stunned by the revelation. Arya nudged Enzo, whispering, "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner Enzo?"

Enzo just shrugged, giving a half-smile. "Wanted it to be a surprise."

As Scarlett continued the tour, the cousins were led through various sections of the headquarters, each more impressive than the last. They saw tech labs filled with computers and screens displaying maps, data points, and live feeds from what looked like other facilities around the world.

Finally, they reached a branching hallway, where Aegon clapped his hands together. "Alright, time to split up. Attius, Bonnie—you're with me. I'll show you the gym. Enzo, take Arya and Donna to the library."

The groups parted ways, with Attius following Aegon down a corridor lined with reinforced glass doors. They soon entered a massive room that looked like a high-tech arena. Attius's eyes widened as he took it all in.

The gym was unlike anything he'd ever seen. The walls were lined with futuristic-looking equipment, from free weights that looked like they belonged in a sci-fi movie to sparring dummies that seemed to have motion sensors. There was a large training mat in the center of the room, with markings that reminded him of an ancient fighting ring. Weapons of all kinds—swords, staffs, and things he didn't even recognize—hung on the walls, gleaming under the bright lights.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Aegon said, smirking as he watched Attius's reaction.

"Impressive? It's like… it's like a training ground for superheroes," Attius murmured, barely able to contain his excitement. "And this was all hidden under a town hall?"

Bonnie looked around, her eyes wide. "How did we not know about this? This place is huge."

Aegon chuckled. "The Sentinels don't exactly advertise. We're the best-kept secret in town."

Attius grinned, excitement replacing his initial disbelief. "You weren't kidding about making us part of history."

Enzo Vandryn

Enzo stepped into the library with Arya and Donna trailing behind him, his heart pounding with a strange blend of excitement and unease. The room was immense, with towering bookshelves stretching toward a vaulted ceiling. The walls were lined with ancient tomes, leather-bound volumes, and scrolls that looked like they belonged in a museum. A soft glow from overhead lights cast a golden hue over the room, illuminating dust motes that drifted lazily through the air. It was like stepping into another world, a place untouched by time.

He couldn't help but feel a rush of pride as he gestured around, his voice reverent. "Welcome… to the heart of our family's legacy."

Arya's gaze wandered across the rows of books, her expression a mix of awe and anticipation.

Enzo nodded, his eyes scanning the countless spines in front of him. "And now it's time to learn everything." His fingers itched to reach out and touch the books, to pull one down and delve into its secrets. For Enzo, there was something almost magical about books—a connection to the past, to knowledge that had been carefully preserved for centuries. It was where he felt at home, where he found solace.

But before he could choose a volume, Scarlett appeared beside them, a calm yet authoritative presence. She watched him for a moment, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "You know," she said, her voice smooth and persuasive, "we have all of this information digitized. Everything you need to know is on the computers. It's more efficient—faster."

Enzo paused, glancing at the sleek computers set up on the far side of the room, their screens glowing in the dim light. Something about her suggestion felt off. Why push him toward the computers when this entire library of knowledge was right in front of them, practically calling out to him?

"Yeah, maybe," he replied, not wanting to challenge her openly. "But… these books, they're part of our history. I'd rather start here." His fingers trailed along the spine of an ancient, dust-covered tome, the worn leather warm beneath his touch. There was something deeply satisfying about holding a book, something that felt real and grounded—a connection to the past he wasn't willing to trade for a screen.

Scarlett's smile tightened, but she didn't press further. "Suit yourself. But if you need clarification or a more direct path, the computers are always available." She cast one last look at the shelves before stepping away, leaving the three of them alone in the vast, quiet room.

Enzo watched her leave, a strange sense of wariness creeping over him. Why was she so insistent on the computers? He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something she didn't want him to see, something hidden within these old, fragile pages that perhaps even The Sentinels couldn't fully control.

But he wasn't about to ignore his instincts. He was a reader, a lover of books—a nerd, as some would call him—and that part of him wasn't easily swayed. He pulled down a volume titled The Chronicles of the Hybrids, feeling the weight of it in his hands. The scent of aged paper filled his nose, grounding him.

He opened it, the yellowed pages filled with intricate handwriting, detailing the lives and histories of the hybrids who had come before them. Here, in these delicate pages, was the legacy of his family, the sacrifices, the battles, the truths that had been buried beneath layers of secrecy.

As he read, he was drawn into a world of ancient power, a world where hybrids had once been revered, a symbol of unity between supernatural factions. The book described how hybrids had once worked to bring peace between werewolves and vampires, how they had been a bridge between worlds… until they were betrayed from within, one of their own turning against them. Enzo's heart raced as he read, feeling a connection to these ancestors who had carried the same burden he now felt pressing down on him.

But one note at the bottom of a page caught his attention, chilling him to the core: "Awakening isn't just a gift—it's a gamble. Unleashed recklessly, a hybrid's power can be as deadly to themselves as it is to their enemies."

He felt a shiver run down his spine as he read the warning. This wasn't just a legacy—it was a responsibility, a risk. And Scarlett's suggestion to read the digital files instead of these ancient tomes took on a new layer of meaning. She wanted control, wanted to filter what they learned.

But Enzo was resolved. This wasn't just history to him. This was his story, his family's story, and he was going to uncover every part of it, no matter what Scarlett preferred. He was a Vandaryn, and he wasn't about to let anyone dictate his understanding of his own legacy.

As he continued reading, his cousins gathered around, their expressions serious. He could see the same mix of curiosity and determination in their eyes, and for the first time, Enzo felt like they were truly united.