Shadows of the Past

Here is the continuation of the story: Chapter 16: The Weight of the Past Valentin took a slow breath, his fingers trembling as he ran a hand through his dark hair. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting shadows that danced across his face. Ember watched him, her heart pounding. The weight of his confession hung between them, thick as the night air outside. "I wasn’t always this way," Valentin murmured, his voice raw. "I was human once. A long time ago." Ember remained silent, sensing that if she interrupted, he might never finish. She could see the struggle in his eyes—the pain of remembering, the guilt pressing down on him like an unbearable burden. "I had a family," he continued, his gaze distant. "A mother, a father, a little sister. We weren’t wealthy, but we had each other. That was enough. Until the sickness came." His jaw tightened. "One by one, people in our village fell. My father first, then my sister. My mother—" He swallowed hard. "She begged me to find a way to save her. But I had nothing. No money, no power. Only desperation." Ember’s fingers curled against her palms. She could almost see it—a young Valentin, terrified, watching his family slip away. "And then," he whispered, "he found me." "Who?" she asked softly. "A stranger. Or at least, that’s what I thought at first. He was tall, cloaked in shadows, his voice smooth as silk. He said he could help me. Give me the power to save my mother. All he wanted in return was my loyalty." Valentin let out a bitter chuckle. "I was a fool. I agreed without hesitation." The room seemed to grow colder. Ember wrapped her arms around herself, feeling an unease settle in her bones. "The change wasn’t instant," Valentin admitted, his expression dark. "At first, I felt… stronger. My wounds healed faster. My senses sharpened. But then, the hunger came. It started as a whisper, a dull ache in my chest. And then it became unbearable." Ember’s breath hitched. She already knew where this was going. "I tried to fight it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But one night, I lost control. When I woke up, there was blood on my hands. My mother’s." His hands clenched into fists. "I didn’t even remember doing it. I ran. I ran as far as I could, but I could never outrun what I had become." A heavy silence fell over them. Ember’s heart ached. She had seen the darkness in him before, but now she understood. He wasn’t just haunted by his past—he was shackled to it. "You didn’t choose this," she said gently, reaching for his hand. Valentin pulled away. "Didn’t I?" His voice was hollow. "I made the deal. I took the power. And now, there’s no undoing it." "You still have a choice," she insisted. "You’re not beyond saving." Valentin let out a bitter laugh. "You don’t know what you’re saying." But Ember did. And she would prove it to him—no matter what it took.