Chapter 8
842words
The restaurant door creaked open. Lucy looked up, her heart leaping with sudden hope.
It was Adrian.
He stood framed in the doorway, his emerald eyes brimming with emotion and remorse. He looked haggard, the past week clearly having taken its toll. But beneath the exhaustion shone something new—an unwavering resolve.
"Lucy..." he whispered, his voice unsteady.
Lucy set down her ladle, tears springing to her eyes. "You came back..."
Adrian crossed the room in an instant and gathered her in his arms. "I'm sorry. I had no right to be angry when you refused Transformation. No right to try changing you. And I never should have walked away."
Lucy clung to him, his body cold against hers.
Adrian stroked her hair gently. "I was selfish, thinking only of my fears, never considering your feelings or respecting your choice."
"Adrian," Lucy murmured against his chest, "I've been thinking that maybe we truly are impossible. The gulf between us is too wide. I'll age and die while you..."
"Lucy," Adrian interrupted softly, "I've been thinking too. And I want to grow old with you."
Lucy pulled back, staring at him in disbelief. "What?"
"I want to give up immortality. To age as humans do. To spend a finite but precious life by your side."
Lucy could scarcely believe what she was hearing. "But... that means giving up everything you have..."
"I know," Adrian nodded, his eyes shining with certainty. "I'll lose my power, my wealth, my immortality. I'll face death. But with you beside me, I welcome it."
"Adrian..." Lucy's voice broke with emotion.
"I once believed immortality was the ultimate gift—that power and wealth defined existence. Long ago, I loved a girl who died too soon. I've always regretted not giving her eternal life. But meeting you made me understand that what matters isn't how long we live, but how deeply." Adrian squeezed her hand.
"But your family... will they allow this?"
Adrian's expression hardened. "This is my decision alone. If they can't accept it, I'll leave the bloodline."
"I can't let you lose your family because of me..."
"Lucy," Adrian cupped her face tenderly, "I was human once. I sacrificed much in my quest for power. Now I'm simply returning to what I truly am."
"Is it... possible? To become mortal again?"
Adrian nodded. "There's an ancient ritual that can transfer my power to another vampire while preserving my physical form. The family would accept this arrangement—they gain power while I regain mortality."
"Will it hurt you?" Lucy asked, concern etching her features.
"Perhaps. But compared to losing you, any pain is meaningless."
Lucy threw her arms around him. "Thank you for choosing this path. I'll face whatever comes with you, I promise."
"No, I should thank you," Adrian whispered against her hair. "You've shown me what true eternity means."
The restaurant door swung open. Lilith strode in, her face a mask of cold fury, several vampires following in her wake.
"Adrian. I knew I'd find you here." Her voice dripped with contempt.
Adrian stepped in front of Lucy protectively. "Lilith, I warned you to leave her alone."
"Save you, you mean," Lilith sneered. "You're bewitched by this human. The Elder Council sent me to retrieve you. If you resist..."
"I'm not returning," Adrian stated flatly. "I've made my decision."
"What decision?" Lilith's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I'm performing the Power Transfer ritual. I choose a mortal lifetime with Lucy," Adrian said, his voice steady.
Lilith's eyes widened in shock. "You've lost your mind! Surrendering immortality for a human? Do you comprehend what you're saying?"
"Perfectly," Adrian replied calmly. "This decision comes after much reflection."
Lilith studied his resolute expression, conflicting emotions warring across her face. Adrian's power was immense—if he willingly offered it in transfer, even she couldn't deny the temptation.
"I'll convey your... proposal to the Council," Lilith said finally. "But I urge you to reconsider this madness."
With that, she turned and swept out, her vampire entourage following silently behind.
Three nights later, in the ancient underground chamber beneath Dracul Manor...
Lucy and Old Chen stood to the left of the stone altar. Dozens of vampires gathered on the right, their pale faces solemn.
In the center stood Lilith, prepared to receive Adrian's power.
"Let us begin," Adrian said, drawing a deep breath before launching into the ancient Latin incantation.
As the ritual progressed, the chamber transformed. Runes carved into the stone walls began to glow with eerie light. Waves of arcane energy pulsed through the air.
Adrian felt a millennium of power drain from his body like an ebbing tide, each departure a needle of pain. Warmth flooded his skin as his blood began to truly flow. And his heart—dormant for a thousand years—stuttered, then began to beat with steady, mortal rhythm.
