Night settled softly over the neighborhood, calm and silver.
The house had stayed quiet for too long, and Lira felt restless. So she stepped outside for a short walk, telling herself she wouldn't go far.
The moonlight clung to her.
Her silver hair, loosely tied up, shimmered faintly. Her white-silver eyes reflected the night almost unnaturally bright, as if they held their own light.
Anyone watching closely might have sworn she glowed.
The streets were empty.
Peaceful.
Until—
A rustling sound came from the wooded trail near the edge of the road.
She paused.
It wasn't loud. Just… deliberate.
Curiosity tugged at her.
She stepped carefully toward the trees.
The air felt cooler inside the small forest path. Quieter. Still.
Then she noticed something unusual on the ground—a faint, dark trail along the leaves.
She frowned.
It looked like… blood.
Her stomach tightened.
She shouldn't go further.
But she did.
The trail led into a small clearing.
And there, near a tree, someone lay motionless on the ground. Their clothes were stained dark, and they didn't seem to be moving.
Her breath caught.
Not in horror—just shock.
Then she sensed another presence.
Across the clearing stood a figure.
Tall. Still.
White hair, just like hers, falling past his shoulders. Skin pale as moonlight. White clothing, now marked with faint stains.
When he lifted his head, she saw them—
Glowing red eyes.
Fangs barely visible when he spoke.
A vampire.
But white.
Like her.
Her mind reeled.
How?
He didn't look wild. Didn't look frantic. He looked calm. Composed. Watching.
She took a careful step back.
A twig snapped beneath her foot.
The sound cut through the silence.
His red eyes shifted toward her slowly.
He had already known she was there.
"Leaving so soon?" he called out, voice smooth and almost amused.
Her body went rigid.
The night seemed to still around them.
She turned fully to face him, moonlight illuminating her pale features.
White eyes met red.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other.
He tilted his head slightly, studying her as if she were the strange one.
And then—
He smiled.
Not cruel.
Not friendly.
Just… knowing.
The wind stirred softly between them.
She forced herself to speak, even though her throat felt tight.
Pointing toward the still figure on the ground, she asked quietly, "What did you do to him?"
The white-haired vampire ran a hand through his hair, leaving a faint streak of red across his pale fingers. His glowing crimson eyes shifted back to her.
"I was hungry," he said calmly.
The answer was cold. Simple. Unapologetic.
Her stomach twisted. "Why would you—"
He tilted his head slightly. "Why are you out so late at night?"
The question caught her off guard.
"I—I was just taking a stroll," she replied, more nervously than she intended.
His gaze sharpened at that.
"A stroll," he repeated softly, as if testing the word.
She took a small step back. "I don't want to be involved in… whatever this is."
For a moment, he just stared at her.
Then a faint smirk touched his lips, revealing the edge of his fangs.
"Don't worry," he said smoothly. "I'm not interested in involving you in my meal."
Her breath caught.
The way he said it—casual, almost polite—made it worse.
Their eyes locked again.
Red against white.
He studied her longer this time, something flickering behind his calm expression.
"…The princess," he murmured.
She frowned. "What?"
"You look like her," he continued quietly. "The Princess of Lightning."
The title meant nothing to her.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said firmly.
He stepped closer, just enough for the moonlight to fully illuminate his face. White hair. Pale skin. Just like hers.
"Have we met before?" he asked.
"No," she replied immediately. "I don't know you."
A slow, amused smile curved his lips.
"Interesting."
He didn't question her appearance. Didn't ask why she looked so much like him. As if it wasn't strange at all.
"You didn't see anything tonight," he said evenly.
She stayed silent.
Then his voice turned colder.
"Go back home. And don't come back here again."
It wasn't shouted.
It didn't need to be.
Before she could respond, his body lifted smoothly from the ground, rising into the air as if gravity had simply loosened its grip.
He hovered for a brief second, red eyes still fixed on her.
Then he shot upward into the dark sky and disappeared beyond the trees.
The clearing fell silent.
Lira stood there, staring at the empty space he'd left behind.
Her heart pounded now.
"…What was that?" she whispered.
The wind stirred around her.
And faintly—
Her fingertips tingled with the smallest spark of light.
She walked back slowly, the trees thinning until streetlights returned.
Her thoughts wouldn't settle.
That creature…
What if I go back tomorrow?
Would he be there?
The question looped in her mind again and again.
She hadn't even gotten his name.
White hair.
Red eyes.
That knowing smirk.
And the way he said princess.
It shouldn't have meant anything.
Yet something about him felt… familiar.
Not safe.
Not kind.
Just—
Known.
Her thoughts spiraled so deeply she didn't notice how close she was to home—
"STORM CLOUD!"
She flinched so hard she nearly tripped.
"Caelan!" she snapped.
Why did he always shout her nickname like that?
Did he think he was announcing the arrival of royalty?
He jogged toward her from the gate, his green eyes faintly glowing in the dim light.
Honestly, with that glow and the way he yelled her name, he looked like a dramatic frog announcing rainfall.
"You always shout," she muttered. "Do you practice that? Or does it come naturally with the frog aesthetic?"
He blinked. "Frog?"
"Yes. Glowy green eyes. Loud. Appears at night."
He looked offended. "I do not look like a frog."
"You absolutely do."
He narrowed his eyes. "You glow in the dark."
"At least I don't croak."
He gasped softly. "That was low."
Before he could argue further, the front door opened.
Seraphine stepped out first, warm brown eyes immediately scanning Lira from head to toe. She still wore her work coat, exhaustion faint in her posture but hidden beneath calm strength.
Behind her came Aurelia, college bag over one shoulder, pink eyes observant and sharp even in the dark.
"What are you doing outside?" Seraphine asked gently.
Lira straightened. "Nothing. Just… air."
Aurelia studied her for a second longer than necessary.
"You look pale," her sister noted quietly.
"I always look pale," Lira replied.
Caelan muttered, "Ghost aesthetic."
She elbowed him lightly.
Seraphine sighed softly. "Come inside. It's late."
They all headed back in together.
The door closed.
The house felt warmer now.
Safer.
But as Lira stepped fully into the light—
For just a second—
Her white-silver eyes flickered.
And somewhere far above the quiet town—
Clouds shifted.