Chapter 9 – Secretes Beneath The Floorboard
A week had passed.
Exactly seven days since Chad woke up in a world that wasn't his.
Seven days of questions.
Seven days of failed equations.
Seven days of pretending.
—
And now—
It was the weekend.
—
Chad sat at the edge of his bed, staring at his hands.
"…A Strigoi core…"
The words slipped out under his breath.
He exhaled slowly.
Impossible.
At least—for him.
—
Beast cores alone were expensive.
But a Strigoi's?
That wasn't something you bought.
That was something people fought for.
Bled for.
Died for.
—
His allowance wouldn't come close.
And asking his parents?
Out of the question.
—
"…Then I just don't go."
Simple.
Logical.
—
Yet—
He didn't move.
—
Something tugged at him.
A quiet pull at the edge of his mind.
—
Go.
—
Chad frowned.
"…Why?"
—
No answer came.
—
A knock.
—
"Chad?" Elira called.
—
"Yes?"
—
"Before you go anywhere, clean your room."
—
"…Alright."
—
He stood.
—
Routine.
Simple.
Normal.
—
He started cleaning.
Clothes first.
Then books.
Dust along the shelves.
—
Then—
As he shifted his bed—
—
Click.
—
Chad froze.
"…What was that?"
—
He crouched.
Ran his fingers along the floorboards.
—
There.
A slight gap.
Too deliberate.
—
Carefully—
He pressed.
—
Click.
—
The board lifted.
—
A hidden compartment.
—
"…No way…"
—
Inside—
A small, worn bag.
—
And—
A faint dark glow seeped through its seams.
—
Chad reached in.
Pulled it out.
—
The moment his fingers touched it—
—
A strange familiarity washed over him.
—
He opened the bag.
—
And froze.
—
"…You've got to be kidding me."
—
A core.
—
Dark.
Dense.
Almost swallowing the light around it.
—
A Strigoi beast core.
—
He stared at it.
Long.
Silent.
—
Shock.
Confusion.
…and faint amusement.
—
"…So he wasn't lying."
—
A quiet breath left him.
—
"…Then how did you get this?"
—
No answer.
—
Only silence.
—
Chad closed the bag.
—
"…Guess I'm going."
—
—
By the time he finished cleaning—
The decision had already been made.
—
He washed up.
Got dressed.
—
Then stepped out.
—
"…Heading out?" his father asked.
—
"…Yeah."
A pause.
—
"…Can you come with me?"
—
His father raised a brow.
"…With you?"
—
"…I don't really remember the way."
—
A brief silence.
—
Then—
A small, knowing smile.
—
"…You just don't want to go alone."
—
Chad said nothing.
—
"…It's her house, isn't it?"
—
Still nothing.
—
"…Alright," Kael said, standing. "Let's go."
—
—
The streets buzzed with life.
Carriages rolled along stone roads.
Vendors called out.
People moved in steady rhythm.
—
It all felt… normal.
—
Too normal.
—
Chad sat beside his father in a carriage.
The wooden frame creaked softly as the wheels clattered beneath them.
—
Silence lingered.
—
Then—
"You've been quiet lately," Kael said.
—
"…Have I?"
—
"More than usual." Kael responded.
—
"…Just thinking."
—
"About alchemy?"
—
A slight pause.
—
"…No." Chad said, almost a whisper.
—
Kael heard it.
Didn't press.
—
Instead—
"…There's nothing wrong with being curious," he said.
—
Chad glanced at him.
—
"Just don't chase things that cost you more than they give."
—
That stayed with him.
—
"…I'll keep that in mind."
—
—
The carriage slowed.
Then stopped.
—
"We're here." the Coachman alerted.
—
Chad stepped out—
And paused.
—
The estate stood before him.
—
Massive.
Refined.
Commanding.
—
Tall iron gates.
Intricate designs woven through dark metal.
—
Beyond them—
A grand manor.
—
Not just wealth—
Power.
Precision.
Control.
—
"…They haven't changed," Kael muttered.
—
The gates opened.
—
They were expected.
—
—
Inside—
They were welcomed warmly.
—
Servants moved with quiet efficiency.
—
The air felt… heavy.
—
Not oppressive.
—
But aware.
—
"…Kael."
—
A woman approached.
—
Elegant.
Composed.
—
Her presence alone shifted the room.
—
"Lady Veythorne," Kael greeted.
—
Her gaze moved to Chad.
Sharp.
Measured.
—
"…So this is him." she acknowledged.
—
A brief pause.
—
"You've grown."
—
Chad inclined his head.
"…Ma'am."
—
A faint smile.
—
"Make yourselves comfortable."
—
—
The adults talked.
Light conversation.
Old familiarity.
—
Chad listened quietly.
—
"…Can we go outside?" she cut in. Out of nowhere, Lira came in view.
—
Her eyes were already on him.
—
"We'll be in the garden."
—
No objections.
—
—
The moment they stepped out—
—
She turned.
—
"Well?"
—
Straight to it.
—
"…Did you bring it?"
—
Chad hesitated.
Just a second.
—
Then handed her the bag.
—
She opened it—
—
And lit up.
—
A soft laugh escaped her.
—
"You actually did it…"
—
She pulled the core out.
—
It gleamed faintly in the light.
Dark.
Beautiful.
Alive.
—
"…This is my first time seeing one," she said, almost in awe.
—
She turned it slightly.
Admiring it.
—
"…It's incredible."
—
Chad watched her.
—
Something stirred in his chest.
Light.
Unfamiliar.
—
His gaze softened—
—
Then he caught himself.
—
'…Get a grip.'
—
He looked away.
—
"…I have something too," she said suddenly.
—
Chad blinked.
"…What?"
—
"A surprise."
—
She reached into her pocket—
—
And pulled out a small glass vial.
—
Clear.
Delicate.
—
Something floated inside.
—
Faint.
Softly glowing.
—
Chad's breath caught.
—
"…No…" he whispers.
—
His eyes locked onto it.
—
That faint glow.
That sand like structure.
That presence.
—
'Impossible.'
—
"Pretty, right?"
—
Her voice cut through his thoughts.
—
She lifted it slightly, letting it catch the sunlight.
—
"It's strange though…"
A small tilt of her head.
—
"Can't believe you've never seen these before…"
—
Chad didn't respond.
—
Couldn't.
—
Because inside that tiny glass vial—
—
Was something that should not exist.
—
Something he had lost.
—
Something that had died with him.
—
—
AETHERION!
—
And in that moment—
—
The world felt… unstable.
—