Simon's mind raced as he listened from his hidden spot, absorbing the revelation that Stella was no ordinary mermaid but the fabled Mermaid of Cosmos. The weight of this truth hit him hard—Stella wasn't just powerful; she was a target, and soon, many would come for her, hungry for the power she held in her very soul.
A cold fury settled in his chest. He had protected her from the shadows for so long, but now, everything was different. Now, she was marked.
His eyes flicked to one of her photos—a candid shot of her, unaware, looking out toward the horizon. The innocence in her gaze was like a cruel joke, a reminder of the harshness she was blissfully ignorant of. His jaw clenched, muscles coiled with a predatory instinct that had lain dormant. He knew what had to be done, but it would demand the part of him he'd worked hardest to bury, the side of him he had sworn never to unleash again.
"If that's what it takes…" he muttered, the words barely more than a whisper. His fingers traced the edge of her photo, his mind filled with all he was about to become. "Looks like I'll have to become a ripper again."
The decision settled over him like a shroud, a chilling acceptance of what lay ahead. He would become the nightmare that haunted others, the darkness he knew too well—his own sharp-edged weapon. For her, he would break every promise, cross every line. To keep Stella safe, he would tear down anyone who dared come near, leaving nothing but blood and terror in his wake.
With one last look at her photo, Simon felt the transformation begin within, the darkness closing in as he prepared to unleash the monster he had so carefully hidden away.
As Simon's eyes snapped open, they were pools of pure, unsettling black—a darkness that seemed to swallow any light that dared approach. This wasn't just hunger or fury. It was a descent, a ruthless transformation. His fangs grew longer, more vicious, each sharpened point gleaming as if craving to tear through anything that threatened his resolve. The hunger within him had turned, twisted, merging with a grim, unshakable purpose.
Without hesitation, he seized a bottle of blood, draining it in one swift, unrelenting gulp. The thick, crimson liquid coated his throat, igniting a fire that urged him forward, darker and hungrier. One bottle wasn't enough. He reached for another, then another, his hands moving faster as the blood slid down his throat, each bottle strengthening the monstrous force awakening inside him.
The final bottle shattered in his grip, crimson splattering over his hands, and he let it drip, watching it as if it was an oath sealed in blood. Each drop that fueled him deepened his resolve, forging him into the ruthless protector Stella needed. He knew what it meant—becoming a creature that stalked the night, driven by rage and vengeance. Yet, for her, he would become a beast, a shadow, an unholy terror unleashed on anyone who dared come near her.
Simon's steps were slow and deliberate as he entered Lyra's dimly lit room, the air thickening with each stride he took. His presence was overwhelming, charged with a dark, raw energy that seemed to pulse around him like a living shadow. Lyra froze as he approached, her gaze fixed on his blackened eyes and the aura radiating from him—a dangerous, hungry aura that whispered of violence barely restrained.
She swallowed, her fingers trembling as she held out the small bracelet she'd crafted specifically for Stella. The intricate symbols etched into its metal gleamed faintly, glowing with protective energy, but even their light seemed to dim under Simon's presence. With a careful breath, Lyra placed it in his hand, her skin prickling as his fingers closed around it with a force that made her shiver.
"Keep her safe," she whispered, though the words felt thin against the weight of what she sensed in him.
He gave a brief nod, tucking the bracelet safely away, and then turned without another word, his figure disappearing into the night like a storm retreating before it could wreak havoc.
Left alone, Lyra could still feel the darkness he'd left behind, as if it clung to the walls, to her skin. She hugged her arms tightly around herself, trying to shake the chill that had seeped into her bones. She whispered to the silence, her voice barely above a murmur, "Why do I feel like this is the beginning of something very bad?"
The quiet held no answer, but an unsettling dread filled the room, pressing down like a shadow of the storm yet to come.
As Simon moved through the quiet, empty streets, a restless hunger gnawed at him, intensified by the rush of power coursing through his veins. His senses were heightened, every sound sharp and every heartbeat within earshot a maddening temptation. He hadn't intended to feed, but when he spotted a woman walking alone under the dim glow of a streetlamp, he felt the ripper within him surge to the surface, relentless and demanding.
In a blink, he was beside her, his movements silent and swift as he caught her wrist, pulling her close before she had time to scream. Her pulse thrummed wildly against his grip, and he could feel her fear mingling with the smell of her blood—sweet, intoxicating, and impossible to resist. Without a second thought, he sank his fangs into her neck, the warmth of her blood flooding his senses and momentarily dulling the storm within him.
The woman's struggles weakened as he drank deeply, nearly draining her completely. But in the final moments, he pulled himself back from the edge, his mind regaining just enough control. Letting her go, he compelled her with a gaze dark and empty, wiping her memory clean of the encounter, leaving no trace of his presence in her mind.
As she stumbled away, dazed and unaware of what had transpired, Simon watched her disappear into the night, wiping a stray drop of blood from his lips. There was a twisted satisfaction in his chest, the hunger quieted, but he knew it wouldn't last. The darkness was seeping deeper, taking root.
He continued on his way, the taste of blood lingering on his tongue, a reminder of what he was becoming—and what he might have to do to protect Stella.