Bloodbound Secrets

The crackling of the fire filled the small wooden home, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of burning wood and something else—an unspoken tension that weighed heavy between the three figures in the room.

John sat at the edge of the table, his hands clasped together, eyes dark with thought. Roy sat across from him, his heart pounding in his chest. His father had always been a pillar of strength, unshaken by the world around him, but now... now there was something fragile about him, something Roy had never seen before.

"You keep asking questions, Roy," John finally said, his voice heavy. "But some truths are like fire. They burn those who get too close."

Roy clenched his fists. "Then let me burn. I want to know."

A soft sigh escaped from the corner of the room. His mother, Sakura, had been silent the entire evening, her gaze distant as if lost in thoughts she dared not voice. Now, she shifted slightly, meeting John's eyes. There was a silent exchange between them, one Roy couldn't decipher.

Finally, she spoke. "If he asks, he deserves an answer."

John exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "The world is not what you think it is, son. There are forces at play, shadows moving where no light reaches. You think this village, this life, is all there is, but there is so much more—so much that you are not ready for."

Roy's jaw tightened. "Then make me ready."

John looked at him for a long moment before shaking his head. "Not yet."

Before Roy could protest, a loud knock echoed through the house, shattering the uneasy stillness.

John was on his feet in an instant, his hand instinctively reaching for the knife strapped to his belt. Roy had never seen his father react like that before. His mother, too, had stiffened, her fingers tightening around the edge of the table.

Roy exchanged a glance with them before rising to his feet. The air in the room felt colder now. He stepped toward the door, but his father grabbed his wrist.

"Don't," John ordered in a hushed whisper. "Let me handle this."

Roy could see the tension in his father's posture, the way his muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike. It sent a chill through him.

The knock came again—louder, more insistent.

John took a slow breath before unlocking the door. The wooden slab creaked open, revealing a figure shrouded in a dark cloak, their face obscured by the hood. The stranger stepped forward, the dim firelight casting eerie shadows across their features.

They reached into their coat and pulled out a sealed letter, extending it towards John. "The time has come."

John's face darkened as he hesitated before taking the letter. His hands trembled slightly, a sight that made Roy's stomach twist with unease.

The stranger turned their gaze toward Roy, and though he couldn't see their full face, he could feel their stare—piercing, knowing.

"Your answers are closer than you think, boy. But be careful what you wish for."

And just as quickly as they had arrived, the stranger turned and disappeared into the night, leaving Roy standing in the doorway with his heart pounding and his mind racing.

What had his father been hiding all these years? And why did it feel like everything was about to change?

To be continued...