Transformative Nights

He's Got Potential

I rose from my seat and crossed the room, brushing off Jonathan’s faint attempt to push my hand from his shoulder. His resistance amused me, but his disorientation demanded focus. My eyes lingered on the furrowed lines on his forehead, the confusion swimming in his dark eyes. The test had taken its toll, as it always did. Still, there was an undeniable satisfaction in watching him recover quickly—proof of his potential.

He glared at me through the haze, his voice rough with exhaustion as he muttered, “What the hell did you do to me?”

Calmly, I folded my arms and let a faint smile curve my lips. “That was a test,” I said, my voice deliberately steady. “To see if you have what it takes to become a mage. Gathering witches and magical beings has become something of a... hobby of mine.”

Jonathan groaned softly and rubbed his temples, his sarcasm as sharp as ever despite his obvious discomfort. “So, you put me through that as part of your little hobby? Is it always this painful?”

“No,” I replied smoothly, taking in the indignation rising in his posture. Before his frustration could boil over, I added, “It’s usually worse. You handled it exceptionally well.”

He let out a dry laugh, more a bark than genuine humor. “Ah, so I’m the lucky one.”

I inclined my head, meeting his glare evenly. “In more ways than one,” I said, placing a hand lightly on his shoulder. His immediate reaction to shrug it off was telling—his spirit was formidable, even now.

“So, what happens now?” he asked, trying to sound detached but failing to mask the curiosity that simmered beneath his words. “If I’ve apparently passed your magical test, what’s next?”

I stepped back, giving him the space he craved, and extended a hand. “Now, I’ll enroll you in Aurum Arcanum Academy,” I said simply. When his brow rose in skepticism, I added, “It’s a magical school. One of the best-kept secrets in the world of magical beings.”

He accepted my hand begrudgingly, and I pulled him to his feet with practiced ease. “A school?” he echoed, the doubt in his voice palpable.

“Yes,” I said, brushing a speck of dust from my sleeve. “It’s hidden in plain sight, and I can’t be directly involved. I’ve entrusted the day-to-day operations to a Headmistress. You’ll be her assistant while attending secret courses to hone your abilities.”

“Secret?” Jonathan’s tone sharpened, his skepticism hardening into suspicion. “Why does it have to be secret?”

I paused, my jaw tightening at the question. The shadows of my thoughts threatened to surface, but I kept my tone measured as I explained. “There are forces in this world that seek to control and suppress magical beings. They fear us. They believe we aim to conquer humanity when, in truth, all we want is coexistence. Their fear has bred hatred, and that hatred drives them to act.”

His brow furrowed, but he nodded along, listening intently. “The witches outing themselves disrupted their plans,” I continued, my voice laced with conviction. “It threw them off balance, but only temporarily. I know better than to underestimate their resolve. If they act openly, magical beings must be prepared.”

“So, humans weren’t the only ones thrown off by the witches’ revelation,” Jonathan murmured. He turned to Rose, who had been silently observing. “What did you think of it?”

Rose smiled, her expression equal parts amused and contemplative. “I was shocked,” she admitted, a touch of wryness in her voice. “I never thought I’d live to see the day, and I’m immortal. It’s a good thing in the long run, but it’s going to be a rocky road.”

She stepped forward then, her hands brushing lightly over Jonathan’s temples and shoulders, tilting his head to examine him. “You handled the pain better than most,” she said, her voice tinged with approval. “No lingering issues. You’ll be fine.”

“Lucky me,” he muttered, though his sarcasm was tempered now by weariness.

Rose straightened and turned to leave. “With that, I’ll take my leave,” she announced.

Jonathan, ever impulsive, caught her wrist. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay a little longer?” he asked, his tone lighter, teasing. “Maybe learn more about me?”

She glanced at me with a mischievous smile. “You’ve already gotten me into enough trouble today, young man,” she said, gently pulling free. “I cherish my life too much to linger.” And with that, she vanished, leaving the room empty save for the tension that remained between Jonathan and me.

“Follow me,” I said, breaking the silence. “You’ll need rest. Asa will be by shortly to take your order for dinner.”

Jonathan trailed behind me quietly as I led him back to his room. I could hear the gears turning in his mind, his thoughts racing in a thousand directions. Questions lingered on the edge of his tongue, but he kept them to himself. It wasn’t long before we arrived, and he stepped inside, clearly expecting me to leave.

I shut the door behind us. “Sit,” I commanded.

He hesitated, his will flickering with rebellion—a stubbornness I had come to expect from him. If I had been younger, less practiced, his resistance might have overwhelmed my command. But I wasn’t some fledgling vampire, untempered and unsure. At over five centuries old, my will had been honed to an unyielding edge. His defiance might be formidable for a human—perhaps even extraordinary—but no human could truly rival the resolve forged by centuries of existence. For once, I was glad for my age, for the slow accumulation of patience and discipline that came with it. His spirit might be indomitable, but I had endured too much, lost too much, to be moved by his resistance.

Slowly, inevitably, he sat on the edge of the bed, the battle in his eyes not yet extinguished but temporarily subdued. I crossed the room with deliberate steps, stopping directly in front of him and letting the silence stretch between us. He looked up at me, defiant, the spark in his gaze daring me to back down. But I had stared into the abyss of eternity and survived; his confidence faltered under the weight of my gaze.

Reaching out, I tilted his chin gently but firmly, forcing him to meet my eyes. There was no cruelty in the gesture—only the certainty of someone who had learned to wield power without the need for violence. It was time he understood the gravity of what had begun between us.

For a moment, I studied him. His pulse thrummed in his neck, a steady rhythm that quickened when I leaned closer. He shrugged my hand off and looked away, a clear rejection. It made my next move all the more satisfying.

I positioned myself on my knees, the cool floor beneath me as I leaned in between his spread legs. “I couldn’t drink my fill earlier,” I whispered, my voice low and seductive. “The trial required focus.”

His body tensed as I leaned in closer, my lips barely grazing the sensitive skin of his wrist. “But you’re fine now,” I purred, trailing soft kisses along his inner forearm until I reached the crook of his elbow. “So I’ll finish my meal”

I bit down gently, savoring the heat of his blood as it flowed, rich and potent. His body tensed, and I could feel the conflict within him—the tension between resistance and the strange pleasure that always accompanied the act. His heartbeat thrummed against my lips, a rhythm that both grounded and ignited me. His deep cough was clearly a mask for the intense pleasure building up in his body. Will i be able to control myself if Jonathan succumbs even a little to what he’s feeling?

I gently pushed myself back, my fingers brushing against his jaw as I turned his face towards mine. The tang of copper filled my mouth as I sealed the wound with a swipe of my tongue. His unfocused gaze met mine, clouded with confusion and something else that remained unspoken. My hands trailed up his thighs, sending shivers down his spine until I abruptly stood up "Asa will arrive shortly," I said calmly, turning away from him. "You should rest and conserve your energy."

As I left the room, I allowed myself a small smile. Jonathan’s journey had just begun—and it would be far more intriguing than I had anticipated.