**Episode 5 – *"The Night Everything Awakened"***
## **(Lucian & Isha)**
Isha didn't remember falling asleep.
She only remembered sitting on her bed, clutching Lucian's silver-ink note, staring at the shining crescent mark on her wrist.
But the next thing she knew—
**A soft knock echoed against her window.**
Not the glass.
The *air.*
Her heart hammered.
She turned slowly.
Lucian stood outside her balcony, half-covered in moonlight, as though the night itself had carved him from darkness.
He wasn't breathing heavily, yet something in his tense posture screamed danger.
Isha stepped out.
"Lucian…what's happening?"
He didn't answer.
His eyes were glowing—brighter than before, like liquid silver.
"Come with me," he said softly.
"No explanation?"
"If I explain now, you'll panic. And I can't risk that tonight."
His voice had a tremor.
Not fear.
Control slipping.
Isha nodded, letting him pull her closer by the wrist.
The moment his fingers brushed the glowing crescent mark, she felt a rush of heat shoot through her veins.
Lucian stiffened.
"You're reacting faster than I expected."
"To what?"
"To the bond."
He swallowed hard.
"To me."
Before she could ask anything else, the world around her blurred.
Wind roared.
Cold air lashed her face.
Lucian had lifted her into his arms—one arm under her knees, the other around her back.
She gasped and grabbed his shirt.
"Hold on to me," he whispered.
She did.
The world dissolved.
---
## ⭐ **The Ruins in the Forest**
They materialized in a clearing deep in the forest—ancient ruins lit by moonlight, broken stone pillars wrapped in silver vines.
The air crackled with strange energy.
Isha shivered.
Lucian instantly pulled her closer.
"You're cold."
"I'm fine—"
"No," he said sharply. "You shiver when you're frightened."
He cupped her cheek with one hand.
The warmth of his touch silenced her trembling.
"Lucian…why am I here?"
He looked away, conflicted.
"Because the moon chooses the bearer of the Celestial Mark only once every thousand years."
"And this time…it chose you."
Isha's breath caught.
"The council knows," he continued. "They feel the mark's awakening. They will try to take you—control you—use you."
Isha's voice shook.
"Why me?"
He looked at her like she was something precious he didn't deserve.
"Because you are the bond I'm not allowed to have."
Isha stared at him.
"You mean destiny paired us?"
His jaw clenched.
"Yes."
"But vampires aren't allowed to—"
"No," he said quickly. "We are not allowed to bind with humans. It is forbidden. Dangerous."
His eyes softened.
"But the bond has already awakened."
She stepped closer.
"So…what does that mean for us?"
Lucian exhaled shakily.
"I don't want you to suffer because of me."
She gently touched his hand.
"You aren't hurting me."
The moment her fingers grazed his skin—
---
## ⭐ **A blast of cold air hit the clearing.**
Lucian immediately pulled Isha behind him.
"Stay close."
Shadows slithered across the ground.
Three hooded figures emerged—cloaked in dark robes marked with red ink.
Isha's throat tightened.
"Who are they?"
Lucian's voice dropped to a dangerous growl.
"The Bloodbound Sentinels."
The leader stepped forward.
"Prince Lucian. You broke the decree," the figure hissed.
"You summoned the Chosen Human."
"I didn't summon her," Lucian snapped. "The moon did."
"She belongs to the council now."
Lucian's fangs extended slightly—uncontrolled.
"No," he growled.
"She belongs to *no one.*"
Isha had never seen him lose control before.
The air around him vibrated with power.
"Take her," the leader commanded.
Two sentinels lunged forward.
Isha screamed—
Lucian was in front of her instantly, impossibly fast.
He raised one hand.
A shockwave blasted through the clearing.
The sentinels were thrown back like leaves in a storm.
Lucian snarled—
a deep, ancient sound that made the trees tremble.
"Stay away from her!"
The ground cracked under his feet from the force of his power.
Isha stared—terrified and mesmerized.
She whispered, "Lucian…stop, you'll get hurt—"
The moment she touched his shoulder, everything changed.
The crescent mark on her wrist blazed with silver light.
Lucian froze.
The sentinels froze.
Even the wind stopped.
Lucian turned to her slowly.
His expression…almost reverent.
"You activated the bond's shield," he whispered.
"A human shouldn't be able to do that this early."
Isha's voice shook.
"I just didn't want you to get hurt."
A slow, shocked smile tugged at his lips.
"You saved me."
"And you saved me first."
Their eyes locked.
A dangerous silence filled the air—
not threatening.
Charged.
Lucian stepped closer, his face inches from hers.
"Isha," he breathed. "You have no idea what you're doing to me."
Her heart stumbled.
The night seemed to pull them together.
Lucian raised a hand—hesitating for the first time—before gently brushing a leaf tangled in her hair.
His fingers lingered just a second too long.
Her breath hitched.
He pulled his hand back quickly.
"We should go," he said softly, voice rougher than before. "Before they return."
---
## ⭐ **Accidental Fall (and closeness)**
He tried to lead her through the ruins, but the ground was uneven.
Isha tripped over a root.
Before she hit the ground—
Lucian caught her waist.
They stumbled—
and she fell against his chest.
His arms tightened around her instinctively.
Their faces were close.
Too close.
Lucian froze.
Isha froze.
Her hands rested on his chest where his heartbeat—cold usually—felt strangely warm under her touch.
Lucian swallowed hard.
"Are you…hurt?"
"No," she whispered.
His voice dropped, barely audible.
"Good. Because I don't think I can handle you being hurt."
Their breaths mingled.
But Lucian suddenly pulled away, though it looked like it took every bit of strength he had.
"We need to leave," he said, voice strained.
"I'm losing control."
---
## ⭐ **Back Home**
He transported her back to her balcony.
Before stepping away, he paused.
"Isha…tonight changed everything."
She looked up at him.
"What happens now?"
He stepped closer, lifting her chin gently.
"Now…I protect you with my life."
Isha's heart raced.
"Lucian?"
"Yes?"
"Are you scared?"
He smiled sadly.
"I'm terrified."
Then he vanished into the night.
Leaving Isha alone with one truth:
**She was no longer human ordinary.**
**And Lucian was no longer just a vampire prince.**
They were a fate awakened.
---
**Episode 6 Complete**