That night, Thomas Light called.

“I couldn’t find you at the clinic this afternoon, and I didn’t want to disturb you with work stuff,” he said. “How’s everything going?”

“Same as usual,” Elena replied, her voice tired.

“You sound a bit off. Did you sleep poorly again last night?”

“Yeah…” Elena sighed. The last few days had been exhausting, but the nightmares made it impossible for her to sleep soundly. She was even contemplating whether she should just stop sleeping altogether.

“Did you—did you go see Sebastian Novak?” Thomas asked cautiously. “You haven’t forgotten, right? My friend, the one with the special abilities?”

“Special abilities? What are you talking about?! I just met your annoying friend Sebastian Novak.” Elena didn’t know where her frustration came from, but just the mention of Sebastian sent a surge of anger through her. What had started as weariness quickly turned into almost uncontrollable rage.

"Looks like you've already seen him," Thomas said.

"Twice!" Elena snapped, clearly frustrated.

"So he refused to help you?"

"You knew the outcome and still had me go? Are you trying to embarrass me on purpose?" Elena’s tone sharpened, frustration bubbling to the surface.

"Hey, come on, let’s be reasonable," Thomas said, trying to calm her down. "I told you he’s likely to turn you down because he hates being bothered. I didn’t think you’d get this upset, though. He has a decent reputation with women, after all."

"Those women must be blind, but I’m not. I was just asking for help. It’s his choice to help or not, but he acts so friendly and welcoming, while actually shutting me out completely. He smiles so sweetly, but in reality, he’s as cold as ice! He looks like a charming prince, but he’s actually a cold-hearted monster! No empathy, no kindness, no soul!" Elena vented, her anger rising. Even though she knew she should humble herself when asking for help, just thinking about Sebastian Novak’s demeanor made her blood boil for reasons she couldn’t quite explain.

"A bit of anger is good, it helps release some of that pent-up frustration," Thomas remarked, trying to defuse the tension.

"Thomas Light!" Elena barked in response, her frustration unrelenting.

"Okay, okay, don’t be angry. Tomorrow—I can’t do tomorrow, I’m tied up. The day after, though, I’ll go with you to talk to him. That guy really needs to get his head checked. You’re asking for a small favor, and he acts like you’re asking him to move mountains. Elena West, a top lawyer, asking for a little help—he should be grateful!"

"I’m not going!" Elena retorted stubbornly.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Why not? The more he avoids you, the more we’ll make him regret it!" Thomas continued, egging her on. "I know how you are when you get angry—it’s best to channel that energy, put some pressure on him. Then we’ll see how he handles it."

Elena, despite her initial resistance, relented. "Fine. But I still don’t like him."

"Actually," Thomas said, softening his tone, "you shouldn’t be too hard on him. Everyone has their own personality. Sebastian Novak is a hard person to understand, even I haven’t completely figured him out. But you, you’re impressive. You saw right through his mask—it’s pretty remarkable."

"Pfft, who do you think I am?" Elena replied, her voice slightly more playful.

"True. Your intuition is one of your best traits. You should have been a detective, not a lawyer," Thomas teased.

"Flattery won’t get you anywhere, Thomas," Elena shot back, though she couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips.

"Well, I’d love to keep showering you with compliments, but we should probably talk about Sebastian Novak. Don’t you want to know why we’re friends and why I think he really can help you?"

Elena feigned indifference, "Not really."

"Ah, come on. Think of it as a bedtime story. I’ve known him since we were seven, so that’s over 24 years now. He wasn’t his father’s biological son. His father found him when he was five and adopted him. I don’t know much about his life before then, but he’s never mentioned it. His adoptive father was a man who fought against all superstitions and nonsense—eventually giving up his spiritual practice and becoming a more secular man. He settled in our town, and his father was deeply knowledgeable about ancient texts. He even named him Sebastian Novak."

Elena raised an eyebrow, "Don’t make stuff up. His name might sound a bit odd, but it’s not that profound."

Thomas chuckled. "You don’t know, do you? Sebastian Novak’s bloodline is unique. He’s actually a descendant of vampires. He inherited their power, but in his case, it manifests as a form of spiritual sensitivity—an ability to communicate with spirits and perceive things others cannot. That’s how he got his ‘abilities.’ It’s not something he likes to talk about, but it’s part of who he is."

Elena paused, her curiosity piqued despite herself. "So, he’s really a… vampire descendant?"

"Yes," Thomas confirmed, his tone serious. "He doesn’t like to flaunt it, but that bloodline comes with powers. It’s how he can see and interact with the supernatural. I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve seen it firsthand."

"How do you know?" Elena asked, her curiosity deepening. "When did you find out?"

"I found out when we were kids," Thomas explained. "We were at school, and some strange things started happening around him. It wasn’t until later, when I was in college, that I realized the full extent of his abilities. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but I’ve seen him handle things that others simply can’t. He can see spirits, communicate with them, and even push them away if needed."

Elena shook her head, trying to process what Thomas had just told her. "That’s... a lot to take in. But why is he so secretive about it?"

"He doesn’t like it. His abilities, his lineage—they’re both a blessing and a curse. He’s lived a long life, and he doesn’t want anyone to know the truth about him. He keeps to himself because it’s easier that way."

"So, you think he can really help me?" Elena asked, still uncertain, but intrigued by the possibility.

"I think he’s your best chance," Thomas said. "I don’t know anyone else who could do what he does. But I can’t force him to help you. It’s up to him."

Elena sighed, her mind still racing. "And what if he refuses again?"

"We’ll cross that bridge when we get there," Thomas said, his voice reassuring. "Let’s just take it one step at a time. We’ll go see him the day after tomorrow. Whether he helps or not, at least we’ll have tried."

"Fine," Elena said, her frustration easing slightly. "Good night."

"Good night," Thomas replied, hanging up.

Elena lay back in bed, staring at the ceiling. Should she sleep? She was afraid of the nightmares, but if she didn’t sleep, she’d feel worse tomorrow. She felt drained and uncomfortable, but she couldn’t shake the anxiety that was keeping her awake.

She sighed. What now?