Kael ran his fingers over the silver words on The Alchemy of Eternity, the book feeling heavy and real in this strange new world. Outside, tall glass buildings glowed faintly, matching the rhythm of his heartbeat. The tablet in his hand buzzed, showing a message in sharp text: "Dr. Kael, go to the Chronovault. Project Eternity is waiting."
Doctor? The word hit him hard. Just hours ago, he was an intern, exhausted and broke. Now he was… what? A scientist in a futuristic city? His reflection in the shiny desk showed his familiar face—dark hair, sharp jaw—but his eyes had a strange red glow. His breath stopped. What's happening to me?
The office was sleek, all curves and glowing panels, but it felt personal. A holo-frame on the desk flickered, showing a younger Kael laughing with a woman whose face was blurry, like a faded memory. He reached for it, but the tablet buzzed again, urgent. Chronovault. Now.
He stepped into the city, its air cool and electric. Hovercars hummed above, weaving between spires. People moved with purpose, their uniforms marked with symbols resembling the one on his book—a circle pierced by three lines. Kael's legs moved on instinct, guiding him to a towering structure of black glass. The Chronovault. Its doors parted silently, revealing a cavernous chamber where a massive, pulsating orb hovered, veins of red light coursing through it like blood.
"Dr. Kael, late as usual." A woman's voice, sharp but warm, cut through the hum. She stepped from the shadows—tall, with silver hair and eyes that mirrored his crimson flicker. "I'm Seris, your overseer. The Eternity Core won't stabilize itself."
Kael's mind raced. Play along. "Right. The Core. Status?" His voice sounded steadier than he felt.
Seris raised an eyebrow, amused. "Unstable, as always. Your last formula failed. We're running out of time before the Pulse collapses." She gestured to the orb. "Fix it, or this city—and you—cease to exist."
He approached the Core, equations from the tablet flooding his mind. They felt familiar, like a song he'd forgotten but could still hum. As he worked, inputting data into a console, Seris watched him closely. "You don't remember, do you?" she said softly. "The blood. The book. What you chose."
Kael froze. "Chose?"
She stepped closer, her voice a whisper. "You weren't always this. The Alchemy of Eternity… it's not just a book. It's your contract. Your blood bound you to this world, to us."
His hand brushed the book in his pocket, and a memory flashed—shattered glass, crimson liquid, a voice promising power. Vampire. The word burned in his mind. He met Seris's gaze, her eyes glinting with something ancient. "What am I?" he asked, voice barely audible.
She smiled, fangs catching the light. "You're timeless, Kael. But eternity comes at a price."