Chapter 1: Peace and Quiet... or Was It? - Crimson Hearts

As usual, Alaric woke up to his alarm at 7:00 AM. He sat up, rubbing his eyes before stretching his arms. The morning sunlight filtered through his bedroom window, casting golden streaks across his neatly arranged room. He made his bed with precision—his sheets perfectly tucked, not a single wrinkle in sight. Afterward, he headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth, the sound of running water and soft bristles filling the silence of the early morning.

By 7:15 AM, he was in the kitchen, preparing his usual breakfast—coffee and toast. He enjoyed the routine, the simplicity of it. It was a stark contrast to his life in Vagr, where every meal was a grand affair, served in gold-trimmed dishes and accompanied by elaborate conversations. Here, in the normal world, it was just him, his coffee, and the quiet hum of the refrigerator.

At precisely 7:30 AM, he began his daily workout—a series of stretches, push-ups, and light jogging in place. It wasn’t that he needed to stay fit; his vampiric nature ensured his body remained in peak condition. But exercising gave him something to do, a sense of normalcy in an otherwise unusual life.

By 8:00 AM, he stepped outside to water his garden. The flowers, sent by his father every two weeks from Vagr, were his most prized possessions. He crouched down, gently touching the petals, inhaling their scent. The familiarity of them made him feel connected to home, even if he had been away for thirty-three years. The morning sun bathed him in warmth as he closed his eyes, savoring the moment.

At 8:30 AM, he took a quick shower, letting the warm water soothe his muscles. Once dressed, he moved back to the kitchen to start preparing breakfast for himself and his sister, Historia. The scent of beef tapa and eggs filled the air as he expertly flipped the sizzling meat in the pan. He arranged the plates neatly on the table before making his way to Historia’s room.

Knocking gently, he called out, “Ate, wake up. It’s already 9:00 AM.”

A muffled groan came from inside. “Kaelen Alaric Ackerman, five more minutes, please.”

He sighed. “Ate, it’s already late. You came home late again last night, didn’t you?”

“Ughhh,” she groaned, pulling the blanket over her head. “Yes, I was out drinking with my friends. Remember?”

Alaric rolled his eyes. “That’s your fault. Now, you’re complaining about your head hurting.” He leaned against the doorframe. “Anyway, I already made breakfast. Come out before 9:30 AM, or I’ll tell Dad you went out again last night.”

There was a pause before she groaned louder. “Alright, fine. I’m up. Let me take a shower first.”

Satisfied, Alaric walked back to the dining table and started eating. A few minutes later, Historia emerged, her wet hair tied into a loose bun. She slumped into the chair, rubbing her temples. “Wow, beef tapa and eggs. Good one, Kae.” She groaned, reaching for a glass of water. “Ughhh.”

“I made hangover soup for you. Wait here.” He stood up and headed to the kitchen, pouring the hot broth into a bowl. When he returned, Historia looked at him with tired eyes but a grateful expression. “Thanks. You’re the best little brother ever.”

Alaric simply nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. The morning was peaceful, just the way he liked it.

Or so he thought.

Just as he was about to take another bite, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen—Matthias. With a sigh, he answered, putting the phone on speaker. “What is it, Mat?”

“Dude, where are you?” Matthias’ excited voice echoed through the phone. “There’s this huge event happening downtown, and you have to come.”

Alaric frowned. “I’m having breakfast.”

“Well, hurry up! Everyone’s going to be there—me, Nix, Luke! You can’t hide in your house forever, man.”

Historia smirked, raising an eyebrow at him. “Mat has a point. You’ve been avoiding social gatherings like the plague.”

Alaric scoffed. “I have a peaceful life. I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Peaceful? More like boring.” Historia took a bite of her food. “Just go. Maybe you’ll meet someone interesting.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “I highly doubt that.”

“Dude, come on,” Matthias whined. “One day. Just one day of social interaction. It won’t kill you.”

Alaric exhaled. He knew Matthias wouldn’t stop until he agreed. “Fine. I’ll be there.”

“Yes! See you at noon. Don’t be late!” Matthias hung up before Alaric could protest.

Historia chuckled. “You’re in for a long day.”

Alaric groaned, finishing his coffee. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”

---

By noon, Alaric found himself at the bustling city center, surrounded by lively music, food stalls, and large crowds. Matthias spotted him immediately, grinning. “There he is! The reclusive prince finally steps out into the world.”

“I regret coming already,” Alaric muttered.

“Oh, don’t be such a grump.” Nix clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Come on, let’s get some drinks.”

As they moved through the crowd, Alaric suddenly felt an odd sensation—a presence. A human? His gaze flickered toward a nearby café, where a man sat by the window, engrossed in a book. Alaric’s breath hitched slightly.

Dark brown hair, sharp eyes, a confident smirk as he turned the page. He had an air of authority yet seemed approachable.

Alistair Yuri Jaeger.

Alaric didn’t know why, but something about him drew him in. The world around him blurred for a moment, his sharp vampire senses honing in on the stranger’s heartbeat—steady, calm, utterly human. He had met thousands of humans before. But none had ever made him feel this…curious.

Matthias noticed Alaric’s sudden distraction and followed his gaze. A knowing smirk spread across his lips. “Ohhh, someone caught your eye?”

Alaric snapped out of it. “What? No.”

“Liar.” Nix chuckled. “Go talk to him.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Come on, Kae. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Alaric sighed. He was already regretting coming here. And yet… his eyes flickered back to the human named Alistair.

For the first time in years, he felt like his peaceful, quiet life was about to change.

And he wasn’t sure if he was ready for it.

The moment hung in the air, heavy with uncertainty. Alaric knew he should look away, pretend he hadn’t noticed the human in the café, but something about him was… different. He exuded confidence, yet there was an air of mystery that Alaric couldn’t ignore.

“Still staring?” Matthias teased, nudging him playfully.

Alaric shot him a glare. “I am not staring.”

“Sure you aren’t,” Nix added, smirking. “But hey, maybe fate’s giving you a little push.”

Before Alaric could protest, Matthias was already dragging him toward the café, much to his horror.

(To be continued…)