Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate-Chapter 144: Unforgiving Silence

"You poor, pitiful thing," the dark voice hissed, dripping with venom. "No one has even bothered to look for you in days. Do you still cling to the delusion that your sister gives a damn about you?"

Riona had not shown up for some days now, even though her usual routine included persistently sitting outside his room at all hours—morning and night—pleading for him to let her in.

This absence followed the full moon hunt, a time when Riona had been preoccupied with the pups who clung to her at every opportunity.

But Florian didn’t know this truth, and even if he did know, the dark voice would distort reality to serve its own twisted ends.

The voice persisted, relentless in its attack. "She doesn’t care, and neither does anyone else. Only I am left for you. Haven’t you figured that out yet?"

It used the same strategy, the same words, the same content, and yet, the dark voice succeeded in blurring the lines.

Florian struggled to distinguish his own thoughts from the sinister whispers, the voice’s manipulation making it increasingly difficult to discern reality from delusion.

"Feel it," the voice taunted. "Your hand is itching, isn’t it? I know what you’re craving, and deep down, you do too. After all, I am you, and you are me. We’re one and the same."

Despite Florian’s efforts to resist, the voice’s grip on his mind tightened. He began to succumb to its insidious influence, slowly making him believe its twisted truths.

"You long to end her life. Not just her, but she will be your first sacrifice. Or should you savor her as the grand finale?"

In a frantic attempt to suppress his own monstrous desires, Florian had starved himself, convinced that without strength, he couldn’t inflict harm.

But the fear that he was losing himself, both mentally and morally, gnawed at him. The darkness was already consuming his soul.

"Are you trembling, pathetic child?" the voice hissed, dripping with malice. "Don’t worry—you’re exactly where you belong. Why don’t you stop hiding and do what you were made for? Kill those werewolves, just like I taught you."

The voice was a relentless buzz in Florian’s ear, and he was desperate to silence it, seeking any way to do that. Though nothing worked. He had even struck his own ears until they rang with a dull roar, but the voice seemed to dwell within the very core of his mind.

"They’re just filthy werewolves!" the voice spat with cold cruelty. "Your king will commend you for purging this world of those vile beasts. You’re only doing what any vampire would do—protecting your kind."

Florian slammed his head against the wall in a futile attempt to escape the torment, but the voice only grew more triumphant, reveling in his agony as his mental defenses crumbled.

"Come on, open the door. Do you really believe that flimsy barrier can shield you from them—or more accurately, shield them from you?"

The voice’s menace grew more frenzied with each passing day, driving Florian to the brink. It relentlessly urged him to act, and every shred of his willpower was consumed by the struggle to resist its dark commands.

"Just unlock it," the voice growled with a sneer. "Or if you’re feeling particularly weak, tear it apart. To hell with this place! To hell with those filthy beasts! To hell with your sister!"

The only sliver of hope Florian had was his sister. Every time the voice dragged her into its taunts, it briefly cleared his mind, though it often left him more tormented and divided than before.

Florian tried to sleep, but even in the realm of dreams, the voice grew more oppressive. It transformed into a dark, smothering presence, an entity that suffocated every corner of his mind.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t escape its relentless grip.

Knock. Knock.

Florian could barely register the sound amidst the haze of his messy mind. He dismissed it as mere background noise, disconnected from his suffering.

It wasn’t until Thorin’s voice cut through the murk, calling his name, that Florian realized someone was at his door.

He didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad. Should he feel relief that the voice’s claim of abandonment was false, or dread at the thought of the voice growing so powerful that it might drive him to harm Thorin?

"What’s this?" the voice taunted. "You want to make him your first target? They say the first is always the most unforgettable. So, you’re considering this path, are you? He does hold some connection to you, doesn’t he?"

Florian shook his head, fighting the dark influence.

No. Thorin is strong. He’s an Alpha—the youngest ever to hold the title. If anyone can handle me if I go rogue, it’s him.

"Flo...?" Thorin’s voice grew louder.

Florian cleared his throat, summoning the strength to open the door. As he faced Thorin, the Alpha’s eyes widened in shock. Thorin hurried forward. He gripped Florian’s face with a mixture of concern and disbelief.

"What happened to you?" Thorin’s voice faltered as he took in Florian’s appearance—dark circles under his eyes, sunken cheeks, and a skeletal neck.

The sight was jarring, but Thorin chose his words carefully. "You’re a complete wreck."

Florian didn’t know how to respond, and the voice took the comment badly, twisting it into an insult. It fed Florian’s insecurity, convincing him that the Alpha was looking down on him.

Overwhelmed and unable to think clearly, Florian shut down mentally, choosing to respond only when absolutely necessary.

He walked to the bed and sank onto it, while Thorin took a nearby chair. The chair wobbled, and Thorin quickly realized one of the legs was broken. He set it aside and remained standing.

Thorin cleared his throat, trying to bridge the awkward silence. It had been a while since they’d last interacted, and the change in Florian was significant.

The cute, lively boy Thorin remembered had seemingly vanished, replaced by a brooding, mysterious teenage vampire.

"So," Thorin began, attempting to break the tension, "we’ve got a training session coming up. It’s a chance for werewolves and vampires to bond and understand each other better. Maybe we can help each other where we’re weak."

Before Thorin could finish, Florian erupted. "GET OUT!!! GET OUT!!!" he screamed, his voice a raw, frantic shriek.