Kaius was driving toward his hometown—Crimsonwood. Regret gnawed at him. He didn’t want to be part of the story, but he had no choice. He just hoped to finish everything quickly and return to his sweet little brother.

He was also going to see his other brother—Nickolas Lindverg. But he wasn’t exactly thrilled about that.

Digging through the body’s memories and comparing them to what he knew, the witch incident had indeed happened. That made it even harder to face Nico.

It had been 70 years.

Kaius had returned to the town, hoping to restore his connection with Nico. But due to a miscast spell by a young witch, the red moon had turned into a beacon for the supernatural. Vampires without protection went mad and attacked the townspeople.

Kaius had been one of them.

He killed several founding families. When he came to his senses, he fled—and hadn’t returned since.

It was another trauma added to Kaius’s long list. Five major ones, branching into countless smaller ones.

He’d also been warned: once the story began, his personality would shift slightly toward the version in the book. It wasn’t pleasant—but it didn’t disgust him either. At least he wouldn’t have to act like a hero.

The only part he truly hated was the promiscuity and the killing. But he’d been told those couldn’t be changed.

He thought about all this as he drove. He didn’t even want to imagine how Nickolas would react to seeing him again.

He was nearing the town’s entrance. Still nervous about seeing his brother, he made a decision: he’d only see Nick as that annoying vampire protagonist with a hero complex. It was easier that way.

He just hoped he wouldn’t run into the story’s protagonist—not yet. He couldn’t even remember her name.

—Eva… Enta… Renata… Ugh, I really don’t remember her name. But I don’t think it matters. I meet her in Chapter 5, so I’ve got a few weeks. I just hope I don’t run into her by accident.

He entered the town and felt a heaviness in his chest. He couldn’t tell if it was emotional or magical—but he didn’t want to dwell on it. He was tired. He wanted to finish this and go back to Dilan.

It was still early—around noon. He started looking for large houses for sale. He knew he’d eventually have to live in the house inherited from his stupid father, where his brother also lived. But he wanted a separate place for potions and enchantments. Somewhere he could use his mineral abilities discreetly and with more control.

Driving through the city streets, he felt a mix of excitement and curiosity. That excitement was part of his soul—like that girl who dreamed of visiting the places she saw in the series. Walking through the misty forest, strolling in the rain… and best of all, confronting the protagonist’s witchy friend.

He found a large colonial-style two-story house for sale. He spoke with the seller and magically compelled her to finalize the paperwork that same afternoon.

It was empty—but that didn’t matter. He had transmutation crystals. He could turn them into furniture and electronics. He loved those—they saved him a fortune.

He settled in, placed protections, and installed a liminal space crystal for his potion lab and library. Courtesy of Michael, it contained books on magic and world history, in case he forgot anything. He also had books from the Fairy King on contracts and fairy circles, and books from the mermaids on metamorphology—used to transform tails into legs.

But now… he had something else.

That cursed curiosity.

He wanted to know what the protagonist and his now-younger brother were really like. That reader’s and viewer’s curiosity wouldn’t leave him alone.

So, against his desire to massacre everyone, he activated his “Unseen” ability and went out into the street.

He started remembering things—thinking about how everything began.

—Okay, think of this like the series or the book. It starts with the protagonist describing her miserable life—how her parents disappeared and were presumed dead, her younger brother living his best life, and her uncle raising them.

Then it hit him.

It was a teen drama.

—Ugh, I’m so stupid. It all starts at school. Of course. What a cliché. But maybe that’s better. If there’s a cliché, that’s where I need to go.

He headed toward the school—right in the middle of town.

Linshare High.

A single-story building, long and sprawling, with multiple hallways. Made of red brick—the kind you see in movies. It was huge. At least he wouldn’t have to climb stairs.

He entered through the main door. The hallways were typical—lockers, classrooms. He started searching for the library. That’s where Nick and she would be.

With the memories he had, he could walk the halls like he’d studied there himself.

After a few minutes, he reached the library—Section 2 of the building, connected by a central hallway.

He entered.

And there they were.

That cliché scene where Nick picks up her spilled backpack.

He heard the line he’d heard over 23 times:

—Sorry, I’m such a klutz. I didn’t see you. I’m Ivana Forbes.

Just as he remembered. A girl with coppery hair and jet-black eyes. Slim—and to be honest, she had a great figure.

He snapped out of his thoughts when Nick replied:

—No problem. I’m Nickolas Lindverg.

Nick, with his chestnut hair and green eyes. The only issue? He was a damn giant. Not as tall as the Roman brothers, but still—about 185 cm. Kaius barely hit 168.

Nick acted like an old-fashioned gentleman—kissed her hand. Kaius scoffed at that. Ivana blushed like a tomato.

Kaius watched his brother walk away. He was going to follow him—but curiosity pulled him elsewhere.

He followed the protagonist.

She went to a nearby table, joined by two girls Kaius knew well: that “dirty witch” Andrea Milner, and her snobby friend Rebeka Guellet—chocolate hair, green eyes.

Now he understood why the original Kaius slept with her. Well, that and for intel on her friends.

Without getting too close, he used his vampiric hearing to listen in.

—Did you see that? It was the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done. Like those knights in books.

Ivana gushed to her friends. Kaius had never heard this conversation—the story had followed Nick’s perspective after that scene. He wanted to hear it all.

—Girl, you deserve it. You deserve everything. Question is… are you gonna play with this one too?

Kaius froze.

Play?

What was Rebeka talking about?

—Of course. He’s gorgeous. But he’s way too tall. I guess when I get tired of that height, I’ll find someone closer to mine.

He couldn’t believe it.

This was the real personality of the “selfless heroine.” Mocking his little brother’s height.

Okay, I hate you now. I won’t feel bad for what I do to you and your friends.

Kaius’s magic reacted to his emotions—pain, resentment, hatred—all at once.

His magic surged in a powerful torrent and explosion.

But his invisibility spell held. No one saw him.

Until books fell. Lights shattered.

The group of girls noticed only when the entire school began to tremble.

Windows cracked. Lights burst. Everything at once.

Teachers evacuated the building.

Kaius didn’t realize that a certain witch—not quite a witch, but something else—felt it.

A bad omen.

Kaius had to calm himself down to avoid destroying the school. He didn’t truly relax—he forced himself to. He fled the scene. It was nearly nightfall when he reached the city plaza.

He was confused.

That conversation… had it happened in the books and the series? Maybe yes, maybe no. But he had to remember: this world wasn’t the one he knew. It was similar—so similar that sometimes he forgot it wasn’t the same.

He was furious. So much so that he couldn’t control his magic. He only managed to settle by reminding himself that this time, he’d play the role of antihero—and even villain—perfectly.

Those three girls had given him the perfect incentive to torment them. Maybe he could even turn them against each other. Yes… that he would do.

He remembered what Michael had explained: he only needed to create what he called inflection points. Some would exist, others wouldn’t. Kaius had to convince him that he didn’t want to follow the story exactly—otherwise, nothing in his world would change.

He remembered how most perceptions of a character were formed during the first season—whether in books or shows.

After much debate, Michael and his father agreed. Only Asrael asked that he not change the deaths. Otherwise, the souls would linger longer than they should—and that was never good.

Back in the present, Kaius had walked so far he hadn’t realized he’d reached the cemetery.

Worse… he was standing before the Lindverg crypt.

Right in the center of the old cemetery. That pale-colored crypt he remembered from childhood, with its central columns—now just a faded structure surrounded by dead animals, large and small.

Among them… his disgusting father, Elias Lindverg.

—The crypt… the tomb… wait. This wasn’t part of the early seasons. There was something hidden here. But what?

He tried to recall the story he knew. Then it came to him.

An artifact his father possessed. Hidden with him was a red gem—created by the first blood moon—to channel the power of the Ark. He never knew its purpose, but he knew how the story ended.

That gem channeled Ark energy into ghosts that possessed nearly every important person in town—turning them into murderers. The massacre Kaius caused was nothing compared to that.

He knew where it was. Not in the grave—but in the crypt itself.

He remembered how to open the secret compartment. The key was in one of his father’s journals—but he’d read it so many times, it was burned into his memory.

At the center of the crypt was a stone coffin, carved with the image of the only woman Kaius had ever loved—and she wasn’t his mother. He never knew who she was. Maybe it was better that way.

In her hands was a small device shaped like a globe. He just had to twist it slightly clockwise.

He did.

Nothing happened.

—Well… maybe this is one of the things that’s different. Better leave it. It can’t be that easy.

He placed it back. But as he did—click.

He froze.

Still, he opened the coffin carefully. A paralytic poison for vampires was released—but Kaius had his protection magic active. It only stung his eyes and throat.

Once it dissipated, he saw the body inside.

A woman—or what looked like one. Burned. But the most terrifying part?

No signs of decomposition.

Her flesh was still scorched… as if it had happened recently, not a century ago.

He didn’t care. In her chest was the pouch containing the crystal.

He reached for it.

Her hand moved.

Grabbed him.

Suddenly, a flashback: fire, a mansion, blood everywhere, and a woman’s face calling his name.

He broke free, clutching the pouch, gasping for air—he’d held his breath like he was underwater.

When he looked again, the body was gone.

Only ashes remained.

He slammed the coffin shut and ran. He didn’t want to stay a second longer.

He exited the crypt, nearly breaking the door as he shut it. He was scared. And angry. A dangerous mix.

That’s when he saw a guy sitting on a nearby bench, smoking.

Kaius approached and sat beside him.

—Bad day, man. Want one?

Kaius looked at him and accepted the cigarette.

—Yeah… more than you know. I haven’t been here in a long time. Visited my old man. Wasn’t ready. He died last year… and I still can’t get used to it.

He watched the guy smoke and sigh. Kaius did the same. The story he’d just made up came out too naturally. But it meant he didn’t have to say anything else.

Then the guy laughed.

—Hahaha… You know, here’s some advice: no one wants to hear how much you loved your dead dad. Or even if you lost someone. People don’t care.

Kaius knew the guy was drunk.

But he was angry.

He didn’t know if it was what the guy said—or how he said it.

That pressure in his chest returned—so intense he groaned.

Something shifted.

He was furious. Beyond furious. All his previous frustration surged.

Then… he laughed.

A laugh so dark it scared even him.

—Haha… hahaha… You’re right. People don’t care about your problems. So let me ask you something… Do you think anyone would care if you died?

The guy went pale.

Kaius’s eyes turned red and black.

He lunged—biting the guy’s jugular.

It felt… good.

It was late. No one was around the cemetery.

He drank deeply—like he hadn’t fed in years. Like he’d lost control.

But he was still there.

When he realized he was killing him, his mind triggered the pain response—the “sting” that forced him to stop.

He did.

He stared at the guy’s body.

Then he heard voices.

He activated his camouflage magic and stayed hidden.

That’s when Emmet Faider arrived—a secondary character. Ivana’s ex.

Now Kaius understood why they broke up.

—Joseph! Joseph, what happened? Answer me, bro!

Shit, Kaius thought. He’d messed up.

He watched Emmet carry his brother to the car—heading to the hospital.