Chapter 17: Interrogation

The mysterious man who had entered the room cast a commanding presence that left no room for doubt. His steely gaze surveyed the surroundings before locking onto me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

Without a word, he motioned for Alex and the others to leave the room, their departure leaving an eerie silence in their wake. The air seemed charged with tension as the man stepped closer, his eyes never leaving mine.

"You escaped the vampire kingdom," he stated, his voice a low, deliberate rumble. "Tell me how."

I swallowed hard, my mind racing to find an explanation that wouldn't betray the secrets of the dagger or the truth of my heritage. "I... I don't remember," I stammered, my voice shaking. "I lost consciousness during the fight, and the next thing I knew, I was here."

The man's scrutinizing gaze bore into me, as if attempting to discern the truth from my words. After a tense moment, he seemed satisfied and moved on to more pressing questions.

"Why did the vampires target you?" he inquired. "What is your connection to their queen?"

The complexities of my situation weighed heavily on me as I struggled to find the right words. "I... I was told she's my mother, but I don't understand why they would try to kill me if that's true."

The man's expression remained inscrutable, his thoughts a well-guarded secret. "Ethan Turner," he said at last, his voice unwavering, "I am one of the five commanders of the Dagger Society. We are the individuals who decide what stays and what goes in this human society. By majority vote, we determine who is an asset and who is a liability."

My heart raced as the implications of his words sank in. The Dagger Society held immense power, and their decisions shaped the fate of humanity in this hidden world of monsters and secrets.

The man continued, his tone unyielding. "You have two choices, Ethan. You can join the Daggers and help us protect humanity from the threats that lurk in the shadows. Or you can die right here and now."

The weight of his ultimatum hung in the air, leaving me with no room for negotiation or hesitation. I knew I had no choice but to accept his offer, to become a Dagger and embrace the enigmatic destiny that awaited me.

With a sense of resignation and determination, I met the man's gaze and uttered a single word, sealing my fate. "Agreed."