John stood there, completely shocked by what he had just heard. The words vampire, werewolf, and Hybrid were terms he only used for fantasy video game characters or late-night anime marathons. Now, they were reverberating in his mind, feeling both absurd and terrifyingly real at the same time. He stared at his parents, his mouth slightly agape, trying to process the fact that his life had changed in a single afternoon.
"Congratulations, honey," Angeline said. Her voice was brimming with a strange, maternal happiness that felt out of place given the chaos in John's head.
She moved forward smoothly and pulled him into a tight, heartfelt hug. Her warmth was comforting, but John noticed something new. For the first time, her unnatural strength was perceptible. It was a subtle, crushing pressure that made his own new fangs instinctively retract. It was like his body realized it was standing next to a predator.
"So, what happens now, Dad?" John asked. He pulled back from the hug and looked at Jiren, searching for a logical answer. His father had always been the rock of the family, the rational one who handled the hard stuff.
Jiren's smile was gone now. It was replaced by a look of profound seriousness. He ran a hand through his dark hair, a tired gesture that made him look much older than his years.
"Well, I guess you are not going to school anymore. We have to transfer you to a new school. And by transfer, I mean you have to leave this place entirely," Jiren said.
John was stunned. "What do you mean, Dad? What do you mean I have to leave?"
"We can't let you go back to school, son. Not now that you have awakened," Jiren explained. His gaze swept over John's face, landing briefly on the fading crimson eye. "We didn't think this was possible, you see. Most vampires and werewolves awaken at a much younger age. Or their bloodlines activate gradually over time. Your very existence is a miracle, John. A dangerous, volatile miracle."
"We know that you are shocked, honey. You probably have many questions, and all will be revealed in due time," Angeline added gently. She placed a soft hand on John's shoulder to steady him. "But try to take this one step at a time. We honestly thought our genes, vampire and werewolf, somehow canceled each other out. You were born with no characteristics from either of us, so we thought you were human."
Jiren stepped forward, his expression darkening slightly. "But we were wrong. I actually wanted you to live a normal life, my son. I wanted you to go to college, get a boring job, and never have to worry about bloodlust or the full moon."
He paused, his focus settling on the immediate problem at hand. "Now we have to take you to Paruga."
John's internal confusion ratcheted up again. The name sounded like something out of a myth. "What is a Paruga, Dad?"
Jiren sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "It is our world. The one hidden behind the veil. There are all kinds of creatures and beings there, just like in the movies and the comics you love. However, some of them can be nice, but many are very cruel. It is a place where the strong are respected, and the weak are prey."
Jiren offered a rare, slight smile. "I am glad you read those light novels and manga so much, son. At least that gave you some idea of what our world is like."
The sheer magnitude of the truth was beginning to settle on John. His fantasy world was real, which meant his normal life was the lie. His friends were the fantasy now. He stumbled backward, knocking lightly against the living room wall.
"Wait. Paruga is real? All of it?" he asked.
"Yes, all of it," Angeline confirmed softly. She looked at Jiren, her voice suddenly laced with urgency. "Angie, call your people," Jiren said. "Tell them our son has awakened, and they must make preparations."
Angeline hesitated for a second. "Why must we go to my father's place, babe? I thought we were going to your home territory, to the packs?"
Jiren shook his head firmly. "No. Our son's left eye is red and the sclera is black. That means his vampire side has awakened first, and it has awakened forcefully. He would not develop well with the packs since they are werewolves. He will learn much more under your kind right now. He needs the safety of your clan. He needs family."
John rushed up to his father. The reality of leaving his home was hitting him harder than any monster reveal. "Dad, can't we stay? All my friends are here. And can't you teach me how to control my powers?"
Jiren placed his hands on John's shoulders. His expression was heavy with regret. "Sorry, son, I can't teach you. You are a Hybrid. Besides the fact that I am a werewolf and your mother is a vampire, there are no handbooks for what you are. Furthermore, because you are a hybrid, we don't know how your body functions. We don't know what your limitations are, or when your first full, uncontrollable bloodlust will activate."
Angeline cut in, sensing John's growing despair. "Don't worry, honey. You will make plenty of friends in Paruga. You are family, and the clan is vast."
"And we can also get people who specialize in vampire training to teach and watch over you," Jiren added. "I can see that your eyes turn crimson like a vampire, but I don't see or sense anything that is werewolf related from you yet."
Jiren felt a crushing sadness. He looked at the floor, unable to meet John's eyes. He felt like he had failed the simple task of keeping his son safe and ordinary. But he was also terrified. He did not want John to hurt or possibly kill his friends. The fear of an uncontrolled awakening was a terrifying motivator.
"Can I at least say goodbye to Freddy and Jake before we leave?" John asked. His voice was small and defeated. The thought of never seeing them again, of never discussing Dragon Saber Force with them, was suddenly the greatest tragedy of the day.
Angeline felt her heart break, seeing her son so unhappy. "Of course, honey. We are not going to leave immediately. I still have to call your grandpa. I bet your grandparents are going to be very happy seeing their new grandchild."
Then Jiren smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "I wonder how that old fart is doing. He is probably wearing diapers by now."
John's head snapped up. The distraction worked perfectly. "Wait, wait, wait, hold on! I have grandparents?" The surprise was genuine. He had never met any extended family before.
"Yeah, kiddo," Jiren said, ruffling John's hair. "You have a bunch of family members. A massive, sprawling family that you haven't seen yet. Get ready for one hell of a family reunion."