The bar was like any other night. Klaus thought as he went in, so thick with smoke, the smell of perfume, cheap and otherwise, and so many youngsters mourning their broken dreams. Or broken love. It was always one of those two. Klaus sat slouched in a booth at the far end of the dim room, a glass of whiskey in one hand and the bottle he had ordered less than five minutes ago already half gone in front of him. His shirt was wrinkled, bloodstained at the collar, and one side of his jaw was still slightly swollen. The bartender had stopped checking on him after the third time he muttered “mind your fucking business before I tear your face off!” And now, Klaus sat in silence, staring at the glass like it had answers to his predicament. His mind kept drifting back and forth. Devin, Viktor, that goddamn fight. He chuckled. It would really suck to have someone on one’s team turn away from him, especially in times of need. As for Viktor? That guy didn’t give a shit about anything, just

Viktor stood in the garden behind the estate with hands behind his back as he stared at the fountain in the middle of the courtyard, watching water trickle slowly down the stone like it was bleeding. He didn’t move, not until he heard the footsteps behind him. He turned around slowly to confirm. Kia, good. She walked in, arms folded, wearing a loose dress and a light jacket over it. Her skin glowed in the sun, and even though she looked tired, there was something undeniably radiant and powerful about her. But what was it? He wondered. “Hello Viktor.” She said, her voice calm but tone guarded. “What was so important to discuss that it had to be done outside? Is Devin alright? Are you alright?” Viktor smiled gently and walked towards her. “Yes, of course. I just… I wanted to check on you. You’ve been glowing lately, and I wanted to know how you’re really feeling. I thought maybe you wouldn’t want to have this conversation inside with all the eyes and ears.” She nodded, con

The hospital lights were too white for Amanda. She lay on the bed, feeling uncomfortable. Her skin was clammy with sweat, her body shook violently beneath the thin blanket. She felt empty. Her eyes were open, but they didn’t see anything. No crying. No baby’s cry. She had given birth, but nobody has smiled or celebrated, no congratulations. Only silence. The type of silence that told you something was wrong. The nurse walked in quietly. Amanda didn’t even bother to look up. “Miss Amanda…” the nurse said gently. “Do you want us to… call someone? A friend? Family?” Amanda didn’t answer. Her hands clutched at the sheets like they were the only thing keeping her from flying apart. The nurse sighed and walked over, placing a small bundle at Amanda’s side. The child. It was wrapped in white, unmoving and cold. “That was your daughter. You can say goodbye if you’d like.” The nurse whispered, then quietly stepped out, closing the door behind her. Amanda stared down at the bund

The rooftop was cold and quiet, far high above the lives of the people in the city below. The wind blew fiercely across the building, flapping Devin’s coat as he stood at the edge, his eyes locked on to the helipad where Klaus was expected to arrive. He had set the bait exactly as Viktor had suggested. A forged note from him that Devin had been caught off guard by him, and he was now injured, alone, and surrounded by nothing, not even his own men. It didn’t take much to make Klaus greedy. Devin wondered where he got that trait from. Definitely not from the side of the family that they shared. Devin’s eyes narrowed as the helicopter blades in the distance whirred to life. Good, it was showtime. Moments later, Klaus went onto the rooftop like a villain from a comic book, dressed in all black, with fiery energy already burning at his fingertips. He was proud and felt ready to take it all. This was his moment. “Well, well, well, cousin.” Klaus sneered, seeing Devin stand at the

Amanda adjusted her sunglasses as she walked into the mall. She didn't come here to shop for anything in particular. It had been a rough month for her and she just needed to breathe for a bit. She hated being indoors too long these days, hated the silence, hated the thoughts that came with it. All she could think of was her child who was born silenced, and what her mother's dying words... her dying thoughts, could have been. She wondered if Sera thought of her as she took her last breath. All of it, it was too much to handle. She walked past the food section, ignoring the inviting aroma. Nothing tasted the same anymore. Luther had offered to come with her, but she told him to stay the fuck away unless he wanted to be slapped into a coma. She needed to be alone. She moved past store windows until she heard a familiar voice. It was loud, and she sounded irritated, to say in the least. "I said no mayonnaise! Are you people deaf?" The woman yelled at a stunned-looking mall food w