The bass from the nightclub shook the pavement outside, a steady thump-thump-thump vibrating like a heartbeat through the neon-lit street. People laughed, danced, smoked, stumbled. But under all that noise… Something darker moved. Something hunting. Cars passed, headlights cutting through drifting smoke. A group of young men shouted over each other as they stumbled toward the entrance, while two girls took selfies in the glowing pink neon. A drunk couple argued near the taxi stand, their voices drowned out by the music. No one noticed the shadow sliding along the wall. No one except him. Inside Club Solstice, colored lights flashed across swirling bodies. Sweat, perfume, alcohol, and smoke mixed into a fog that clung to the skin. The DJ screamed into the microphone, the crowd roaring back, bodies packed so tight the air tasted like heat and adrenaline. A man sat alone at the far end of the bar, head lowered, hoodie up, hands tucked inside fingerless gloves. Co

Deep in the Forest – The underground CaveLucian stumbled into the cave, one hand pressed against the claw wound on his shoulder.The cave swallowed him in darkness, cold, jagged stone walls, dripping water, and the faint smell of earth.No comfort.Just shadows.His breathing was sharp, uneven.He ripped a strip of cloth from his shirt and poured alcohol over the wound.The sting tore a hiss from his throat.“Lewis… you bastard.”He leaned against the stone wall, forcing himself to stay upright.The cave was the one place no vampire dared enter, the smell of silver, old blood, and runes carved into the stone kept them away.But tonight, even the cave felt too small.Too tight.Too dangerous.Lucian slammed his fist into the wall, leaving a crack in the stone.“I failed.”The child’s screams echoed in his memory.He could still see Lewis dragging her through the window.He could still hear the family screamsLucian closed his eyes, jaw trembling with fury.“I swear… I’ll get her back.

Earlier That Morning — 8:42 AMAt the Evans HomeThe house felt hollow in a way Mara hadn’t known possible. A blanket lay crumpled on the couch, Claire’s rabbit sat in the middle of the rug, and the silence pressed against her ribs.Mara sat at the kitchen table, hands wrapped around a cold cup of tea she never finished. Thomas stood by the window, staring down the street as if the car that had taken Claire might suddenly turn the corner and stop in the driveway.The phone rang. Both of them jumped.Thomas snatched it. “Evans residence.”A calm, professional voice answered. “Mr. Evans? This is Detective Mira Hayes.”Thomas straightened. “Detective. Any news?”Mira’s tone softened, practiced and grave. “Not the kind you want to hear yet. We need you and your wife to come down to the station. There are developments, we’ve been re-examining the Liam case in light of last night.”Mara’s hand flew to her mouth. “Liam? You,there’s something new about him?”“We’re still piecing it together,

Lower Chamber – DiegoThe chains shook so violently dust drifted down from the ceiling like falling ash.Diego’s breathing was no longer human.Short. Sharp. Ferocious.His eyes glowed a molten red, veins spreading across his skin like cracks in glass.Every heartbeat in the mansion echoed through him—but one pulsed louder than the rest.Claire.Her tiny, shaking heartbeat.Her fear.It stabbed him like knives, fueling the monster tearing at the edges of his control.He threw himself forward again—CRRRRACK—One of the bolts anchoring the chain to the stone floor shifted.Blood dripped from Diego’s wrists, pooling beneath him.But he didn’t care.He didn’t feel the pain.He only felt the image burned into his mind:Dominic’s hand on Claire’s throat.Lewis dragging her like a toy.Claire crying for him.“UNCLE LIAM—HELP ME—!!!”Diego roared, voice ripping through the chamber like thunder.“CLAIRE!!!”His muscles bulged unnaturally, bone cracking loudly beneath his skin.His fangs leng

Lower Chamber – Diego The final bolt trembled. Dust rained down around Diego as he crouched forward, every breath ragged, every muscle swollen and twitching with unstable power. His claws dug into the stone floor. He could feel it now. The last chain. One pull away. One heartbeat away. One fear-filled breath from Claire away. Claire. Her heartbeat spiked again—tiny, terrified, pounding through the mansion like bells ringing inside his skull. She whispered something. He heard it as if she were right beside him. “Uncle Liam… please…” His eyes snapped open. Pure gold flashed behind the red. A sound ripped from his chest—a sound no vampire had ever produced. Not feral. Not pureblood. Something in between. Something born of pain, instinct, and a child’s cry. He wrapped the chain around both hands. Every vein in his arms bulged. Every muscle locked. His voice came out broken: “Claire… I’m coming…” He pulled. The world shook. STONE CRACKED. METAL SCREAMED. And with