CHAPTER 21:The cold was the first thing Adrian felt.Not the ambient chill of a room, but the bone-deep, suffocating cold of water closing over his head. The river. He was back in the river. The same river he died five days agoHe tried to scream, but water rushed into his mouth, into his lungs, burning like acid. His arms flailed uselessly, his weakened body offering no resistance against the current pulling him down, down, down into the black.His chest screamed for air. His vision blurred. The world above the surface grew dimmer, more distant, until it was just a faint shimmer of light.Then, suddenly, he wasn't in the water anymore.He was on the bridge.Diego's hands gripped his arms. Strong and unyielding. Elena stood beside him, her face illuminated by the city lights, beautiful and utterly empty of compassion. The wind whipped her dark hair around her face, but she didn't move. Didn't blink. She just watched."Now we can really begin." Diego said, his voice echoing strangely,

Chapter 23Miguel couldn't answer. He could barely breathe.Rafael held him there for another long moment, his glowing eyes boring into Miguel's with an intensity that made Miguel feel like his soul was being examined.Then, slowly, Rafael released him.Miguel sagged against the wall, gasping, one hand going to his throat.Rafael turned away, his breathing heavy. The glow in his eyes began to fade. The System screen flickered and disappeared.He stood in the center of the room, his shoulders rising and falling with each controlled breath, forcing himself to calm down.When he spoke again, his voice was quieter. But no less tense."That could be it." Rafael said, more to himself than to Miguel. "That might explain what's happening."Miguel straightened slowly, watching Rafael warily. "What do you mean?"Rafael walked back to Adrian's bedside, staring down at his nephew with something that looked like dread."I've been reading everything I can find about Primal vampires." Rafael said sl

CHAPTER 25: The sun was beginning to set as Rafael's convoy pulled up to a luxurious villa on the outskirts of Mexico City. The property was sprawling, surrounded by high walls and lush gardens. It was the kind of place that screamed wealth and seclusion, a fortress disguised as a paradise. Three black Mercedes buses came to a stop in front of the main gates. The doors opened in unison, and men in tactical gear poured out, their movements precise and coordinated. Each one carried a rifle, the barrels glinting in the fading light. Rafael stepped out of the lead vehicle, his expression cold and focused. Miguel followed close behind, his hand resting near the concealed weapon at his hip. "Are you sure about this, Don Rafael?" Miguel asked quietly. Rafael didn't slow his stride. "Celestina is the best. If anyone can help Adrian, it's her." "But she's..." "Difficult. I know." Rafael finished. "That's why we brought insurance." He nodded toward the armed men fanning out around the

CHAPTER 27:Celestina opened her leather bag and pulled out several items, a bundle of dried sage, three white candles, and a small bronze bowl.She arranged them carefully on the nightstand beside Adrian's bed, her movements precise and practiced.Then she lifted her hand and pressed it against the pendant at her neck.Her System screen flickered to life, glowing softly in the dim room.But the moment it fully materialized, the screen flashed red.[WARNING: UNAUTHORIZED POWER MODIFICATION DETECTED][SANGUINE COUNCIL PROTOCOL VIOLATION][CEASE IMMEDIATELY OR FACE SANCTIONS]The words pulsed, urgent and threatening.Celestina stared at the screen, her jaw tightening."You need to do this, Celestina." Rafael said quietly, standing beside her.Celestina didn't look at him. Her eyes remained fixed on the warning flashing across her screen. "You know they'll find me. They're warning me because they already know what I'm about to do.""Tina." Rafael's voice dropped, taking on a pleading qua

CHAPTER 29: In an underground villa on the outskirts of Mexico City, a man sat in a worn leather chair, puffing out thick smoke from his mouth.The room was dark, lit only by a single bare bulb hanging from the ceiling that cast long shadows across the concrete walls. Around him, twenty men stood in black tactical gear, their faces hard and emotionless, assault rifles held ready across their chests.The air was heavy with tension and the acrid smell of cigarette smoke.They were waiting.Waiting for the next command from their boss.The man took another long drag from his cigarette, the tip glowing orange in the dim light.He exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl toward the ceiling. Then his phone rang, the shrill sound cutting through the silence.He glanced at the screen, his expression tightening. He stubbed out the cigarette in an overflowing ashtray and answered."What's the status?" The voice on the other end was cold, impatient, the kind of voice that expected immediate ans