The cavernous room echoed with the sinister laughter of Darius as his chilling words settled in the air. Victor clenched his fists, his every instinct screaming against the uneasy alliance, but Elena’s bold suggestion had bought them precious time.Darius walked toward a large table at the far side of the chamber, where old scrolls and maps lay scattered. “The council will be watching closely,” he said, running his fingers over a faded map. “They know you’re desperate. If we’re going to take them down, we need to move quickly.”Victor followed, his steps deliberate, while Elena stood rooted in place, her thoughts racing. She had taken a massive risk by offering Darius a partnership, but the alternative would have been Victor’s destruction. She couldn’t let that happen.“I’ve studied the council for centuries,” Darius continued. “Their strength lies not just in their power but in their ability to manipulate the vampires under their rule. If we take out the ones closest to them, their e

The walls of the chamber began to close in on them, the stone grinding with a deafening roar as the ancient runes lit up with a sinister glow. Victor’s heart pounded in his chest, but he maintained his composure, scanning the room for any possible escape. Caius stood tall, his eyes gleaming with malevolent triumph, a faint smirk playing on his lips.“You see, Victor,” Caius drawled, his voice echoing in the chamber, “I’ve had centuries to prepare for this. You didn’t think you could outsmart me in my own fortress, did you?”Victor’s gaze never wavered as he took a step forward. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy. But you’ve underestimated me too.”Caius chuckled, the sound cold and devoid of any warmth. “You may be strong, but you lack vision. You’ve always been too bound by your conscience, by this foolish desire to protect humanity. It’s your greatest weakness.”Darius, ever the hothead, stepped forward, sword in hand. “Enough of this! Let’s end him now!”“No!” Victor snapped, holding up a

Victor’s hand remained on the door handle as he stared at Lucian. His presence after all these centuries was too much of a coincidence. Lucian had disappeared before Caius’s rise to power—at a time when they had all been part of the same council that governed the vampire clans. He had been a brother-in-arms, a strategist who had once helped Victor control the balance of power. Now, his sudden return felt like a warning.Victor’s voice was cautious. "Lucian, where have you been? Why come back now?"Lucian’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. “I’ve been watching, Victor. Waiting. Caius has grown too powerful, too reckless. He’s preparing to destroy everything we built together. You need me.”Victor’s eyes narrowed. “Do I? You vanished when the council needed you the most. We were forced to pick up the pieces after you left.”Lucian stepped forward, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. “I didn’t vanish. I went underground to gather information, to ensure that

The narrow passage they had entered seemed to stretch endlessly, the air growing colder and more oppressive the deeper they ventured. Victor could feel the weight of the city above them, a constant reminder of how isolated they were from the world they knew. Every sound was magnified—the soft shuffle of feet, the dripping of water from cracks in the stone, the occasional scrape of weapons against armor.Victor’s thoughts raced, filled with questions about Lucian’s true intentions. The revelation that Lucian had helped design these tunnels still gnawed at him. Why hadn’t he mentioned it before? And if Caius had known about the tunnels, was it possible that Lucian had led them into a trap?Victor clenched his jaw, casting a quick glance toward Lucian, who walked a few paces ahead, his expression unreadable. Elena, beside Victor, seemed equally on edge, her fingers brushing the hilt of her sword as if ready to strike at any moment."We're getting close," Lucian said quietly, his voice cu

The cathedral groaned and trembled, massive stones crashing from the ceiling as Victor charged toward Caius. The cacophony of collapsing walls and dust clouded the air, but Victor’s vision was singular—he had to end this now. His sword gleamed in the flickering torchlight as he raised it high, ready to strike the final blow.Caius stood in the center of the collapsing structure, laughing through the chaos. "Come on, brother. Show me the strength you think you possess."Victor closed the distance, leaping over the debris with lightning speed. Caius flicked his wrist, summoning a wave of dark energy that exploded toward Victor. But Victor was faster now, his movements sharpened by his resolve. He dodged the attack with mere inches to spare, landing directly in front of Caius.Their swords clashed in a violent spark of steel, but this time, Victor had the upper hand. Caius was powerful, but he was also reckless—driven by a madness that had begun to unravel him. Victor pressed the advanta