Even the crown's weight can't sink the truth.
The afternoon passed in a quiet haze, with everyone largely going their own way. I spent most of the time in bed, trying to immerse myself in the articles on Kaleidoscope. Alex, on the other hand, threw himself into an exhausting workout routine. Every now and then, he'd collapse onto the carpet in a heap, his body hitting the floor with such force that even the windows trembled. After half an hour of rolling around like that, he got back up and continued.
Kaleidoscope's latest updates were far from comforting. Crimson's refusal to fight against the Fifth King and his subsequent retreat to his residence had sent shockwaves across the nation—so Blutkaiser failed.
Some reveled in the prospect of a world descending into chaos, but most of the country trembled with fear. The madness was creeping in, almost imperceptibly, beginning to bleed into the fabric of everyday life. A deep sigh escaped me. If we lost today, the nation would collapse into turmoil.
I shook myself out of the growing unease as my internal clock nudged me to move. At seven forty-five, I jumped out of bed, stripping off my shirt with deliberate slowness, savoring each button I unfastened. I reached for the small box on my bedside table and opened it.
Inside was a shirt, neatly folded and ready to wear. As I slid it on, the fabric whispered against my skin, a reminder of its impossibly light touch. It almost felt like wearing nothing at all, so perfectly did it conform to my shape. I grabbed a loose, black hoodie next, imagining how comfortably Rolo would fit in its pocket. Then I grabbed my mask and my favorite dagger—the one my brother had given me for my sixth birthday. It was a good companion in dark times. Slipping it between my belt and pants, I felt ready.
Just as I adjusted my mask, Rolo walked in, shaking his head. "Your taste is very grotesque."
I smiled under the mask. "It wasn't my choice. It was a gift."
He tossed a small purse at me, barely bigger than a wallet. I caught it with ease.
"What's this?" I asked, about to open it when his hand stopped mine.
"My clothes," he said, his voice quieter than usual.
"Your clothes?" I raised an eyebrow, confused. "In this?"
He sighed. "It's equipped with space expansion magic. Very expensive, so take care of it. It costs more than your life." His tone darkened. "How did you think I was going to get dressed again after shifting?"
I chuckled, rolling my eyes. "I figured you'd manage somehow."
Rolo rolled his eyes as he sighed, but instead of responding, he gestured for me to turn around.
A few minutes later, I heard a soft meow. I turned back to find Rolo holding a tiny kitten. A fleeting thought crossed my mind to tease the little thing before we left, but I quickly dismissed the idea. Instead, I scooped him up with a swift, almost too abrupt motion. The kitten let out an involuntary meow of protest, but I ignored it as I tucked him into one of my pockets. He fit perfectly, his small size barely taking up any room.
At seven-fifty, the two doors opened almost simultaneously.
"Are you ready?" I asked, glancing at Alex.
He nodded, his mask firmly in place.
Just before eight o'clock, we arrived at the entrance to Rosenstein Alley. The streets were packed with hunters—everywhere I looked, they were stomping their feet, whispering in hushed tones as I passed by. I couldn't help but sigh deeply at the tension in the air.
"Shay!" My brother's voice rang out.
Des appeared beside me in an instant. True to form, he was putting on a show. He grabbed the head of a short, bald man and, using him as leverage, swung himself over the crowd to squeeze through the human barrier.
Vincent Asaro turned around. His sunglasses flew off, landing on the ground as his eyes blazed with fury. That was until he spotted Des' mask. The anger in his eyes shifted to disdain, and he turned away with a muttered curse.
"Shay!" Des repeated, this time in a singsong voice, and made a move to hug me.
I responded with a well-timed punch to his chin, ensuring no embarrassing scene would unfold.
Alex, observing the exchange, caught sight of Des' mask. It looked a bit like mine and many people confused them.
"I can't even hug my only little brother?" Des pouted dramatically.
"Please," I growled, "leave me alone!"
A chorus of confused stares surrounded us. I sighed again, forcing myself to calm down before the situation escalated further. Just then, the bell rang precisely at eight o'clock. The air around us shimmered, charged with so much magic that it felt like it could burn the very air we breathed.
A portal tore open in front of the crowd, its edges crackling with power as it expanded. The deep hum of magic reverberated through the ground. My eyes quickly scanned the rows of mages standing on either side of the gate. They were dressed in white robes, their faces serious and focused, their hands raised slightly in the air. The magic around them felt almost suffocating, an overwhelming presence.
They were responsible for the power fueling the portal—each of them an intricate piece of the ritual, weaving their energy into something larger than themselves. I studied them carefully, sizing up their strength. Some were seasoned mages, their posture firm and confident, while others appeared younger, their nerves almost visible despite their effort to stay still.
"Team Alpha, line up!" The head of the family's voice rang out, sharp and commanding, snapping everyone into immediate attention.
From the crowd, my brother's team emerged. For a brief moment, I thought I saw Geri among them, but I couldn't be sure through the mask. Alex and I joined them, blending in with the other hunters, all wearing the crescent moon symbol etched into their masks. I was aware that they were all an exceptional force, and that they were fools enough to swear an oath to my brother—and, even more perplexing, feel an odd sense of pride in serving under him.
Mica made his entrance next, dropping down from the roof of a nearby building and landing with feline grace beside Alex, who nearly had a heart attack from the shock. The vampire flashed me a grin and waved, his mask, like most of Team Alpha's, covering only part of his face. It extended over the nose, forming a sharp beak. On his forehead, a symbol—a lightning-shaped B—was carved deeply into the snow-white material.
Only those from noble families and paladins were allowed to wear full masks. Everyone else wore partial coverings. It was a silent warning to the monsters we hunted. A full mask meant one thing: a threat and most creatures fled at the mere sight of them.
I glanced up at the sky— the sun was nearly gone, its last traces melting into the horizon.
"Team Alpha, operation begins!" The command was immediate.
Led by Des, his team began to move towards the gate. One by one, the hunters stepped forward, disappearing into the swirling dark portal, their forms swallowed by the shadows. Alex entered ahead of me, and I closed the line, stepping into the impenetrable darkness myself.
An electric current jolted through my body the moment I crossed the threshold. Pain coursed through every fiber, as if something inside me was being torn apart—my gut clenched, my mind screamed. Time and space seemed to shatter and reform, pulling me along with it.
When the world around me stabilized, I opened my eyes. I was back among the hunters but in a completely different place. The Redchild estate loomed before me. Des's team, I realized, was far larger than I had initially assumed. What I had thought to be an average, eight or ten-man platoon had swollen into a force of nearly two dozen hunters.
I blinked a few times, shaking off the disorientation, and took a deep breath to steady myself. Slowly, I moved toward the front of the group. Des was standing just ahead, not far from the looming Redchild residence.
The black towers rose like jagged thorns against the sky, each piece of the structure exuding an intimidating, austere elegance. The land around us surrendered to the encroaching twilight, and the cold breeze howled, a chilling omen of the coming confrontation. I drew my dagger, the weight of it grounding me in the moment.
"We're ready to do whatever it takes, aren't we?" Des's voice cut through the tension, his tone light but firm.
He was never one for long speeches. When I thought about it, I realized how out of place that would have been coming from him. Instead, his simple question resonated deeply, sparking something in the others. A shared resolve. The nods around me were all the answer we needed.
Des raised his sword high, his eyes burning with intensity. "I said, are you ready to spill blood?!"
"Yes, sir!" The response rang out, unified and fierce.
Des's grin spread wider, a predator's gleam in his eye. "Good. We're hunting tonight. Let's lure out the bloodsuckers!"
His words were laced with an almost childlike excitement, as though he had just unwrapped the perfect gift. The thrill of the hunt—it was all he needed to ignite the fire in his chest.
I exhaled slowly. This step—it wasn't just about us, or even our survival. The decisions I made now would shape the fate of the entire world.
Mica's hand landed heavily on my shoulder, his silent acknowledgment enough to make me glance at him. I couldn't shake the worry gnawing at me; he was a vampire, and the full moon was already beginning to rise, casting a pale glow over the distant hills. I hoped he'd eaten well tonight.
Without hesitation, I made a deep cut across my palm and pressed the blade into the wound, forcing it to stay open, refusing to let it heal. The drops of blood burst outward, each one evaporating into the dry earth with a sharp, explosive crack—though it felt as though I alone could hear the deafening sound.
In the distance, something shifted, and Alex immediately covered his nose with his hand, his eyes narrowing. The small dots of movement in the shadows began to grow, taking shape and form, a silent promise of what was coming. I pulled the dagger away from the wound, which closed almost instantly.
Grabbing a handkerchief from Mica, I wiped the blood away, then tossed the cloth aside, letting it fall to the dirt.
Like Alex, who now gripped his daggers with tight, controlled hands, I lowered my weapon, our focus sharpening. The air was thick with cold, tense anticipation as we watched the vampire army approach. And in that moment, one thought consumed us all: no matter where we ended up, even if it was in the depths of hell itself, we'd take as many of these beasts down with us as we could.
Then, without warning, Des exploded forward, a blur of speed that no human should possess, his short sword gleaming, eager for blood. At first, only one person followed, then another, and soon, a flood of bodies rushed past me, each one driven by the same savage instinct, a dizzying wave of motion.
"Alex," I called, my voice cutting through the chaos.
"Yeah?" came his voice, barely audible through the pounding feet of the crowd.
"Stay close and don't dare die on me!" I urged, my eyes scanning the madness unfolding around us.
"Okay," His voice was steady, a promise amidst the storm.
And with that, I ran, heart pounding in my chest, the adrenaline surging through my veins, ready to join the fray.
When the army of vampires and humans met, chaos ensued. Everything happened so fast it was almost maddening. Vampires attacked and then fell to the ground losing their heads, the screams of humans mixed in my ears with the snarling growls of vampires.
I saw a vampire rip open the hunter's chest in one swift motion, then with brutal swiftness, he sank his huge, snow-white fangs into the dying man's shoulder and ripped out a sizeable chunk. A heavy spray of blood fell on the grass, and a moment later the corpse hit the ground with a dull thud.
Hunters were torn apart alive in front of me, and the disgusting smell of guts and blood filled the air—a grotesque cocktail that, for some inexplicable reason, seemed almost... satisfying to the monster within me.
The three vampires surrounded me, groaned hungrily, and then attacked me as a single beast. Sharp fangs dug into my body as I screamed in pain. The vampires eagerly sipped my blood, as if it was the only thing that could quench their thirst.
With my free hand, I immediately inserted my dagger into the skull of one of the vampires. I pulled it out several times and stabbed it again and again with overwhelming force. Although the vampire was already relaxed, I just stabbed and stabbed until he fell to the ground with my dagger in his empty eye socket.
I dug my claws into another vampire and dug my teeth into his neck. I tore and gnawed and bit him until he was nothing but a pile of bloody flesh. The last vampire wasn't any luckier either, as I threw myself at him and pinned him to the ground. I grinned and bit into him. The vampire gave a sharp scream, but his voice sounded like a whisper against the noise of the battle. He cried bitterly until the last moment of his life.
I stood up and wiped my mouth. The blood and venom of the vampires washed over my body in intoxicating waves, and I have never, never before felt so light and free as I did then. All my wounds healed and I felt the vampire venom take over my body. My muscles almost burst from the tension built up in them, my gums itched, and my throat was thirsty for blood.
I had no idea when the ghosts appeared, but they proved to be of great help. They sucked the life out of the vampires with such cruel glee that even I stopped for a moment. Simon stayed by my side, always hovering near me, only really moving away when he froze a vampire with his touch before he could bite a hunter's throat.
Sometimes the ghost looked at me with a very strange look, as if he couldn't believe his eyes, but I didn't really care about his opinion. I pulled my dagger out of the corpse's eye socket and easily threw it away, setting it in another bloodsucker's neck. When in the next moment more bloodsuckers confronted me again, the situation was a bit tight. Simon placed his hands on the shoulders of two vampires, so after taking care of the first two, I executed the other two.
The fight dragged on, and despite the help of the ghosts, the hunters were increasingly at a disadvantage—I knew that in less than ten minutes we would be annihilated. We've probably already lured out most of the army, so support should have arrived by now. I started to believe that my grandfather really chose this day to rid of the family's black sheep.
The remaining hunters gathered into a small group as the ring of vampires tightened around them. The soft drumming, which I first thought was my heartbeat, grew louder—I heard the first battle horn. Then a thousand glass arrows fell from the sky, and if I hadn't jumped away, one would have hit me too—I took that personally.
Didn't you say you'd have an army?—I heard Titania's annoyingly satisfied voice in my head.
Glancing towards the forest, I saw her smirking in full battle gear. That's when the support of the hunters arrived. Tekla's Knight immediately started thrashing the vampires.
Here is my army—I thought.
Titania allowed herself a nod and then joined the fight. An army of fae suddenly rushed out of the nearby forest, crystal weapons and spears with twisted ends glittering in their hands.
"Alex!" I shouted, unable to spot him in the chaos around me.
Suddenly, I felt a grip on my wrist, and there he was, appearing in front of me.
"How did the fae get here, anyway?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"So, you got the signal," I grinned.
"That was really risky, you know," he warned, and I nodded, still grinning.
"Don't fall behind!" I urged, heading towards the forest. He had no choice but to keep up since the charm only hid me when I was in contact with him. With my free hand, I pulled Rolo from my pocket. The little cat was curled up, trembling, ears pressed flat to his skull.
"Aren't you scared, little one?" I teased, and Rolo's eyes shot open, looking more furious than I'd ever seen a cat.
"Well, show me the way!" I said, and without hesitation, he jumped out of my hand and dashed towards the line of trees. We ran for about ten minutes before he finally stopped next to a bush. Sitting down, his tail flicked nervously.
"Is this the entrance?" I frowned, glancing at the bush, and Rolo mewled in response.
Shrugging, I tossed his bag to him. He gave me an offended look before snatching it in his mouth and disappearing into the underbrush. I knelt and, with a quick, fluid motion, plucked the bush from the ground. Immediately, I regretted it—sharp thorns scraped my hands, cutting deep. Though the wounds healed almost instantly, they still stung.
Beneath the bush, I found a rusty grate covering a dark opening. Alex tried to pry it off, but the iron resisted him.
"Leave it to me," I said, stepping forward. With some effort, I managed to free the entrance from the rusted grate.
"I'm lucky I have vampire ancestry," I muttered, wiping sweat from my forehead.
Alex eyed the hole warily, but I stepped into it without hesitation. To my surprise, I landed in knee-deep water. As I wondered if Rolo had made it through, the little brat's voice echoed from the shadows.
"It seems you're not in a hurry, huh," he said with a sarcastic grin, no doubt still nursing his wounded pride. Then, with a resigned sigh, he donned his mask.
The temperature change hit me hard as I shivered in the cold underground air. I shouted up to Alex that the terrain was safe and stepped aside just in time for him to fall in. He landed hard, splashing both himself and, unfortunately, my pants.
"Get ready," I said to him when he stood up, stroking his backside.
"Calm down," Rolo said, his voice steady. "This part's deserted. Well, shall we go?"
The tiny droplets of water clinging to the ceiling sparkled in the sparse light, like the cold gleam of diamond eyes. The air was thick with dampness, every breath heavy, as if the very walls were absorbing the oxygen. Silence reigned, broken only by the sound of dripping water, each drop echoing like a distant gunshot as it splashed into the ankle-deep water below. I glanced at the tufa walls, noticing the cauliflower-shaped limestone formations scattered around. I wasn't fond of cauliflower.
We moved forward, the wooden walkway slowly rising from the water. The edges were framed with a black railing, evidence that the owner had likely built this to navigate the flooded basement system, perhaps fed by some underground spring. Below us, the water flowed steadily, the faint roar of a waterfall in the distance adding an eerie soundtrack to the moment. We pressed on.
The walkway and water both ended, revealing an arcaded maze. It felt as though we were stepping into the heart of nowhere. Rolo's footsteps echoed faintly as we moved deeper, the damp air thick with the scent of decay and blood. Barrels of what could only be described as "grenade juice" lined the path, and not far from them, a container of corpses lay ominously still. I saw barrels full of blood, and not far from them, a container of corpses lay ominously still.
"When enough are collected, they'll sell them to the dark mages," Rolo said, his tone devoid of emotion. "That way, no one will remember they ever existed."
Alex's teeth ground together. Even though I wasn't facing him, I could feel the wave of his anger, helplessness, and frustration flooding the air. It was as palpable as the dampness around us.
Simon tugged gently on my sleeve, his warning clear in his eyes. He shook his head and started toward one of the darkened corridors.
"Guys," I said, my voice low, as a weight pressed on my chest. "That's where they'll have the kidnapped humans."
Probably some unearthly bond developed between the vengeful spirits and me because I felt like shit. A crushing sadness, like nothing I had ever known, settled in my bones. It was a deep, oppressive pain, mingled with icy fear and a seething anger that seemed as though it might tear me apart. It was all-consuming and suffocating.
Simon didn't want to return to this place, but he did. He came back because he was driven by the need to save the kidnapped humans. I could feel the weight of that resolve in him, as if it was a force greater than anything else. Seeing it with my own eyes, I understood his pain. I didn't have much love for humans myself, but this—but no one deserved to be treated like that.
The abducted people were cramped into small cages, barely able to fit unless curled up in the fetal position. The air reeked of ammonia, the result of their only option for relieving themselves being to do so where they lay. They were so gaunt and frail, I feared that one wrong move might break them—thin limbs, hollow eyes, skin pulled tight over bones. Nearby, a basket held bits of moldy, spongy bread—what little food they had, if they were lucky enough to receive it.
Soft whimpers filled the air. Some had caught colds in the freezing dungeon and coughed weakly, each rasping breath a painful reminder of their suffering. When they noticed us, fear overtook them. They scrambled into the farthest corners of their cages, trying to put as much distance between themselves and us as the cramped space allowed.
I looked at Simon. His face was twisted with pain and memories, his hands trembling with a raw, dangerous anger.
Alex stood frozen, unable to move. Rolo, too, was paralyzed by the sight. It was me who approached one of the cages. The occupant flinched at the sound of my footsteps, dragging herself further into the corner, trying to shield herself as much as her frail body could. I paused for a moment, then carefully removed my mask.
"Everything will be fine," I said gently, my voice softer than I intended. "We came to save you."
Her wide, frightened eyes locked onto my face, and after a long, tense moment, she gave a slow nod. "Please... Please help us..."
Without another word, I grabbed the lock and tore it off the cage, the sound of metal snapping echoing in the cold, silent dungeon.
The door creaked open, and she collapsed into my arms, her sobs wracking her fragile body. She cried uncontrollably, muttering incoherent words between breaths. I held her gently, stroking her hair, which had once been a soft blonde, now matted and tangled from the horrors she'd endured.
Meanwhile, Alex snapped out of his trance, moving swiftly to free the other captives using the same method.
"Everything will be fine," I whispered again, though deep down, I knew it was a lie. Nothing could ever truly be 'fine' for these people after what they'd been through.
When the last cage was opened, I turned to Rolo, who had been standing silently nearby, watching us. "According to the plan, you stay with them. Keep them safe until it's clear, understood?"
Rolo nodded without hesitation.
"Simon," I called, my voice steady. "Take us to the Fifth."
The ghost gave a brief nod and led us in the opposite direction. His form flickered like a shadow, guiding us through the maze of corridors until we came upon another grid. I pushed the iron aside, this time with ease, the metal sliding smoothly into place. After climbing out, we found ourselves in another basement, the air damp and cold.
"Alex," I said quietly, turning to the wolf, "You need to vanish now. No one can see you."
The wolf gave a subtle nod before evaporating into thin air, his presence disappearing entirely. Simon, before leaving the room—before passing through the door—paused to ensure we were following.
I set off in pursuit of the ghost, my steps deliberately silent. I couldn't afford to be caught, not yet. The vampires couldn't know I was here. No guards appeared, no sounds betrayed my presence—as I reached the double doors of the great hall.
I could have second-guessed myself here, wondered if the plan was really as flawless as I believed, but I didn't. I trusted the perfect execution of it all. I peeked around the corner, carefully observing the two vampires standing guard, their gazes fixed ahead.
Without hesitation, I stepped out from the shadows, my claws flashing in the dim light. Their throats were slit before they even had a chance to react—swift, silent, and brutal. It was a death too merciful for them, but that wasn't my concern.
"When the hunters arrive, we'll step down," I murmured softly before I pushed the door open.
To my surprise, there was no need for this, because it opened to me by itself.