Vikram's POV Lucas was coughing hard, struggling to catch his breath after I had slammed him against the wall. His eyes locked onto mine, filled with defiance, but I was too angry to care."What the hell is wrong with you?" I snarled, my voice echoing in the room. "You’ve lost your mind, Lucas!"He pushed himself off the wall, still panting. "No, Vikram, you’re the one who’s lost it! You’re out of control!"I stepped closer, fists clenched, trying to hold back my rage. "This is all because of Emilio. He’s poisoned your mind, made you weak. Everything that’s happened is his fault!"Lucas shook his head, his jaw tight. "Don’t you dare blame Emilio for your mess. You did this, Vikram. You turned Emilio into a ripper. You killed Alex. You killed Mackenzie. And now my father, Donald, is dead because of you!"I couldn’t help but laugh, a bitter, mocking sound. "You’re looking for someone to blame? Blame Emilio. He’s the reason all of
Lucas's POVThe pain in my chest was nothing compared to the fury boiling inside me as I watched Vikram lunge at Emilio. Time seemed to slow down, and for a moment, all I could hear was the pounding of my heart, drowning out Emilio's gasp of pain. My best friend, my partner, the man I loved—hurt because of Vikram's uncontrollable rage."No!" I shouted, rushing to Emilio's side as he stumbled, clutching the knife wound in his side. Blood seeped through his fingers, staining his shirt a deep crimson. My hands trembled as I reached out to steady him, my heart shattering at the sight of his pain.Emilio's eyes met mine, filled with a mixture of shock and determination. "Lucas... I'm okay," he whispered, his voice strained but steady.I shook my head, refusing to believe his words. "You're not okay, Emilio. You’re hurt. We need to get you out of here."Vikram stood a few feet away, the knife still in his hand, his eyes filled with a cold, bitter rage. I could see the satisfaction on his fa
Emilio's POV “Ouch,” I groaned, blinking my eyes open slowly. My head throbbed, and everything around me seemed blurry. I tried to sit up but felt a hand gently pushing me back down.“Take it easy,” Lucas’s familiar voice said. I turned my head towards him, squinting to make out his face. “You’ve been through a lot.”“What happened?” I asked, my voice hoarse.“You were stabbed,” Lucas said, his voice trembling. “We thought… we thought we lost you.”The memories came rushing back all at once—the sharp pain, the cold darkness, and then Vikram’s face. My hands clenched into fists as anger surged through me.“Vikram,” I growled, my vision sharpening with the rage that boiled inside me. “He betrayed me.”Lucas nodded, his expression filled with concern. “Yes, he did. But you need to rest now. We can deal with him later.”“No,” I snapped, forcing myself to sit up despite the pain. “I’m not waiting. He’s going to pay for what he did.”Lucas grabbed my shoulders, trying to hold me back. “Emi
Lucas's POV "What are your plans, Emilio?" I asked, leaning against the kitchen counter, watching him carefully.Emilio sat on the couch, his face serious. "I need to get stronger. I can't stay like this, Lucas. I feel so weak. My body isn't what it used to be."I nodded, understanding his frustration. "You've been through a lot. The injuries you took were severe. But you're getting better every day."He shook his head, looking down at his hands. "It's not fast enough. I need to speed up the process. There has to be something that can help.""Actually, there is," I said, walking over to sit beside him. "I heard about this special cream. It's supposed to help with healing and strengthening muscles. I can get it for you."His eyes lit up with hope. "Really? You think it'll work?""It's worth a try," I assured him. "I'll head out now and pick it up.""Thank you, Lucas," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I don't know what I'd do without you.""Don't mention it," I replied, stand
Writer's POV"There he is! That's the one!" the old woman's voice pierced through the cold night air, her finger trembling as she pointed at Lucas."What's going on?" Lucas asked, confusion written all over his face. Before he could get another word out, a group of men charged towards him, their expressions hard and unrelenting."Wait! You have the wrong person!" Lucas shouted, raising his hands in a defensive gesture. But the men weren't listening. They grabbed him roughly, their fists and boots landing mercilessly on his body. Lucas struggled to fight back, but the sheer number of attackers overwhelmed him."Lucas!" Emilio's voice rang out as he stumbled out of the cabin, his face pale and strained. He tried to reach Lucas, but the men had already subdued him. Emilio himself was quickly surrounded, his weakened state making it impossible to fend off the attackers.Within minutes, both Lucas and Emilio were restrained, their hands bound tightly behind their backs. The men dragged the
Vikram's POV “Whereu are you, Lucas? Why won’t you pick up your phone?” I muttered under my breath, pacing the length of my living room. The silence around me flelt heavy, like a thick fog pressing on my chest. It had been two days since I last heard from Lucas. Two days! That wasn’t like him. Not at all.The last time we met, we had just left the Master’s meeting. Something about that encounter left a sour taste in my mouth. The way Emilio had been watching Lucas—like a hawk watching its prey—it didn’t sit right with me. And now? Now Lucas was gone. Silent. Not a word, not a text. My worry had started small, like a tiny flame, but now it was raging, consuming every thought I had.“Emilio,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. That name alone made my fangs itch to come out. Emilio had always been trouble, always lurking in the shadows, stirring up chaos. And now, with Lucas missing, I couldn’t ignore the gnawing thought in my head. What if Emilio had something to do with this?I sa
Vikram's POV I had been searching for days. Five cities. Five whole cities in New York. Each one felt bigger than the last. I kept walking, looking, sniffing the air for any trace of Lucas or Emilio. But there was nothing. No smell. No trail. No whispers of their names in the dark streets. My head hurt from thinking too much. “Where are you, Lucas?” I muttered under my breath, my voice breaking the silence around me. “What are you doing, Emilio?” The streets were alive with noise—cars honking, people chattering—but none of it mattered to me. All I could focus on was finding them. My shoes scuffed against the pavement as I walked, step after step, my eyes scanning every corner. Then I saw them. Across the street. A group of humans. They weren’t laughing or chatting like most humans did. No, these ones were serious. Focused. And they were armed. Crossbows slung over their shoulders, stakes tucked into belts, little glass bottles filled with something shiny. Vampire hunters. I s
Lucas's POV “Are you sure we’re not walking into a trap?” I asked, glancing over at Red. We were standing in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by the bodies of the hunters, the smell of blood heavy in the air. The quiet was almost deafening, and the only sound I could hear was the rustling of the leaves in the wind.Vikram stood beside me, his hand resting on his weapon, his eyes scanning the area. His expression was unreadable, but I could tell he was thinking the same thing. We’d just taken down a group of hunters who had been sent after us, but something about this didn’t sit right. They weren’t just ordinary hunters. There was something else, something darker behind all this. “We need to search their bodies,” Vikram finally said, breaking the silence. “There has to be something here that can tell us where Lucas and Emilio are.” I nodded slowly. He was right. We couldn’t afford to waste time. The longer we waited, the more likely it was that Lucas and Emilio were slipping
EPILOGUE Lucas's POV Two years had passed. Two years since the war ended. Since the city had been rebuilt. Since humans and vampires had learned, slowly but surely, to coexist. And through it all, Emilio and I had remained together. Our love had endured battles, bloodshed, and fear. It had survived the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future. We had chosen each other—again and again—until there was no doubt left. Today, under the soft glow of the evening sun, we would make that choice one more time. The ceremony was held in the heart of the city, in a grand, open courtyard surrounded by the people who had become our family. Humans and vampires alike sat together, watching as Emilio and I stood beneath a beautifully decorated arch, our hands entwined. Mariah and Xena sat in the front row, their smiles wide. Irene, despite everything, standing at the back with her arms crossed but an expression that was… softer than usual. Emilio’s old vampire allies were pres
FINALE Lucas's POV The phone rang again. I barely had time to process everything from before when another call came in. Emilio glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. We were still sitting on the couch, our bodies close, but the warmth from earlier had faded. Something about this call felt different. I answered. "Lucas." A deep voice responded. "Mr. Newcastle, this is John Carter. I’m with the government." That made me sit up straighter. Emilio noticed and watched me closely. "The government?" I repeated, my grip tightening on the phone. "Yes," John said. "I’m sure you know the city is in ruins. The battle left many without homes, and the people needed stability. We’ve been observing you and Emilio. You both fought to protect this place, and we need your help now to rebuild it." I felt Emilio stiffen beside me. I met his eyes, searching for his thoughts. This was unexpected. A human official—someone from the government—asking for help from vampires? That had never happened be
Lucas's POV "Thank you."The words caught me off guard. I turned to see an older woman standing before me, her clothes torn and dusty, her face smudged with dirt. But her eyes—those eyes—were kind. She held out her trembling hands, as if unsure whether she should touch me or not."You saved us," she repeated. "Thank you."I didn’t know how to respond. I had never expected gratitude. Fear, maybe. Hatred, perhaps. But not this. Not from these people. After all, Emilio and I were vampires, and not just any vampires. We had fought in a battle that had left the city in ruins. People had died. Lives had been destroyed. Yet here she was, looking at me like I had done something good.More people gathered around us. Slowly, they came out from the rubble, the broken buildings, the dark alleys. They were weary, their faces worn, but there was a soft relief in their eyes. Some carried the injured, others clutched their loved ones, whispering reassurances."We wouldn't have survived without you,"
Emilio's POV "I'm tired."The words slipped from my mouth before I even thought about them. My body ached, my head pounded, and my heart felt heavier than it ever had before. I was exhausted, more than I had ever been in my entire life. Everything hurt. My arms, my legs, my chest—even my thoughts felt slow and heavy, like they were sinking into thick mud.I looked around at what was left of the city.Lucas stood beside me, silent. His face was pale, his eyes staring ahead like he wasn’t really seeing anything. I knew how he felt. We had won, but at what cost?The city was in ruins. The people who had lived here, worked here, built their lives here—everything they had was gone. All because of Vikram.Vikram.The name made my chest tighten. He had caused so much pain, so much destruction. He had played with people’s lives like they were nothing, used them like tools, broken them when they were no longer useful. I hated him. I hated him for everything he had done. And now he was gone
Lucas's POV “It’s over.” Emilio’s voice cut through the heavy silence like a knife, sharp and unyielding. But I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My body felt like it was made of stone, every muscle locked in place, every breath shallow and forced. My heart pounded against my ribs, each beat a reminder of what I had just done. Vikram lay at my feet, his body still, unmoving. Blood seeped from the deep wound in his chest, spreading like ink across the cracked pavement. The firelight flickered in his open eyes, reflecting emptiness. He was no longer the man I had fought, no longer the threat I had feared. He was just a lifeless shell now. A body. A memory. A mistake I could never take back. I had done it. I had killed him. My hands still gripped the hilt of my sword, fingers curled so tightly that my knuckles had turned white. The weapon was buried deep in Vikram’s chest, its steel stained red. I couldn’t let go. The weight of it felt heavier than before, as if the blade itself carried
Emilio's POV The city burned. Smoke curled into the sky, thick and suffocating, choking the air with the scent of ash and blood. Flames licked at the buildings, casting long, jagged shadows against the ruined streets. The heat pressed against my skin, but it was nothing compared to the fire in my chest. Vikram stood ahead, his figure dark against the inferno, a cruel smirk tugging at his lips. His eyes, sharp and gleaming, locked onto me like a predator watching its prey. Emilio was beside me, his breath unsteady but his stance firm. His presence was the only thing keeping me from losing myself completely. My fingers curled into fists. My body ached, bruises and cuts stinging with every movement, but none of that mattered. Not now. Vikram tilted his head, amused. “Look at you,” he murmured, voice smooth like poison. “Still standing. Still fighting for something that was never yours to begin with.” Rage clawed up my throat, hot and unforgiving. My heart pounded. I wanted to lu
Emilio's POV This was getting too much and I couldn't breathe so I ran away, I ran till I couldn't breath.I need to breathe! I was going berserk, I was losing myself and I didn't want my rippers killer instinct to come up.I heard footsteps behind me and realized that it was Lucas. "Hey...." He muttered with frustration."We need to talk." I didn't even give him time.Lucas's voice was quiet, but the weight of his words made Emilio turn around immediately. They were in Lucas's room, a dimly lit space filled with the silence of unspoken thoughts. The air was heavy, thick with the tension Lucas had been carrying since Vikram’s betrayal. Emilio frowned, stepping closer."I know," Emilio whispered. "It's about Vikram, isn't it?"Lucas ran a hand through his hair, feeling the frustration and regret claw at his chest. "Yeah. It is." He let out a shaky breath. "I don't know what to do. I feel like... I feel like this is all my fault."Emilio's brows furrowed. "Lucas—""No, just—just let
Lucas’s POVChaos. The battlefield is nothing but blood, screams, and shadows moving too fast to track. The air is thick with the metallic tang of spilled blood, so sharp it clings to the back of my throat like poison. I swing my blade, the steel slicing clean through the neck of a rogue vampire before it can reach me. Its body collapses at my feet, twitching, but there’s no time to catch my breath. Another one takes its place almost instantly, snarling, eyes glowing with that unnatural hunger. Damn it. There are too many. “Lucas, behind you!” Emilio’s voice cuts through the chaos. Instinct kicks in. I twist just in time to see a rogue launching itself at me, claws slicing through the air like daggers. I barely get my arm up before it slams into me, knocking me backward onto the blood-slick pavement. The impact steals the breath from my lungs. The rogue is on top of me in seconds, its fangs bared, saliva dripping onto my face. Its breath reeks of death and rot. I shove m
Emilio's POV “They’re everywhere!” I shouted, my voice shaking. My chest burned, my hands clenched into fists. The city was falling apart around us. Flames swallowed buildings, turning them into black, crumbling skeletons. Thick smoke filled the air, choking me, burning my eyes. The streets were broken, cracked, covered in glass and blood. Cars sat abandoned, their windows shattered, doors hanging open. The fight that rukus that Vikram caused is the reason why we had to leave the Vampire world and come out here to make a fight that I doubt we would ever win.And then there were *them*. The rogue vampires. Vikram's evilness, deceit and stupidity.He created them! He brought them and these are his properties.They swarmed the streets like a nightmare come to life. Fast. Wild. Bloodthirsty. Their glowing red eyes cut through the darkness. Their claws tore through anything in their way. The sound of screams, of bones breaking, of bodies hitting the ground filled the air. I fe