Emilio's POV Everything seemed to have stopped. I travelled outside the city to Las Vegas. Lucas begged to come with me but I wanted to stay alone. If it were when my family members were still alive, we would spend the Christmas and new year together. I lost them all!And now, the same man who was the reason why I lost everyone, the same man who's the reason why I turned into a vampire and why I can't live a mundane life... He wanted me to get around him twenty-four seven."We've arrived in New York City. Please gather your belongings and prepare to disembark." The flight attendance announced, pulling me away from the thoughts that seemed to occupy my whole thinking."Thank you..." I said to a lady we shifted a bit for me to get off the plane.I walked to the baggage claim area to grab my luggage. As I waited, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I hesitated for a moment before checking who the sender was. It was Lucas."I know you're back, I miss you. Come home," his text read.I missed
Emilio's POV The sun was shining brightly in the sky. Its rays peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow over our small living room. I was sitting on the couch, fiddling with an old deck of cards. Lucas had brought them over last week. We'd been using them to pass the time, playing game after game without much enthusiasm."I'm bored," Lucas said, tossing his phone onto the coffee table."Me too," I replied, shuffling the cards.Lucas got up and walked over to the window. He pulled back the curtain, letting more sunlight in."Hey, look at that," he said, pointing outside.I got up to see what he was looking at. It was a bird perched on the branch of a nearby tree."It's beautiful," I said."Yeah, it is," Lucas agreed.We stood there for a moment, watching the bird. Then Lucas turned to me."Hey, can I ask you something?" he said."Sure, what is it?" I replied.Lucas hesitated for a moment before speaking."I was wondering if you're okay," he said. "You seem a little... distant
Lucas's POV I sat at the bar, feeling angry and frustrated. "I should've just walked away," I muttered to myself. The bar was quiet, the kind of quiet that felt heavy. It was like the silence was pressing down on me. I stared at the glass of whiskey in front of me. The amber liquid caught the dim light as I swirled it around. This place held too many memories. Memories of Emilio. I remembered the night we first met. It was here, at this very bar. I could still see it clearly. The way he looked at me, the way we danced, the way we laughed. Our laughter echoed through the bar, filling the space with joy. It was like nothing else in the world mattered. But that was just an illusion. A fleeting moment of happiness. Because, in the end, I made a terrible mistake. A mistake that would haunt me forever. Our first kiss was here too. Right by the piano in the corner. I remembered the way my heart pounded in my chest. The way my lips tingled with excitement. But that kiss was just t
Emilio's POV I was at home, pacing back and forth, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in my chest. Something was wrong. I could feel it deep in my bones, like a storm brewing on the horizon.I glanced at the clock. Lucas should have been back by now. He had walked out earlier due to our arguments. I understood that. We all needed space sometimes, especially with everything we’d been through.But it had been hours, and my worry was growing with each passing minute.I decided to call him. Pulling out my phone, I dialed his number and waited. The line rang and rang, but there was no answer."Damn it, Lucas," I muttered, hanging up. Something wasn’t right. He always answered, even if it was just to tell me he needed more time.I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. I couldn’t sit around and do nothing. If he wasn’t answering his phone, I’d find him myself.The night was cold, the wind biting at my skin as I stepped outside. The streets were quiet, the kind of quiet th
Lucas's POV The light filtered into the room, bright and unwelcome, as I tried to adjust my eyes. I blinked several times, the brightness making it hard to focus. The room around me was unfamiliar, and it made me so confused. This wasn’t my room. The bed was softer, the sheets smelled different. My room was dark, really dark. I sat up slowly, my head spinning slightly as I tried to make sense of where I was. The walls were painted a soft blue, a far cry from the dark, muted tones I was used to. There were no familiar objects, no signs that this was a place I belonged. I rubbed my eyes, hoping that maybe I was just dreaming, but the reality of the situation began to sink in. Just as I was about to get out of bed, the door opened, and Emilio walked in. He looked freshly showered, his hair damp and a towel slung over his shoulder. He smiled when he saw me awake. "Hey, you're up," he said, his voice warm. "Yeah," I replied, still feeling disoriented. "Where are we? This isn’t my
Emilio's POV I woke up to the soft glow of my laptop screen. The room was quiet, and for a moment, I just sat there, trying to shake off the sleep. My thoughts were a jumble, as usual. Work, life, everything seemed to blur together these days. I reached over, grabbed my laptop, and opened it. Scrolling through emails had become a morning ritual. Most of the time, it was the same old stuff—newsletters, promotions, and the occasional client message. But today was different. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the subject line: "Collaboration Opportunity with 'Apex Creative Partners'."My hands trembled as I clicked on the email. Apex Creative Partners was the dream. I had applied to work with them two years ago, long before Lucas came into my life. They were the pinnacle of creativity, and now they were reaching out to me."Dear Emilio Dalexs,We've been following your work, and we're impressed with your unique style and creativity. We'd like to discuss a potential collaboration opport
Emilio's POV The morning of the big meeting felt like a dream. I had worked so hard, and now the day was here. I woke up early because I was too excited to sleep. Lucas was in the kitchen making breakfast. The smell of coffee filled the air, and I felt thankful for him. Even though we had some fights lately, he was always there for me. "Good morning," I said, standing in the doorway. He turned and smiled. "Morning. Big day today." "Yeah," I said, feeling nervous. "Thanks for making breakfast." "Of course," he said, putting a plate of eggs and toast in front of me. "You need to eat to have energy." We ate quietly, and it felt nice. Lucas put his hand on my shoulder. "You’re going to do great, Emilio. Just be yourself." "Thank you," I said softly. "I couldn’t have done this without you." He smiled but looked a little worried. "Remember, we’re in this together." "Always," I promised and gave him a quick kiss. After breakfast, I got ready carefully. I picked clothes that were bo
Writer's POV Lucas walked over with a smile. "Good morning, Emilio. How do you feel today?"Emilio stretched a bit and smiled back. "I feel okay, just a little tired."Lucas nodded. "That’s good to hear. We have a lot to think about today."Emilio knew Lucas was right. The accident was still fresh in his mind. He couldn’t stop thinking about the black SUV and how strange it was that the driver was gone. It didn’t feel like an accident.After breakfast, Emilio sat on the couch, holding his phone. He wanted to call the police again to see if they had found anything about the driver. Lucas sat next to him, holding his hand."Are you ready to call them?" Lucas asked softly.Emilio nodded. "Yes, I need to know what happened."He dialed the number and waited. After a few rings, a kind voice answered. "Hello, this is Officer Smith. How can I help you?"Emilio took a deep breath. "Hi, this is Emilio Dalexs. I
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