Emilio's POV The mansion was still and quiet, almost like it was holding its breath. The air felt heavy around me as I stood in Lucas’s study, looking around for anything that might give me a clue about where he could be. My flashlight’s beam swept across the room, lighting up the big desk in the center. Lucas’s study had always been a mix of organized chaos. Papers were usually scattered everywhere, and his bookshelves were crammed with novels, journals, and files. Tonight, though, the room felt different. It wasn’t just the darkness—it was something else, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I walked over to the desk, hoping that maybe Lucas had left a note or something that could explain his disappearance. At first, I didn’t see anything unusual. Just the usual stacks of papers and a coffee mug half-full of what looked like old, cold coffee. But then, tucked under a leather-bound notebook, I noticed a piece of paper sticking out. Curious, I picked it up. The handwrit
Lucas's POV The warehouse was cold and quiet, and every creak of the old wooden floor seemed louder than it should have been. I sat on an old crate, my hands resting on my knees, trying to keep my breathing steady. The air smelled damp and stale, like the place hadn’t been touched in years. Across the room, my father, Donald Dale, paced back and forth, his boots making sharp sounds against the concrete. His presence filled the space, commanding attention, just as it always had when I was a kid. I watched him carefully, my stomach twisting with a mix of emotions—anger, fear, confusion. I hadn’t seen him in years, not since he’d left under circumstances I still struggled to fully understand. But now he was back, and the things he’d been saying since I arrived at the warehouse made my blood run cold. “Do you understand why I’ve brought you here, Lucas?” my father asked, his voice steady and calm, but with an edge that sent a shiver down my spine. I hesitated before answering. “Y
Lucas's POV I felt frozen, like my legs were stuck in quicksand, as I watched my dad hurt Emilio. I couldn't do anything. “Stop! Please stop!” I screamed, my voice shaking. But my he didn’t listen. He never listened when he got like this. He turned to me for a moment, his eyes sharp and scary. “Stay out of this, Lucas,” he growled, his voice low and heavy. “You don’t understand what’s at stake.” “I don’t care!” I shouted back, pulling at his arm, trying to break free from his strong grip. “You’re hurting Emilio! He didn’t do anything wrong!” Emilio tried to stand up, but he stumbled, his knees shaking. “Lucas…” he said weakly, looking at me. “It’s okay… I can handle this.” But it wasn’t okay. None of this was okay. My heart was pounding so loudly, it felt like it might burst out of my chest. My dad was so much stronger than me, and I couldn’t break free no matter how hard I tried. I felt so small and helpless. “Dad, please stop!” I begged again, tears spilling down my fac
Lucas's POV Emilio was leaning on me heavily, and I could feel him limping with every step. I kept telling myself to stay strong, but inside, I was terrified. I didn’t know how far we had to go or where we were even going—I just knew we had to get as far away from my dad as possible.“Lucas,” Emilio said weakly, his voice barely above a whisper, “I… I can’t… I need to stop.”I tightened my grip around his waist, trying to hold him up. “No, Emilio,” I said, my voice shaking. “We have to keep going. He’s going to come after us. We can’t stop now.”Emilio groaned, and I could feel him struggling to keep moving. His legs were wobbling, and his breathing was loud and uneven. “I… I can’t,” he said again, and then his knees gave out.“Emilio!” I shouted, my heart racing as I caught him and helped him sit down on the damp ground. “You can’t stop! Please, Emilio, we have to keep going!”In my entire life as a vampire, I have never felt this vulnerable.My mind wasn't at reast neither was my b
Lucas POV Being a vampire meant I felt things differently. But tonight, the cold seemed to settle in my chest, pressing down on me like a heavy weight. I sat on the stone steps outside the old family house, my mind spinning. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, though I didn’t need to. “Lucas,” my father’s voice still echoed in my head. His words were sharp, like blades. “You know what you have to do. Emilio is the son of Ray. Ray killed your mother. He killed your sister. You must make him pay. Emilio has to die.” But how could I? How could I hurt Emilio, the person I loved more than anything? I buried my face in my hands. “Lucas,” a voice interrupted my thoughts Vikram always had this calm, serious look on his face, but tonight, he looked almost concerned. “What?” I mumbled, not lifting my head. He sat down beside me. “You’re torn. I can see it. But you have to think about your family. Your mother, your sister. They deserve justice.” “Justice?” I snapped, looking up at him. “Is
Vikram’s POV As the right hand man to his father, it was my duty to guide him, to make sure he followed the path his family expected. But lately, it had become harder. Because something was changing inside me, something I wasn’t ready to admit.I could feel my chest tighten whenever I looked at him. He was just sitting there, staring at the floor, his hands trembling slightly. I wanted to reach out, to take his hand and tell him everything would be okay. I wanted to be the one to comfort him, to make him feel safe. But there was something stopping me. Something I had been fighting for so long.I had feelings for him. Strong feelings. Feelings that made my heart race every time he looked at me. I was falling in love with Lucas.No, I'm in love with him.But it wasn’t that simple. He didn’t love me back. He was in love with Emilio. The boy who was always there, the boy who seemed to make Lucas smile, even when his world was falling apart. And every time I saw them together, somethin
Writer's POV “Vikram,” Emilio muttered under his breath, his fangs glinting as he clenched his jaw. “You’ll pay for this.”Earlier, Emilio had returned home to find his parents dead. The gruesome scene was seared into his memory—the lifeless bodies, the blood pooled on the floor, and the hollow silence that followed. But now, as a vampire, his senses were sharper. He could smell Vikram’s scent lingering in the air that night. And Donald Dale’s name had surfaced in whispers among those who thrived in the shadows. Together, they had orchestrated the massacre.Emilio’s rage had been unbearable, driving him to the edge. He had embraced his new nature, using his heightened strength and speed to hunt down clues. It wasn’t long before he confronted Vikram directly. The showdown had been inevitable.“You murdered them!” Emilio roared, his voice echoing through the abandoned warehouse where Vikram now stood. His crimson eyes burned with fury. “And for what? Revenge? Power? Or was it just to s
Lucas POV I stood outside Emilio's door, feeling really nervous.Ahhh, this is it again.My heart was beating super fast, like it was going to jump out of my chest! I was shivering too, but I wasn't sure if it was because I was cold or just really scared.I knew Emilio was very upset with me. He thought I had done something wrong, and I didn't know how to tell him the truth. I felt terrible because I knew I hadn't done anything wrong, but Emilio didn't believe me.I took a deep breath and tried to calm down. I raised my hand and knocked gently on the door. "Emilio, it's me, Lucas," I said softly. My voice sounded really quiet, even to me.At first, there was no answer. I thought maybe Emilio wasn't home, or maybe he was just ignoring me. But then I heard footsteps coming from inside. They sounded really heavy and slow, like Emilio was walking with big, heavy shoes.The footsteps got closer and closer, and then the door opened. Emilio stood there, looking really serious and unhappy. H
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
Vikram's POV I could feel the fire burning inside me. It was anger, yes, but something more than that. Something darker. The feeling of being left behind, of watching Emilio grow closer to Lucas while I stood on the sidelines, waiting. I had been patient for too long, but that patience had turned into bitterness. And now, it was time for action. With a low chuckle, I turned away from the place where they lived. I could already see them in my mind, their peaceful moments together, their quiet, loving words. The sight made my blood boil. It was too much. I had given them space, had watched from the shadows, but it had gone on long enough. “Enough,” I whispered to myself, a dark grin curling on my lips. The plan had already formed in my mind, and I couldn’t wait any longer. I made my way to the main human city, walking with purpose, each step growing heavier as the weight of my intentions pushed me forward. The streets were empty at this hour, the silence broken only by the soft so
Lucas's POV “I don’t know how to feel about this,” Emilio whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the city.I looked over at him, his face bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights. His eyes held a mix of confusion and something else, something I couldn’t quite place.“You don’t have to figure it all out now,” I said, my hand slipping into his. I squeezed it gently, offering whatever comfort I could. “We’re in this together, okay?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he let out a soft sigh, his gaze turned toward the skyline. The city was quiet now, the hustle of the day fading into a calm, peaceful night. The stars sparkled above us, distant and unreachable. It was beautiful, but I knew Emilio wasn’t seeing it the same way I was. I had watched him change. I had seen him go from a scared human to someone with power, someone who was now learning to live in this new world. It hadn’t been easy for him. And every day, I saw how much he missed the family he had lost. But
Lucas's POV The mob was closing in, their fangs sharp and eyes burning with fury. I felt my heart race, my breath quicken. I couldn’t let them hurt Emilio. I wouldn’t let them.I stepped forward, my fists clenched tight. I stood tall, trying to show no fear. “Take me. Leave him alone.”They didn’t stop. They moved in, snarling and growling, their anger thick in the air. I could feel the weight of their hatred pressing down on me. I knew what was coming.But then something happened. A strange power washed over me. I glanced at Emilio. His eyes... they were different. They glowed. And there was something else—power, strong and overwhelming—radiating from him.Emilio took a step forward, calm but intense. His body felt different, stronger, like he wasn’t the same person. He raised his hand, and everything froze. No one moved. Everyone’s eyes turned to him.“What’s happening?” one of them muttered, unsure.Emilio didn’t answer. His gaze shifted to me. I couldn’t describe it, but someth
Lucas POV The vampires surrounded me, their eyes glowing, their fangs sharp. My heart raced. I could feel the heat of their anger, thick in the air. Vikram’s words had done this. They had turned everyone against me. I stood still, my fists clenched, but I didn’t know what to do. A part of me wanted to fight, but I wasn’t sure who I was fighting anymore. Some vampires growled, their eyes fixed on me. One of them stepped forward, his hands tight at his sides. His lips curled back, showing his fangs. “You loved him?” he hissed. I wanted to say something, to explain myself, but the words wouldn’t come. The room felt like it was closing in on me, the pressure too much to bear. I turned my gaze to Vikram, standing just outside the crowd. He looked calm, too calm. Like he was watching a storm unfold that he had started. “You’re a traitor, Lucas,” another vampire growled. “How could you betray your own kind?” I shook my head. I didn’t know how to explain myself. How could I? Ho