The air in the slave quarters was stifling, thick with sweat, fear, and the whispers of hope. Luke stood at the center of the room, the dim light of a single lantern casting shadows on his weary face. Around him, the slaves formed a loose circle, their expressions a mixture of skepticism, desperation, and something Luke hadn't seen in a long time: resolve.

"I won't sugarcoat this," Luke began, his voice low but firm. "What we're planning... it's suicide. Most of us won't make it out alive. Hell, maybe none of us will. But staying here? You know what that means. You've seen it with your own eyes."

A murmur ran through the group, the memory of the feast still fresh. The images of torn flesh, the screams of the pets, and the blood-drenched vampires replayed in their minds like a nightmare they couldn't wake from.

"We've all heard the same thing," Luke continued. "Work until you're too broken to be of use, then die. Or maybe you piss off the wrong vampire and they decide to make an example of you. Either way, we're nothing to them. Less than nothing." He paused, meeting their eyes one by one. "But we can change that. We can fight. And maybe, just maybe, we can live."

Jake stepped forward, his fists clenched.

"They'll never see it coming. They think we're weak. Helpless. They think we'll just lie down and die when they tell us to." His voice rose, fueled by his hatred. "Let's prove them wrong."

The slaves murmured again, this time louder, their fear tempered by anger. Luke took a deep breath. "Here's the plan."

He laid it out step by step, his voice steady even as the enormity of what they were about to do weighed on him.

• Luke's Role: "I have the keys to the feral prison. I'll unlock the gates and toss blood bags to distract them. If I survive long enough, the ferals will do the rest."

A ripple of unease passed through the group.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Everyone knew what ferals were capable of.

Jake's Task: "Jake will place blood bags in the vampires' quarters. It's a risk, but with the constant scent of blood in this place, they might not think twice about it. If it works, it'll drive the ferals straight to them."

Jake smirked, his confidence masking the terror that churned in his gut.

Elias's Mission: "Elias will set fire to the east wing near the Arch Vampires' chambers. It'll create chaos and draw their attention away from the rest of the mansion."

Elias nodded, his face pale but determined.

Michael's Role: "Michael will mislead them. He'll report that we're planning to raid the armory and make a break for the front gates. It's risky, but it'll divert their focus long enough for us to escape."

Michael, standing near the back of the group, flinched at the mention of his name.

His recent change of heart still felt foreign, and the weight of his past betrayals pressed heavily on his shoulders.

• The Pets: "The pets will gather supplies— food, clothing, anything we can carry. We'll need it if we make it out."

Luke's gaze swept over the group. "And when the mansion is in chaos, we'll head for the underground tunnels. If Michael's right, they'll lead us to freedom. If he's wrong.." He trailed off, letting the unspoken end hang in the air.

For a moment, silence reigned. Then a voice broke it.

"This is madness," a man muttered.

Luke turned to see Michael, his face a mask of doubt. "You're putting all your faith in luck and ferals? You think that'll save us?"

"No," Luke replied evenly. "But it's better than waiting here to die."

Michael opened his mouth to argue but stopped. His own words from earlier echoed in his mind: I don't know why I lied to her.

Before he could speak again, another voice piped up. "I'm in," Elias said, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes. One by one, the others began to nod.

But not everyone. A handful of slaves shook their heads, their fear outweighing their hope.

"You'll get us all killed," one of them whispered.

"Then stay here," Jake snapped. "Be their cattle. See how long that lasts."

Luke raised a hand, silencing the argument.

"This is voluntary. No one's forcing you. But for those of us who are in... we move tomorrow night."

The group dispersed, whispers filling the room. Luke stood still, staring at the ground.

"You think this'll work?" Jake asked quietly, coming to stand beside him.

"No," Luke admitted. "But it's all we've got."