We walk through the dimly lit streets, the air cooling as the night deepens. Celestria's capital has a strange beauty at this hour—quiet, but alive in its own way. Lanterns sway gently in the breeze, their flames casting flickering shadows against the stone walls of the buildings. The city feels calmer now, though I still can't shake the unease gnawing at me.

Domnik and Alyse chatter ahead of me, their voices low and teasing. I hang back, letting their conversation drown out the faint echoes of my own thoughts. Domnik, as usual, finds a way to keep her laughing, his charm an effortless distraction.

"Red," Alyse calls over her shoulder, "are you seriously just going to sulk back there all night?"

I quicken my pace, forcing a smirk. "I'm not sulking. I'm thinking."

"Uh-huh," she says with a grin. "Thinking about what? How much you hate Fabian Leone?"

"Obviously," I say dryly, which earns a snort from Domnik.

"Honestly, I think he's growing on you," Domnik teases. "You just won't admit it."

I roll my eyes, but their playful banter does help. It pulls me out of my head for a moment, grounding me.

As we near the gates of Brenelor's stronghold, a faint sound stops me in my tracks. It's subtle, almost too quiet to notice—a soft rustling, like leaves stirring in the wind. Except there's no wind.

"Do you hear that?" I ask, my voice cutting through their laughter.

Alyse freezes, her eyes darting to the shadows. "Hear what?"

Domnik glances around, his hand instinctively brushing against the hilt of his sword. "Red, if this is another one of your gut feelings—"

"Shh," I hiss, holding up a hand.

The sound grows louder, closer. It's coming from an alley to our right, the darkness swallowing whatever lies within. My pulse quickens, and despite Domnik's earlier words, my instincts scream at me to draw my weapon.

"Stay here," I say, stepping toward the alley.

Domnik grabs my arm. "You don't have to play the lone hero, Red. We're right here."

I nod, appreciating his support, but I can't shake the feeling that this is something I need to face. I draw my blade, its metal glinting faintly in the lantern light, and step into the alley.

The shadows seem to press in around me, and for a moment, all I can hear is the pounding of my own heart. But then I see it—a figure hunched in the darkness, its back to me.

"Hey!" I call out, my voice firm. "Who's there?"

The figure doesn't move.

I take another step closer, my grip tightening on my sword. The air around me feels colder, heavier. "Turn around. Now."

Slowly, the figure rises, its movements jerky and unnatural. It turns, and my breath catches in my throat. Its face is pale and gaunt, its eyes sunken and lifeless. A vampire—but something about it feels... wrong.

"Red, get back!" Domnik's voice rings out behind me, but before I can react, the vampire lunges.

Instinct takes over. I sidestep the attack, my blade slicing through the air, but the creature moves with inhuman speed. It slams into me, knocking me back against the wall.

Pain shoots through my shoulder, but I don't hesitate. I summon the fire within me, my free hand igniting in a burst of flame. The vampire hisses, recoiling as the fire scorches its skin.

"Not so fast," I growl, unleashing a torrent of flame that engulfs the creature.

It screams, its body writhing as the fire consumes it. The smell of burning flesh fills the air, and within moments, the vampire collapses into ash.

"Red!" Alyse and Domnik rush to my side, their eyes wide with shock.

"I'm fine," I say, brushing off their concern.

Domnik surveys the ash pile, his jaw tight. "That wasn't just a normal vampire. Something's... off."

"No kidding," I mutter, my adrenaline still pumping.

Alyse places a hand on my arm, her expression worried. "Red, are you sure you're okay? You looked... different just now."

"I said I'm fine," I snap, but the look in her eyes makes me falter. "What is it even doing in city, how did it get in?"

Domnik steps in and shakes his head in confusion, his tone serious. "I don't know but we need to tell Brenelor about this. If there are more of these things out there, in the city no less, we need to be prepared."

I nod reluctantly, my mind racing. The unease I've been feeling all night wasn't just in my head. Something is out there, something far worse than we've faced before.

We turn and run into the palace. As we enter Brenelor's Stewardess coming running towards us. She's sweating and trembling.

"Brenelor needs to speak to the two of you at once!"

"Good we need to speak with her too." I say.

She nods. "Wait here while I go get her!"

Domnik stretches, his horns now fully receded, leaving him looking more human again—at least, as human as he gets. "It was just a few moments ago, you think she already knows or do you think it's just another lecture about discipline? Or maybe Brenelor's planning to throw us into some 'team-building exercise.'"

Alyse glances at him, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips. "Team-building?"

Domnik shrugs, unbothered.

I roll my eyes, but I can't help the stress creeping onto my face.

Alyse steps ahead of us. "Brenelor didn't send Abby running after you two just for training again. There's something bigger going on, I mean clearly by what we just saw, and I think it's about time she lets us in on it."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Domnik and I exchange a glance. As much as we bicker, Alyse has a way of grounding us, pulling us out of our usual rhythm of jabs and bravado. And she's right—Brenelor's been pushing harder than ever lately, her commands sharper, her tone carrying a sense of urgency that wasn't there before. Not to mention the vampire in the city. She knows something is brewing, she's been hinting at it for days.

"Any guesses?" I ask Alyse, keeping my voice low.

She hesitates, her expression tightening. "I don't know for sure. But I overheard something last night—Brenelor was meeting with a group of emissaries. They were talking about strange activity near Grimhold Peak."

My chest tightens. Grimhold Peak is in Valoria—the same province where Pinecrest, my home, lies. The memories come rushing back: my family, the life I left behind, and the Daem that shattered it all. The thought of anything happening there again makes my stomach churn.

"Grimhold Peak?" Domnik asks, his brow furrowing. "That's... not good."

"No kidding," Alyse says. "Apparently, travelers have been going missing near the mountains. Villagers are reporting strange howls at night, and the animals are acting erratic. Brenelor seemed... concerned. She sent soldiers to check it out immediately."

"Daem?" I ask, my voice sharper than I intended.

Alyse shakes her head. "I don't know. Brenelor wasn't exactly handing out details."

Domnik exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. "Could be Muthos, the Peak is near vampire lands, a vampire made it inside the walls here. If anyone loves a good mess, it's him."

The mention of Muthos sends a chill down my spine. The Daem of vampires and dark magic had been a major player in everything that went down before. We escaped him last time, haven't heard much out of him since.

"If it is Muthos," I say slowly, "then this is worse than we thought. He gave me the impression that he's not the kind of problem that just... disappears."

Alyse nods grimly. "Which is why we need to be ready. Brenelor's probably planning to send you two there."

Domnik groans dramatically. "Great. More wilderness, more daem, and probably another lecture about teamwork."

"You'd miss it if I didn't drag you along," I say with a smirk.

He winks. "Yeah, yeah. You'd be lost without me."

Before I can respond, a sharp voice echoes down the hall. "Smith! Wrathrune!"

We turn to see Brenelor striding toward us, her silver hair catching the light like a crown. Her presence commands respect, and her piercing gaze locks onto each of us in turn.

"Follow me," she says without preamble. "There's something you need to hear."

Domnik mutters under his breath, "Here we go."

But as Brenelor turns sharply and leads us down a side corridor, the unease in my chest grows. Whatever she's about to tell us, I have a feeling it's going to change everything.

She leads us to the meeting room, her footsteps steady and deliberate. The moment we reach the door, a flicker of recognition hits me. It's the same room we'd sat in last year, right before she granted us entry into Amerei. The memories of that conversation feel like a lifetime ago, but the room itself hasn't changed.

"Sit, you three," Brenelor says, holding the door open for us. Her hand gestures toward the open space, and I feel her eyes lingering on each of us as we step inside.

The dark mahogany table dominates the room, its polished surface gleaming under the dim chandelier light. The oval shape feels strangely formal, like it's meant for matters of great importance—and, knowing Brenelor, it probably is. The chairs, with their high backs and intricate carvings, line the table exactly as they had a year ago. Nothing about this place has changed, but something about the air feels heavier.

We move to the far side of the room, instinctively sitting so we're facing the door. Brenelor takes her place at the head of the table, her commanding presence filling the space as she lowers herself into the oversized chair.

I glance at Domnik, who's already slouched back, his arms crossed like he's waiting for her to say something he can roll his eyes at.

"So, what's this about?" I ask, leaning forward slightly, the tension creeping into my voice.

"Please say it isn't teamwork," Domnik groans, dragging the word out for emphasis.

Brenelor's sharp eyes narrow on him, but there's no humor in her expression. "It's about your brother. Kylen."

The words slam into me like a hammer. My breath catches, and I glance at Alyse, who stiffens beside me.

Brenelor's gaze flickers between us, her tone measured but urgent. "Last night, I sent Kylen to Grimhold Peak. He was leading a small team on a top-secret mission to investigate the unusual activity in the area. He was instructed to send back a report via messenger hawk at dusk." She pauses, her expression hardening. "No message has been received."

"What?" Alyse blurts out, panic flooding her voice as she grabs my arm. "He's missing?"

Brenelor nods grimly. "He is. And Kylen has never missed a deadline. Something is wrong. I need the two of you—" she motions to Domnik and me, "—to go find him. I cannot risk sending more of my soldiers to that area while we're still recovering from Udis' attacks. Besides..." Her piercing gaze locks on mine. "I figured you'd want to go, given your connection to this."

I clench my fists under the table, my mind already racing. Grimhold Peak. I know the area like the back of my hand—its trails, its dangers. If something's happened to Kylen, Domnik and I might be his best shot. "Yeah," I say firmly. "I know the terrain. Domnik and I can take a look."

"Good," Brenelor replies. "But you'll need to leave immediately."

"What about me?" Alyse asks, her voice cutting through the air. Her golden eyes burn with determination as she looks between us.

Brenelor's gaze shifts to her, then settles on me for a long, weighted moment.

"You're staying here, Alyse. I can't risk losing you again." My voice steady and final.

"But I want to help!" Alyse snaps, rising from her seat. A rare show of emotion on her face, she usually keeps in check.

I don't flinch. "I know you do. But I need you safe, and that means staying here. Domnik and I are capable of handling this."

Alyse's face twists in frustration. "You're only saying that because I don't have powers!"

"No." My voice is firm, cutting through the rising tension. I meet her gaze, unflinching. "It's because last time, a Daemonic Prince kidnapped you, and I'm not letting that happen again."

Her anger falters, replaced by something raw and vulnerable. "That wasn't my fault."

"I know it wasn't," I say softly, my tone gentler now. "But I can't protect you and look for Kylen at the same time. Brenelor can keep you safe here. Out there, I can't promise anything."

Alyse's shoulders slump. She looks down at the table, her hands curling into fists. "I hate this."

"I know," Brenelor says, her voice softer but still unyielding. "But you'll stay here. That's final."

A heavy silence settles over the room. I exchange a glance with Domnik, who for once doesn't have a snarky comment ready. He just gives me a small nod, his usual cockiness replaced by a rare seriousness.

"Then it's settled," Brenelor says, rising from her seat. Her commanding presence returns, her tone brooking no further argument. "Gather your gear. The two of you leave within the hour."

I clear my throat. "First, Empress, I think there's something you'll want to know."

Brenelor stops mid-step and turns to face me, her sharp gaze locking onto mine. "And what is that, Red?"

"We encountered a vampire," I say, keeping my tone steady. "Here. In the city. Just outside the gates to the palace."

Her eyes widen, and for a moment, there's a flicker of something rare—fear. "Here, in Celestria?" she snaps, her voice rising. "Are you certain? How many?"

"It was just the one," Domnik answers, stepping forward. "But it wasn't like any vampire we've dealt with before. This one was... strange. Faster, more aggressive."

Her hands tremble slightly, though she quickly folds them behind her back to mask it. "A single vampire within the walls of my capital," she mutters, as if the words themselves are poison.

"Do you think it's connected to what's happening near Grimhold Peak?" I ask.

"I don't know for sure, but it feels... off. Like there's a thread tying it all together. Could it be Muthos?" She asks under her breath, as if it's a question for herself. She exhales sharply, pacing in tight, deliberate steps. "It's possible. That wretched god has been quiet for too long, and quiet is when he's most dangerous. If he's bold enough to send one of his creations here, he might already be further along in his plans than I feared."

Domnik crosses his arms. "Then we're dealing with more than just the usual rabble. This might be part of something much bigger."

"Agreed," Brenelor says, her voice firm now, regaining its steel. "Thank you for bringing this to me. I will alert the guard immediately. The city will go into lockdown if necessary. We cannot afford any breaches, especially not now."

I nod.

As we stand, Alyse doesn't look at me. She stays seated, her gaze fixed on the table. Guilt twists in my gut, but I know this is the right call. I rest a hand on her shoulder briefly before following Brenelor and Domnik out the door.