The Helios Hotel exuded an eerie calm. From his vantage point on the penthouse balcony, Conrad Williams could see the city’s glittering skyline. It shimmered like a sea of diamonds, masking the chaos lurking beneath. His expression was inscrutable, his red eyes reflecting the night’s glow.

Behind him, the doors to the suite opened without a knock. Only one person in Sharman had the audacity to enter uninvited.

“Elijah,” Conrad said without turning. His tone carried a faint edge of disdain.

The faint scent of cloves and leather filled the room as Elijah Gerard stepped inside, his polished boots clicking softly against the marble floor. He adjusted his crimson tie with a flourish, his dark eyes scanning the opulent room.

“You’ve redecorated,” Elijah said casually, ignoring the obvious hostility. “Subtle, but still screams Conrad—overbearing, ancient, and annoyingly impeccable.”

Conrad smirked but didn’t rise to the bait. “I take it this isn’t a social visit.”

Elijah stepped closer, leaning against the edge of the bar. “You could say that. The air is thick tonight. Tense. Like gunpowder waiting for a spark.”

Conrad finally turned to face him, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “You’re here because of Kyon.”

Elijah’s smile widened, though his fangs remained hidden. “Straight to the point. That half-breed has stirred more trouble in six months than most vampires do in a century. And now, you’re hosting him here. Why?”

Conrad moved to pour himself a glass of crimson wine, swirling the liquid thoughtfully. “You’re here, so you already know why.”

Elijah’s expression darkened. “You’re testing him. Manipulating him, more likely. Does your ego have no limits?”

Conrad raised the glass to his lips but didn’t drink. “Ego has nothing to do with it. Kyon is a volatile force—one that needs shaping. If I leave him unchecked, he’ll be swallowed whole by this world or by the hunters chasing him. I’m giving him a chance to survive.”

Elijah scoffed. “Survive? By throwing him into a bloodbath? You’ve put hunters at his door and sent your own obstacles after him. Do you think he’ll thank you for this lesson, mentor?”

Conrad’s lips curled into a faint smile. “I don’t need his thanks. I need him to act. To awaken. The thirst will define him, whether he accepts it or not.”

“You’re playing a dangerous game,” Elijah said. His tone grew colder. “If he snaps and kills in the middle of this, you’ll have more than hunters to deal with. Argent Sword won’t sit quietly while you turn Sharman into your personal arena.”

Conrad placed the glass down, his movements deliberate. “The hunters won’t make a move. Not tonight. They know I’m here. They’d rather lure out their prize than risk my wrath.”

Elijah’s eyes narrowed. “And if they do attack?”

Conrad chuckled softly, the sound low and menacing. “They’ll learn the cost of their arrogance, but they won’t actually do anything. These hunters outside won’t act recklessly, they aren't Flux Users so they know their chances of survival are low. They’ll wait, observe, and pounce only when the situation is in their favor. That’s how they operate, isn’t it?”

For a moment, the room fell into tense silence. Then Elijah straightened, his expression unreadable. “And what about the Mualim? If you push too hard, they’ll intervene.”

Conrad’s red eyes gleamed. “The Mualim,” he repeated, as if tasting the word. “They won’t move. I’ve done nothing to break the balance. It’s the hunters, the so-called defenders, who are threatening that. They’re the ones jeopardizing peace with their rabid obsession to eliminate anything they don’t understand.”

Elijah’s lips tightened. “You’re awfully self-righteous for someone who’s played the role of monster for millennia.”

Conrad stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “I’ve been many things, Elijah. A monster, a legend, a survivor. But I didn’t come to this city to take charge—that’s your domain. I came because of Kyon. He’s a piece on the board now—one that neither you nor the hunters can afford to ignore. The question is, which side will he choose?”

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Elijah didn’t respond immediately, his gaze dropping to the floor in thought. When he finally looked up, his expression was unreadable. “You’re assuming he’ll survive the night. That’s optimistic, even for you.”

“He’ll survive,” Conrad said with absolute certainty. “He has Sia beside him. She won’t let him falter.”

Elijah arched a brow. “And you’re okay with that? Letting her influence him?”

Conrad’s smirk returned. “She’s another test. Kyon won’t sit still—not with her urging him forward. And when he does move, he’ll face the obstacles I’ve prepared. If he can’t overcome them, then he was never worth my time.”

Lawrence leaned against the wall of a nearby alley, his gaze fixed on the towering Helios Hotel. The faint hum of tension in the air, invisible to most, was like a beacon to his heightened senses. Observation Flux. He could feel the unease—subtle shifts in the body language of passersby, heightened alertness from the hotel staff, and the barely concealed threat lingering just out of view. There were hunters nearby. He was sure of it.

His phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen before answering. “Kadir. What’s the situation?”

Kadir’s voice was sharp and to the point. “Harvey’s on his way. I picked him up myself.”

Lawrence frowned but kept his voice level. “You’re pulling in Harvey? You’re sure about that?”

“We didn’t have a choice. If Harvey’s involved, you already know how serious this has gotten.” Kadir paused, the sound of a car engine rumbling faintly in the background. “This isn’t just about vampires or the hunters. It’s about keeping Kyon and Sia alive. They went to Helios Hotel to meet Conrad Williams—a vampire who’s lived over three thousand years and has a reputation for killing anything that gets in his way. Do you really think this ends without blood?”

Lawrence exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “I sensed the hunters. They’re surrounding the place. They haven’t moved yet, but the tension is boiling over. Conrad’s presence might be the only thing keeping them at bay for now. They know what he is.”

“Then we don’t have much time. Harvey and I will be there soon,” Kadir said firmly.

Lawrence’s jaw tightened. “If they move before you get here—”

“Hold them off. Do whatever you can. Harvey will have a plan.”

The line went dead.

Lawrence lowered the phone and took a steadying breath. His instincts screamed at him to charge into the hotel and drag the kids out himself, but this wasn’t just about impulse. It was about timing, precision. He had to trust Kadir and Harvey to play their parts.

Back At Helios Hotel.

The grand suite’s opulence gleamed under the soft glow of golden chandeliers, but neither Conrad nor Elijah paid it any mind.

“You’ve grown restless, Elijah,” Conrad said, his tone half amused, half scornful. “It doesn’t suit you.”

Elijah smirked, leaning casually against the balcony railing. “Restlessness, as you call it, is what’s kept Sharman under my control. Unlike you, I don’t disappear for centuries on a whim, only to return when it suits my mysterious whims.”

Conrad’s eyes glinted, the red irises flickering with an ancient and quiet fury. “You think you’ve controlled this city, but you’ve done nothing more than hold the pieces together with fraying strings. Kyon is the first spark of change Sharman has seen in decades. He will shape this city’s future. Whether you or I like it is irrelevant.”

Elijah scoffed, brushing a speck of imaginary dust off his cuff. “You’re obsessed with the boy. Do you really think he’s worth all this trouble? Hunters gathering outside. Your pet Mika sniffing around the hotel like a bloodhound. And the Argent Sword sniffing even closer.”

“Obsessed?” Conrad’s voice was silk over steel. He stepped closer, his towering figure casting a shadow over Elijah. “No. I simply understand potential when I see it. Kyon is no ordinary half-breed. You know it as well as I do.”

Their exchange was cut short by a knock at the door. A human attendant entered, bowing low. “My apologies for interrupting, sirs, but there’s been a disturbance reported in the server room. Miss Mika has gone to investigate.”

Conrad’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Ah, Mika. Always efficient.”

Elijah arched a brow. “And you’re just going to let her handle it? What if it’s the hunters finally making their move?”

Conrad turned back to the balcony, his voice carrying a weight of certainty. “If it’s the hunters, they’ll regret stepping foot inside my domain. And as for Kyon...” He glanced down at the streets below, where tension rippled like an invisible tide. “He won’t sit still. Not with the girl by his side. I’ve ensured there are... obstacles in their path. Let us see how resourceful they can be.”

Elijah narrowed his eyes, stepping up beside Conrad. “You’re playing a dangerous game. Argent Sword won’t stand by forever. And what about the Maulim? If this chaos draws their attention—”

“The Maulim,” Conrad interrupted, his tone icy, “will do nothing. I’ve taken no action to disrupt the balance. This city’s peace isn’t broken by me, Elijah. It’s broken by those who think they’re saviors—the hunters, the self-righteous fools who draw their weapons without understanding the game they’re playing.”

Elijah crossed his arms, studying Conrad with a mix of wariness and intrigue. “And Kyon? What if he’s not the piece you think he is?”

Conrad’s smile widened, the gleam of fangs visible in the dim light. “That’s the beauty of it. He doesn’t need to be. The board is already set. Now, we wait and watch.”