In the dimly lit cave, stalactites hung like jagged teeth from the ceiling, dripping water rhythmically into shallow pools below, A unique plant with bright, bulbous leaves illuminated the space faintly. Detective Adriana, wet and shivering, kept glancing in one direction where Daemon sat a few feet away, also drenched but conscious.
After a few moments, Daemon's eyes fluttered open, and he sat up abruptly, coughing out a mouthful of water.
"I didn't die," he muttered, surprised. He had expected to have been reborn elsewhere, away from Adriana. As he began to question her whereabouts, he heard her voice.
"It's good that you're alive."
Daemon looked towards the direction of the voice and saw Detective Adriana. "Lawful Maddog, you're alive too," he remarked, shaking water out of his hair. He noticed something heavy on his hand, a large metal handcuff. 'What's this about? It feels heavy like a car, yet I can still hold it,' he thought.
Detective Adriana was unlike anyone he had encountered before. Her persistence gnawed at him.
"Why do you keep chasing me, Adriana?" Daemon's voice was guarded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her.
Adriana raised an eyebrow, her stance assertive. "Maddog?" she repeated.
"A fitting nickname for someone who doesn't stop," Daemon replied casually, leaning back against the cave wall.
"Call me whatever you want, but I need to know why you killed the cartel kidnappers in the village," Adriana said, frustration evident in the furrow of her brow.
"Maddog, you're still harping on about that? I already gave you Leader Eldric. Regardless, they had it coming," Daemon retorted, his jaw clenched.
Adriana stopped pacing and stared at him intently, her hands now on her hips. "That's not good enough. I need more than just a vague justification. Why did you do it?"
Daemon locked eyes with her, weighing her words carefully. "If you really want to know, I did it to test my abilities. And yes, they deserved to die," he reiterated firmly.
Adriana persisted, trying to bridge the emotional gap between them. She took a step closer, her voice softening. "Listen, I know there's more to this. You're not just a killer. What drove you to do it?" she implored, her hand reaching out briefly before hesitating.
Daemon fell silent for a moment, a tumult of conflicting thoughts swirling in his mind. "You wouldn't understand," he finally said, his voice guarded.
"Try me," Adriana urged softly, closing the distance between them slightly. "I've seen enough to know that everyone has a reason for what they do. Even someone like you."
A surge of frustration and uncertainty swept through Daemon. He glanced down at the heavy metal handcuff on his wrist, a physical reminder of his captivity. "Why do you keep chasing me, Adriana? You've been at it for weeks," he deflected, trying to shift the focus away from himself.
Adriana approached him cautiously, her expression earnest. "Because of the house massacre. I can't get it out of my mind. Your presence there… it reignited my interest."
Daemon's eyes flickered briefly over her wet clothes, considering her question. He unfolded his arms, his posture relaxing marginally. "Do I look like a vampire to you?" he replied calmly, a small smirk playing on his lips.
Her voice dropped to a whisper, but Daemon heard every word. "I don't know. But I can't ignore the feeling I had. That crime scene was brutal, and I can't shake the sense that you're connected to it somehow. Something about you. Your energy, your... abilities. They're different," she explained, her hand gesturing vaguely as she spoke.
Daemon raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her observations. He uncrossed his legs, leaning forward slightly as their conversation deepened. "My rebirth ability. It's a gift, not a curse. But I don't see how that concerns you," he said cautiously.
Adriana nodded knowingly, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "It concerns me because I need to understand you. I need to know why you do what you do."
Daemon glanced down at his hands, noticing the heavy metal handcuffs. "Is that what these are for?" he asked, indicating the restraints, his fingers tapping lightly against the metal.
"Yeah. The Silver Crescent Society created them specifically for creatures with weird resurrection and immortality abilities," Adriana confirmed, her tone matter-of-fact as she explained.
"The Silver Crescent Society?" Daemon repeated, the name striking a chord.
Adriana nodded knowingly. "The Silver Crescent Society is a clandestine organization dedicated to hunting and eradicating supernatural threats that endanger the mortal world," she explained. "In our line of work, understanding threat levels is crucial. Your unique abilities put you in a category that demands careful monitoring. The Silver Crescent Society doesn't take chances with entities like you."
"Now that I have you... why did you kill those cartel members? Why were you at that massacre? I have to know."
Daemon leaned back against the cave wall, contemplating her words. "You're obsessed. But why? There's more to it than just curiosity," he remarked, searching her face for answers.
Adriana's voice remained steady as she leaned closer to Daemon. "Maybe. But I can't walk away from this. Not when it feels like I'm so close to the truth. Not when I know that you know something."
Daemon sighed reluctantly. He drummed his fingers against his thigh, a nervous tic revealing his unease. "What do you want to know?"
Adriana softened, their eyes locked in an intense gaze. She took a step closer, her hand hovering near his arm before she withdrew it. "Tell me about the family. Why were they targeted?"
Daemon's voice was low, filled with a hint of sadness. He uncrossed his legs, leaning forward as he spoke. "They... they were innocent. Caught in the crossfire of a vampire attack. The cartel doesn't care who gets hurt as long as they get what they want," he explained, his hands gesturing to emphasize his point.
Adriana's hand briefly touched his arm, sending a shiver down his spine. "And your connection to them?"
"They were innocent victims," Daemon repeated. "The cartel and the vampires—they don't discriminate. They'll harm anyone in their way to achieve their goals."
Adriana nodded understandingly. She took a step back, giving him space as she processed his words. "That makes sense. My sister was taken by the cartel. I've been trying to find her ever since. Seeing what they did to that family... it brought back everything. The pain, the anger. And then I felt your energy, and I knew you could be a key," she confessed, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
"Revenge. That's what this is about. You want revenge for your sister," Daemon stated, his eyes narrowing slightly as he recognized the depth of Adriana's motivations.
Adriana stepped back slightly, nodding solemnly. "Yes. I want to stop them, to make them pay for what they've done. Not just to my sister, but to countless others."
Daemon's expression softened marginally, his gaze softening as he regarded Adriana. "I'm sorry about your sister. I know what it's like to be haunted by loss."
Adriana reached out, her voice soft and resonant, their faces almost touching. "If what you said is true, that you're not a vampire, then that means you're against the cartel. You don't have to do this alone. We can work together. We can stop them."
Daemon hesitated, his trust in justice was none, his hands open in a gesture of vulnerability. "And what then? Will you arrest me? Because if it gets us closer to the Novas City, I don't care."
Adriana's determination shone through, her breath warm against his face. She took a step closer, her hand brushing against his arm lightly. "Let's focus on stopping them first. We'll figure out the rest after."
Daemon spoke softly, their faces dangerously close. He leaned in slightly, his breath mingling with hers. "Alright. We'll do it your way. But understand this: my methods are ruthless. I won't go easy on them, and neither can you."
Adriana nodded, a small smile forming, their lips almost brushing. "I wouldn't have it any other way," she said, her mind racing with thoughts of justice and the fragile balance between vengeance and duty. 'I may have to fight, but I can't afford to lose myself in the process,' she thought.
Before either of them could say another word, a sudden flash of bright light filled the air, momentarily blinding them both.