The rhythmic sting of the whip abruptly ceased. Aria, hanging limply, dared a peek through swollen eyelids. Kiran, his face contorted in a snarl, was barking orders at his underlings. A thunderous pounding echoed through the manor, sending shivers down Aria's spine. The sound cut through the haze of pain, a beacon of hope piercing the suffocating darkness.
Kiran froze, a snarl twisting his features. He barked a command at the vampires lurking in the shadows, "Go! Find out what that racket is!" The figures vanished in a blur, leaving behind a thick silence broken only by Aria's shallow breaths.
Kiran stalked back to Aria, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Seems someone decided to interrupt our little game. But don't worry, darling," he purred, his voice dripping with malice, "no one can save you. Coleridge is a vampire's playground, we control most things here. Everyone here is either hooked on Temp V or they soon will be."
