Kai helped Maia to her feet, his touch gentle but firm. Her body still ached from the rough handling, and her mind raced with everything that had just transpired. The cave walls seemed to close in around her, the shadows flickering ominously.
"Let's get you out of here," Kai said softly, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders.
As they emerged from the cave, the cool night air washed over them, a stark contrast to the musty confines they had just left. Maia took a deep breath, her heart still pounding in her chest. She looked up at the sky, the stars twinkling overhead, and for a brief moment, she felt a sense of relief.
But that relief was short-lived.
Standing before them, blocking their path, were twelve figures. Their skin was pale, almost translucent in the moonlight, and their eyes glowed with an eerie red light. They moved with a fluid grace, their presence exuding an aura of danger and power.
Vampires.
