The happy sounds of dinner conversation filled their cozy home until three sharp knocks made everyone freeze mid-laugh. Oren's spoon clinked against his bowl as he set it down.
"Now who could that be at this hour?" he wondered, pushing back his chair.
"Maybe it's Ms. Pine complaining about your singing stew again," Lyra giggled, but her smile faded when she saw Jasper's worried face in the doorway.
"Evening, Master Oren," Jasper shifted from foot to foot, his courier bag hanging heavy at his side. "Sorry to interrupt your family time, but..."
"Jasper!" Lyra bounced up. "Did you bring any letters from the capital? Or news about the festival?"
"Lyra," Elara gently touched her daughter's shoulder. "Let the poor boy breathe. Would you like some tea, Jasper? Oren made it himself, and it only glows a little bit."
"Hey!" Oren protested.
Jasper managed a weak smile but shook his head. "Can't stay long. The shadows are getting longer these days, and I've got more stops to make."
"The shadows?" Lyra tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"The moons... they're acting strange," Jasper pulled letters from his bag, hands trembling slightly. "But that's not the worst of it. There's been another attack."
The word hung in the air like frost. Elara's hand tightened on Lyra's shoulder.
"The vampires?" she whispered. "Not again..."
"Found a young couple by the forest edge," Jasper nodded grimly. "Nearly drained dry of essence. The Sanguine Guard is looking into it, but..."
"But vampires are tricky devils," Oren finished, his usual cheerful face dark with worry. "Thank you for warning us, Jasper."
After the courier left, Lyra couldn't hold back her questions anymore. "Mom? What exactly are these vampires? What do they want?"
Elara sighed, pulling Lyra close. "Remember how we talked about essence techniques at dinner? Well, some people... they learned to take essence from others. The Sanguine technique."
"Like stealing someone's life force?" Lyra's eyes went wide.
"Exactly," Oren sat back down, absently stirring his now-cold stew. "There are different types - the Royals who were born with it, the Mafia who abuse it, and the Maskers who hide it."
"But why would they hurt people?" Lyra pressed. "Don't they know it's wrong?"
"Some are just... lost," Elara's voice was soft. "Their minds controlled by stronger vampires, turned into ghouls. That's what makes them so dangerous - you never know if you're facing someone who's choosing to hurt others, or someone who's being forced to."
"Oh!" Oren suddenly perked up. "That reminds me of this new flask I'm working on that could-"
"Oren, dear," Elara cut him off with a gentle smile. "Perhaps not right before bedtime? Speaking of which..." She turned to Lyra. "Time for bed, my little Moonbeam. I'll help you get ready."
"But Mom!" Lyra protested. "I want to hear about Dad's flask!"
"Tomorrow," Elara promised, leading her toward her room. "For now, just remember - no more garden practice after dark, okay? At least until the Sanguine Guard catches whoever's doing this."
"I promise," Lyra nodded solemnly. But as she got ready for bed, she couldn't help wondering about the vampires, the strange behavior of the moons, and what kind of flask her father was working on that might help protect them all.
Through her window, Geneva's twin moons seemed to watch over their village, their light a little dimmer than usual, as if they too were worried about the darkness creeping into their peaceful corner of Nocturnia.