Selina stood at the shooting range, focused and determined, her hands steady as she fired round after round. The bullets slammed into the targets with precision, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn't quite silence. The repetitive noise of gunfire was both a distraction and a release.
Taylor entered the room, his footsteps light but purposeful. "Hope you're not pissed off at me," he said, trying to gauge her mood.
Selina didn't respond, keeping her attention on the targets in front of her. She squeezed the trigger again, the gun kicking back in her hands as she landed another perfect shot.
Taylor approached her, holding a new weapon. "Hold on, check this out," he said, handing the gun to her. His tone was casual, but there was an underlying excitement in his voice.
Selina glanced at the weapon, intrigued. She ejected the magazine as Taylor instructed and then took aim. She fired at the statue in front of them. The impact was immediate and devastating. She lowered the gun, her eyes narrowing as she processed what she'd just witnessed.
"You've copied the werewolf rounds—silver nitrate," Selina remarked, her voice tinged with both surprise and admiration.
"A lethal dose," Taylor confirmed, a hint of pride in his voice.
"They won't be digging these out like usual rounds," Selina said, impressed. She could see the advantage this new weapon would give them.
"Yeah, it'll go straight into the bloodstream. Ain't nothing to dig out," Taylor replied.
Selina's thoughts shifted, and she turned to Taylor, a question lingering in her mind. "Taylor, tell me, did you believe Lucas died the way they said?"
Taylor raised an eyebrow, curious about the sudden change in topic. "Kahn telling war stories again?" he asked, half-jokingly.
"That's not the point," Selina replied, her tone serious. "It's not just some ancient story. His story—there's not a shred of proof he killed Lucas, only his word as proof."
Taylor considered her words carefully. "I've never underestimated Kahn's lust for advancement, but Ragnarok believed him, and that's all that matters."
Selina, still holding the gun Taylor had given her, began to pack it up. Her mind was already elsewhere, her thoughts running deep.
"Where are you going with this?" Taylor asked, sensing that there was more to her questioning than she was letting on.
"Nowhere," Selina responded curtly before walking away, leaving Taylor standing there, puzzled but knowing better than to press her further.
In the dead of night, the deserted city street was eerily quiet as Kahn's car approached, its headlights cutting through the darkness. It pulled up beside a parked car, the two vehicles idling side by side like conspirators in the shadows. Kahn stepped out, his expression darkened with frustration, followed by another vampire who trailed him closely. As they reached the other car, Josh emerged, immediately opening the door for Kahn.
Kahn slid into the passenger seat, his anger barely restrained as Josh stepped back to stand guard with the other vampire. Inside, the car was dimly lit, but Kahn's eyes were sharp, locking onto Lucas, who sat across from him, calm and collected despite the tension in the air.
"Engaging the Death Dealer in public and chasing after some human was not what I had in mind," Kahn began, his voice low but seething with anger. "You were told to set up shop and lay low."
Lucas leaned back in his seat, unperturbed by Kahn's fury. "Calm yourself, Kahn. Calm," he said, his tone almost mocking. "The human doesn't concern you. And besides, I've laid low for quite long enough."
Kahn's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. "Just keep your men in check, Lucas. At least for the time being. Don't force me to regret our arrangement."
Lucas's demeanor shifted slightly, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. "You just concentrate on your part," he retorted, his voice dripping with menace. "Remember, I have bled for you once already. Without me, you have nothing. You'd be nothing."
Kahn clenched his fists, his teeth grinding together as he fought to keep his composure. "Keep your men in place," he repeated, his voice cold and firm.
With that, Kahn pushed open the car door and stepped out, leaving the conversation hanging in the tense air. He didn't look back as he walked away, his mind already racing with thoughts of the precarious alliance he was barely holding together. Behind him, Lucas watched through the window, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips as Kahn disappeared into the night.
The corridors of the castle were shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the soft glow of candlelight that flickered along the stone walls. Selina moved silently through the shadows, her footsteps light and purposeful as she approached Kahn's private quarters. She paused briefly at the heavy oak door, listening intently for any signs of movement within. Satisfied that the room was empty, she deftly picked the lock and slipped inside.
The room was as imposing as its owner—ornate furnishings, rich tapestries, and a pervasive sense of authority filled the space. But Selina wasn't here to admire the decor. Her eyes scanned the room until they settled on a large, ornate bookshelf that dominated the far wall. She approached it, her fingers trailing along the spines of ancient texts until she found what she was looking for: a concealed latch hidden behind a dusty tome.
With a soft click, a hidden door swung open, revealing a secret library tucked away behind the facade. The air inside was thick with the scent of aged parchment and forgotten knowledge. Shelves upon shelves of old, leather-bound books lined the small chamber, each holding secrets that had been buried for centuries.
Selina's gaze fell upon a particularly ancient and dusty book lying open on a marble pedestal in the center of the room. The pages were yellowed and fragile, the text written in an elegant, archaic script. She approached cautiously, her eyes narrowing as she began to read aloud:
"Of the scores of brave souls who entered Lucas's fortress, a single vampire survived: Kahn, who was richly rewarded not only for setting the great blaze but for returning with evidence of the werewolf master—Denise—the branded skin cut from Lucas's very arm."
Selina's heart pounded in her chest as the words sank in. Doubt and suspicion churned within her, challenging everything she had been told about the legendary battle. She carefully turned the page, her breath catching as she saw a detailed illustration of Lucas himself. The drawing was remarkably vivid, capturing his fierce gaze and imposing stature. But what truly caught her attention was the intricate necklace adorning his neck—a distinctive pendant shaped like a crescent moon entwined with a serpent.
Her mind raced back to the night in the elevator when the werewolf had attacked Michael. Amidst the chaos and fear, she had caught a fleeting glimpse of that very same necklace gleaming around the creature's neck. The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning—Lucas was alive, and he had been the one to attack Michael.