The city of Ravensmoor stretched out before them, glittering in the hazy glow of streetlights and neon signs. The skyline was a jagged silhouette against the night sky, its streets alive with a pulse Eira had never noticed before. It felt different now—thicker, sharper. Dangerous.
The black town car glided smoothly along the narrow streets, its interior shrouded in a heavy silence.
Eira rarely ventured out after dark, as many people avoided. The city felt like a different creature entirely at night—its familiar streets transformed into something shadowy and unpredictable. Every alleyway a hiding spot. Even now, sitting safely within the sleek black town car, she found herself startled by the sheer number of people filling the streets. Groups lingered beneath flickering neon signs, their laughter carrying on the crisp air, while others moved quickly, heads down, as if trying to escape unseen eyes.
It was strange to her, this pulse of activity. By this hour, she would usually be at home, curtains drawn, surrounded by the safe predictability of her routines. But here, the air felt electric, charged with a tension she couldn't quite place. Ravensmoor wasn't just alive—it was watching, waiting.
She stole a glance at Caius from the corner of her eye, his sharp profile illuminated by the dim city lights filtering through the tinted windows. She hadn't expected him to agree to her request to see Finn so quickly—or at all. Caius didn't seem the type to indulge demands. Yet here they were.
What unsettled her even more was that he hadn't sent someone else in his place. He could have. Easily. The thought of Caius waiting in his looming tower while she faced the cold hospital corridors alone would have been more in line with the image she had of him. But no. He was here, sitting across from her, his presence weighing down the already suffocating space.
It felt calculated somehow—his personal involvement, his quiet proximity. She couldn't decide if it was meant as a show of dominance or something more practical. Maybe both. Whatever his reasons, they only added to the tightness in her chest. She sat stiffly, her hands clenched in her lap as the tension between her and Caius pressed against her like an iron weight.
"You're quiet," Caius said, his golden eyes flicking toward her in the dim light.
"I didn't think we were here to chat," Eira replied, her voice clipped.
Caius's lips quirked in a faint smirk. "No, I suppose not."
The rest of the drive passed in silence, the only sound the soft hum of the engine as the car wove through Ravensmoor's labyrinthine streets. The hospital came into view—a stark, modern structure with rows of lit windows. It felt too ordinary for the extraordinary circumstances that had brought her here.
As they entered the hospital lobby, Eira's pulse quickened. The sterile smell of antiseptic hit her like a wall, mingling with the faintest trace of something metallic. She followed Caius through the brightly lit corridors, his presence cutting through the hustle of nurses and visitors like a blade.
Finn's room was small but private. The sight of him—pale and still against the hospital sheets—made her heart clench.
"Finn," she whispered, rushing to his bedside.
His eyelids fluttered, and when they opened, his gaze was dazed but warm. "Eira?"
She clasped his hand tightly, her throat tightening. "I'm here."
Finn's gaze shifted, his eyes darkening as they landed on Caius standing just behind her. "Why is he here?" he rasped.
"To ensure you're safe," Caius answered smoothly, his tone calm but firm. "And to remind your sister of the stakes."
Finn glared at him weakly, his hand squeezing Eira's. "Eira, don't trust him."
"I'm fine," she said quickly, cutting him off. "You just need to focus on getting better. Don't worry about me."
Finn's lips pressed into a thin line, his brows furrowing in frustration. He looked as though he wanted to argue, but his strength wasn't there. His head sank back against the pillow, his breathing uneven.
Eira brushed a hand over his hair, fighting back tears. "I'll fix this," she murmured. "Somehow."
Caius cleared his throat softly, drawing her attention. "We need to leave."
Eira turned to him, anger flaring in her chest. "He just woke up."
"And he needs rest," Caius said, his golden eyes narrowing. "You've seen him. That's more than I could allow."
Her jaw tightened, but she didn't argue further.
"I love you." She spoke gently. "I will be back." With a final squeeze of Finn's hand, she turned and followed Caius out of the room, her chest tight with frustration.
The night air hit her like a shock as they stepped outside, the buzz of the city louder now. She expected them to return to the car, but Caius set off down the sidewalk instead, his long strides forcing her to hurry after him.
"Where are we going?" she demanded.
"To show you something," Caius said, his voice low and measured. "You need to understand the world you've stepped into."
The streets of Ravensmoor were alive with movement, but something about the crowd felt off. The noise of the city was tempered by an unspoken tension that made Eira's skin prickle. Caius walked with purpose, his presence parting the crowd like a ripple in still water.
"What exactly am I supposed to be seeing?" she asked, her tone sharp.
"The truth," Caius said simply.
They turned a corner into a narrower street, the hum of the city growing quieter. Shadows stretched long and dark, and the air felt colder here. Eira's steps faltered, a prickle of unease skittering up her spine.
"Caius," she said, her voice lower now. "What is this?"
Before he could answer, movement flashed in her peripheral vision. Her head snapped to the side, but she saw nothing—just the empty mouth of an alley. She stopped walking, her heart pounding.
"Keep moving," Caius ordered, his voice sharper now.
"What's going on?" she demanded.
"Trouble," Caius said darkly, his golden eyes scanning the shadows.
And then they appeared.
They moved like specters from the edges of the alley, their eyes gleaming in the faint light. Rogue vampires. Their clothes were tattered, their faces pale and gaunt, but their movements were smooth, predatory.
Caius stepped in front of her, his posture shifting into something lethal. "Stay behind me," he commanded.
Eira's breath came in short bursts as the rogues circled them, their low growls reverberating in her chest. She took a step back, but her retreat was blocked by a cold wall of stone.
Their low growls deepened, fangs glinting as their claws scraped against the ground like nails on glass.
The first vampire lunged, and Caius moved like lightning. The sound of impact echoed off the walls as he drove the attacker back, his movements fluid and merciless. Another rogue joined the fray, and Caius spun, the edge of his coat snapping through the air as he struck.
Eira pressed herself against the wall, her hands trembling as she watched the chaos unfold. Caius was outnumbered, but he fought with a precision that left her breathless. Until the glint of silver flashed through the air.
The dagger sank into Caius's side. He staggered, his hand clutching the wound as smoke hissed faintly from the silver embedded in his side. The rogue vampires snarled, their movements growing bolder as they sensed his weakness.
Eira's heart lurched. "Caius!" Her feet refused to move at first. Leaving him felt wrong, but staying would only make her a liability.
He turned his head, his golden eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her freeze. "Go to the car!" he growled, his voice ragged.
The words had barely left his mouth before another rogue lunged for him. Eira's body moved before her mind could catch up, grabbing the nearest object—a loose brick from the crumbling wall—and hurling it with all her strength.
The brick struck the vampire's temple, staggering it just long enough for Caius to strike a fatal blow. His movements, though precise, were slower now. Eira noticed the sheen of sweat on his brow and the way his hand pressed against the dagger still lodged in his side.
With a final, feral snarl, Caius dispatched the last rogue. The alley grew silent, save for Eira's ragged breathing. She pressed herself against the wall, her chest heaving as she took in the scene before her. The ground was littered with bodies, the scent of blood sharp and metallic in the cold air. Caius stood amidst the carnage, his dark coat torn and bloodied, his golden eyes dimmer than before.
"Caius…" she began, her voice shaking.
He turned to her, his steps unsteady but deliberate as he closed the distance between them. His presence was still commanding, but there was something raw and desperate in his expression now.
"Come here," he ordered, his voice low but urgent.
Eira didn't move. Her instincts screamed at her to run, though she couldn't explain why. "You're hurt," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't have time for this," Caius growled, his hand pressing harder against his side. His face barely twisted in pain as he pulled the dagger free with an agonizing precision. "I need your blood. Now."