The first rays of the morning sun broke over the city, illuminating the sprawling structure of the Hunter's Sanctum. Nestled deep within a fortified compound, the sanctum was a place few knew existed. The base bustled with activity even at dawn, a testament to the hunters' tireless vigilance.
Elias Graves sat in his office, staring at a collection of maps and reports scattered across his desk. Despite the sunlight filtering through the high, narrow windows, the room felt heavy with shadows. The faint hum of activity outside barely reached him, drowned out by the weight of his memories.
Closing his eyes, Elias leaned back in his chair. He didn't need to read the reports to know what they said. They were reminders of what had been lost—and of the personal vendetta that had shaped his life.
The Night That Changed Everything
Two decades ago, it had been pouring rain when Elias and his team cornered her a vampire holding her child close. She wasn't attacking or fighting back; she was trying to run. Her desperate eyes had locked onto Elias as she begged, "Please, let me take him to his father he has nothing to do with this."
Her plea had fallen on deaf ears. A silver blade pierced her chest, and she crumpled to the ground. Even as her lifeless body lay there, her arms stretched toward her child, her lips frozen in an expression of pleading the child was able to escape .
Elias remembered standing over her, the rain washing the blood from his blade as his team cheered. To them, it was another victory in a long war. They didn't think to Pursue the child knowing a vampire like that would not be able to hunter on their own , assuming he wouldn't survive without her.
That night, they had celebrated. There was no remorse, no second-guessing their actions. To them, the vampires were monsters, and they were the protectors of humanity. But it wasn't long before the consequences of that night came crashing down on them.
Reports of a blonde-haired vampire began to filter in two weeks later after the death of the female vampire . Hunters were being targeted systematically and mercilessly. The first victim had been Takashi Sato, a friend and one of the most skilled fighters in their group. Takashi had gone to investigate the attacks alone, confident he could handle the threat according to the report the vampire was classified as a D threat one of the lowest rated .
When his body was returned, it was barely recognizable. Drained of blood and torn apart, Takashi's death sent shockwaves through the team. The man they thought invincible had been destroyed.
Two weeks later, Jack Skywalker fell victim. This time, the body wasn't just mangled it was mutilated. His hands had been severed, his eyes and mouth stitched shut, and a silver blade had been driven into his skull.
Ethan, the last of Elias' closest comrades, met an even more gruesome end It was clear that these death were arranged . Only his head was recovered, impaled on his own weapon, with the same eerie stitching sealing his eyes and mouth. The rest of his body was never found.
Elias had been left alone, haunted by the deaths of his friends. He knew the vampire was coming for him, and his worst fears were confirmed when he finally faced Gabriel at the one the abandoned church in the woods .
The Battle That Nearly Killed Him
Elias had prepared for the encounter, armed with every weapon and strategy he could think of. But Gabriel was unlike any foe he had faced before ferocious, unrelenting, and seemingly invincible. Their battle had raged through the night we Gabriel clear having the upper hand , leaving destruction in its wake.
Elias had barely survived. Only the rising sun had driven Gabriel back, but not before Elias lost his arm as the was the last thing Gabriel had took from and left him to die of the cold flood before disappearing . The scars from that night weren't just physical; they had shaped every decision he had made since. Gabriel disappeared after that encounter, but Elias knew he was still out there, waiting for the right moment to strike again.
Elias opened his eyes, dragging himself back to the present. The memories still burned, but he couldn't afford to dwell on the past. A sharp knock at the door jolted him from his thoughts.
"Enter," he said, his voice firm.
The door creaked open, and a young hunter stepped inside. His face was pale, and his hands trembled slightly as he saluted. "Commander, we've received a report."
Elias straightened in his chair. "What is it?"
The hunter hesitated. "A vampire was spotted near the old junkyard on the east side of the city… in daylight."
Elias' brow furrowed. "Daylight?"
"Yes, sir. And… it bore the same crest as the boy we're tracking."
Elias' heart skipped a beat. The crest. The mark of the DeLacroix family. His thoughts raced. Was it possible Gabriel had returned? Or was it someone else tied to that cursed bloodline?
He rose from his chair, his movements deliberate. "Send out a squad. I want this vampire captured alive."
"Sir, the daylight "
"Don't argue," Elias interrupted, his voice sharp. "You've seen the reports. If this vampire can move in daylight, it's a threat unlike anything we've faced before. Send out the troops immediately and update me once you have eyes on the target."
The young hunter saluted and hurried out of the room.
Elias stood alone in his office, staring at the map on his desk. His prosthetic hand flexed unconsciously as his mind replayed the memories of Gabriel's attack.
"DeLacroix," he muttered under his breath. "You won't slip through my fingers this time."
Beyond the walls of the Sanctum, hunters mobilized, vehicles roared to life, and a new hunt began. Somewhere in the shadows, the vampire with the crest waited, unbothered by the approaching danger.
The chapter ends as the hunters depart, their mission clear, but the question lingering: Was this truly another DeLacroix, or something far worse?