The grand hall of Kagan's fortress was a cold monument to his ambition. Shadows danced across the black stone walls, cast by torches whose flames seemed unnaturally still, their light unable to pierce the oppressive darkness that lingered like a living thing. At the center of the room, Kagan sat upon a throne of polished obsidian, his presence radiating an aura of menace that even his most loyal followers dared not defy.
The lord of darkness was as still as a statue, his crimson eyes fixed on the map before him. It detailed lands near and far, marked with cryptic symbols and ancient runes. His long fingers drummed rhythmically on the arm of his throne, the sound echoing through the chamber like a countdown to doom.
"The Eye," Kagan murmured, his voice deep and commanding, cutting through the silence.
The creature before him bowed low. It was one of his thralls, a ghoul-like figure cloaked in rags, its pallid skin stretched tight over twisted bones. "Yes, Master. We have located it."
Kagan's lips curved into a slow, predatory smile. "And?"
"It lies in the ruins of Gravenhold," the thrall rasped, its voice trembling under the weight of Kagan's gaze. "Protected by wards… and something ancient."
Kagan rose from his throne, his towering figure clad in dark armor that seemed to absorb the dim light. He stepped closer, the sound of his boots like thunder in the vast hall. "The wards are no match for my magic," he said, his tone confident, bordering on disdain. "The guardians… they are but relics of a forgotten age. They will fall."
The thrall hesitated. "But, Master… the dhampyr…"
Kagan froze mid-step, his expression darkening. The air seemed to grow colder, and the torches flickered wildly. "Rain," he hissed, her name like venom on his tongue.
"She moves toward the Eye as well," the thrall said, trembling under Kagan's fury. "The seer has likely revealed its location to her."
Kagan clenched his fists, his sharp nails drawing blood from his palms. "That wretched half-blood dares to defy me?" His voice was a roar that sent cracks spidering through the stone walls. "She thinks she can outmaneuver me, her father? Foolish girl."
The hall fell silent as Kagan paced, his mind racing. He had underestimated her once, letting her escape when she was but a child. He wouldn't make that mistake again.
"She seeks to stop me," he said finally, his voice quieter but no less menacing. "She believes she can protect the talismans. But she underestimates the bond between us."
He turned to his thrall, his eyes burning with a dangerous intensity. "Send my enforcers. The fastest and most ruthless. Bring me the Eye, and if Rain dares to stand in your way… bring her to me alive."
The thrall bowed deeply. "It will be done, Master."
As the creature scuttled away, Kagan returned to his throne, his mind consumed with thoughts of both conquest and betrayal. The talismans of Belial were the key to his ultimate goal—a power that even the gods would envy. And the dhampyr, his own flesh and blood, was the one obstacle standing between him and his destiny.
"Run, little Rain," he murmured, a cruel smile curling his lips. "But you cannot escape who you are. You cannot escape me."
Kagan leaned back in his throne, his gaze fixed on the map. The Eye was but the first step, and he was determined to see his plans come to fruition. Rain's defiance only fueled his obsession. He would reclaim the talismans, crush any who opposed him, and remind the world why Kagan was feared above all.
The hunt had begun.