Victor sighed as he silenced the blaring alarm. "Let's make this quick."
Jay trailed behind Alina and Victor, confusion etched on his face. The air seemed to thicken as Alina approached the massive steel doors, her movements purposeful. With both hands, she pushed the heavy handles, and the sound of grinding metal reverberated through the space.
The doors groaned open, revealing a sight that made Jay freeze in his tracks.
The creatures outside looked like monstrous dogs, but their twisted forms betrayed something more sinister. With sleek black fur that seemed to ripple like liquid shadow, long limbs that ended in clawed paws, and glowing green eyes that burned with intelligence, they exuded an aura of primal power.
Jay's breath hitched. "What… what *are* those things?"
Victor shot him a sideways glance. "Sigbins."
One of the creatures—taller and bulkier than the rest—stepped forward. Its eyes seemed to pierce through Jay, and its mouth curled into a sinister grin, revealing jagged teeth.
"Victor," the creature said in a voice that was both gravelly and smooth, "you've brought someone new."
"They can talk?" Jay's voice rose an octave as he stumbled back.
Victor smirked. "Not just talk. Sildar here leads the Sigbins. And yes, they're... allies."
Jay gawked at his companions, looking for some sign of reassurance. "Allies? Those things look like they belong in nightmares!"
Alina raised an eyebrow. "They are nightmares to some. But not to us."
Jay took another step back. "You've all known about these… monsters?"
"They're not monsters," Victor said, his tone sharp. "They've been part of our network for decades. They've saved our lives more times than I can count."
"No one thought to tell me?" Jay's voice cracked.
Sildar chuckled, the sound deep and menacing. "Your fear is amusing, boy. But don't mistake us for enemies. We honor our contract."
"Contract?" Jay's head whipped toward Victor. "You mean someone *hired* these things?"
Victor sighed. "Not hired. It's more… complicated."
Before Jay could demand clarification, another voice joined the conversation.
"Victor, you're terrible at explanations," said Leno, emerging from the shadows with his usual nonchalance. He leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed. "Jay, relax. The Sigbins aren't here to hurt us. They're part of the team—whether you like it or not."
Jay blinked. "Wait, you knew about them too?"
Leno shrugged. "Of course. Everyone does."
"Everyone but me!" Jay threw his hands up in frustration.
Sildar's glowing eyes narrowed as it turned its attention to Jay. "Perhaps it's time he learns the truth."
Victor stiffened. "Not now, Sildar."
"Why not now?" Sildar asked, its tone mocking. "The boy's ignorance could be dangerous."
Leno stepped forward, his usually relaxed demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness. "Sildar, if you're going to spill secrets, make it quick and painless. We don't have all day."
Sildar chuckled again, its gaze fixed on Jay. "Very well. Boy, your bloodline ties you to the original pact-maker—the one who first bound my kind to this alliance."
Jay's mouth went dry. "What are you talking about?"
Sildar stepped closer, its massive frame towering over Jay. "Your ancestor created the contract that binds us. Without that pact, there would be no alliance—and no peace."
Jay staggered back. "No. That can't be true. I'm just… just a normal guy!"
"Normal?" Sildar's grin widened. "There's nothing normal about you. Your blood carries power, boy. Power that others would kill for."
Jay turned to Victor, his voice trembling. "Is this true?"
Victor hesitated, his face unreadable.
Leno sighed, stepping in to diffuse the tension. "Look, Jay, it's not as dramatic as it sounds. Yes, your ancestor made the pact. But that doesn't mean you're destined for anything crazy. It just means you're… special."
Jay shook his head. "Special? I didn't sign up for this!"
Sildar's voice softened, surprising everyone. "Whether you signed up or not, your presence matters. The pact runs deeper than you realize."
Victor finally spoke, his tone measured. "Sildar, that's enough. Jay doesn't need to carry this burden right now."
Sildar stepped back, inclining its head. "As you wish. But the boy deserves to know his heritage—before others exploit it."
Jay looked around, his mind racing. "Others? What others?"
Leno clapped a hand on Jay's shoulder. "Relax, kid. We'll handle it. For now, just focus on not passing out."
Jay shook off Leno's hand, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I'm not a kid! And I don't want to be part of some secret bloodline pact thing!"
Sildar's lips curled into another grin. "You may not want it, but it's yours nonetheless."
Victor sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Enough. Sildar, do you have anything useful to say?"
The Sigbin leader's demeanor shifted, its eyes glowing brighter. "Only this: the boy's power will attract attention. If he isn't prepared, he will fall. And if he falls… so does the pact."
The room fell into an uneasy silence.
Jay's head spun, the weight of Sildar's words pressing down on him. "I didn't ask for this," he muttered.
Leno leaned closer, his voice low but kind. "None of us did, Jay. But we deal with it. And we'll help you deal with it too."
For the first time, Jay noticed the sincerity in Leno's usually teasing eyes. He swallowed hard, nodding.
Sildar stepped back, the other Sigbins parting to let it pass. "Our business here is done—for now."
Victor nodded curtly. "Good. We'll call you when we need you."
As the Sigbins disappeared into the shadows, Jay turned to Victor, Alina, and Leno.
"Are you ever going to tell me everything?"
Victor's expression softened, just slightly. "In time. But for now, just trust us."
Jay wasn't sure he could. But as he looked at Leno's reassuring grin and Alina's unwavering confidence, he realized he didn't have much choice.
Victor strode ahead, his footsteps echoing in the dimly lit corridor of the underground facility. "We've wasted enough time. Let's move."
Jay trailed behind the group, his eyes darting nervously around the ancient stone walls. It felt like they had been walking for hours, descending deeper and deeper into the labyrinth-like base. The air grew colder with every step, and the faint hum of machinery reverberated in the distance.
Finally, they arrived at a heavy, reinforced door. Victor pushed it open, revealing a large room filled with relics of the past. Shelves lined the walls, packed with dusty books, strange artifacts, and maps that looked centuries old. The air smelled of parchment and something faintly metallic.
"This," Victor announced, gesturing to the room, "is where we keep records of everything we know about the world's... less conventional inhabitants."
Leno stepped forward, brushing past Jay. "Grab a book," Victor ordered.
Leno smirked and picked one at random. Its leather cover was cracked with age, and the gold lettering on its spine had long since faded. He flipped it open with an air of casual familiarity, but the words he read were anything but ordinary.
"Let's start with the shadows," Leno began, his tone suddenly serious. "They're creatures that possess humans. They feed off negative emotions—fear, anger, despair. The more they consume, the stronger they get. Ordinary people don't even know they're being controlled until it's too late."
Jay shivered. "That's... horrifying."
"It gets worse," Leno continued, flipping the page. "Next up, the Sigbins. They look like twisted versions of dogs, but they're far more dangerous. They used to prey on humans, feeding on their flesh. But after centuries of being hunted to near extinction, they made a contract with us—The Assassins' Crib. They've been allies ever since."
Jay's stomach turned at the thought of creatures like that working with them.
"Then there are vampires," Leno said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And yes, they're real. Immortal, just like in the stories. Super strength, enhanced senses, the works. Decapitation is the only reliable way to kill them. Their numbers have dwindled over the years—humans outnumber them by far now—but don't let that fool you. They're cunning, wealthy, and incredibly dangerous. Assassins like us have been hunting them for centuries."
"Charming," Jay muttered, trying to mask his unease.
Leno turned another page. "Next, magic users. People like Victor."
Victor's eyes flicked toward Leno, but he said nothing.
"Victor's not a pure magic user," Leno explained. "His father had magical abilities, but his mother was human. We don't know if Victor will ever unlock his full potential. But a full magic user? They're something else entirely. They can reshape reality if they're powerful enough."
Jay glanced at Victor, who stood silently, his expression unreadable.
"Then we have superhumans," Leno went on. "People like Andrei, who can manipulate objects with his mind, and Leon, who can run faster than the eye can see. Their abilities are genetic—like gods chose them to be different. I'd even say Reign and Kahanna belong in this category because of their extraordinary expertise."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "So, basically, everyone but me has something special?"
Leno smirked. "Not so fast, kid. We're getting to you."
He flipped the pages until he reached one with a faded illustration. It depicted a man standing in the center of a circle, surrounded by kneeling creatures—the shadows, Sigbins, vampires, and more.
Jay laughed nervously. "Are you trying to say I'm a god or something?"
Leno closed the book with a snap and gave Jay a knowing look. "Not quite. But you're different. All seven of you in this team are gifted, each in unique ways. You, though—you're something else entirely."
Jay frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Leno leaned against the table, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "You're part of the Nullers."
"The what?"
"The Nullers," Leno repeated. "You have the power to nullify any other power. Magic, superhuman abilities, even creatures like the Sigbins—you can cancel them out. It's a rare ability, and it's why my twin, Levo, tried to raise you. We wanted to understand you better. But things didn't exactly go as planned."
Jay's chest tightened. "So… what about my parents? Do you know anything about them?"
Leno sighed and patted Jay's shoulder. "When we found you as a baby, you were being held by two people. They were burned—beyond recognition. It was as if they used everything they had to protect you. We think they might have been your parents."
Jay's heart sank at the thought. He looked at the ancient book in Leno's hands, then at the group around him. For the first time, he realized just how much he didn't know—not just about the world, but about himself.
Jay took a deep breath, steadying the swirl of emotions in his chest. He looked Leno straight in the eyes. "Take me there," he said firmly.
Leno tilted his head, surprised by the sudden demand. "To where?"
"To where you found me," Jay clarified. "I need to see it. I need to know more."
The room fell silent. Even Victor, who was usually unshakable, looked momentarily uneasy.
"Are you sure?" Leno asked cautiously. "It's not exactly a pleasant place."
"I'm sure," Jay replied without hesitation. "If there's even the slightest chance I can learn about my past, I need to take it."
Leno studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Alright. We'll go at dawn. It's a long journey."