"Get to the point." Clerk interrupted, his patience thinning.
"Canine... Canidae," Shawn muttered, biting back a chuckle. He continued, "Preliminary analysis suggests it's a medium-sized pet dog breed, like a Samoyed or something."
"…"
Clerk's face darkened, his usually composed expression twitching slightly as he fought to suppress his irritation. Damn it! He had made a mistake on a professional call.
Shawn immediately felt the tension rising and hurried to start the car. In this situation, all he could do was hope Clerk wouldn't take his frustration out on him. And, please, no more ridiculous hairs for the tech department to analyze! He didn't want to end up the laughingstock again.
Meanwhile, on the eastern outskirts of Windy City, in an abandoned oil field.
In the yard, a young vampire hunter in his twenties stood, wearing a black trench coat that matched the oversized hat hiding his face. The only visible feature was his bright, cherry-red lips peeking from under the brim. His mixed heritage was evident, though little else about him could be discerned.
He drew a handgun from his belt, slowly loading it with silver bullets before lifting his gaze toward the abandoned brick house. With a grin, he called out, "Vincus, you've been running for so long, and you still won't surrender?"
Inside the brick house, there was no reply. A frail young vampire, pale as death, pressed his hand tightly against his mouth, holding in his breath. He had deliberately suppressed his Vampire Clan aura, not daring to reveal his presence.
This was Vincus, awakened from his slumber by his clan six months ago. Trapped by a traitor, he had suffered unrelenting torment before escaping into the human world. His only goal: to find the woman from a thousand years ago. Unfortunately, his luck had run out. The vampire hunter had tracked him relentlessly for an entire month.
"Vincus, how about a game? I'll shoot you ten times. If you dodge, I'll let you go this time."
The vampire hunter's footsteps grew louder, slowly approaching the brick house.
Suddenly, ding ding ding!
His phone buzzed with a new directive: "Tonight, we eat chicken."
"Tsk, tsk. Chicken, huh? Just back in town, and I already get a nice little surprise. How could I not go?"
He glanced at the message, slipped his phone back into his pocket, and turned away from the house, his mood lightening.
As he walked, he casually removed his hat, revealing a head of vibrant orange hair. The warm afternoon sunlight shone on it, casting a golden glow that flickered like fire.
He sighed deeply, a nostalgic smile creeping onto his lips. In his youth, he had left Windy City at thirteen to study abroad, and now, at nineteen, he had returned as a seasoned vampire hunter. His name was Soren, and his resume was filled with accomplishments.
"Vincus, I'll let you go this time. We'll meet again someday," he called out, walking away with an arrogant flair.
Inside the brick house, Vincus held his breath, listening as Soren's footsteps receded.
Only when he was sure the hunter had truly left did he exhale quietly. But something felt off.
That powerful, familiar Vampire Clan aura he sensed earlier—could it have been Elena?
Vincus wondered, his heart racing. He hadn't seen Elena in over a thousand years, not since he fell into his slumber. Was she the one who had sensed his presence and come to his aid? He could only hope.
Meanwhile, at Cluck'n'Wild Farm, Windy City West, 3:00 PM.
Inside the control room, the two human workers had been knocked unconscious by Elysia, who had locked them away in the feed storage room. All twelve cameras were destroyed, and all work records from the past two weeks had been erased.
With everything in place, Elysia clapped her hands together, a satisfied smile on her face. "All set. Now, what's next?"
Elena, her Lunar Trace Teeth glistening with a mischievous grin, answered, "Why, it's time to feast and throw a party!"
The chickens, however, seemed to sense the danger. They clucked nervously, pacing back and forth in the pen.
Elysia hesitated, watching them carefully. "Are you really going to drink that? I've heard human-raised chickens are a bit... risky."
Elena's expression darkened, clearly irritated.
It took courage, yes. She had fed on animal blood before—tigers, leopards, wolves—but never chicken blood. Since her injury, she hadn't had fresh, warm blood. What would chicken blood taste like? She wasn't sure.
Elysia, still uneasy, grabbed Elena's arm and pulled her back. "Vincus is probably safe now, we should leave."
"No." Elena's refusal was firm.
Elysia groaned in frustration. "Don't forget, your Vampire Clan aura can attract more than just vampire hunters. It could bring other Vampire Clans here. Even if you want to exchange your head for two billion, don't make it easier for them!"
"I understand. Don't worry. When I'm ready to die, I'll leave that honorable task to you." Elena smirked, her gaze already fixed on the chicken pen, as if determined to push forward.
Elysia tugged at her again, more urgently. "You understand, but why are you still going in there? We need to leave, now!"
Elena, now back to her normal human form, turned with a sly smile. "What's wrong? I just want to grab a couple of chickens for Damon's soup. If I get poisoned, it'll be his problem, not mine."
"You really think that?" Elysia rolled her eyes. "Once everyone gets here, we won't be able to leave."
Before Elena could protest, Elysia grabbed her and dragged her toward the farm's main gate.
As they stepped outside, four figures appeared ahead, their dark cloaks swirling around them, creating a mysterious, almost ominous presence. The shadows seemed to follow them like a veil.
"Where do you think you're going, my noble Vampire Clan master?" The voice came from the leader, who stepped forward with an air of ancient authority.
Elena's eyes narrowed as the four figures came into focus. They were the newly selected four warlords of the Vampire Clan: Morgar, Cyril , Zethar, and Echo.
Morgar, the oldest of the group, stepped forward. His face was paper-thin and pale, drained of color, and his voice was a raspy whisper, full of dark energy from ancient times. "Naturally, we're here to escort the noble Vampire Clan master back. The human world is too dangerous for you."
Elysia immediately placed herself between Elena and the four newcomers, her aura cold and fierce, ready to defend. "What do you want?" she demanded, her stance combative.
Morgar's hands clasped before him as he bowed slightly, his voice respectful but still foreboding. "We're here to escort you back. The human world is far too perilous."