The rain fell hard, soaking the city in darkness and cold. It wasn't the kind of soft drizzle you could ignoreâit was a relentless downpour that drowned out every other sound. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and flashes of lightning lit up the rooftops.
Caiden crouched at the edge of one of those rooftops, his scarred face hidden beneath the hood of his rain-soaked coat. The scar was a long, jagged line running across his faceâa permanent reminder of the mission that nearly killed him. Hawthorn wood infused with silver had done that, the only thing strong enough to leave a mark on a vampire. Most wounds healed like they'd never happened, but this one stayed.
He didn't care about the rain or the scar tonight. His eyes were locked on his target, a man weaving through the crowd below. The target didn't know he was being hunted. He was just another face in the city, blending into the chaos of umbrellas and rushing footsteps.
Caiden's fingers brushed the knives at his belt. The cold steel felt reassuring, like an old friend. This was supposed to be easyâget in, finish the job, and disappear into the night. That was how it always went.
But something felt wrong.
The air was heavy, almost suffocating, and his gut twisted like a warning siren. Caiden's instincts were never wrong. They had kept him alive for years. Tonight, though, he ignored them. There was no time for hesitation.
He dropped from the rooftop, landing silently on a fire escape below. Rain splattered around him as he climbed down to the alley, his movements smooth and quick. The target was just a few steps away now.
And then, everything went sideways.
A sharp pain exploded in his side. Caiden froze, his breath catching as the knife pierced through him. His body tensed, his hand flying to the wound. The rain did nothing to cool the searing pain.
He turned, his eyes wide with disbelief, and there he wasâGabriel.
Gabriel, his best friend. The guy he trusted with his life. The guy who always had his back. Now, Gabriel was standing there, holding a blood-stained knife and smirking like he'd already won.
"Surprised?" Gabriel asked, his voice calm and cold. The rain dripped off his hair, and lightning lit up his face for just a second.
Caiden's heart sank. "Why?" he rasped, his voice shaking as much as his hands.
Gabriel tilted his head, like the question was ridiculous. "Because you're weak, Caiden. You've always been weak. The organization needs someone better." He took a step closer, his smirk growing. "And that someone is me."
Caiden stumbled back, his mind spinning. Gabriel's words hit harder than the knife ever could. Weak? He'd fought by Gabriel's side for years. They were a team. Or at least, that's what he thought.
"You're a traitor," Caiden hissed, the pain in his side making every word harder to say.
Gabriel shrugged like it didn't matter. "Call it what you want. It's nothing personal. Just business."
And then, without warning, Gabriel shoved him.
Caiden's feet slipped on the wet pavement, and the world tilted. He barely had time to register the fall before he was tumbling off the edge of the roof. Rain lashed at his face as he fell, the ground rushing up to meet him.
The impact knocked the air out of his lungs. Pain shot through his body, sharp and unforgiving. For a second, everything went black. But Caiden wasn't human. He was a vampire. And vampires didn't die that easily.
Groaning, he forced himself to move. His side burned where the knife had been, and blood soaked his shirt, but his body was already trying to heal. He could feel the wound closing, though it was slower than usual.
He looked around, his vision still blurry from the fall. Gabriel was gone, disappearing into the rain like a ghost.
Caiden clenched his fists, his teeth grinding as he dragged himself to his feet. He wouldn't die here. Not like this. Gabriel thought he'd won, but Caiden wasn't finished. Not by a long shot.
"I'll make you pay for this," he muttered, his voice low but full of fury.
The rain poured harder, hiding his face as he stumbled into the shadows. Gabriel thought he'd ended him, but Caiden was still standing.
And when he came back, Gabriel wouldn't see it coming.