We stood in the room, still as statues, listening to the oppressive silence that surrounded us. The air was thick, not with fear, but with the suffocating weight of Conrad's unseen presence. Every shadow felt alive, every flicker of light seemed like a pair of watching eyes.
Sia shifted closer, her hand brushing mine. Her lips didn't move, but I heard her voice clearly—not with sound, but through Flux.
"We need to move. Server room."
Her body remained still, her eyes steady on the window as if watching for an enemy. But I felt the current of her intent, clear and precise, flowing through the shared wavelength of Flux between us.
I frowned, keeping my response in the same medium. It wasn't like speaking; it was more about letting my intentions ripple out and hoping she caught them. "Why the server room?"
Sia tilted her head slightly, the faintest quirk of a smile on her lips. "We cut the comms. He's listening—every vampire in this place might be. If we shut down their communications, we can call Lawrence without Conrad hearing."
The idea made sense, but I couldn't help my curiosity. I'd been training with Flux for six months now, but this level of control—this silent communication—was new to me. "How does this work? I mean… speaking without sound?"
She flicked her eyes toward me, her expression softening. I felt her amusement through the Flux before she "spoke" again. "Flux isn't just power—it's intention. It moves between wavelengths, like radio signals. When you focus, you can project ideas, emotions, even pieces of thought. You're doing it now."
I blinked, processing her words. "But Conrad—he could still sense us, right? Feel where we are?"
Sia nodded. "If we're not careful, yes. That's why we mask ourselves—lower our body heat, dampen our energy. Vampire eyes work like infrared—they see heat as much as movement. If we keep our Flux steady, controlled, we'll blend into the background."
It was a lot to take in, but I didn't need convincing. We didn't have any other options.
"Fine," I sent back. "Lead the way."
Sia didn't hesitate, moving toward the door with measured, deliberate steps. I followed, keeping my breathing even and my presence dampened, just as she'd taught me.
The hallway was dimly lit, the faint hum of electricity the only sound. We moved like shadows, our footsteps silent against the carpeted floor.
I felt a ripple of something—an itch along my senses, like static electricity. Sia stopped abruptly, holding up a hand.
"What is it?" I projected.
She tilted her head toward the end of the corridor. The air shifted, and suddenly, a man stepped out from behind a corner. He was dressed in the hotel's staff uniform, but there was no mistaking the sharp glint of a knife in his hand—or the predatory look in his eyes.
"Hunter," Sia whispered aloud.
The man lunged, fast and precise. Sia ducked out of the way, her Flux flickering in sharp bursts as she countered his strike. I stepped forward, blocking his second attack with my forearm.
The knife grazed past me, but I turned my momentum into a pivot, stepping into his space. My training took over, the movements flowing instinctively.
I trapped his arm with a Wing Chun deflection, my hand sliding along his wrist to lock his blade arm against his body. My other hand shot forward, striking his elbow to weaken his grip. The knife clattered to the ground, and I followed up with a quick elbow to his chest, knocking him off balance.
He stumbled, but recovered quickly, throwing a wild punch. I sidestepped, redirecting his energy with a circular motion, keeping my movements tight and efficient.
Sia stayed back, watching with an approving smirk.
"You've come a long way since I first kicked your ass," she said, her tone amused.
I didn't have time to respond. The hunter lunged again, but this time I used Flux to enhance my movements. My palm struck the side of his head, sending a faint ripple of energy through his skull. His body went limp, crumpling to the ground.
I exhaled sharply, stepping back. "Not bad, huh?"
Sia crouched down, checking the hunter's pulse. "Not bad," she admitted. "He's out cold, but we need to move. If there's one, there'll be more."
We reached the server room without further incident, though the tension in the air was palpable.
The door was secured with an electronic lock, but Sia didn't even flinch. She crouched by the panel, her fingers flying across the keypad as she bypassed the security protocols.
I kept watch, my senses stretched outward for any sign of danger. The faint hum of Flux energy buzzed in my ears, but it was distant, unfocused.
"Got it," Sia said, standing as the door clicked open.
Inside, rows of servers blinked in the dim light, their cooling fans filling the room with a low hum. Sia went straight to the control panel, her focus razor-sharp.
"Cover me," she said, already typing.
I stood by the door, my Flux crackling faintly in anticipation. The air felt heavy, charged with something I couldn't quite place.
Suddenly, a figure stepped into the doorway—a woman, tall and slender, with pale skin and sharp, angular features. Her eyes gleamed like polished obsidian, and her presence was suffocating, like a predator sizing up its prey.
I recognized her instantly. She was the one who'd delivered Conrad's summons.
"Well, isn't this a surprise," she said, her voice like silk. "I didn't expect you two to be so… resourceful."
Sia turned slowly, her knife already in hand. "Stay back."
The woman's smile widened, revealing a flash of fangs. "Oh, darling, I'm not here to negotiate."
She moved faster than I could follow, a blur of motion that was suddenly right in front of me. I reacted on instinct, throwing up a barrier of Flux that barely held against her attack.
"Impressive," she said, her tone mocking. "But you'll need more than that to stop me."
Sia darted forward, her knife slashing through the air. The woman dodged effortlessly, her movements fluid and precise.
"Distract her!" Sia shouted.
I didn't need to be told twice. I focused my Flux, sending a shockwave toward the vampire. She dodged again, but it was enough to force her back a step. Sia took advantage of the opening, her knife slicing through the vampire's arm.
The woman hissed, her composure faltering for the first time. "You'll pay for that," she snarled, her voice dripping with venom.