Mag-log inThe red light beneath their feet intensified. Sera barely had time to react. A violent metallic crack tore through the corridor.The floor split open."Sera!" Husen reached for her.Too late. Something burst upward from beneath the floor. It wasn't flesh. It wasn't a creature. It was machinery. Long mechanical limbs erupted from the opening, their joints rotating with unnatural precision. They looked almost like enormous metallic tentacles, covered in cables and articulated blades. One wrapped around Sera's waist. Another seized her wrist."Husen!"He lunged. The machine pulled her backward. Husen caught her hand. For one second, they held on to each other."Don't let go!""I'm trying!"A third mechanical arm slammed into Husen's chest.CRASH!He flew backward and struck the wall."SERA!"The machine dragged her toward the opening. Husen recovered instantly. His eyes flashed. He launched himself forward.Aldren shouted, "Don't destroy the machinery!"Husen ignored him. He grabbed the
The night passed slowly. Too slowly. Outside the Council city, the ruined building remained dark except for the faint glow of a single electric lamp. Aldren sat over the map. Elias checked his medical supplies for the third time.The hunters rested in shifts. Husen stood near the broken window, staring at the distant Council tower.Jonas remained awake. His pager sat in his palm.Every few minutes, he checked it. Nothing.Then..... A beep. Everyone looked toward him.Jonas send the message.SERA HAS WOKEN.Husen immediately turned."Where is she?"Jonas send the second message.OBSERVATION WING. MOVED TO PRIVATE ROOM.Aldren stood. "Why?"Jonas shook his head."I don't know."Elias's expression tightened."Did they say anything?"Another message appeared.CAEDRYN PRESENT.Husen's face hardened. "He's with her."Aldren folded the map. "Then we're moving."Inside the Council, Sera woke slowly. For several seconds, she didn't remember where she was. Then the unfamiliar ceiling came into f
Night had settled over the Council city by the time Helios reached its outer perimeter. From the distant ruins, the city looked almost unreal. Thousands of lights stretched across the horizon. Towers rose above the surrounding walls, their windows glowing against the darkness. Elevated roads carried silent vehicles between enormous buildings.Husen stopped on a ridge overlooking it. For several seconds, he simply stared."This is where they took her?"Aldren nodded. "The Council's central city."Husen's eyes narrowed. "They've built quite a kingdom."Elias adjusted the strap of his medical bag. "Kingdoms usually don't like people calling them kingdoms."Husen glanced at him. "Then perhaps we shouldn't tell them."Aldren looked toward the walls. "Enough."He pointed toward a narrow passage between two ruined structures."We move from there."The hunters followed. No one spoke. They had come too far to make a careless mistake.Several kilometers inside the city, Jonas stood beside a win
Kael walked through the upper corridors of the Council tower without hurrying. The messenger had already disappeared around the corner, leaving Kael alone with the faint hum of the building's systems. Normally, a summons from the Council Head didn't concern him. He had received hundreds. A mission. An escort. An interrogation. A retrieval. Sometimes something is far less pleasant. But this time was different. The Council had already brought Sera back. So why call him now?Kael stopped before the enormous black doors of Caedryn's chamber.The doors opened. "Come in," Caedryn said.Kael entered.The Council Head stood beside the enormous window, his hands behind his back.He didn't turn. "You've seen her."Kael knew immediately who he meant. "Sera.""Yes."Kael gave a faint smile. "Hard to miss."Caedryn finally turned. "How did she behave?""Suspicious.""Naturally.""Rude."A faint amusement appeared in Caedryn's eyes.Kael leaned against the edge of a table. "And surprisingly stubbo
Kael had always understood one simple truth. Power was never given freely. It was purchased. Sometimes with loyalty. Sometimes with blood. And sometimes with things far more difficult to replace. He stood alone before the tall window of his quarters, looking down at the Council city. Unlike the cramped rooms of Zelios, his quarters occupied an entire upper section of the Council tower. The walls were dark stone and polished metal. Soft electric lights illuminated the room. A large bed stood against the far wall, covered in black sheets. Beside it was a private sitting area, a writing desk, shelves filled with old books, and a small bar-like cabinet containing crystal glasses.But the most important part of the room was hidden behind another door. His private blood chamber. Kael opened it. Cold air escaped. Inside were several glass containers arranged neatly along the walls. Each contained preserved blood. Human. Vampire. And specially prepared mixtures developed by Council physicians
Sera did not answer. The word remained between them.Home. It felt wrong.Not because of what Caedryn had said, but because something inside her had reacted to it. A strange pressure had settled beneath her ribs. Her blood felt warm. Almost restless.Sera narrowed her eyes. "I've never been here."Caedryn watched her carefully. "I know.""Then don't call it my home.""Fair enough."His calm acceptance irritated her more than an argument would have. "You brought me here without my permission.""Yes.""You separated me from Zelios.""Yes.""You took me away from people I trust."Caedryn's expression barely changed."Yes.""And you're standing there acting as though none of that matters.""It matters.""Then why?"Caedryn walked toward a long table positioned near the window. Several sealed files rested on it. He placed his hand over the top file."Because the moment your blood changed, you stopped being only a Zelios hunter."Sera's eyes hardened. "I'm still Sera.""That is what I'm try







