ログイン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
The Archive settled onto the Council landing platform with a deep metallic vibration. The engines wound down. The massive city beyond the platform continued glowing beneath the evening sky, its streets filled with people who had stopped to watch the arrival.Jonas remained inside. He had positioned himself near one of the rear compartments, hidden behind a stack of equipment cases. He watched through a narrow gap in the partition. Kael had already escorted Sera away.Jonas waited. He had been given one instruction by Aldren before they departed.Stay close to Sera.And another:Don't let the Council know you're reporting to us.Jonas touched the pager hidden beneath his sleeve.He typed quickly.ARCHIVE LANDED. COUNCIL TERRITORY CONFIRMED. SERA ALIVE.He sent it. A few seconds later, the reply came.RECEIVED. WE ARE ALREADY MOVING. KEEP HER IN SIGHT. DO NOT ENGAGE UNLESS NECESSARY.Jonas exhaled. "Got it."He slipped the pager back beneath his sleeve. Then he looked toward the doors.
The Archive descended through the clouds. Sera stood beside the reinforced window, staring down. For several minutes, she couldn't understand what she was seeing. She had expected ruins. Abandoned buildings. Military walls. Perhaps another fortress like Zelios. Instead, beneath the aircraft stretched an enormous city. A living city. Lights ran along broad streets in perfectly ordered lines. Tall buildings rose from the center, their surfaces made from glass, steel, and pale stone. Bridges connected towers at different levels. Vehicles moved silently along elevated roads. And everywhere. There were people. Hundreds. Perhaps thousands. They walked beneath illuminated pathways, carrying bags, talking to one another, entering buildings, leaving shops. Children ran through enclosed gardens. People sat outside in small restaurants. Some laughed. Others argued. A woman carried groceries while speaking to someone through a small communication device. It looked almost normal. Almost like the







