There was a thick numbness in the air, Michael could feel his heart racing. He was unarmed, outnumbered and outmaneuvered. He couldn't do anything but glare up at Don in contempt, his knees resting on the ground. Don smirked down at him. "Why the long face? I haven't even done anything yet - except kill several prisoners you helped break free."Michael clenched his fists in silent fury, trying to contain the deep hatred he felt towards Don."Bring them over," Don ordered his men surrounding the captives, including Jocelyn and Irene. They were dragged forward, forced to kneel next to Michael, and bound. In unison, they held their heads high - accepting their fate with dignity. None showed outward signs of being terrified, though shivers coursed down their spines. "There were about twenty of you. Now look at yourselves, reduced to what? Eight? Nine?" Don smirked as he counted the escaped captives.He paced around them and stopped behind the first prisoner, then shot him point-blank

As Don was taken away, Evelyn felt a swirl of conflicting emotions. Part of her was relieved that he had been arrested. But another part was worried that he might escape yet again - so she wondered why he was kept alive and not executed on the spot.Surprised by her unusual thoughts of violence, she brushed them from her mind. She was a doctor and wasn't supposed to think like that. A wave of shame washed over her. Evelyn turned to Rebecca. "Are you alright?" She asked once again.Rebecca sighed. "Yes, I'm okay. I'm just confused...""About what?" Evelyn prodded gently. She knew something was amiss, though she still couldn't understand the confrontation between Rebecca and Don over Victor.Rebecca looked at her friend, unsure how to explain her discovery about Victor. "He - he is human.""What? Who is?" Evelyn's brow furrowed in confusion."Victor," Rebecca elaborated, her voice wavering. "He wasn't wearing his ring when they wheeled him outside. I tried to stop them from taking him

Evelyn's entire body trembled as fear gripped her at the horrific sight. She stood frozen, eyes locked on the scene unfolding before her. The shattered sound of fallen cups mingled with her anguished screams led to the inrush of others into Victor's hospital room."What happened?" Michael's question hung in the air as he halted, shock etched across his face. Irene and Jocelyn crowded in behind, their gasps audible. They stood still in awe, stunned to find Victor had sunken his fangs into Rebecca's neck. He pinned her limp form to the bed, feeding ravenously from the artery above her collarbone.""Hey! Get off her!" Michael surged forward, trying to wrench the frenzied Victor away, but the vampire's inhuman strength overpowered him. Though a werewolf himself, Michael was no match.He struggled futilely until Victor cast him aside with brutal force, sending him crashing through the doorway.Irene and Jocelyn rushed in, determined to help, but Evelyn held them back. "He's too strong.

A heavy silence fell over the group as Michael's words sunk in.Jocelyn's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes widening in disbelief. "No...oh god, no..."Evelyn felt her stomach drop. Poor headstrong John, who had left with his brother to find a way to stop the persistent raids on their family mines. "How did it happen?" She asked her husband.Michael dragged a shaky hand down his face, grief and weariness etched in the lines around his eyes. "My father didn't give me any details over the phone. Just said to get home right away.""Okay," Evelyn answered softly. She noticed Jocelyn was already crying, her shoulders were shaking with muffled sobs. She went to her, pulling her close in a tight embrace."We should go," Evelyn said, keeping her voice as steady as she could manage. "Your father wants us all together."Michael could only nod, seeming dazed by the tragic news. He turned and started walking without another word, his footsteps heavy.Evelyn kept an arm around Jocelyn, gently guid