Kimberly's motorcycle cut through the cold night, headlights slicing across the empty road back to Salt Blake City. Behind her, clutching tightly around her waist, Tory stayed silent. The night wind whipped through her short blonde hair, but couldn't blow away the heaviness in her chest.
When they finally reached the Blood's Bar, the place was almost empty, as usual. Preston's bar was discreet, a dead spot in the city where hunters, smugglers, and lost souls could hide from the world. Kim parked the bike, took a deep breath, and looked at Tory.
"Welcome home. For now," she said dryly, pushing open the heavy door.
Inside the hidden base, Roberto, Roshi, and Mandy were already waiting. The smell of cheap cigarettes and alcohol clung to the air, mixing with the low hum of an old TV playing in the corner. When they saw Tory walk in behind Kimberly, every face showed the same reaction — disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding me…" Roberto muttered, folding his arms. "We risk our lives fighting vampires, and you bring one into our base?"
Mandy pursed her lips, clearly disappointed.
"So that's it? Goodbye payday… I was already thinking about what to buy."
Roshi, who rarely spoke, only stared at Tory — eyes sharp as blades. His silence said it all.
Tory, on the other hand, lifted her chin, trying to keep her composure despite the hostility.
"I'm not like them. I don't belong to any clan. I don't have a family… not anymore."
Her blue eyes glimmered faintly, but her voice held firm. "Maybe I can be useful."
Roberto let out a dry laugh.
"Useful? The only thing a vampire's good for is sucking blood."
Kimberly raised a hand, cutting through the tension.
"That's enough. She's staying. I know it's not easy, but I'll take responsibility for her, got it?"
The others nodded reluctantly before heading to their rooms one by one.
Later, in the corner of the hideout, Kimberly and Tory were alone. The dim yellow light of the hanging bulb swayed gently, casting long shadows on the walls. Tory stood against the wall, arms crossed, while Kim calmly cleaned her pistol.
"Why did you bring me here?" Tory finally asked, looking straight at Kim.
"You could've left me there… or handed me over and walked away."
Kim paused for a moment, staring into the void before answering.
"Because I know what it's like to be alone."
Her tone was serious, deeper than usual.
"I lost my family young. Watched my home burn. Saw everything fall apart… and after that, I had to survive — alone. But then I met people who helped me. So yeah, I know what you're feeling."
Tory looked away, fists tightening.
"So what, you pity me? You brought me here out of pity?"
Kim smirked faintly, as sarcastic as ever.
"Pity? No. I just figured you could be more than some girl crying in the dark. Maybe you'll prove to them you've got worth."
Tory took a slow breath. "And if they never accept me?"
Kim finished assembling her pistol, holstered it, then stood and gave the vampire a light tap on the shoulder.
"Give it time. Everyone here's got their scars — their own monsters to fight. In the end, we all share one goal: to take down the things trying to screw this world over."
Tory looked at her quietly, and for the first time since it all began, she felt she might've found something close to belonging — not quite acceptance, but a possibility.
Kim turned toward the door of the hideout.
"For now, you're part of the crew. Just don't make me regret it, alright?"
A faint smile tugged at Tory's lips. "I won't."
The air in the hideout was still heavy, but the tension had to be pushed aside when a new call came in. A wealthy businessman from the coastal city of Seawraith reported that several of his men had vanished at sea, leaving his fishing company on the brink of collapse. It was another job — another hunt.
"I'll take it," Kim said, already grabbing her leather jacket and checking her weapons.
Tory stepped forward, her voice steady. "I'm coming with you."
Roberto chuckled bitterly. "Oh, perfect. Let's take the spoiled little vampire for a boat ride."
But Tory didn't flinch. "I want to prove I can be useful."
Kim studied her for a few seconds, then turned to Roshi. The old man sighed deeply, muttered something in Japanese, and pulled two short blades from a chest — silver-forged with saltmarsh engravings along the edge, gleaming faintly under the weak light.
"These aren't toys," Roshi warned, handing the weapons to Tory.
"Don't make me regret this."
Tory tested the blades, feeling their weight. "I won't."
---
The ride to Seawraith was silent. The port city had a heavy air — damp streets, walls stained with rust, and the smell of fish soaked into everything.
Mr. Velos, the company owner, greeted them in his cluttered office filled with nautical charts and fishing logs.
"They disappear at night, near the cargo containers by the docks…" the man explained nervously.
"Strong men. Experienced… and they just vanish."
Kim nodded, while Tory quietly took in every detail.
That night, they walked through a maze of stacked containers, the shadows forming narrow, suffocating paths. The sound of waves crashing against the pier echoed through the dark.
Then came the song.
A voice — ethereal, sweet, and sorrowful. Each note seemed to pull at the soul. Kimberly's eyes narrowed; she knew that sound too well. Tory froze, her eyes glazing over, body moving forward as if drawn by invisible strings.
"Tory!" Kim shouted, yanking her by the arm. "Don't listen!"
From the darkness, a figure emerged — a woman of supernatural beauty. Pale, glimmering skin, long hair flowing like seaweed, and green eyes shining beneath the moonlight. But when she opened her mouth, razor-sharp teeth gleamed. The siren moved gracefully, every step carrying that haunting melody that bound the air around them.
Kim drew both pistols, firing silver rounds soaked in saltwater. The creature moved fast, weaving between the containers like liquid shadow.
With a shriek so piercing it shattered nearby glass, the siren lunged. Kim staggered, pulling a small grenade from her belt and tossing it to the ground — it exploded in a cloud of burning coral dust. The siren hissed in pain, retreating.
Kim rushed forward, twin blades flashing in precise arcs, but the creature deflected with hardened claws, countering with strikes sharp enough to slice through bone.
As they fought, Tory wrestled against the song's enchantment until her eyes finally cleared. Her hands tightened around Roshi's daggers — the gleam of silver reigniting her focus.
"Enough!" she shouted, charging forward.
Her blade slashed across the siren's side, searing flesh. The creature screamed, twisting in agony. Kim seized the opening, driving her sword straight through the siren's chest. Tory spun, crossing her blades in a synchronized strike.
The siren shrieked one last time before collapsing onto the metal floor between the containers.
Its body began to decay, skin melting into damp ash. But then, near its chest, a faint mark burned into view — the same sigil Kim had seen before, branded into the flesh like a seal of ownership.
"The Circle of the Night…" Kim murmured, wiping her blade. "Again."
Tory breathed heavily, still gripping her daggers, but her eyes shone with something new — purpose.
Kim looked at her, and for once, there was no sarcasm in her tone.
"Looks like you've got potential after all."
Tory only smiled faintly, saying nothing.
But that moment said enough, their partnership had just begun.