The bar was quieter than usual when Kimberly and Tory returned from the Seawraith mission. Their boots echoed across the wooden floor as they walked up to the main table, where Roshi, Mandy, and Roberto were gathered. Kim unlocked her phone, opened the gallery, and dropped it on the table — a photo of the glowing mark found on the siren's body.
"The same mark we saw on the werewolf from Wadron…" Roshi muttered, narrowing his eyes. "It can't be a coincidence."
Mandy leaned back in her chair, arms crossed.
"That confirms it. Someone — or something — is coordinating these monsters."
Roberto glanced briefly at Tory, who stood silently beside Kim. Until now, his eyes always held disdain, but after the mission, there was something different in his expression — a quiet weight.
He sighed and said, awkwardly,
"I… was kind of a jerk to you. Didn't think you'd have the guts to face a siren. So… yeah, sorry."
Tory raised an eyebrow, surprised, but replied without arrogance.
"I'm not like the other vampires. I just want… to prove I can be better."
Mandy cleared her throat, turning away as if swallowing her pride.
"Yeah, maybe I judged you too early."
Kim crossed her arms, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
"Told you all you'd get used to it. Just takes time."
Roshi remained silent, but the look he gave Tory was no longer pure disdain — there was a spark of restrained respect.
---
Later that night, after everyone had gone to rest, Kimberly couldn't sleep. The possible threat of the shadow order kept her mind turning. She grabbed her red jacket and headed out into the cold night. Tory noticed and followed after a simple wave of Kim's hand.
"Come on," Kim said.
"Need to clear my head."
They walked through the empty streets until they reached a part of the city bordering Wadron.
"You did good today, blondie," Kimberly said with a faint grin.
"Thanks," Tory replied, brushing a hand through her hair.
"So did you."
"Still thinking about your clan?" Kim asked.
"Yeah… but since you took me in, I've been able to push it aside a little," Tory said as they walked.
"That's good. But I'll be honest — it's rare to see a vampire reject her own nature," Kim said, arching an eyebrow.
"Since I was a kid, I saw what vampires did — manipulation, blood contracts with humans kept as living cattle. I never agreed with any of it. When my father died in a territory dispute, I was next in line to lead the clan, since I was the eldest. My mother, being the traditionalist she is, forced me to accept it. I couldn't handle it… so I ran. Been hiding ever since — until you showed up."
Tory's gaze drifted skyward, memories flashing through her mind like fragments of a lost life.
"I see…" Kim sighed. "Well, that proves you really are different."
"Maybe. I don't feel better than them, but I want to be," Tory said softly, hope glimmering in her tone.
They kept walking — until a metallic, heavy scent carried through the night air.
Rounding a dimly lit alley, they saw three men beating another to the ground.
Kim and Tory exchanged a quick glance — and without a word, they moved.
"Hey!" Kimberly shouted, throwing the first punch straight into one of the attackers.
The fight broke out instantly. Kim dropped one with a kick to the chest while Tory dodged a makeshift blade, countering with a sharp strike using her vampiric agility. But in the heat of the brawl, their eyes flashed yellow.
"Werewolves…" Tory growled.
"Just great…" Kimberly sighed.
Before the fight could escalate further, a deep voice cut through the alley.
"That's enough."
A figure stepped out from the shadows — tall, broad-shouldered, brown hair in disarray, his expression full of disdain. The way he walked radiated raw confidence and violence.
Kim studied him.
"And you are?"
"Ryan," he said bluntly.
"These guys are mine."
He kicked the beaten man at his feet — revealing the victim was just a human, branded — a Famuli, servant of vampires. Kim immediately pulled the man behind her.
"You call this a gang? Beating up defenseless humans? Pathetic," she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Ryan chuckled, though his eyes were ice-cold.
He grabbed one of his own men by the collar and slammed him into the wall with a single punch, following it with a brutal flurry of kicks that left the man unconscious and coughing blood.
"Only the strong survive. Weaklings like him don't belong by my side."
Kim didn't flinch, though she could feel the tension thickening in the air.
"You're one hell of a lousy leader."
Ryan smirked, half-turning away.
"Better feared than useless," he muttered.
"Get that trash out of our territory before things get worse."
"Come at me, tough guy!" Kimberly shouted.
But before she could step forward, the wounded human whispered hoarsely, "It's fine… I'm leaving."
Kim and Tory stepped closer, shielding him.
Ryan gave them a crooked grin and shrugged.
"See you around, redhead."
He turned his back and walked out of the alley, his remaining wolves following. The threat hung heavy in the air even after they were gone.
Kim looked down at the injured man, still catching his breath, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Tory knelt beside him, eyes narrowing.
"That Ryan guy… he's not just some street punk."
Kim sighed, helping the man to his feet.
"No. But he's going to be a problem."
The man leaned against the wall, battered and bleeding. The weak streetlight revealed a face marked with bruises — but his eyes still carried pride. He wiped the blood from his mouth and looked at them.
"I… owe you my life," he rasped. "My name's Hector."
Kim folded her arms, sizing him up.
"Hector, huh? Then tell me — what the hell were you doing in werewolf gang territory?"
He took a deep breath, voice heavy with regret.
"I wasn't here by accident. I was looking for my son. He got mixed up with that gang — wanted to feel strong, to change our lives. But they caught me instead… and used me as their punching bag."
Tory frowned, her tone sharp.
"And becoming a Famuli? What's your excuse for that?"
Hector lowered his head in shame.
"My son and I lived in misery. Rotting houses, hunger, debts. When I heard some humans got paid for serving vampires, I thought it was our only way out. I sold myself — tried to buy us a better life. But all I brought was more suffering."
Kim watched him quietly, torn between coldness and sympathy. Memories of her own loss — her family, her loneliness — flickered through her mind.
"You said Ryan isn't the real leader," she said finally.
"So who is?"
Hector looked up, still breathing heavily.
"From what I know, Ryan's just the second-in-command. The real leader is someone close to him… someone he calls a brother. Never saw him myself, but they say he's far worse."
The weight of his words lingered in the air.
Hector then grabbed Kim's arm, desperation in his eyes.
"You're a hunter. I know who you are. Please — help me find my son. I'll do anything to repay you."
Kim gently pulled her arm free, her expression softening.
"You won't have to repay me," she said firmly.
"I don't hunt just for money. I hunt because monsters don't belong in this world."
She shot a glance at Tory — who caught the double meaning but said nothing.
Kim turned back to Hector.
"We'll find your son. And as for that leader… I'll deal with him myself when the time comes."
The cold night wind swept through the empty streets, carrying the promise of another battle.
And the fate of Hector and his son was now bound to Kimberly's path.
To be continued...