San Riverbend — a city that never slept. The sound of slot machines blended with the perfume of expensive drinks and the echo of laughter down neon-lit streets painted in red and blue. Built along a massive river that bordered South America, it was an oasis of excess — a tropical, decaying version of Las Vegas.
The group's van stopped in front of a grand hotel with a flickering golden sign:
"Golden Mirage Resort & Casino."
Kimberly was the first to step out, stretching her arms.
" Ah, nothing like the smell of money, sin, and fake air-conditioning."
Mandy adjusted her sunglasses, scanning the crowd.
"This city looks like it eats people alive."
Roberto chuckled.
" Welcome to the modern jungle. If there's a place for monsters to hide, it's here."
Tory crossed her arms, gazing toward the horizon.
" We're after a fragment, right? So the less noise we make, the better."
Kim looked at her with a teasing smile.
" Says the one who'll be the first to want to dance."
Tory rolled her eyes.
Inside, the casino was a sea of luxury and decadence. Flashing lights, cards flying, chips clinking. Kimberly walked with elegance, scanning the area. People stared — maybe at her confident posture, maybe at the crimson coat standing out among the glittering dresses.
She could feel it — something strange. The fragment had to be nearby, but the magical energy in the air felt... different.
As the group blended among the tourists, a man in a white suit approached. Tall, tan-skinned, intense gaze, charming smile — and a champagne flute in hand.
He stopped right in front of Kimberly.
" You look out of place among all this artificial light, he said in a smooth, velvety tone."
" Like the night belongs to you more than to these spotlights."
Kim arched an eyebrow, mildly amused.
" Nice try, pretty boy. But I'm a little busy hunting other things right now, so you'll have to wait for the next round."
The man smiled, though there was something oddly deep about his eyes.
" Then I hope you hunt me someday."
He walked away, vanishing into the crowd. Kimberly watched him go, a strange chill crawling down her spine.
"Who was that?"— Mandy asked.
"Just another smooth talker…" Kim replied, still thinking. "But there's something off about him."
Later, in their hotel room, Mandy shared what she'd found.
" Several women in town have turned up pregnant… but all swear they've never been with anyone."
" Vampires? Incubi?"— Tory guessed.
Roberto, sprawled on the couch, laughed.
" Or maybe it's the old "Boto Cor de Rosa" story."
Kim frowned. " The what?"
Roberto sat up, a nostalgic look on his face.
" My mom used to tell me this legend when I was a kid — from the Amazônia. They say the Pink River Dolphin turns into a charming man in a white suit during festivals, seduces women, and leaves them pregnant. Then he vanishes back into the river."
Mandy scrolled through her tablet.
" Yikes. I'm definitely not signing up for that one. But there are old reports of similar attacks near rivers — always around lunar events."
Kim's lips pressed into a line.
"Charming man, white suit, hypnotic eyes…" her expression hardened. " It's him. I saw him at the club."
" That guy who talked to you earlier? Are you sure?" — Mandy asked.
" Wait, hold on, thought he only showed up in Brazil."— said Roberto, incredulous.
" I'm not sure. But from your story, all the details match our sexy fish boy," Kim replied.
"If that's true, he either has the fragment… or knows who does," Tory said, lying back on the bed, eyeing Kimberly.
Kim smirked.
" I've got a plan."
Everyone looked at her suspiciously.
The next night, they headed to a lavish nightclub called "Eclipse Lounge." Kimberly wore a tight black dress, her hair tied back, cascading over her shoulders. She knew she'd draw attention.
" You sure about this?" Tory asked, clearly uneasy.
" Absolutely. If he really is the Boto, he'll come to me."
And he did.
Minutes later, the same man appeared — that same magnetic gaze.
"I knew we'd meet again."
Kim smiled, tossing her hair to the side.
" Maybe fate has good taste."
They danced — the rhythm intoxicating, the tension palpable. Roberto watched from the table, poorly hiding his jealousy. Tory bit her lip, tense.
When the music slowed, he pulled her closer.
Kim kissed him — just for a second — enough to feel something… magical. A pulse of energy.
Suddenly, she shoved him against the wall in a secluded hallway, revealing the hidden blade strapped to her leg.
"Found you, fish boy."
The man's eyes glowed pink.
"You shouldn't have done that."
He pushed her away and leapt out the window, body twisting midair — scales glimmering, legs fusing into a silver tail before he plunged into the canal below.
Kim tapped her earpiece and jumped after him.
" Tory, cover me! Mandy, Roberto — take the van!"
The van roared through the backroads while Kimberly sprinted along the riverbank, following the shimmering water trail. The roar of the current filled the air.
When she finally caught up, he was half-submerged — half man, half dolphin — a magnificent and tragic creature.
They fought fiercely. Kim's vampiric agility gave her the upper hand, but he was cunning, using the water to his advantage. It didn't last long, though. Kimberly grabbed an enchanted rope Mandy had prepared, lassoed him like a wild animal, and struck him across the head — knocking him unconscious.
The group took the creature to a secluded spot for interrogation.
"All right, pretty boy. Start talking! What are you? Why are you doing this to those women? What do you know about the Circle of the Night?" Kimberly demanded, yanking the hood off his head.
" You don't understand…" he said, his voice distant, echoing like a melancholy song.
"I didn't choose this."
Kim pointed her gun at him.
"Then explain before I send you back to the bottom of the river."
He lowered his gaze.
"A witch cursed me centuries ago. Said I'd pay for my sins by forever seducing what I can never love. I'm my own punishment."
The group exchanged looks. Tory spoke first.
" He might know where the fragment is."
Kim slowly lowered her gun.
" Then help us. Maybe this is your chance to break that curse."
The Boto — now fully human — sighed.
" There's something in the forest, near the river. An ancient energy. Might be what you're looking for. I'll show you."
" Try anything funny, and I'll cut off your tail, and I'm not talking about the fish one," Kimberly warned, undoing his magical restraints.
He froze.
They followed him into a moonlit clearing. The ground trembled; the air stank of sulfur.
The jungle was thick, full of thorny shrubs and twisting trees. Then came the sound — like dozens of snakes hissing in unison.
Suddenly, a colossal serpent of fire burst through the trees, roaring with blazing eyes.
" What the hell is that!?" Mandy screamed.
" Great. A giant snake," muttered Tory, cocking her weapon.
" Holy shit! It's real!" Roberto gasped.
" That's where the energy comes from — the Boitatá," the Boto shouted before fleeing into the woods.
" Fall back!" Kim ordered, drawing her pistols.
The flames lit up the clearing. Tory opened fire from a distance.
"Don't look into her eyes, it might make you blind or crazy." The Boto shouted, as a warning.
But Kimberly faced the monster head-on, dodging its strikes, slashing when she could. Then Tory landed a clean shot to the creature's eye — it screeched in pain, giving Kim the opening she needed.
She leapt onto its burning head.
" Let's see if you can handle the heat, big girl!"
She spotted the Circle of the Night's sigil seared into its skull — and with a swift spin, plunged her blade deep into it. A blinding flash erupted — the Boitatá crumbled into ashes and sparks, revealing a floating fragment of black crystal among the flames.
Kim snatched it, feeling the power thrum in her veins.
The Boto, now human again, stepped forward, awe in his eyes.
" By the way… my name's Bruno. And… thank you. Maybe now I can try to be someone better."
Kim nodded with a faint smile.
"Start by staying away from parties and women for a while, deal?"
Bruno chuckled — tired, but genuine.
The group watched him fade into the river's depths, leaving behind only a faint pink reflection on the moonlit water.
Kim tucked the fragment into her coat and looked toward the horizon.
" One less piece… and a far more dangerous road ahead."
Tory stepped closer, her tone softer.
" Where to next?"
Kim's eyes hardened.
" Necrópolis."
The name alone sounded like a bad omen.
And so, the van sped down the road, leaving behind the shimmering lights of San Riverbend — and the distant echo of a melancholy song rising from the river.