FLASHBACK — THE BIRTH OF THE SYMBOL
The full moon illuminated the ruins of the ancient tower where it all began. The ground was still covered with ashes and fragments of burned bones. There, Drayfus and Karmila were alone — surrounded by black torches, seals, and open grimoires whispering in dead languages.
The wind howled, as if the world itself knew what was about to be born.
Drayfus now wore a dark-gray robe, marked with red runes. At the center of the altar, a circle had been traced in blood and ashes — the first seal of the Night Circle.
Karmila watched silently, her eyes shining with malice and admiration.
— "Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice soft, almost teasing.
— "Once I do this, there's no turning back."
Drayfus looked at her for a moment.
The man who once believed in the light no longer existed.
In his place was only cold conviction.
— "The return is for those who have hope, Karmila."
He raised a silver dagger.
— "And I lost mine long ago."
With a deep cut to his chest, he let the blood flow onto the ground.
The runes began to glow a deep crimson.
The air grew heavy.
The birds fell silent.
The candles burned with black flames.
Drayfus began chanting ancient words — a distorted prayer, a forbidden invocation from the dawn of magic.
— "By the flames that burn truth, by the blood that moves existence…
Let the circle form.
Let the night reign.
And let the new era awaken!"
The ground shook.
The blood moved on its own, drawing a complex symbol: a circle entwined with a broken moon and an inverted eye at the center.
Karmila extended her hand and touched the seal.
Her skin burned, and she smiled — satisfied.
— "Magnificent… the emblem of a new world."
Drayfus fell to his knees, breathing heavily.
Part of his soul had been drawn into the seal — an offering to seal their pact and shape the Emblem of the Night Circle.
The symbol glowed bright red and then etched itself into the walls of the ruins, becoming indestructible.
When Drayfus rose, his eyes were no longer blue — they were completely black, with crimson veins pulsating in his irises.
— "From today on," he said, his voice deeper, darker — "we will no longer serve men…
Nor the Order.
Nor the light.
We will serve only the truth they fear."
Karmila smiled, her lips stained with blood.
— "Then let the world kneel before the Night."
Flames rose around them, and the symbol began to pulse with living energy, the first heartbeat of what would become, centuries later, the most feared organization on Earth.
PRESENT
The cold, damp air of the lair echoed like a whisper of iron and death. Chains clanged against the walls, and Kimberly's breathing was the only human sound that could be heard. Shackled in silver, her coat torn away and her blades gone, she faced the darkness as if challenging her very fate.
The door latch creaked.
Trent appeared — his face weary, his gaze distant.
Kim gave a crooked smile.
— "Came to visit me, traitor? Or just to make sure your new master left me alive long enough to remind you?"
He looked away.
— "I had no choice, Kimberly… they—"
— "Ah, of course, the old 'no choice' card," she interrupted sarcastically.
— "You know what's funny? Every time someone says that, it's because they chose themselves."
Trent clenched his fist, the mark on his abdomen glowing a reddish hue.
— "You don't understand… if I disobey, she kills me."
— "Then you should already be dead," she said seriously.
— "Because living on your knees is just a slower way to die."
Before he could respond, heavy footsteps sounded down the corridor. The scrape of metal on stone.
Dr. Viktor Frankenstein appeared, his lab coat bloodstained, eyes deep like a man who had seen too much. Behind him, the colossal shadow of Frank, the monster. The giant's eyes glowed a sickly green as he growled, restrained by chains that seemed to resist even his will.
— "Stop, Frank," Viktor said firmly.
— "She's not going anywhere."
Kimberly stared at him, forcing a mocking smile.
— "Nice pet you've got there. Did you make it in science class?"
Viktor sighed, tired.
— "He's not a monster. He's my son."
The air seemed to freeze.
Kim blinked, confused.
— "What?"
The scientist stepped closer, his eyes glistening.
— "Franklin… he was my only son. An accident… I lost him. And then I brought him back. The soul, the body, whatever remained. But when I did, the Circle came to me. They said if I helped them, my son could have a new life in the 'perfect world' they would create."
Kim bit her lip, sarcasm fading for a moment.
— "That's not life, Viktor. That's torture. You trapped him between two worlds."
— "I saved him!" the doctor shouted, his voice trembling.
— "I couldn't lose him again."
Kim took a deep breath.
— "I understand… but look around. They're using you. If this Drayfus wins, he'll use your son as a tool — like everyone else. If you release me, I can help you. I can truly save him."
Viktor looked at her; the doubt in his eyes was a spark of humanity still alive. But before he could answer, a laugh echoed through the room.
Karmila entered, sliding like smoke. The Silver Swordsman followed silently, ghost-like.
— "What a touching scene," she said, soft, almost melodic, yet venomous.
— "The sentimental doctor and the moralistic heroine."
Kim just raised an eyebrow.
— "All that's missing is the violins in the background, black-haired snake."
Karmila smiled with pleasure.
— "Still insolent… I love that in you. It'll be interesting to see your arrogance crumble drop by drop."
She looked at Viktor.
— "Finished the work?"
The scientist simply nodded, extending a vial with Kimberly's blood, pulsating in red tones.
— "Here it is. The hybrid blood… the key."
Karmila held the vial up to the light.
— "Beautiful, isn't it? Like holding the entire history of monsters in your hands."
Kimberly tried to struggle, gritting her teeth.
— "You should be careful. Things that bleed as much as you always die fast."
Karmila just laughed, crouching in front of her and running a finger along her chin.
— "And you should learn that perfect blood isn't a gift, it's a curse."
She stood and walked to the Swordsman.
— "Let's go. Drayfus is waiting."
The warrior merely nodded and opened a portal with his katana, slicing the very air.
On a secluded beach, the sea crashed violently against the rocks.
Drayfus, in a black cloak, eyes as cold as steel, waited silently.
Karmila approached and handed him the vial.
— "The hybrid's blood. As promised."
Drayfus took the vial with reverence, eyes shining.
— "Finally. The beginning and the end, in the same blood."
The Swordsman moved, and the portal opened again, taking them to Highspire, the highest point of Salt Blake.
The night seemed alive there. Clouds spiraled, and ancient runes glowed on the ground, forming a gigantic energy circle.
Karmila began the chant. Her voice echoed with a supernatural distortion.
Drayfus raised the vial and poured the blood into the center of the seal. The ground shook, and pillars of purple energy shot into the sky.
Down below, in Salt Blake, the streets began to descend into chaos.
Werewolves howled, vampires felt their skin burn, skeletons rose from cemeteries, mummies awakened from forgotten sarcophagi, and icy, carnivorous creatures — Yets — descended from the mountains.
The mark's symbol glowed in each of them. The Night Circle had begun the ritual.
Meanwhile, at Blood's Bar, the group prepared.
Tory, Roberto, Mandy, Ryan, and Roshi watched the energy in the sky through the window.
— "This… this is the start of a ritual," Mandy said, her voice trembling.
Ryan, cleaning a pistol, replied:
— "No. It's war."
Roshi placed a shotgun on the table.
— "Her prison's location is in Stormgrave. You must go now, there's still time before the main portal opens."
Roberto clenched his fist.
— "Time's up. Mandy and I will get her."
They opened the bar's secret compartment — an improvised arsenal. Pistols, rifles, grenades.
Tory grabbed two Uzis and spun them with a wild smile.
— "Finally something to unload my rage on."
The sound of monsters and sirens began to flood the streets. Police tried to resist, but regular bullets ricocheted. Chaos spread, and citizens ran desperately.
Back in the lair, Viktor turned on an old, small TV. The shaky image showed the news: Salt Blake in collapse.
Kim, Trent, and Frank watched silently.
— "Look closely," Kimberly said, staring at Viktor.
— "Is this what you wanted for your son? A world of blood and screams?"
The scientist remained still, mind collapsing.
— "I… no…"
Kim leaned in, looking deep into his eyes.
— "Viktor… there's still time. Let me go."
His hands trembled, sweat running down.
Outside, the screams grew louder. The purple light penetrated even the underground.
The scientist looked at the key to the chains… and for the first time, truly hesitated.
To be continued…