"Everyone down!" Jin shouted as the first window shattered.
A canister rolled across the floor, spewing silver-infused gas. Jin kicked it back through the broken window, but three more followed immediately.
"Mae Siri, shields!" Preeda yelled, already moving to protect the elderly witch.
Mae Siri's hands blazed with magic, throwing up a barrier just as bullets—silver bullets—peppered the walls. The barrier held, but barely.
"They came prepared," Som said grimly, his fangs fully extended. "They know what we are."
In the ritual chamber, Kayen pulled Arav behind a stone pillar.
"How many?" Arav asked, his new vampire hearing picking up dozens of heartbeats outside.
"Too many," Kayen said. "At least thirty. Maybe more." He looked at Arav seriously. "Can you fight? You literally just completed your transformation—"
"I can fight," Arav said, and he felt it—all his powers, fully awakened, ready to be used. The vampire strength, the witch magic, the shape-shifter rage, the divine protection. "I can do more than fight."
Through their bond, Kayen felt Arav's confidence and was both proud and terrified.
Footsteps thundered above them. Doors being kicked in. Shouted orders in Thai and English.
"Secure all exits!"
"Check for underground passages!"
"Rules of engagement—vampires are to be destroyed on sight. Witches captured for interrogation!"
Mae Siri's voice cut through the chaos as she ran down the stairs to the ritual chamber. "They're vampire hunters. A coordinated team. Someone told them exactly where to find us."
"Who?" Jin demanded, right behind her. "Who would—"
"Does it matter right now?" Preeda interrupted. "We need to get out!"
"There's a tunnel," Mae Siri said, rushing to the back wall. She pressed a hidden symbol and a section of stone swung open, revealing a dark passageway. "It leads to the river. A kilometer underground. Go. Now."
"What about you?" Kayen asked.
"I'll hold them off," Mae Siri said. "This is my territory. My wards, my magic. I can buy you time—"
An explosion rocked the building. The ceiling above cracked.
"They're using explosives," Som said in disbelief. "They're going to bring the whole building down on us!"
"Then stop arguing and GO!" Mae Siri's hands blazed brighter, her magic expanding to reinforce the structure. "Protect Arav. He's too valuable—too important—to let these human fanatics kill him."
Kayen hesitated only a second, then nodded. "Jin, Preeda, Som—with me. We protect Arav at all costs."
They ran into the tunnel, darkness swallowing them. Behind them, they could hear Mae Siri beginning a powerful chant, her magic clashing with whatever weapons the hunters were using.
The tunnel was ancient—predating even Mae Siri's shop. The walls were rough stone, barely wide enough for them to run single-file. No lights, but vampire vision made darkness meaningless.
Except Arav's vision was even better. His divine blood let him see not just in darkness, but see magic itself—the ancient wards carved into the tunnel walls, slowly fading with age.
"They're following us!" Som called from the rear. "I can hear them entering the tunnel!"
"How?" Preeda demanded. "The entrance should have sealed—"
"They have a witch with them," Arav said suddenly, sensing the foreign magic behind them. "She's breaking Mae Siri's seals."
Through their bond, Kayen felt Arav's realization and swore. "Hunters with a witch ally. This isn't some random attack. This is organized. Funded. Professional."
The tunnel forked ahead.
"Left or right?" Jin asked urgently.
Arav closed his eyes, letting his witch powers sense the magical flow. "Right. Left leads to a cave-in. Right goes to the river like Mae Siri said."
They went right, running faster now. Behind them, flashlight beams cut through the darkness. Shouts echoed off stone walls.
"There! I see them!"
"Open fire!"
Bullets ricocheted off the tunnel walls. One grazed Preeda's shoulder—silver bullet, burning on contact. She hissed in pain but kept running.
"I can slow them down," Arav said, feeling the witch magic building in his hands.
"You don't know how to use it yet—" Kayen started.
"I know enough," Arav interrupted. He stopped, turned, and thrust his hands back toward their pursuers.
Power exploded from him—raw, unrefined, but devastating. The tunnel behind them collapsed, tons of rock falling between them and the hunters.
"Move!" Jin shouted as the collapse threatened to reach them.
They ran, dust and debris chasing them. Thirty seconds later, they burst out of the tunnel into open air.
They were at the Chao Phraya River, on a abandoned dock that stank of fish and pollution. The Bangkok skyline glittered across the water, oblivious to the supernatural battle happening in its shadows.
"Where now?" Som asked, checking behind them. The tunnel entrance was blocked, but hunters would find another way around soon.
Kayen pulled out his phone, but it was dead—the silver gas had fried all electronics. "We need to get to Jin's place. It's warded, protected—"
"They knew about Mae Siri's wards," Preeda pointed out. "What makes you think Jin's will hold?"
"Then where?" Kayen looked around desperately. "We can't just stand here—"
"I know a place," a voice said from the shadows.
They all spun, fangs out, ready to fight.
A figure stepped into the moonlight.
Karan.
Arav's eyes widened. "You? You're the one who—"
"Who called the hunters, yes," Karan said calmly. Too calmly. His eyes had a strange glint—not quite human anymore. "But I can help you now. I know somewhere safe."
"Why would we trust you?" Jin growled, moving to attack.
Karan held up his hands. "Because Arav is my friend. Was my friend. And despite everything—despite what he chose, despite what he became—I don't want him dead." He looked directly at Arav. "I wanted to save you from them. From the monsters. But you became one willingly. You let him turn you."
"Karan—" Arav started.
"I called the hunters because I thought they'd rescue you," Karan continued, his voice breaking. "I told them where the vampires were hiding, thinking they'd save you, bring you back to humanity. But then I heard their orders. 'Destroy on sight. No prisoners except witches.' They're not here to rescue anyone. They're here to kill all of you."
"So now you want to help?" Kayen's voice dripped with venom. "After you brought them down on us?"
"Yes," Karan said simply. "Because I was wrong. And because—" he looked at Arav with desperate eyes, "—because I still love you. Even if you don't love me back. Even if you're with him. I won't let you die."
Arav felt Kayen's jealousy and anger through their bond, but also his pragmatic realization—they needed help.
"Where's this safe place?" Arav asked.
"My apartment building. Top floor. My family owns it—the whole building. It's protected by old magic. My great-grandfather was a vampire hunter, but my great-grandmother was a witch. She warded the building to keep supernatural beings in or out, depending on permission. If I give you permission to enter, the wards will protect you from the hunters."
"That's convenient," Preeda said suspiciously.
"It's the truth," Karan insisted. "Look, you have maybe five minutes before the hunters find another route here. Come with me or don't. But decide now."
Through their bond, Kayen asked Arav silently: *What do you think?*
Arav reached out with his new witch senses, feeling the magical signature around Karan. He was telling the truth—there was old protective magic on him, family magic, the kind passed down through generations.
*He's genuine,* Arav thought back. *He really does want to help. And we don't have better options.*
Kayen nodded. "Fine. Lead the way. But if this is a trap—"
"It's not," Karan said. "Follow me."
They followed him through back alleys and side streets, avoiding main roads where the hunters' black vans prowled. Twice they heard sirens—police, probably, responding to the explosion at Mae Siri's shop.
"The hunters will blame it on a gas leak or something," Karan explained as they ran. "They're good at covering their tracks. They've been operating in Thailand for years, hunting supernatural beings. My great-grandfather was one of the founders."
"And you're betraying them," Som observed. "They won't forgive that."
"I know," Karan said quietly. "I'm choosing Arav over my family legacy. Over everything I was raised to believe." He glanced back at them. "Kind of ironic, isn't it? I'm becoming what my ancestors would have killed me for—a supernatural sympathizer."
They reached a modern apartment building in the Sukhumvit area. Expensive, secure, with a doorman who nodded respectfully at Karan.
"Mr. Karan. Late night?"
"Family emergency, Somchai. These are friends. They'll be staying in my apartment. Please ensure we're not disturbed. By anyone."
Something in Karan's tone made the doorman nod seriously. "Of course, sir. I understand."
They took the elevator to the top floor—the entire floor was Karan's apartment, Arav realized. His family was wealthy. Very wealthy.
As soon as they crossed the threshold, Arav felt it—powerful wards snapping into place. Protection magic, privacy spells, and something else... anti-tracking enchantments. No one would be able to find them here unless Karan allowed it.
"Safe," Karan announced, closing and locking the door. Then he turned to face them all. "For now."
Jin immediately went to check the windows—they overlooked Bangkok, thirty floors up. Preeda and Som spread out, checking the apartment for threats.
Kayen pulled Arav aside. "Are you okay? That magic you used in the tunnel—"
"I'm fine," Arav assured him, though he was exhausted. Using witch magic instinctively was different from controlled use—it had drained him. "But Kayen, Mae Siri. Is she—"
Through their bond, they both felt the same fear. Mae Siri had stayed behind to buy them time. Had she survived?
Karan was watching them, his expression complex—longing, jealousy, resignation all mixed together.
"Your bond," he said quietly. "It's complete, isn't it? I can feel it. The way you two move, think, even breathe in sync. You're not just lovers. You're... one entity."
"Yes," Arav said, not unkindly. "Karan, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you—"
"I know," Karan interrupted. "You made your choice clear from the beginning. I just... couldn't accept it. Couldn't accept that you'd choose a vampire over me." He laughed bitterly. "And now you are a vampire. And something more. I can sense it—you're not like them." He gestured at the other vampires. "Your heartbeat. I can hear it. Faint, but there. Vampires don't have heartbeats."
"Divine blood," Arav explained. "Part of me is still alive, even though I'm also vampire. It's... complicated."
"Everything about you is complicated," Karan said with a sad smile. Then he shook himself. "You should rest. All of you. The wards will hold until morning at least. After that..." he trailed off.
"After that, we figure out who's leading these hunters," Kayen finished grimly. "And we stop them before they kill everyone we care about."
Arav's phone—somehow still functional, unlike Kayen's—buzzed.
A text from an unknown number: *"Mae Siri alive. Escaped. Meet me at old temple, Ayutthaya. Tomorrow midnight. Come alone. -S"*
"S?" Preeda read over his shoulder. "Who's S?"
Arav felt cold dread. "Seraphina. Theron's mother."
"She wants to meet?" Jin's eyes narrowed. "This is obviously a trap."
"Or an opportunity," Kayen said thoughtfully. "She's three thousand years old. She might know who's behind the hunters. Might even help us—for a price."
"The life debt," Arav realized. "She's going to call it in. Already."
Through their bond, Kayen felt Arav's fear and squeezed his hand. "Whatever she wants, we face it together. That's what the bond means."
From the window, Som called out: "We have a problem. Look."
They gathered at the window. Down below, black vans were pulling up to the building. Dozens of them. Hunters pouring out, surrounding the entire block.
"How did they find us so fast?" Preeda demanded.
Karan's face went pale. "The doorman. Somchai. He must have... but he's been with my family for twenty years—"
"Money talks," Jin said bitterly. "Or they threatened him. Either way, they know we're here."
The building's intercom crackled to life.
"This is Commander Hayes of the International Supernatural Containment Unit. We have the building surrounded. All vampires inside are ordered to surrender immediately. You have five minutes to comply. After that, we're coming in with lethal force authorized."
Arav looked at Kayen, at their friends, at Karan who'd tried to help despite everything.
Through their bond, Kayen felt Arav's determination forming.
*No more running,* Arav thought. *I'm not helpless anymore. I'm not human. I'm a convergence vampire with powers they can't imagine. Maybe it's time to stop hiding.*
*Arav, no—* Kayen started.
But Arav was already walking to the window.
He opened it, letting the night air rush in.
Then he stepped up onto the ledge, thirty floors above Bangkok, and looked down at the hunters surrounding the building.
"Arav!" Karan shouted. "What are you doing?!"
Arav spread his arms, feeling all his powers surge to life—vampire, witch, shape-shifter, divine—all unified, all ready.
"I'm done being prey," he said.
Then he jumped.
**To be continued...**