Grace sighed at her husband's words.
"You're too kind, honey."
She admired his dedication. Being an official for the lords of Whirlandia was dangerous, especially with the growing tension between humans and vampires. Yet Austin never wavered. Despite his status, he'd kept his family in their modest home, never once thinking of relocating to a wealthier district. Grace never complained. As long as they were together, with food on the table and love in the home...she was content.
Austin had plans. He wanted to pass on his lands to their children. But more than anything, he wanted peace.
As the years passed, the disputes between vampires and humans grew deadlier. Bodies turned up more often. Fear spread.
"A human was found dead by the riverbank, my lord," a guard reported, head bowed low.
"Leave," Lord Ryder ordered coldly.
Austin stood nearby, worry on his face. "What's our next step, my lord?"
Across the room, Lord Ethan sat in silence, cigarette between his lips, smoke curling in the air.
Ryder glanced at his half-brother, then back to Austin. "We follow the priestess's plan."
Austin blinked. "Pardon me, my lord? You're serious?"
Ryder's voice turned hard. "There must be a bridge between our kind and theirs. Ethan is capable. He'll be the bridge."
"I disagree," came a voice—Santiago, stepping into the room uninvited.
"You weren't asked," Ryder snapped, his eyes full of disdain.
"I'll do it," Ethan muttered at last, standing from his seat.
Austin nodded and left swiftly. He had one task now—to fetch the witch.
⸻
The ritual was conducted in secret. Even most vampires were unaware.
"Your wife won't be happy knowing you're offering your life for Whirlandia," Henry whispered as they stood outside.
Austin gave a small smile. "I'm not the only one dying today."
He had volunteered for the ritual without hesitation. For Grace. For Julian. For peace. The ritual's goal was simple but powerful: to separate humans and vampires completely. Humans would forget the existence of vampires. And vampires would be unable to prey on them as before.
Inside the mansion, the air grew heavy as Kali, the Oracle witch, stepped forward. Her long brown hair hung over her shoulders, and her vivid green eyes gleamed with tension.
She turned to Ethan. "Your palm."
Ethan held it out wordlessly.
With a swift cut, she sliced through his flesh, thick crimson blood spilling. It dripped onto a magical flame erupting from the ground...separating her from Ethan.
"Sacrifices, step forward," Kali said firmly.
Austin stepped forward, along with two vampires and two more humans. None hesitated.
Using the same bloodied blade, Kali stabbed them each. Their bodies glowed white, eyes turning crimson before they collapsed into the flame, consumed.
The ground began to shake violently.
⸻
"Mama!" Julian screamed.
"Hold onto something, Jules!" Grace cried, her arms around Mariam who clung to her in fear.
"I'm scared," Mariam whimpered.
"Don't be," Grace whispered, holding her close.
Julian gripped the chair tightly as the tremors intensified. Grace's mind raced to her husband and the ritual he'd mentioned. Was this the aftershock? Was it done?
As soon as the tremor stopped, Grace made a decision.
"You can go find Papa," Julian said quietly, already knowing she was about to.
She smiled at her son...so brave, so thoughtful...and rushed out the door.
⸻
Outside, chaos.
Vampires were in a frenzy. Their powers were weakening. Their thirst unbearable. And worse... they could no longer influence or prey on humans the way they had before.
Ryder stepped onto the balcony of the mansion, facing a crowd of angry vampires.
"Silence!" he roared.
The crowd quieted immediately.
"You have taken advantage of humans for too long. This ritual was necessary," Ryder declared. "From today, humans will no longer know us. They will live free. And you—" his eyes swept over the crowd, "...must adapt."
The uproar began again. Stones were thrown, the mansion attacked, guards overwhelmed. Fury spilled across the estate.
Inside, Ethan staggered slightly, still weak. His body now the bridge between two worlds. His immortality had changed...deepened. Kali stared at him, eyes tired but awed.
"You can't be killed now," she whispered.
"I've always been immortal," he muttered, annoyed.
"Not like this," she corrected. "Before, you could be killed by your bloodline. But now? You are the life span. You're stronger than any vampire alive."
A guard burst through the door.
"My lord!" he panted. "They're storming the gates. The vampires— They've turned on us."
Ethan's eyes flicked to Kali. Her gaze was steady.
The world had changed.
And war was far from over.