Kaelen and the vampire—whose name was Caelus—moved through the tunnel, their footsteps silent on the stone. The screeches behind them had faded, but the air was still thick with tension. The queen was coming. It was only a matter of time.
They reached a junction where the tunnel split into two paths. One led upward, toward the surface. The other led deeper into the darkness—toward the queen's chamber.
Caelus stopped. His red eyes scanned both passages.
"This is where we part," he said. "The surface is that way. You can still make it."
Kaelen stared at the upward tunnel. Freedom, fresh air and certain survival.
Then he looked back at Caelus.
"If we allow the queen to remain alive, she will only reproduce," Kaelen said, his voice low. "Even more advanced species. They'll eventually venture out of this cave. Cause chaos. Kill hundreds, maybe thousands."
Caelus was silent for a moment. His red eyes narrowed.
