The fight ended in blood and broken stone.
The second vampire died screaming.
Not from claws.
Not from strength.
From the same invisible theft that had claimed the first.
Adrian stood over the corpse, chest rising and falling slowly as cold power pulsed through his veins.
Stronger.
Again.
But unstable.
The last vampire staggered backward, clutching a deep wound carved across his torso. Terror twisted his face as he realized he was no longer the hunter.
"You… monster…"
He fled.
Not running.
Fleeing like prey.
Adrian took one step forward to chase him—
And stopped.
The power inside him lurched violently.
Like a fire starved of oxygen.
His glowing eyes flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then dimmed.
His claws retracted slowly.
His breathing grew heavier.
"What…?"
The strength he had just gained began slipping through his fingers like sand.
His knees buckled.
By the time he reached the forest edge, he was just a man again.
The fleeing vampire did not look back.
He ran until the ruins vanished behind him.
Until the forest grew darker.
Until the castle appeared.
Hidden deep within ancient trees, the structure rose from the earth like a black scar against the moonlit sky. Tall spires pierced the night, and warm golden light spilled from high windows.
Laughter echoed from inside.
Music.
Voices.
The vampire stumbled through the great doors and collapsed onto polished stone floors slick with spilled wine… and blood.
Inside, dozens of vampires filled the grand hall.
Some lounged across velvet couches. Others danced lazily to slow music played by trembling human musicians. Crystal cups filled with dark red liquid glimmered beneath chandeliers.
The laughter died the moment they saw him.
"Intriguing," one murmured.
"Pathetic," another whispered.
The wounded vampire dragged himself forward.
"He… killed Marcus. And Elena."
The room went still.
At the far end of the hall, a man seated upon an ornate chair lifted his gaze slowly.
Ancient eyes.
Cold and unreadable.
"Explain."
The wounded vampire trembled.
"He drains us. Not blood. Something else. He grows stronger from it."
Whispers erupted across the hall.
Impossible.
Myth.
Lies.
The ancient vampire rose.
Over two centuries old. Turned by an Original. Feared by all present.
"Then we hunt him."
A nervous laugh escaped someone in the room.
"You won't need to."
Every head turned toward the towering window behind him.
A lone figure walked through the forest toward the castle gates.
Adrian.
Slow. Exhausted. Human.
His body trembled with every step.
The ancient vampire smiled.
"How convenient."
The gates opened.
Vampires flooded the night like shadows given form.
Adrian barely raised his head before they were on him.
Hands seized his arms. His legs. His throat.
He tried to fight.
Nothing came.
No claws.
No red eyes.
No strength.
His body refused the power that had saved him.
Blows rained down until the world went black.
He woke to darkness.
Cold stone beneath him.
Chains around his wrists.
Voices echoed from somewhere above the cellar ceiling.
"What should we do with him?"
"Slowly."
"Painfully."
"Curiously."
Adrian closed his eyes.
For the first time since waking in this world…
He felt truly human.
And somewhere far away—
Someone else had already noticed.