Chapter 3 The Unseen World

Nancy stared at Lucien, her mind racing. Not human? The words echoed in her head, absurd and impossible, but there was something in his voice, a gravity that made her hesitate to dismiss him outright. She had encountered all kinds of liars and manipulators, but Lucien didn't seem like either. He was calm, too calm, as if he already knew how she'd respond.

"That's a bold claim," Nancy said, forcing her voice to stay even. "What makes you think I'd believe any of that?"

Lucien's smile deepened, as though he found her skepticism amusing. "You've seen the bodies, Detective. The marks on their necks, the way they've been drained of blood. You've thought about it, haven't you? Even if you didn't say it out loud, deep down, you know this isn't the work of an ordinary killer."

Nancy clenched her jaw. She had noticed the strange wounds, but she'd chalked it up to a twisted MO, something the killer was using to throw off the investigation. "Vampires?" she asked, her voice dripping with disbelief. "Is that what you're telling me?"

Lucien didn't flinch. His eyes stayed locked on hers, and there was something unnerving about the way he held her gaze. "Yes. That's exactly what I'm telling you."

A cold wave washed over Nancy, but she kept her composure. She leaned back slightly, studying him. "And what are you, then? A vampire too?"

Lucien's smile faded, his expression growing serious. "I am. But I'm not your enemy."

The logical part of Nancy's brain screamed at her to leave, to chalk this up as the ramblings of a delusional man. But something in her gut told her this was more than a game. She couldn't shake the feeling that Lucien was telling the truth, as insane as it sounded.

"You expect me to believe that?" she asked, her tone sharp.

"I don't expect anything from you," Lucien replied smoothly. "But if you want to stop these killings, you'll have to face the truth. The murderer you're after is a vampire. A rogue one, feeding without discretion. If you don't stop him, more people will die."

Nancy's instincts kicked in. "Why should I trust you? If you're one of them, what's stopping you from being the one behind these murders?"

Lucien's eyes darkened. "Because I have rules. I don't kill humans. I feed only on those who are willing." His voice dropped to a near whisper. "The one responsible is dangerous, even to my kind. If he's not stopped, he'll turn this city into his hunting ground."

Nancy felt a shiver crawl up her spine. She had heard of serial killers before, but this felt like something else-something darker. Her training told her to stick to the facts, but Lucien's words made too much sense to ignore.

"What do you want from me?" she asked finally.

Lucien leaned back, his eyes softening just slightly. "I want to help you stop him. Together, we can track him down. But you need to know what you're dealing with, Nancy. This isn't like any case you've ever worked."

Nancy swallowed hard, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. Could she really trust him? The rational part of her screamed no. But she couldn't shake the undeniable connection she felt with Lucien-the pull that had brought her here in the first place. There was something more at work, something beyond her control.

"I need proof," she said, her voice firmer now. "If I'm going to believe any of this, I need proof that what you're saying is real."

Lucien's expression remained unreadable, but he nodded slowly. "You'll have your proof, Detective. But once you see the truth, there's no going back."

Nancy's heart raced as she stared at him. Part of her wanted to turn and walk away, to return to the world she knew. But a bigger part of her-the part that craved answers, that couldn't let a mystery go unsolved-knew she was already in too deep.

"Show me," she said.

Lucien stood, his movements graceful and fluid. He gestured for her to follow him toward the back of the bar, where a hidden door led to a narrow stairwell descending into darkness.

"Welcome to the world you thought didn't exist," he murmured as they stepped into the shadows.