Chapter 5 Shadows Within

"Is it true?" Liana demanded, her voice sharp, cutting through the chaos of the battlefield.

Damien didn't answer immediately. His silver eyes flickered with a fleeting emotion she couldn't place before he turned his attention back to the fight.

"Now's not the time, Liana," he growled, deflecting a hunter's blade with inhuman speed.

"The impostor said you're hiding something," she pressed, blocking a hunter's swing with her claws. "If there's something I need to know, you'll tell me now."

Damien's fangs glinted as he lunged at an advancing hunter, disarming him in a single fluid motion. "I'm not discussing this here!"

Liana growled, frustration boiling in her chest. She tore through another attacker, the metallic tang of blood filling the air. The impostor's words clung to her like a shadow, casting doubt over everything she thought she knew about Damien.

The battle raged for what felt like hours, but in reality, it ended as abruptly as it began. The hunters retreated, vanishing into the dense forest that surrounded the estate. The vampires stood victorious but battered, their crimson eyes glowing in the moonlight.

Liana's breathing was ragged as she wiped blood from her hands. She scanned the battlefield, searching for the impostor who had dared to wear her brother's face, but he was nowhere to be found.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath.

Damien approached her, his expression unreadable. "We need to talk," he said quietly, gesturing toward the mansion.

"Now you want to talk?" she snapped, glaring at him. "You think you can pick and choose when it's convenient to explain yourself?"

He didn't respond, just turned and began walking. Liana hesitated for a moment before reluctantly following him.

They found themselves in one of the estate's sitting rooms. The space was dimly lit, the scent of old wood and candle wax heavy in the air. Damien poured himself a glass of dark liquid-wine, she guessed-and leaned against the edge of the table, his posture tense.

"Start talking," Liana demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.

Damien's silver eyes met hers, unwavering. "What do you know about your father's death?"

Her stomach churned at the question. "What does my father have to do with this?"

"Answer me," he said, his voice firm.

Liana frowned, her mind racing. "He was killed in a dispute with vampires. That's what Thorne told me."

Damien exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. "That's not the full story."

Her breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated, swirling the liquid in his glass. "Your father wasn't just killed by any vampire, Liana. He was killed by one of ours."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying," Damien continued, his voice low, "that someone in my clan betrayed us. And it wasn't just your father they were after."

Her mind spun, the room tilting slightly. "You knew about this?"

"I suspected," he admitted. "But I didn't have proof-until tonight."

Liana's claws extended involuntarily, her anger bubbling to the surface. "And you thought it wasn't important enough to tell me?"

"I didn't want to accuse anyone without evidence," Damien said, his tone laced with frustration. "But now it's clear that whoever did this is still out there-and they're targeting both our clans."

"Do you even hear yourself?" she snapped. "You've been hiding this from me while I've been risking my life for your cause!"

"This isn't just my cause!" Damien shot back, his silver eyes blazing. "If we don't work together, both our people will suffer. Is that what you want?"

The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging between them. Liana's chest heaved as she struggled to reign in her emotions.

"Who killed my father?" she asked finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Damien's gaze softened, but he didn't answer.

"You don't know," she realized, her anger giving way to cold disbelief.

"I'm working on it," he said quietly. "And I swear to you, Liana, I'll find out who it was."

Liana stormed out of the room, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She needed air, space-anything to clear her thoughts.

The estate's gardens were quiet, bathed in the pale glow of moonlight. She found herself near a fountain, the gentle sound of water soothing her frayed nerves.

"Deep breaths," she muttered to herself, closing her eyes.

"Trouble in paradise?" a familiar voice drawled.

Her eyes snapped open to find Armand leaning against a nearby tree, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Don't you have something better to do?" she asked irritably.

"Not really," he replied, smirking. "I thought I'd check on our resident wolf. You seemed... tense."

Liana glared at him. "Don't you have a battle report to file or something?"

Armand chuckled, his fangs glinting. "I like you, Duval. You've got fire."

"Save your flattery for someone who cares," she muttered, turning away.

"You know," Armand said, his tone shifting, "Damien doesn't trust easily. If he's letting you in, it means something."

Liana paused, his words catching her off guard. She glanced over her shoulder, her expression skeptical. "And you're telling me this because...?"

"Because I know what it's like to lose trust," Armand said, his smirk fading. "Don't make the same mistake I did."

Before she could respond, he was gone, disappearing into the shadows like a ghost.

As Liana returned to the mansion, a figure stepped out from the shadows, blocking her path. It was the impostor, his smirk sending a shiver down her spine.

"Miss me?" he taunted, raising a dagger that gleamed in the moonlight.

Before she could react, he lunged, the blade aimed straight for her heart.