Chapter 2 Vampires

Author's POV

Vampires-they are real. They are a race of undead beings who drink blood in order to survive.

They are immortal, and if given the chance, they can survive for thousands of years and more without aging.

Vampires are incredibly fast and unnaturally strong. After they've been turned, all their senses are heightened.

They develop a strong sense of smell, which enables them to perceive anything from a few meters away.

They also have heightened hearing abilities, which allow them to hear just about anything from some distance.

Despite all these abilities, they do have a major weakness they can't avoid-and that is their insatiable hunger for blood.

Vampires can't go too long without blood. Without it, they become weak and eventually desiccate.

Blood acts as the fuel in their engine; without it, they can't function properly and will eventually break down.

These powers and abilities grow stronger with time, age, and the consumption of human blood.

Only supernatural beings like the werewolves and witches know of their existence, because vampires strive to keep their secret from the human world.

Any human who learns about them is either killed or, in some cases, compelled to forget.

So they live among humans without the humans knowing who they truly are.

The vampires, witches, and werewolves have hated each other for centuries and are always at the brink of war.

And here in Balkan City, they all live together, each wanting to call it home.

Since daylight is harmful to vampires, they must find a shady place to hide during the day and come out only at night.

The vampires have an underground nightclub that is open to both humans and vampires.

Any other being found inside is killed immediately.

Humans are allowed in so the vampires can feed on them when thirsty, and then compel them to forget.

They consider humans their food, so they handle them with care-for now.

In the club, people could be seen jumping and dancing to the music that echoed through the underground walls.

The tension in the club was high and steamy.

To an ordinary human, nothing seemed amiss. But to any supernatural being present, they could clearly see people being slowly drained of their blood.

In one corner, two male vampires were feeding on a girl who looked helpless.

The girl writhed and moaned softly against the wall as they fed, but she'd been compelled not to scream.

She wasn't the only one-others, both male and female, were also being fed on in hidden corners of the club.

Up in the VIP section stood a tall, shadow-like figure. The skin of this beautiful creature was as pale as snow.

His lips were as red as blood, his eyes fierce with a hint of crimson buried within their chocolate brown depths.

Underneath those heart-melting eyes were subtle purple bruises, like he was long overdue for a good night's sleep.

His dark auburn spiked hair danced in the breeze of the overhead fans as the club lights cast a glow across his perfect features, revealing a stunning young man.

He looked like a tribute to a Greek god-still, composed, and utterly untouchable.

He stepped forward. His slender body held muscle, his arms and biceps taut beneath his designer shirt.

He had a strong jawline, high cheekbones, and strikingly beautiful features-unreal, almost divine.

His name was Alexander Jordan-the oldest, fastest, strongest, and most ruthless of all vampires.

Though his youthful face might fool many, he was the leader of the vampires.

It is said that a vampire grows stronger with age, and Xander was the oldest of them all.

As the most ancient, he was also the most dangerous-and heartless.

While seated in the VIP section, he sensed a heart beating rapidly. His eyes turned sharply toward the entrance.

He saw one of his men walking into the club. Xander immediately picked up the man's troubled aura. This man, Leon, was one of his most trusted lieutenants-and also one of the oldest vampires in their coven.

Leon walked up to him and bowed low, then stood upright.

"What bothers you, Leon?" Xander asked, his voice deep and calm but laced with underlying power.

"Xander, I bring troubling news," Leon replied, his face grave. The seriousness in his tone piqued Xander's interest further.

"Spit it out already," Xander snapped, growing impatient.

"I overheard some people talking about a hunter... one strong enough to kill hundreds of vampires with his bare hands."

At this, Xander's eyes sharpened.

"Who were these people?"

"I don't know. By the time I got to where they were, they had already disappeared."

He hesitated.

"I couldn't pick up their scent either. Forgive me-I failed."

Xander narrowed his eyes. "That sounds like a trap. This could be the work of the werewolves. Don't you think they might be planning something?"

Leon nodded slightly. "That's possible."

"They could be trying to send us on a wild goose chase while they prepare for an attack. The full moon is almost upon us-they'll be at their strongest. We can't take any chances."

"You may be right," Leon agreed, "but I believe it's time I remind you of a certain hunter-one who actually has the power to do this."

He stepped closer.

"He's been asleep for a century. If someone is planning to awaken him... it would be soon."

Xander frowned.

"That's not possible. I had every member of the family killed decades ago-to prevent the hunter from ever waking up."

"I made sure of it. I hunted down every last one of them."

"Only someone from that bloodline can revive the hunter, and they're all dead."

Leon looked unsure. "What if... one of them survived?"

Xander's eyes gleamed dangerously. "If that's the case, then it means they changed their name to avoid being found."

Leon paused, then said, "So... should we check? Just in case?"

"Yes. Sweep the city. Take a few of our best men and look for any trace of that bloodline."

He added coldly, "If you find anyone remotely linked to that family... don't waste a minute."

Leon hesitated. "What do you want us to do if we find them?"

"Kill them on the spot," Xander said without flinching. "Bring me their heads."

Leon nodded slowly. "As you command."

He turned and began walking away, but Xander called after him.

"Leon."

"Yes?"

"Be quick about it. If this hunter wakes up, no one is safe."

Leon nodded once more, then vanished into the crowd, leaving behind the cold, ominous air of a war soon to begin.