The night of the summit arrived.
Valecar's castle loomed over the edge of a black cliff, its silhouette framed by the glowing silver moon. The courtyard shimmered faintly, polished blackstone tiles catching moonlight like still water. Inside, a grand chandelier bathed the marble floor of the main hall in golden light. Velvet curtains swept dramatically along the walls, and fireless crystal lanterns floated in midair, casting an ambient hue that danced across the vampire guests' pale skin.
They arrived in droves—vampires of nobility from across the globe. Lords and Ladies of shadowed realms, clad in elegant coats and gowns, moved with a regal air. The lower nobles—Counts and Countesses—kept to themselves, casting careful glances at one another, conversations thick with veiled threat and flattery. Among them walked Velmira, once known only as the Owl, face veiled by a lace mask. Her stride was measured, confident—yet her eyes never stopped scanning the room. Her presence was more discreet than before, but she had the attention of those who remembered the old bloodlines.
Then, the heavy doors groaned open once more.
A hush fell.
The vampire Lords and Ladies entered.
And with them, the High Court.
The air grew tense, every Count bowing low as the true aristocracy of the night made their way across the floor. Their power was palpable—oppressive even to their own kind.
Valecar, robed in black and crimson, stepped forward to greet them from the foot of the staircase.
"Welcome," he said, voice deep and composed. "Tonight, we honor strength and vision. Enjoy the festivities. To the High Court and our Lords—your chambers await."
He extended an arm. Silent vampire guards emerged from the side hall and began escorting the elite into the private meeting wing.
Velmira glanced subtly toward them as they passed—then turned away.
Meanwhile, in the ruined city…
Thierry stood atop the rebuilt palisade, gazing down at what had once been a lifeless ruin.
Now, crude wooden walls ringed the city perimeter, with fortified towers at each corner. Smoke rose from a few cooking fires, and newly assembled tents and timber lodges lined the inner circle. Revolutionaries moved in disciplined formations, helping direct civilian survivors and managing rations. The wind smelled of ash—but also of something new: resilience.
Two soldiers saluted him as he passed.
"Captain Thierry. Good to have you back."
Thierry nodded. "The place is shaping up fast. Not bad for two weeks' work."
He walked the length of the wall, inspecting the structure, then made his way to the command tent in the city's center. Inside, a detailed map had been laid out on a wooden table lit by two lanterns. Elise stood there, hands on her hips.
She looked up as he entered. "Captain. Welcome back."
"Good to see you, Elise." He glanced at the map. "Trouble?"
She hesitated, then nodded.
"There's been three disappearances. All women. The most recent one vanished yesterday. No one saw what happened, but…" She stepped aside and pointed to a marked location on the map. "This is where they found the last set of tracks. There were claw marks—huge ones. And deep. We're not sure if it's a vampire or something else. But it's not normal."
Thierry leaned over the map, studying the area she'd indicated. "Anything taken? Bodies?"
"No bodies. No screams either. Just… gone."
He was silent for a moment, then asked, "You say it's always women?"
She nodded. "Young. Usually alone or in the outer edge of the camp."
He frowned. "If it's a vampire, it's not feeding. It's abducting."
Elise's face tensed. "We've doubled patrols, but morale is shaken. Some think the fortress is cursed."
Thierry shook his head. "No curses. Just threats we haven't met yet."
She looked at him more gently now. "You've barely sat down since you returned. You should rest. We'll keep watch tonight."
He gave a small smile. "I suppose I should. Long road from the capital."
She walked with him to the captain's quarters, a small but solid wooden building with a clean cot, water basin, and simple lanterns. The air inside was quiet.
Thierry sat on the bed. Elise lingered at the doorway.
"Try to sleep, Captain," she said softly.
"I'll try," he replied. "You've done well, Elise. Keep it up."
As she stepped away, Thierry leaned back on the cot, staring at the ceiling.
The lantern burned quietly in the corner.
He turned to his side, eyes still open.
The fortress was growing.
But so were the shadows.
And something—someone—was already hunting again.
End of Chapter 17