Pushing through the ring of onlookers, Dan approached the body, kneeling to conduct a calm, thorough examination. There were no significant injuries, only two small puncture marks clearly visible on the carotid artery. The body was frigid despite the short time since death, devoid of any trace of color. All these symptoms pointed to one inescapable conclusion. Dan discreetly turned his head to look at Ley standing behind him. Her face, still etched with unconcealed shock, formed a single, silent word with her lips, yet one clear enough for both to understand in that moment: "Vampires."
There could be no mistake. This body, these signs—the nightmare from twelve years ago had truly returned. "It's murder, isn't it? Call the police! Someone call the police, quickly!" One person's cry ignited a wave of commotion from behind. Uninvolved guests hurried away in panic, while the remaining onlookers fixed their attention on the body, filling the large house with frantic noise. Dan, however, tried to tune out the chaos, focusing on his careful examination. Suddenly, a thought struck him—one so jarring he could scarcely believe it himself. A sudden death with no clear cause… wasn't it remarkably similar to Director Brown's?
The thought startled Dan. He shot to his feet, turning to Ley. It seemed the same idea had just occurred to her. Since the discovery of the body, she had completely forgotten the "familiar essence" she'd sensed upon entering, and that group of guests who were "not human." They both rushed back inside. If Director Brown also bore such small marks on his neck, then his death was undoubtedly caused by vampires.
Dan and Ley quickly approached the coffin. This had to be done immediately. Ley glanced around. Why was the drawing-room empty? Had everyone crowded around the body outside? And that other group of guests… "It's gone!" Dan's words cut through her thoughts. Spoken softly, yet laced with utter astonishment. Ley stepped closer. What was gone? Gone! It was truly gone! Director Brown's body… HAD VANISHED!!
"It was them." Dan knew who she meant. The group of ten guests from before, that very species. Vampires! Why… why attack Director Brown in secret, yet openly kill the girl? Why return to take his body? Why?
Ultimately, the cause of the girl's death and the disappearance of Brown's body could no longer be concealed. The family, the guests—everyone descended into sheer panic. They threw the funeral into chaos, no one listening to anyone, screaming and scattering in terror. Caught in the midst, Dan and Ley had no choice but to call the police as quickly as possible, simultaneously requesting contact with local mages to track the vampires, however difficult they knew it would be. When things had settled slightly, Dan suddenly remembered his daughter working at the VF. He pulled out his phone and made a call. Though he knew vampires wouldn't likely dare strike as far as Sarad yet, he couldn't quell the anxiety in his heart. "Vampires have returned. It's not a rumor. Your mother and I have seen them with our own eyes."
Glo, on the other end, sounded equally horrified, pausing for a moment before replying. She tried hard not to betray the fear unsettling her, forcing calmness into her voice as she asked: "Are you and Mom okay?" "We're fine. Your mother has gathered the local mages to temporarily protect Saderclark and search for them. The VF should receive notification soon." Dan paused briefly, his eyes scanning the chaotic scene, pouring all his worry into a quiet question. "What about you? Are you alright?" Glo nodded unconsciously before remembering Dan couldn't see her. She replied quickly, "I haven't encountered them. Everything's fine here, don't worry." "Alright. We'll be back late tonight. Be careful." Dan ended the call, finding little comfort in his daughter's reassurances. Never in twelve years had vampires attacked so brazenly, never had they acted in a way that seemed to declare the resumption of the long, arduous war. Never before had they dared to betray the peace treaty like this.
"Next stop, Isaiah." "Next stop, Isaiah." "Next stop, Isaiah." The bus announcement echoed repeatedly. Grey tugged Glo's sleeve, pulling her towards the rear door, hastily pressing the stop bell. The street noise mingled with Grey's complaints, the glow of streetlights blending with the lights of the bustling district; Glo remained oblivious to the vibrant chaos around her. "Hey, you've been like a lost soul since that phone call. Is the vampires' return bothering you that much? We still have the Council of Mages, you know. A few vampires are like mosquitoes to them, don't worry." Grey patted Glo's shoulder, offering words of comfort, assuming she was scared. But Glo just shook her head, denying it. "It's not fear. It's like… my body feels something strange nearby, like a premonition, a sense of foreboding." "Maybe you're secretly a mage and don't know it?" "Try making your jokes at least a little believable." "Okay, okay, stop overthinking." Grey stopped by the roadside, pointing to a nearby convenience store. "Wait here, I need to buy something quickly." Before Glo could even nod, her impetuous friend had already dashed off. Glo clicked her tongue softly, trying to push aside the unease within her, turning to gaze at the brightly lit nightscape of Isaiah. Today, right after Dan's call, the VF had also received news of the vampires' reappearance. Mages were immediately dispatched to Saderk city, and defense systems were established with extreme diligence. The IT department was assigned new tasks, keeping them busy until late. The VF scrambled to plan, but the government decided to temporarily withhold the news from the public to avoid unnecessary panic, tasking the VF with resolving the situation within three days. So tiring, Glo thought. Just when things were quiet, they choose the exact moment I join the VF to start causing trouble again. Is it my destiny to face hardship wherever I go?
Thump! Lost in thoughts about her fate, someone suddenly brushed past her from behind, bumping her hard and simultaneously snatching the handbag slung over her shoulder. It took several seconds for Glo to realize she'd just been mugged. All the chaotic thoughts vanished from her mind, leaving only one word: "Thief… THIEF!" Her shout startled a few passersby. The mugger picked up speed, sprinting away. Grey emerged from the store, understood the situation at a glance, and shoved Glo forward. "What are you standing there for? After him!" Grey took off at a run, yelling curses that echoed down the street. Glo, a few steps behind, initially thought of reporting it to the police – chasing robbers wasn't her idea of fun. But ultimately, she found herself running after Grey, following the direction the thief had taken. He made two turns and disappeared. Grey refused to give up, maintaining her speed, yelling as she veered left: "Split up!" Glo turned right. Faced with Grey's boundless energy, she had no choice but to continue the pursuit. But after running a short distance, Glo noticed something strange about the path ahead. The alleyway grew increasingly narrow, flanked by high walls on both sides. It wasn't clear if there was even a way through. Did I take the wrong turn? There's no one here. She stopped for a moment, looking around, unsure what to do. Part of her wanted to go back and check on Grey, another part wanted to continue the chase. This alley was deserted, poorly lit, and felt unsafe; it wouldn't be surprising if a whole gang of robbers appeared. After careful consideration, Glo decided it was best to return and report to the police.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"Chased me all the way here, huh?" A sudden voice behind her made her jump. So, she had chosen the right direction; she'd finally caught up to the thief. Glo spun around, ready to confront him, only to realize instantly that this move was a grave mistake. It wasn't just him. There were five muggers, each brandishing a knife, leering at her with triumphant eyes. "Since she delivered herself right to us, why not take her? Let's go, brothers!" Wait, wait, can I get a do-over on that last move? Glo suppressed the curse threatening to escape her lips and immediately turned tail, running for her life. She shouldn't have listened to Grey and run into this dangerous alley. She wasn't defenseless, but handling one guy was different from handling five. So now, her only option was to sprint forward with all her might, ignoring whether it was a dead end, ignoring any obstacles, just running as fast as she could.
Unfortunately, the path ahead wasn't clear. She had barely run a few steps when a group of people appeared, completely blocking her escape route. At her current speed, Glo couldn't stop in time. The moment she registered them was the moment she crashed straight into someone. Thud! A fleeting dizziness washed over her, followed by a chilling gust of wind that made her shiver. She felt someone steady her, just as an intensely unpleasant sensation prickled through her body. What is that? Glo instinctively looked up. At that exact moment, the person she had collided with, and the entire group behind them, simultaneously turned their heads away as if avoiding her gaze. The person who had caught her then abruptly pushed her away. In the dim twilight, Glo thought she saw something exceedingly strange. She stood bewildered for a moment. The group of eight people before her possessed an abnormality she couldn't explain. Eight young men, dressed in identical black suits, all kept their eyes fixed downward, avoiding Glo's curious stare. No one spoke; they were as silent and grim as death reapers. In her moment of confusion, a series of footsteps echoed from behind her, along with the gloating voices of the muggers. "There she is, brothers! Nowhere to run now!" Glo stood trapped between the two groups – the muggers on one side, the strange, death-like figures on the other. There was no escape route; only flying might save her now. The lead mugger waved his hand, addressing the eight figures loudly: "Hey, who the hell are you lot? Don't you know this is our turf?!" He glanced towards Glo, sneering as he continued. "Or maybe you know this little girl?" The figures remained steadfast, eyes downcast, their initial cold indifference unchanged. The leader finally spoke, offering only two curt words: "Not acquainted." Then, as one, they turned and departed instantly. In that moment, Glo knew she was finished.
…
She didn't know how long the muggers had kept her tied up here. They were still celebrating, their raucous cheers echoing nonstop for hours. What would they do to her? She truly didn't know, and knowing wouldn't help anyway. She had probably been "missing" for about three hours; for an adult, three hours wasn't long enough to warrant a police search. Although her mother was a mage, mages couldn't just find someone at will. There had to be a way… there must be, surely there was a way to escape… Her body was bound tightly to a wooden chair, her eyes covered by a black cloth. She wriggled, trying to shift, fumbling towards the nearest wall… CRASH! An incredibly loud noise erupted from outside, sounding like a door smashing open, making Glo jump violently. And it truly was the sound of a door crashing down. The muggers, absorbed in their revelry, startled at the sound and spun around. They squinted into the darkness but saw nothing beyond the silent scene and the splintered door lying broken on the floor. The ringleader roared furiously: "Who's there?!" He didn't need to call a second time. The one who had broken the door appeared. Five black figures stood silhouetted in the doorway, the entire scene plunging into an unnatural chill. Glowing red eyes stared directly at the muggers as if sizing up prey. Sharp fangs glinted as the creatures performed what they might call a smile. The muggers were terrified, rendered speechless, managing only to stammer "v… vam…," backing away until they could retreat no further. Five muggers, five vampires. Not one more, not one less.
…
Glo, tied up in the back room, couldn't comprehend what was happening. All she heard were the horrific screams from outside, followed by an absolute silence, so profound she could hear the frantic pounding of her own heart. Then, amidst the quiet, she suddenly sensed an icy presence approaching from behind. That unsettling feeling from before returned, causing an involuntary shiver. The ropes binding her hands gradually loosened, and the blindfold was swiftly removed. Glo whipped her head around. Who? No one was there. Her handbag lay at her feet, and the back door stood open.
It was exactly nine o'clock at night when Glo walked into her house. She was utterly drained, exhaustion mingling with nagging questions about the bizarre events, making her head throb. As she stepped into the living room, she saw many people sitting there. Police officers. So, she had guessed wrong earlier. No matter how long she was missing, Dan could still call the police, and Ley too – Ley had even mobilized the entire Council of Mages to find her. She knew she was important to her parents, but this seemed a bit excessive…
Everyone in the room froze the moment they saw her enter. Dan and Ley shot up simultaneously, rushing towards her, their faces masks of extreme worry. Glo's mind, already cluttered with chaotic thoughts, felt like it seized up at the sight. She wasn't sure if she felt relief at being home, or relief at seeing her parents. She took a deep breath, intending to recount the strange story of what had happened, but before she could speak, Ley urgently grasped her shoulders, her expression turning deadly serious, her brow furrowed as she demanded: "Who did you meet today, Glo?" Startled into fear herself, Glo, who had mentally prepared her story, now hesitated, unable to form a complete sentence: "I… I don't… know… I met many people, but…" "Who did you have the most contact with? Think carefully!" Dan, standing beside them, quickly dismissed the police officers to clear the room. When only the three of them remained, Ley continued, stating something utterly unbelievable at that moment: "The vampires have reached Sarad. You encountered them, didn't you?" Glo, still shaken, started to shake her head but then remembered the strange encounters and odd people she'd met today, so… Wait, could it be… that group of cold, black-clad, death-like figures… were they vampires? "It can't be wrong. You definitely encountered them. The seal has weakened."