The night had turned colder.
Not the kind of cold that touched the skin… but the kind that crawled under it, whispering danger into your bones.
Adam felt it the moment he stepped outside.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The streets of New Orleans were unusually quiet. No music. No laughter. Even the distant hum of the city seemed… dead.
Lia stopped walking.
Her hand shot out, gripping Adam's arm.
"Don't move," she whispered.
Adam's instincts sharpened instantly. His senses stretched into the darkness, searching…
And then—
He felt it.
A presence.
Not one.
Many.
Watching.
Hunting.
Figures emerged slowly from the shadows.
One… two… five… ten.
Vampires.
Their pale eyes glowed faintly under the streetlights, their expressions empty, predatory.
Adam's jaw tightened.
"This isn't random," he muttered. "They're here for me."
Lia stepped in front of him, her stance shifting, her body tensing.
"No," she said. "They're here for us."
A low growl escaped her throat as her eyes flickered—golden, wild.
The Fight Begins
The first vampire moved.
Too fast for a human eye.
But not for Adam.
He reacted instantly, catching the creature mid-strike and slamming it into the ground with brutal force.
Bones cracked.
The others attacked at once.
Chaos exploded.
Adam moved like a storm—stronger, faster than before. Every strike carried power he didn't fully understand yet.
But they kept coming.
Too many.
Behind him, Lia let out a sharp cry.
Adam turned—
And froze for a split second.
Her transformation had begun.
Not fully… not controlled.
Her veins darkened. Her eyes burned brighter. Her breathing turned uneven, almost painful.
"Lia…?" he whispered.
She didn't answer.
She lunged.
Not at the vampires—
At one that had gotten too close to Adam.
She tore through it with terrifying force, but something was wrong.
Her movements were unstable.
Wild.
Dangerous.
She Almost Lost Control
"Lia, stop!" Adam shouted.
But she didn't hear him.
Or worse—
She couldn't.
Another vampire rushed her. She killed it instantly… but instead of stepping back—
She hesitated.
Her body trembled.
Her gaze dropped… to the blood.
Her breathing slowed.
Changed.
Adam's heart sank.
"No… no, Lia…"
The Moment That Changed Everything
In a flash, Adam was in front of her.
He grabbed her shoulders.
"Look at me!" he said firmly.
For a moment—
Nothing.
Then slowly…
Her eyes lifted.
Golden… fighting something darker.
"I… I can't…" she whispered, her voice shaking. "It's getting worse…"
Adam didn't hesitate.
He pulled her into him.
"Then fight it," he said. "I'm here."
Her body trembled violently.
Then—
She pushed him away.
Hard.
"I said RUN!" she screamed.
Her voice wasn't fully hers anymore.
The remaining vampires circled again, sensing weakness.
Adam clenched his fists.
He wasn't leaving her.
Not now.
Not ever.
A sudden laugh echoed through the street.
Slow.
Cold.
Controlled.
Both Adam and Lia froze.
From the darkness, a figure stepped forward…
Not like the others.
Stronger.
Calm.
Terrifying.
"I was wondering when you'd break," the man said, his eyes locking onto Lia.
Then he looked at Adam.
"And you… you're far more interesting than they described."
Adam felt it instantly.
This wasn't a normal enemy.
This was something else.
Something worse.
And for the first time… Adam realized
this fight was never meant to be won.