I didn't immediately return to Ironwood. Instead, I wondered the dark tunnels beneath the city, remembering the days of my youth. How I had often wondered how my life would've been had my parents still been alive, but that was before I knew the truth of my father, specifically how he had allied with the Principes Noctis. Under my father's rule, the people of Coast City had suffered, and many people lost their lives. Roman and my aunt Kristen had kept the truth about him from me, thinking they were protecting me. But secrets are like vengeful spirits who refuse to stay buried. Eventually, they rise to the surface destroying everyone who helped bury them in the first place.

Stopping briefly, I rubbed at my eyes and resisted a yawn. Even though I was several feet below ground, I could feel sunlight swallowing the night. I would need to find a place to sleep soon before a heavy slumber overcame me. Vampire’s bodies were finely tuned to the earth’s cycle. The earth, too, needed rest, hence night and day. However, the older a vampire became, the less sleep it needed. I looked forward to that time.

But that was not now.

"You’re back," Oz said when I returned to Ironwood. He was sitting on the porch of a newly remodeled home across from mine with the door open. It used to belong to a drugstore, but Oz had turned it into a studio apartment. A tall partition separated Amy’s half.

“And you don't have any blood on you,” he added. “I take it you didn’t kill Victor.”

"Not today." I glanced to my home, anxious to get some sleep. Sunlight tugged at my sinews, urging me to give in to the darkness.

"Just so you know, Emma was our priority," Oz said. "We've always kept an eye on her."

"How long has Victor been watching her?"

"Ever since you left. At first, Rebecca stayed nearby her to make sure Emma wasn't harmed, but he never threatened her. In fact, he had a couple of his men act as bodyguards for her. She resisted at first, but then she let them do their thing. From a distance. She's kind of feisty."

I smiled remembering that side of her. It was one of the reasons why I loved her. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to do what needed to be done to get it.

“Oh!” Oz said. “He also paid for her schooling. She doesn’t know it though. She thinks she got a scholarship, but I tapped into his finances long ago and found the transaction."

My head snapped up. “Why would he do this?”

"Beats the hell out of me. Victor’s a douche bag, but when it comes to Emma, he's a stud."

I paced the boardwalk, thinking hard. Something didn't add up. He had to have an ulterior motive. Maybe Victor knew I wasn't dead, even though he had acted surprised to see me. But maybe that's all it was—an act. Maybe he's been waiting for me to come back all along.

Footsteps approached followed by a bitter smell. Rebecca. I turned around and spoke quickly. My eyelids were beginning to close. "What’s your take on Victor?"

She shrugged, the strap of her tank top slipping off her shoulder. "The guy's a dick. I'd love to kick his ass one day."

"Why do you think he’s so nice to Emma?”

"My guess is to get at you."

"But he believed me dead."

She shook her head. "Not necessarily. Roman had called Samira the night you left to fight Victor on the docs. He knew they would need help transporting you to the Bisou Islands, so she called me because I was closer. We arrived at the docks before the police and tossed all the dead bodies into the ocean – gruesome scene by the way, so thanks for that. All but two bodies were recovered. Obviously, you were one of those two. There are a lot of conspiracy theories going around. In one of them, you didn't die but joined the Principes Noctis. Others think you were taken captive. Since no one knows for sure, maybe Victor's been hanging around your girl in case you returned." She pointed her finger at me. "You need to stay clear of him until the time is right. He has a lot of men close to him, specifically the Physician. And that guy's even worse than Victor. You don't want him finding out you're alive just yet. Let's hope Victor hasn't already told him."

I turned away from her and paced again. Dax Banter, more famously known as the Physician, was Victor's right-hand man. He was known for paralyzing his victims with poison from a single prick of a large ring he wore on his middle finger.

My limbs grew heavy, and a dark fog clouded my mind. "I must sleep now."

Rebecca leaned against the wall of Oz's house. "When you wake, let’s go up above. I want to show you how bad the city has become."

"I would like that. But first there is someone I need to talk to, and I must do it alone." I crossed the street to my house, my legs feeling like lead weights, but when I looked inside, it felt to open. I couldn't sleep here. I needed somewhere tighter and more enclosed. Back on the Bisou Islands, I had slept in a coffin. At first, the idea of it was terrifying, but as soon as I laid eyes on that long, narrow box, I had practically jumped inside. I must find something similar.

I turned from my house and darted away using my super speed to race through the tunnels. I didn't go far until I found a long tube that used to be part of the water system over a century ago. The duct was rusty and smelled of dirt and iron. I hated the idea of sleeping in it, but my body craved the tight space. I crawled inside and, as soon as I was completely entombed, weighted darkness engulfed me, and I fell into a deep sleep.

My eyes fluttered open, but I quickly closed them again to try and hang onto the dream that still fluttered through my mind like a heavenly cloud. All I remembered about it was Emma being there, and it filled me with warmth I hadn’t felt in a long time. But no matter how hard I tried, I could not hang onto her vision.

I moaned and opened my eyes. Crawling out of the tube, I brushed myself off best I could. I didn't have to check the time on my phone to know that sunset had arrived. The tugging sensation on my bones had been replaced by a soothing coolness, like the way the outside of a lemonade glass feels against one’s cheek on a hot summer day.

I sped back to Ironwood to find Amy sitting on a chair on the boardwalk. Rebecca was on the wooden floor in front of her letting Amy braid her hair. I flinched when the smell of Amy's blood wafted in the air. My stomach growled, and I turned away from them to close my eyes in concentration. I would feed soon.

"Good morning, Aris," Amy said. "Doesn't Rebecca look lovely?"

I inhaled a great breath and turned around. I stepped past them. "She definitely looks better than she smells."

Rebecca kicked out her leg, nearly tripping me.

Amy scowled. "I think she smells great."

"Thank you, sweetie," Rebecca said.

I glanced back at them, smiling a little. At least Amy looked happy. I had worried about her being down here as I knew it could get depressing, but Roman had told me that Oz would frequently take her on trips to Wildemoor. And Rebecca seemed to be good for her too.

"Where are Roman and Oz?" I asked them.

"Oz is in command, and Roman is in the halo,” Rebecca said. “He wanted to talk to you when you woke up." She held up a mirror and looked at her new, braided hairstyle. "I love it!"

I left the girls and walked the path until I reached the halo, a large circular area with stone enclosed walls. It used to be part of Ironwood's courthouse decades ago before they built Coast City right on top of it. The halo is where Roman would come to meditate and listen to the sounds above. He could hear anything from miles away if he concentrated hard enough.

He was in his usual spot, sitting with his legs crossed and head bowed. He lifted his face at my approach and opened his all-white eyes. "Did you rest well?"

"I was stuffed inside a smelly pipe all night. I need a coffin."

"I ordered one and had it delivered to your garage. It should be there tomorrow. I will have Oz and Rebecca set it up for you." He pulled himself to his feet and swooped his dark hair, tinged with bits of gray, over his shoulder. Only six months had passed, and yet he looked much older. Practicing elemental magic had taken its toll on him, but he had learned so much, and those abilities may come in handy when we finally take down the Principes Noctis.

"Thank you,” I said. “And thank you for taking care of everything while I adjusted to my new life. You have made it as easy as possible for me." I bowed my head in respect. Roman and I had grown close on the Bisou Islands. I think we both changed a little there. He saw me not as a child anymore, but as a capable man, and I finally realized how much he had sacrificed for me. He’d given up everything to protect me when he didn’t have to. I wasn’t related to him. In fact, because my father secluded my mother from everyone she knew, Roman had barely seen her the last few years of her life. He could’ve easily walked away from the city, from me, but he hadn’t.

"This transition has not been easy for you," he said. "I’ve seen you suffer. I know this is not a life you wanted, and I wish there could've been another way, but you are all this city has."

“I spoke with Victor,” I blurted, even though I knew Roman had probably heard the conversation from down below. He probably was listening the second he heard me bolt from Ironwood.

"Do you believe his words?"

"Do you?” I countered. “It seems so far-fetched, and yet I'm curious. Am I being naïve?"

"Victor could be a powerful ally. It is worth checking his story."

I repressed a shiver, feeling sick at the thought of working with him. I walked over to a table pressed against the wall and picked up a blood bag Roman must’ve left for me. I popped off the lid over the tubing and drunk it dry.

Still parched, I looked around for another one. "I will visit with Alex tonight to confirm his story, but working with Victor is out of the question. Is there any more blood?"

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, leaving a smear of blood on my skin. I stared at it longingly, then picked up a cloth from off the table and wiped it clean.

“More is coming in the morning. Will you be alright until then?”

“Of course,” I said, a little too quickly.

I bowed and left him to train. This was usually the time when he practiced elemental magic as it was easier to feel earth’s energy during sunset or sunrise.

Heading toward command, I passed by Rebecca and Amy. This time Rebecca was braiding Amy's hair.

“Don’t let her screw it up,” I said to Amy with a wink.

She giggled. “She always does great.”

“You bet I do,” Rebecca said, casting me a dangerous look.

At my arrival to command, Oz swiveled his chair toward me. The smell of his blood, although not as sweet as Amy’s, made my stomach jump in anticipation. "So, you finally woke up. Is this how it's always going to be now that you're a vampire?"

I snarled at him and approached the cameras, looking first at Emma's house.

"Seriously dude, you're so moody now,” he said. “Can we just have a conversation? I haven't seen you in months, and you’ve barely said ten words to me."

I waited until I was sure Emma was safe, before turning back to him. "Sorry. It is good to see you. It’s just difficult to be a vampire. Along with my senses, all my emotions are heightened, too, so I feel like I’m barely keeping it together. Plus, there’s all this rage inside me that feels like it’s going to explode— “

"I get it,” he said, quickly lifting his hands in a stopping motion. “We’ll just be chill for a while. No pressure. You are my best friend after all."

“I’m your only friend.”

“There’s that.” He picked up a licorice rope off the desk and snagged a bite. "So, tell me, what’s it like being a vampire? Do you want to drink my blood right now?"

My eyes bore into his. "Yes."

He kicked his chair back, and it rolled to the other side of the room. "But you won’t, right? I mean, you still your humanity, right? Because I've seen the vampires up there, and they don't give a freak about anyone or anything. Tell me you are different."

"I am trying to be. The urges are hard to overcome, but, I assure you, you’re safe with me." I lowered into a nearby chair to not seem so intimidating. Everything about me screamed predator.

“Good, because killing friends really sucks, you know?”

I lifted an eyebrow. “You think you could take me?”

He laughed. “I was talking about you killing me. I’d hate to have you live with that crushing guilt.”

I chuckled and turned my attention to all the different camera views of the city. I had to admit, this was super helpful. I stared at each one of them, watching people walking in and out of camera angles. I frowned, noticing there weren't as many people as usual. It was almost dark. The night crowd, at least on the north side of the city, should be fairly numerous by now, but there was only a handful on the streets, and those who were left were walking quickly with a hint of nervousness to their steps.

"Where is everyone?"

Oz's voice lowered. "Very few go out after dark anymore. It's too dangerous. People are scared."

I gripped the armrest of the chair until it shattered beneath my grip.

"Easy there, Dracula. I don't want to have to blow more of your money than I have to."

I bent over and picked up the pieces and tossed them into the trash. "Tell me everything you've learned."

He opened a nearby drawer and pulled out a flash drive. He handed it to me. "It's all on here. Everything about the Principes Noctis’ leadership, where they go, who seems to be in charge. It'll take you a few days to go over everything as I’m pretty detailed. I like to take spy notes."

I stuffed it into my pocket. "Tell me about Victor. What has he been doing this whole time?"

"He still runs some things, but I think he's been sidelined with all the vampires coming to town. He's not the big badass he was before. Sure, he still strikes fear into the hearts of Coast City residents, but he's just not as relevant."

"Why do you think that is?"

"Couldn't say. I kinda miss his D bag ways. At least you knew what to expect with Victor. This new group, they're too unpredictable and attack for no reason. They have these places set up all over the city…" his voice trailed off.

"What places?"

"I don't want to give you all the dirt too soon. Just look at that drive when you get a chance."

I almost insisted, but then I remembered I needed to speak to Alex. When he had shown me around Victor’s house while I “investigated” Oz’s disappearance, Alex had seemed like a decent guy. But time would tell. I’d scope him out first to make sure he could be trusted. And if he couldn't, I’d kill him.