The vampires didn't move.
The air in the room felt thick, suffocating, as though the walls themselves were closing in.
Cain could feel every heartbeat around him. Elias's, Riven's, the vampires' — all of them beating like drums in his ears. The hunger was still there, gnawing at him, but there was something else too, something darker.
Control.
He needed control.
Elias stood between Cain and the vampires, eyes narrowing as he sized up the situation. His posture was rigid, but there was no denying the way his hand twitched toward the gun hidden under his jacket. The tension was palpable.
Riven was the first to break the silence. His voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of someone who had seen too many blood-soaked nights. "We don't want to fight."
The vampire who had spoken before — the one with the black hair — laughed softly, a cruel, almost mocking sound. "But you're not in control here, are you?"
Cain's fists tightened at his sides, his knuckles turning white. He could feel the darkness inside him stir again, the beast in him straining against the chains he had tried so hard to put on it. But he held back. Barely.
The vampire took a step forward, eyes flashing with predatory delight. "You think you can escape us, Cain? You think running is going to save you? It never does."
Cain's lips curled back in a snarl. "We're not your property."
The vampire raised an eyebrow. "No. You're not. But you're still part of the family. And family has a way of coming home, no matter how far they run."
Elias's eyes shot to Cain. There was a flicker of concern in them, but it was quickly masked by the same cold determination that had kept them alive all this time. He stepped forward, putting himself between Cain and the vampire. "What do you want from us?"
The vampire's grin widened, his teeth gleaming sharp in the dim light. "Simple. We want you to come with us. The Master has plans for you. He's been watching you three for a while. It's time you came home."
Home.
Cain's mind screamed in protest. He had no home.
Not anymore.
"Not a chance," Elias said, voice low but steady.
The vampire's eyes glinted dangerously. "I was hoping you'd say that."
Before anyone could react, the vampire lunged forward, moving faster than Cain could track. He felt the air shift, felt the rush of movement, and then—
Riven's body slammed into the vampire with enough force to knock him off balance. The impact sent them both crashing into the wall, sending a shower of dust and debris into the air.
Cain barely had time to react before another vampire charged at him, claws outstretched.
But this time, Cain was ready. The hunger inside him flared, and he let it take control. He moved faster than he ever had before, his fangs snapping toward the vampire's throat in an instant.
The vampire was strong, but Cain was faster. His teeth sank into soft flesh, the warmth of blood filling his mouth as the vampire's body went limp in his grip.
For a moment, all that mattered was the blood. The heat. The life flowing through him.
But then, something shifted. The world came back into focus, and Cain pulled away from the body, chest heaving. His stomach twisted, a surge of guilt crashing into him.
He'd done it again.
"You…" Elias's voice was strained, filled with disbelief. "Cain…"
Cain didn't want to look at him. He didn't want to see the disappointment. But he couldn't help it. His eyes met Elias's, and he saw it there — the same look he always saw when he lost control.
Disgust. Fear. The same fear that Cain had been trying to outrun for so long.
"I didn't mean to," Cain muttered, the words barely a whisper. But they were the truth. It wasn't the hunger that made him do it. It was the fear. The need to protect them. The need to survive.
"We need to move," Elias said, his voice tight with urgency. "Now."
Cain nodded, his legs shaky beneath him as he grabbed his bag. Riven was already up, his hands covered in blood, but he wasn't looking at it. His eyes were scanning the room, calculating their next move.
"Where?" Riven asked, voice sharp.
Elias didn't hesitate. "Anywhere but here."
They didn't have time to argue. The sound of footsteps was growing louder outside, and Cain knew that more vampires were on their way. They needed to get out, and they needed to do it fast.
Cain glanced back at the dead vampire on the floor. The hunger in him stirred again, but this time, it wasn't just for blood. It was for power. For control. For the ability to stop running.
But that wasn't the world they lived in anymore.
They couldn't fight this. Not yet.
Cain grabbed Elias's arm, pulling him toward the door. "Let's go."
Riven followed, casting one last glance at the room they had barely started to make their own. It felt like a lifetime ago.
As they stepped into the night, the world outside was dark, quiet — almost too quiet. The air felt charged, heavy with the promise of something coming. Something worse than anything they had faced before.
They didn't speak as they walked. No one had the energy for words.
But somewhere deep inside, Cain knew.
The worst was yet to come.