Shadows

"This isn't funny. I thought you made better jokes, at least when you're drunk," Ema was direct in disapproving Diana's delicate explanation.

As she sighed, she looked at Carla, who was looking at Nero, and finally saw the drink. "Here, take it! When I drink a little more, any joke will make me laugh."

Diana looked at the glass that her friend held out to her and smiled, shaking her head.

"I told you she wouldn't believe it," Diana said calmly as she took the drink.

"Well, I can always bite... as proof."

Over the glass, while feeling happy with the bitter and refreshing taste, her eyes were not at all kind.

"So you're that type...", Nero put his hand in his hair, already imagining what was coming. "Don't go biting just anyone, especially my friends."

Nero laughed.

"What if I'm thirsty? It's hard to control."

Even though she knew what he wanted to hear, Diana tried not to blush too much as she spoke.

"Just come to me," she lightly tugged on the collar of her sweater. Smiling when he licked his lips, playful and seductive. "I'll let you bite me. It doesn't hurt much anyway."

"Huh, I'll keep that in mind."

She stood up angrily and sat on his lap.

"I'll keep you captive if you go around biting others, you naughty little dog."

He laughed again. Diana was happy. It was the first time she had drunk with him, and alcohol had never tasted so good.

"Ahhh... You two are horrible. Calling us both just to show off your flirting?" Ema couldn't take it anymore. "At least wait until I get drunk. And if possible, let me participate."

Nero continued to laugh, Diana didn't. She was about to announce a pay cut when Carla raised her hand.

"Question! Is this some kind of fetish... a joke of yours, or?...", seeing her boss nod his head, she stopped. "Is this serious?"

Nero decided to end the stress. He lifted a lip with his finger, showing his canine and waited.

Slowly the tooth began to grow in front of his wide eyes. Seconds later he could no longer close his mouth and the two had nothing to say.

When Diana started the conversation and answered all the questions, Ema finally spoke.

"Wait, isn't this the kind of secret that is kept under lock and key?"

Carla nodded, filling her glass.

"I agree. This is not dangerous, many people would kill to hear this."

"You are already bewitched. So it's not a problem," he shrugged.

""What?"", the two exclaimed.

"There is a power... Magic protecting this secret. You could leave here shouting this and they would see you as a drunk. You could tell the world about it and they would see you as crazy," Nero calmly added, as he hugged and pulled his fiancée's waist.

This, along with Diana's moan, did not go unnoticed, but they preferred silence. Ema held out the glass for her friend to fill.

The night would be long.

...

..

"Are you telling me that he came back and the first thing he did was find a human 'woman'? How sure are you of that?", the voice was low, the tone threatening. The man standing in the corner of the room did not seem to care.

"I'm sure."

The man in the chair wasn't looking at him. He was lifting those papers and looking at that photo with disdain. From there he could see the shadow of a smile.

"That car accident, who did that?"

For a second the man wondered if it was worth saying that.

'He could become a valuable ally,' he decided.

"I did that."

The man turned to him, this time part of his face came into view. There was a half smile on his face, a pair of tired eyes too, deep, dark circles under his eyes.

"Okay. What do you want for it?", the man returned to his neutral tone.

"I don't want anything, but if possible, I want to be there... listening to her screams. I also want to be the one who writes the letter for him."

"Fair enough," he nodded. "Is there anything else for me?"

The man thought for a moment. It was better to warn him beforehand.

"He's stronger..."

The seated figure froze, lightly scratching the back of his neck as he straightened his posture. Fear filled his words.

"Stronger?"

"Yes."

"Vampires don't get stronger," he said simply, as if the mere possibility was madness.

As if that sentence could protect him.

The memories of his father's screams still made his hands tremble.

The hooded figure shook his head.

"He's... almost unrecognizable, too. A team informed me that the spies have been disappearing one by one. Always the ones who are furthest away. He disappears, one of ours too, the leader of the group gave up the job after three of them disappeared..."

"...", his mind was already spinning with the possibilities but he encouraged him to continue.

"She said she had seen a predator before, but none playing like that. That he was stronger than her and her group, for sure."

"What group is that?..."

"Half-moon..."

'Well, shit!...'

"I know the name... and you're saying they lost three of them. And she didn't do anything."

"She tried to stop him. She found him on the way and froze in place. After that she gave up on the job," the tone of voice changed as if the man himself was trying to understand what had happened to that woman.

They didn't know how strong that man was, but if Half-moon was no match... Then they had a problem.

"Not that it matters...", strengthening his voice, the man did what he came for. "We just need to kill her. He'll only have himself to blame later."

"Of course. I don't want to get involved with that monster any more than necessary... Anyway, leave your contact details with the butler. As soon as everything is ready, you'll know."

The hood camouflaged one's face, the shadows the other's. But in the end, with a nod they both knew their eyes held the same desire.

His end.