Chapter 8: The Pulse Beneath the Stones (Part 2)

Rhett and Hanae continued their investigation in Westvale.

Hanae took a deep breath, then began walking, tracing the fading spirit trail in the air. The path veered toward the old market, then split, as if torn by another force.

Rhett scanned the area, his eyes sharp. "I don't see any signs or scents left behind. But there are two branches ahead. Which one do we follow?"

Hanae paused, placing two fingers in the air, feeling the spirit stream that hovered like fine threads.

"One trail carries a familiar echo... Merek's."

She closed her eyes, following the pull. "The other reeks of death."

Rhett let out a low growl. "I choose the one that reeks."

"You always pick the dangerous path, don't you?"

"If it's safe, it's not me."

They followed the second trail—one that left a faint residue in the air, like a mist reluctant to vanish.

It led to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town, the structure rotting and moss-covered.

Rhett focused his hearing. Silence.

But the spirit flow Hanae sensed there... was restless.

Rhett approached the half-open iron door. "No one inside."

Hanae nodded. "Or maybe they left, but the imprint they left behind is strong."

They entered cautiously.

Inside, there was only damp air and cracked walls, but Hanae felt it.

She knelt, touching the floor. The spirit imprint thickened at that spot, leaving a cold residue.

"There was a victim here," she murmured. "A human."

Rhett scanned the room, his jaw clenched. "I smell blood. Faint, but it's there."

"That means they cleaned up well."

Hanae closed her eyes, attempting to rewind the remaining spirit echoes.

Faint images began to appear: a trembling young man, a shadow streaking across the room. A bite. A forceful pull.

Not just blood taken—his spirit stream torn as well.

Hanae rubbed the back of her neck, suddenly chilled. "This isn't typical hunting behavior. The vampire fed on his spirit flow. That's... unnatural."

"Maybe he's not an ordinary vampire," Rhett muttered. "Or he's learned a new way to hunt—a crueler one."

Hanae held her breath. She touched the wall, gathering scattered spirit fragments, forming an unfamiliar pattern—not a spiral like common predators, but more like... a sealing symbol.

"This vampire isn't just feeding. He's locking his victims' spirit flows. As if... binding them for something."

"For what?"

"I don't know yet."

Rhett clenched his fists, his gaze dark. "This isn't just hunting. This is premeditated slaughter."

Hanae stood, staring into the shadowy corridor on the other side of the warehouse. "And I'm afraid it's far from over."

Rhett and Hanae left the warehouse as the sky deepened and the city lights began to flicker on.

In the distance, Hanae spotted a middle-aged woman standing in front of a closed kiosk, watching them with wary eyes.

Hanae approached. "Excuse me. May I ask if you know who's been inside that warehouse?"

The woman bit her lip, uneasy. "Some of the local youth hang around there. But... some never came home."

"How many?" Rhett asked, serious.

"Three... maybe four."

"Has anyone reported it?"

"No," she whispered. "We're afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

The woman looked down, voice nearly inaudible. "The shadow that stands at the edge of the road at night. People say he looks human, but his eyes are empty. He always disappears before anyone gets close."

Rhett inhaled around her. "The scent of a vampire still lingers on her. They've been watching the townspeople closely," he whispered to Hanae.

Hanae nodded. "We need backup. This is bigger than we thought."

"No. We keep going. If they come for us, I won't let them escape," Rhett said, eyes burning.

Hanae turned to the darkening sky, her gaze firm.

"Then we keep hunting until we find them."

The trail was thin, nearly gone, but to Hanae, its pulse still echoed.

Like a hidden stream beneath stone, the spirit flow guided them through Westvale's silent streets.

They walked side by side, in silence, broken only by the echo of their footsteps on damp pavement.

Fog crept in slowly, curling around the dimming street lamps.

"You're sure this is the right way?" Rhett asked, his voice low, eyes scanning every shadow.

Hanae placed her palm against a cold lamp post. "This is a fresh crack in the flow. Not old. The vampire's moving slowly, like he wants to leave a trace—but not enough to be easy."

"A trap?"

"Maybe." Hanae exhaled. "But I feel like... he wants to be found. On his terms."

Rhett closed his eyes, sharpening his senses. Sounds trickled in: soft footfalls too light for any human, and a breath—as if someone held back hunger.

"There," he murmured. He pointed to a narrow alley beside an old shop, eyes narrowing. "Too fast for a human."

They followed the alley, and at the end, Hanae pressed her palm to the brick wall.

The spirits shuddered—the chaos still fresh.

"It just happened," Hanae whispered. "There was a human here. Likely already taken."

Rhett crouched, sniffing the air.

"The scent's still fresh. They haven't gone far."

Their steps halted before an old factory, long abandoned.

Rhett eyed the rusted, half-open door.

"I hear... whispers. Inside."

Hanae frowned. "Can you tell? Is it a vampire?"

Rhett nodded, his wild side emerging, eyes starting to redden. "One. Maybe alone. I can't be sure."

Hanae glanced at the deepening sky. "We can't call the Circle now. We go in."

"I'll lead," Rhett said firmly. "If anything comes out, I face it first."

Hanae smirked. "Don't play hero, Khurai. I'm not hauling you home in a jar."

"If you do, at least make sure I look cool."

They entered quietly.

The whispers grew louder, like a slowed song, distorting the air.

Inside, they found a young man, blank-eyed and trembling, slumped against a cracked pillar. Blood dripped from his arm, and before him stood a tall figure with pale eyes and a thin smile.

The vampire stared at them, unhurried, as if he'd been waiting.

"You're the ones who sniffed me out, huh?" His voice dragged like a blade over stone.

Rhett moved forward, nearly shifting. "Let him go."

The vampire looked at the trembling man, then casually released him.

"If you want him, take him. I'm done."

He turned, as if to leave.

"Wait!" Hanae stepped forward. "You're the one disrupting the spirit flows in this town."

The vampire looked back, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Ah, so you've figured it out. I'm just... experimenting."

"What's your goal?"

"Why should I tell you?" His smile grew more dangerous. "I like breaking bonds that shouldn't exist."

Rhett growled. "Enough games."

"But weren't you the ones who started playing?"

The vampire vanished.

Rhett spun, claws nearly fully formed, slashing just in time to meet the attack. Their clash shattered a pillar behind them as Rhett blocked the vampire's blow with raw instinct.

Hanae drew her silver blade, quickly forming a protective spirit circle.

Rhett held the vampire back with sheer force. His fangs nearly emerged, eyes glowing red—ready to shift.

"You're not getting away."

The vampire sneered. "You're a fun one. But I have other matters. Let's finish this next time."

In an instant, he broke free, vanishing before Rhett could stop him.

"GET HIM!" Hanae shouted.

Rhett was already moving, but the vampire's scent vanished in midair, leaving nothing.

Hanae knelt by the human, checking his pulse.

"Are you okay?" she asked, but the man gave no reply, only staring blankly at the wall.

"No... his life force..."

Rhett returned, growling in frustration. "He's gone. No scent, no trace. Damn it!"

Hanae bit her lip, her expression darkening. "Veyar—that vampire doesn't just feed on blood. He takes life energy. And he knows how to sever spirit threads. This is worse than I feared."

Rhett stared at her, breath heavy. "We report back to Aren."

"Yes. But we need to accelerate the hunt. He's not just hunting—he's gathering something we don't yet understand."

Hanae looked to the night sky, now smothered in fog.

Their hunt was far from over.

And the predator they pursued... was chasing something far greater than either of them had imagined.