Bloodlines Legacy Arc 1 Eternal Night

Chapter 5: Whispers in the Dark

The streets of Manhattan were a different world at night, especially in the darkest corners where even the streetlights seemed hesitant to shine. Lucian Eldredge and Hugo Monclair moved quietly through the shadows, their steps nearly silent as they approached the underbelly of the city—the places where the lowest-ranking vampires thrived.

Lucian's sharp eyes scanned the narrow alleyways, his senses on high alert. The vampires they were about to meet lived in the fringes, operating beneath the radar of the families and Cleaners. These vampires were reckless, dangerous, and often desperate, but they were also a valuable source of information. If anyone knew what was happening in the city, it was them.

"I don't like dealing with these circles," Hugo muttered, his eyes flicking toward the shadows. "Too much chaos. Too much unpredictability."

Lucian nodded but remained focused. "We don't have a choice. The upper ranks won't talk, but the lower vampires might. They're closer to the streets, more likely to notice unusual activity."

They reached a rundown bar hidden beneath an old brick building. It was a place where vampires came to feed discreetly, a place where deals were made, and rumors spread like wildfire. Lucian and Hugo exchanged a glance before stepping inside.

The air inside the bar was thick with the scent of alcohol and blood. The dim lighting cast long shadows across the room, where vampires of all kinds lurked in corners, nursing their drinks and watching with wary eyes. The atmosphere was tense, the kind of place where violence was always one wrong word away.

Lucian and Hugo made their way to a booth in the back, where a group of vampires sat hunched over their drinks. Their eyes flicked toward the newcomers, suspicion etched on their faces.

"Eldredge," one of the vampires growled, his voice low. "What brings you down to our level?"

Lucian slid into the booth, his movements calm and deliberate. "Information," he said simply. "I'm hearing whispers of strange deaths in the city. I want to know what you know."

The vampire chuckled darkly, leaning back in his seat. "And why would we help you? What's in it for us?"

Hugo, who had been standing off to the side, leaned forward, his pale eyes flashing. "Because if you don't, those whispers will turn into something much louder. And when they do, the families will come down on you hard."

The vampire's grin faltered, his eyes narrowing. "Is that a threat?"

Hugo smiled coldly. "It's a promise."

Lucian raised a hand, signaling for calm. "We're not here to fight. We just want information. If there's something happening in the city that threatens the vampire world, we all suffer."

The vampire leader exchanged a glance with his companions before turning back to Lucian. "We've heard the rumors," he admitted. "Deaths all over the city, humans drained dry. But no one's claiming responsibility. It's not the usual hunters or rogue vampires. Feels... different."

"Different how?" Lucian asked, his voice calm but firm.

The vampire hesitated, then leaned forward. "There's something off about the bodies. They're not just drained of blood—they look like they've been... withered. Like something sucked the life out of them. I don't know what it is, but it ain't normal vampire feeding."

Lucian exchanged a glance with Hugo, a cold knot forming in his stomach. Withered bodies. This wasn't the work of a careless vampire or even a rogue. Something darker was at play.