Nightfall: Last Call

Chapter 7 - Threat

Midnight, April 5th 2026 - The Howler

In Darius's office, Ren stood sweat-soaked and exhausted after training tirelessly all night into the next day. Darius sat behind his desk, watching Ren with a quiet intensity, his silver hair catching the faint glow of the lamp beside him.

"You've been through a lot today," Darius said, his voice calm but serious. "Lucia, Viktor, Kael, Seraphine—they're pushing you for a reason."

Ren nodded, still trying to catch his breath. "I know. But I feel like I'm barely keeping up. How am I supposed to be ready for Valen?"

Darius's dark eyes locked onto Ren's, his expression unreadable. "It's not about being ready, Ren. It's about surviving long enough to learn. Valen will come for you, and when he does, he'll test everything you've learned. But strength and skill aren't the only weapons you have."

Ren frowned. "Then what is?"

"Your mind," Darius said simply. "You're human, which makes you a target. But it also makes you unpredictable. Vampires like Valen expect you to break under pressure. They expect you to be weak. But if you can outthink him, if you can use what you've learned to stay one step ahead, you can survive."

Ren listened, his mind racing as Darius's words sank in.

"You have allies, Ren. Don't forget that. The Silent Blades are here to help, but in the end, this fight is yours. Don't let fear control you. Use it."

Ren stared at Darius, feeling a new determination settle in his chest. He wasn't ready—not yet—but he was learning. And when the time came to face Valen, he would fight with everything he had.

1:30 AM, April 9th 2026 - The Howler

The familiar, comforting faint smell of aged whiskey and leather that The Howler identified with filled the air as Akina and Ren moved through their opening routines. The city slowly hummed quieter, as the human drinkers was dipping their toes into the end of their night. The Howler's unique clientele, barely starting to waking up to another night.

Ren moved with automatically as he wiped down the bar. The bar shifts started to become comforting, it was something he understood and knew through and through. But the back of his mind kept repeating the same fear that had been consuming him. He shook his head, doing his best to focus on his immediate tasks. But the constant anxiety in his gut never left no matter how much he tried to ignore it. Tension hung like a storm cloud over The Howler.

"Everything okay?" Akina asked as she stacked clean classes on the shelf, her voice was soft but tinged with concern.

Ren glanced up, offering a half smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Just waiting for the other shoe to drop, I guess."

Akina nodded, her brown eyes soft and understanding. "I know what you mean. Valen's been too quiet."

The heavy door creaked open. Four figures stepped inside, their movements casual but deliberate. All of them exuding an air of erratic arrogance that sent shivers down Ren's spine. The leader of the group, a tall, gaunt vampire with sunken eyes and a cruel smile, glanced around the bar as if he owned it. His three companions, all equally menacing, fanned out behind him, their eyes gleaming with something darker than hunger.

Akina's stiffened beside Ren, instinctively she took hold of his arm.

Ren's heart pounded, but he kept his composure as best he could. "We're closed for another half hour," he said, his voice steady. "come back later."

The lead vampire grinned evilly, showing his predator fangs. "We are not here for drinks, human," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

Akina's eyes narrowed, "then what do you want?"

The vampire chuckled, his gaze slithered over to her. "Valen's got a message for Darius, we're just here to make sure it's understood." His cold, soulless eyes locked with Ren's.

Ren's blood ran cold, but with a deep breath, he stood his ground. "What's the message?"

The vampire's smiled twisted into something darker, more dangerous. "Give us the human, or The Howler's days of neutrality are over. Valen is tired of waiting. Comply..." he trailed off, raising his arms wide, "or we will just have to make a mess of things."

One of the vampires, broad shouldered brute with wild untamed eyes, snarled, showing his fangs.

"We need to keep calm," Akina whispered to Ren as her clutch on his arm tightened. "We stand no chance in a fight."

The knot of anxiety in Ren's gut twisted erratically as his pulse got out of control. Valen was pushing them again, it was another test. Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm... They couldn't afford to let the situation escalate any further. It would put them, The Howler and Darius in danger. The neutrality was holding on to its last thread. Scanning their faces, like Seraphine had taught him, he sensed that they were itching for trouble, for blood. "We got the message." Ren said, in hopes of it stopping whatever intentions they had. But after he said it a fire brewed in his chest, "but if you start something, it wont end well for you."

A menacing, disturbing chuckle came from the lead vampire as his eyes flashed with amusement. "Is that a threat, human?"

Akina stepped forward, her voice cold as ice. "Back off."

"Oh don't worry, little flower, I wont hurt your precious boyfriend." The lead vampire, licked his fangs with his snake-like tongue. He took another step closer to Ren. 

Ren's jaw tightened, his fists clenched. 

The heavy sound of a door opening echoed through the room. 

Darius stepped out of his office as a breeze blew through the bar. His presence immediately commanding the space. His yellow gleaming eyes swept over the scene, taking in the vampires and their pathetic threats. He moved slowly, deliberately, his calm yet terrifying gaze locking onto the leader of the gang. 

"You're in my bar." Darius said simply, but with authority. "And you've overstayed your welcome."

The leader of the vampires straightened, though a flicker of unease crossed his face. "Valen sent us to deliver a message-"

"I heard," Darius interrupted, in an instant he stood right in front of the vampire, his eyes piercing into the vampire's. "Now leave, while you still can."

I didn't even see him move. Ren's eyes widened in awe, but also with a bit of fear of what immense power Darius showed without even trying. 

For a moment, the vampires hesitated, as if weighing their options. But after a tense silence, the leader jerked his head toward the door with a hiss, his companions following. 

As the door slammed shut, the tension slowly eased away from the room. Ren let go of a breath he didn't know he was holding as he let his shoulder sink. Akina, slowly loosened her grip on his arm, but not letting go just yet. 

Darius turned to Ren and Akina, his expression unfazed, almost lazy. "Valen is making his move. It wont be long before the next one."

Ren nodded, the weight of Darius's words stabbed into his chest. 

"What is our next move?" Akina asked, as she crossed her arms across her chest. 

Darius looked at them both, his gaze calm. "We will keep training. Akina, you too will get training. You both need to be ready for what comes next."

Ren exchanged a glance with Akina, his chest filling with fear but also determination.