Nightfall: Last Call

Chapter 9 - Breaking Point

2:30 AM April 24th - The Howler

The word of The Howler had been spreading lately. Humans started to hear about a place that stayed up way longer than other bars, where the dark gothic theme stood out from the other bars in Okaso. The red velvet curtains and old dark wood flooring. This night vampires and humans alike were exchanging stories over drinks, the tension between the two worlds momentarily at ease.

Akina stood nearby, pouring drinks for a pair of vampires who frequented The Howler. She shot a glance at Ren, her eyes softened as the corners of her mouth lifted into a smile before so looked back at what she was doing. 

Ren smiled in response before continuing his order. 

The front door swung open with a heavy creak and a slam as it hit the wall, drawing every gaze in the bar. The air shifted, the energy growing thick and uneasy. Four vampires walked in, not the same ones that threatened them last time, these vampires were colder. Their presence was predatory, their eyes gleaming with something far more dangerous than hunger.

Ren's chest tightened as he clenched his jaw.

The lead vampire, an imposing figure with dark, sunken eyes, scanned the room with a slow, deliberate gaze. He moved through the bar without any concern for any of the patrons, as if he were already laying claim to them and the space. His cold, dead eyes locked with Ren as he stood opposite him by the bar.

Akina's eyes followed the vampire, seeing every inch of his movements. Her hand subtly shifting toward the knife she kept hidden beneath the counter. 

Ren's heart pounded in his chest, but he exhaled and stepped out of the bar to face him, his voice steady. "We've been through this already. Valen's made his message clear. You don't belong here."

The lead vampire's grinned, his fangs glinting in the low light. "Oh, we're not here for another message, human. We're here to deliver something much more... permanent."

The other vampires in the room, those who had come to The Howler for its neutrality, began to tense, their gazes flicking nervously between the Valen's enforcers and Ren. The rules of the bar were clear—no violence, no breaking the fragile peace. 

Ren glanced at Akina, his heart racing. 

Before Akina could meet Ren's gaze, the lead vampire reached into his coat and pulled something out, tossing it onto the bar with a casual flick of his wrist.

Ren stared down at it, his blood running cold.

It was a severed hand—human, bloody, and unmistakable.

The entire bar recoiled, a collective gasp rising from the patrons. Ren's stomach churned as he took a step back, his eyes locked on the gruesome sight. He didn't have to ask whose hand it was. The crude, familiar ring on the finger told him everything.
"Kenji..." Ren's voice came out as a strangled whisper, his heart pounding in his ears.

The lead vampire's smile now a vicious sneer. "Valen wanted you to know that time's up. The Howler belongs to him now. And if you keep standing in his way, your friend will lose a lot more than his hand."

Rage and fear surged through Ren, a chaotic mix of emotions threatening to choke him. He reached for the knife hidden on his lower back, his hand trembling with barely restrained fury.

Akina stepped in front of him, her eyes hard and calculating, locking with his. "You're outnumbered," she hissed. "Don't give them what they want."

The lead vampire chuckled, clearly enjoying the effect his gruesome message had on the room. 

"Valen's patient, but not that patient. You've pushed him long enough, and this is just the beginning. If you don't turn over Ren... your friend is going to suffer. And so will anyone else you care about."

Ren's hand tightened around the hilt of the knife, his vision narrowing to a tunnel of rage. He wanted to tear the vampire apart. But Akina's steady hand on his arm reluctantly brought him back to reality.

"This is neutral ground," she said, facing the vampire, her voice cold and unwavering. "You know the rules. No violence in The Howler."

The vampire's grin faltered, just slightly, as he glanced around the room. The other patron vampires had begun to shift, some of them standing, their dark and dangerous gazes locked on Valen's goons. The neutrality of The Howler was sacred, and even Valen's enforcers weren't immune to the consequences of breaking that peace.

The lead vampire sneered, pulling back just a bit, but his tone remained venomous. "You think this place can protect you forever? You think Darius can protect you? Valen's going to take this bar, and when he does, you'll beg for the mercy we're offering you now."

Ren's entire body shook with rage, but he forced himself to breathe, to think. He couldn't lose control. Not here. Not now.

Akina stepped forward, her voice sharp. "Take your message and get out."

The lead vampire's eyes gleamed with malice, but he didn't press further. He straightened, motioning for his companions to follow him. "Tell Darius the clock is ticking. Valen's going to burn this place to the ground."

With that, they turned and left, the door slamming behind them with a heavy finality. The silence in the bar lingered for a moment, thick with tension and fear. Then the low murmur of conversation returned, vampires and humans alike whispering about what had just happened, casting nervous glances toward Ren and Akina.

Ren stood frozen, his mind still reeling from what he'd seen. Kenji. His best friend. Hurt. Mutilated. The hand on the bar felt like a burning brand, searing into his consciousness, a reminder of everything Valen was willing to do to get what he wanted.

Akina placed a hand on his arm, her voice soft but firm. "We'll get him back."

Ren swallowed hard, his throat tight. "If he's still alive."

"He's alive," Akina said, her voice resolute. "Valen needs him alive. It's leverage. But we need to move fast."

Ren's mind raced, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. He had to get Kenji back, but Valen had just sent a message that went far beyond personal threats. The Howler was no longer safe. The neutral ground Darius had built was crumbling, and the war was about to come crashing through its doors.

"I'll tell Darius," Ren said, his voice low and hoarse. "We need a plan."

Akina nodded, her eyes hard. "And we need to make Valen pay for this."

Ren turned away from the bar, the image of Kenji's severed hand seared into his mind, fueling a fire that burned hotter with every step. Valen had crossed a line. And now, there was no turning back.