The Vampire Detectives (Bjorn and Zyro #1)[COMPLETED]

3: Coffee and Blood

The aroma of coffee mingled with the distinct metallic scent of blood as Bjorn sat at his desk, nursing a steaming cup. The dark liquid inside was a peculiar mix—half blood, half coffee—an odd habit he'd developed over the centuries. He took a sip, savoring the warmth before focusing his gaze on the laptop screen in front of him.

CCTV footage flickered in black and white across the screen, showing the chaotic market scene from the night before. The skeletal pirates and werewolves had torn through the stalls, their movements captured in brief, grainy frames. It was difficult to tell who struck first, but something about the timing felt off.

Eleanor's voice cut through his thoughts. "Still watching that? You've been staring at it for hours."

Bjorn glanced up as Eleanor leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, a playful smile on her lips. Her brown hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, and her eyes gleamed with curiosity. Eleanor had always been his anchor—a rare human who knew more about his world than most vampires, and one of the few people he trusted without question.

"I'm looking for something," Bjorn muttered, taking another sip of his blood-coffee concoction. "But it's all a blur. Too much chaos."

Eleanor walked over, peering at the screen. "Well, maybe you're focusing on the wrong thing. What are you hoping to find?"

Bjorn sighed, rubbing his temples. "There's something about the way the pirates and werewolves moved. It wasn't random. They weren't just attacking—they were looking for something."

Eleanorraised an eyebrow, pulling up a chair beside him. "Maybe someone planted a distraction? Get everyone fighting, and they sneak off with whatever they were really after."

"Maybe." Bjorn clicked through another set of footage, fast-forwarding past the moment he and Zyro had jumped into the fight. The camera angle shifted to a distant corner of the market, barely catching the movements of a figure slipping through the chaos.

"There," Bjorn said, pointing at the screen. "Someone was moving differently."

Kristina squinted at the footage. "Looks like they're trying to stay out of the fight. Who is that?"

"No idea," Bjorn replied. "But that's who I need to find."

Kristina leaned back in her chair, watching him closely. "Do you ever think maybe you're working too hard? You've barely slept since the attack. I mean, I know you don't need sleep the way humans do, but you could still take a break. You're obsessing."

Bjorn shook his head, taking another sip from his cup. "There's no time for breaks. Whoever's behind this is smart enough to stay hidden. I can't afford to lose any leads."

She smiled softly. "You always were stubborn."

Bjorn smirked. "Comes with the territory."

Kristina glanced at the cup in his hand. "Still drinking that weird coffee-blood mix, huh?"

Bjorn chuckled. "Best of both worlds."

Kristina rolled her eyes playfully. "It's disgusting. But I guess you've earned it after all these years."

The footage looped again, showing the same figure weaving through the shadows. Bjorn paused the video. "I need to dig deeper into this. See if there's any way to enhance the image."

Kristina stood up, stretching. "Let me know if you need help. I'll be around. But try not to drive yourself crazy, alright?"

"I'll try," Bjorn said, watching her leave. As the door clicked shut, he turned his attention back to the screen.

Whoever that figure was, they were the key to everything. And Bjorn was determined to find them—no matter the cost.

****

The Sanctum's underground corridors were silent, save for the soft echo of Bjorn's footsteps. He found Zyro lounging in the common area, sprawled out on a velvet couch with his feet up on a table, casually flipping through an old book. His red eyes flicked up when Bjorn entered.

"Finally tearing yourself away from that screen?" Zyro asked, his smirk ever-present. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten how to socialize."

Bjorn didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I found something in the footage."

Zyro perked up, closing the book and sitting up straight. "Now you've got my attention. What did you find?"

Bjorn tossed the file onto the table in front of him, pulling out a still frame of the CCTV footage he had printed. "This guy. Chinese. Good-looking. He was moving through the market like he was avoiding the fight, not getting caught in it."

Zyro leaned forward, examining the image. "Hmm... He doesn't look like the kind who'd blend in with pirates or werewolves."

"Exactly," Bjorn replied, pacing. "I think he's our lead. He knew something was going down. Maybe he's behind it, or maybe he's working for someone."

Zyro cocked his head. "What's your plan?"

"I need to figure out who he is, and why he was there," Bjorn said, his mind already racing through possibilities. "If we can track him down, we might be able to uncover what's really going on."

Zyro grinned, standing up and cracking his knuckles. "Sounds like fun. But this guy doesn't seem like the type who's easy to track. Got a name, at least?"

"Not yet," Bjorn admitted, frustration creeping into his voice. "But I'll find him."

Zyro chuckled, clearly enjoying Bjorn's determination. "You know, you get this intense look when you're hunting someone. It's kind of terrifying."

Bjorn shot him a look. "Not now, Zyro."

Zyro held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. So, what's our next move? We shaking down some contacts, or are we going to hit the streets?"

Bjorn considered it for a moment. "We start with contacts. Someone must know who he is. He doesn't look like a local, so there's a chance someone's brought him in from the outside."

Zyro grinned, already looking eager to hit the ground. "Perfect. Let's see if we can't get some answers before Luke sticks his nose into this."

Bjorn nodded, grabbing his coat and turning toward the door. "The sooner we figure this out, the better. Vanong's not going to give us much more time."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Zyro said with a devilish grin. "Let's go hunting."