A few days had passed since the brutal fight between Taehyung and Jungkook. The castle grounds were still being restored to their former glory, the scent of freshly planted flowers replacing the lingering tension that had filled the air. Inside, life continued as if nothing had happened, but outside the castle walls, the world was stirring with a new kind of unrest.
In the heart of the city, far from the hidden castle, a police officer stood by a dimly lit alleyway, his face marked with exhaustion and unease. His hand rested on his holster, though he didn't draw his weapon; there was no use for it in a situation like this. The officer glanced nervously at the man standing in front of him-a towering figure with a strange, unsettling presence.
The man was unlike anyone the officer had ever seen. His broad shoulders seemed to block out the light from the flickering streetlamp above them, and his eyes glowed faintly under the brim of a wide-brimmed hat. His face was gaunt but somehow youthful, and his voice when he spoke was gravelly, almost inhuman.
"I take it you've noticed the rise in... unusual crimes," the strange man said, his words slow and deliberate, as if testing the officer's reaction.
The officer swallowed hard, his hand tightening on his belt. "We've seen the reports. Bodies drained of blood, strange sightings, people disappearing. It's getting harder to explain to the public." He hesitated, then added in a low voice, "Is it true? Are vampires responsible?"
The man's lips curled into a grim smile. "You're smarter than most of the other cops I've spoken to. Yes. It's true."
The officer's face paled, though he tried to hide his fear. "So what do we do? How do we stop them?"
The strange man shifted his weight, glancing around as if checking to see if they were being watched. Then he stepped closer, looming over the officer. "You can't stop them, not with your guns or your laws. The vampires... they don't follow human rules. They never have. But you're not completely powerless."
The officer frowned, uncertain. "What do you mean?"
The man leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "There are those of us who have been watching this for a long time. The vampires are becoming more brazen, more desperate. They're no longer satisfied with lurking in the shadows. They want control, power, and they'll take it unless someone stands in their way."
The officer looked around, the weight of the man's words settling on him like a heavy cloak. "And who are you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "You don't seem like the usual informant."
The man chuckled softly, the sound devoid of humor. "I'm someone who's been dealing with vampire problems longer than you've been on the force. Let's just say I know their weaknesses-and I know how to stop them." His gaze hardened. "But you'll need more than just silver bullets and wooden stakes. You need alliances, people who understand their world."
The officer's mind raced as he processed what he was hearing. "And what about the crimes? How do we protect the people?"
The man's eyes gleamed. "You can't protect everyone. But there are a few who still hold power over the vampires. Old bloodlines. Royals. If you want to stop the vampires from taking over, you need to find them-and make sure they're on your side before it's too late."
The officer swallowed, suddenly realizing the magnitude of the problem. This wasn't just a few isolated incidents. This was something bigger, something darker. And it was spreading fast.
"Who are these royals?" the officer asked, his voice laced with urgency. "Where can I find them?"
The man stepped back into the shadows, his form blending into the darkness as if he were more shadow than man. "That's for you to find out," he said cryptically. "But be careful. The vampires are watching, and they don't take kindly to humans meddling in their affairs."
Before the officer could ask anything else, the man disappeared into the night, leaving him alone in the alley, his heart pounding in his chest. He stood there for a long moment, staring into the darkness, wondering just how deep this vampire problem really went-and whether they had any hope of stopping it.
To be continued...
