Sword of Vengeance (Bjorn and Zyro #2)[COMPLETED]

17: The Dark Tunnels

Bjorn leaned back on the couch, arms folded behind his head as he stared at the ceiling of their BGC apartment. The faint hum of the city outside created a soft background noise, but in this moment, the only sound that seemed to matter was the conversation they were about to have.

Across the room, Zyro sat on the floor, back against the wall, a half-empty bottle of beer in hand. He looked contemplative, which was rare for him. The weight of their recent battles had taken a toll, and both of them needed a moment to reflect.

"I can't believe we're here," Bjorn said, his voice tinged with disbelief. "From Lamintao Fortress to this... detective life."

Zyro snorted, tipping the bottle back and taking a swig. "Yeah, who would've thought? Two idiots who hated each other, now taking down rogues and freaks like it's a day job."

Bjorn chuckled, though his laugh was short-lived. His thoughts drifted back to how it all began—how Vanong, the powerful Vampire Elder, had pulled them out of the chaos and into a role neither of them expected. He could still remember that day clearly.

"I never wanted to work for Vanong," Bjorn muttered, shaking his head. "He was always too controlling. But back then, I didn't think we had much of a choice."

Zyro nodded in agreement. "Yeah, the guy practically dragged us into it. But if we hadn't taken that deal... who knows what would've happened. We might have ended up dead in some ditch."

It was years ago, back when they had just finished their training at Lamintao Fortress. They had earned respect, despite their difficult start, and their combined skill set had caught the attention of Vanong himself. After proving their worth in several missions, Vanong offered them a unique opportunity—to be his personal detectives.

At first, they both resisted. Working for someone like Vanong, with his questionable morality and hidden agendas, wasn't exactly what they had in mind. But the temptation was too great. They'd get the freedom to investigate rogue vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures. It was a job that came with power, resources, and the chance to make a real difference in their world.

"I remember the first case," Bjorn said, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "That rogue vampire who had taken control of that warehouse down in Quezon City. We had no idea what we were walking into."

Zyro laughed, setting his beer down. "Yeah, I thought it was just gonna be a simple hit-and-run investigation. Turns out the guy had turned half the place into his personal army. The fight was brutal."

Brutal was an understatement. They had walked into a trap. The rogue vampire had expected them, and instead of two targets, they had found themselves surrounded by a dozen newly-turned vamps. It was their first real mission as detectives, and they had barely made it out alive.

"But we made it out," Bjorn said, his tone more serious. "And every time we came out stronger."

"Yeah," Zyro added, stretching his legs. "But it wasn't just vampires. We handled everything—rogue werewolves, undead ghouls, even some crazed humans who thought they could dabble in dark magic."

"I think the worst one was that necromancer," Bjorn said with a shudder. "That guy raised an entire graveyard and sent them after us. I'll never forget the stench of rotting flesh. Or the way those undead moved."

Zyro grimaced, clearly remembering the same scene. "Yeah, that was a nightmare. We barely slept for a week after that."

They sat in silence for a moment, both lost in thought, remembering the endless string of cases they had taken on. The more successful they became, the more dangerous their assignments grew. And through it all, Vanong remained their enigmatic leader, pulling the strings from behind the curtain.