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

27: That's No Tiger in UST

they approached the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, the imposing, centuries-old facade of the campus came into view. The main building stood like a sentinel against the night sky, its Baroque architecture illuminated by soft streetlights. The grand arches and intricate stonework made the university appear both historic and ominous, its history seeping into the air. Trees lined the walkways, their branches swaying gently in the cool breeze. The silence of the campus contrasted with the chaotic streets of Manila just beyond its walls.

Zyro couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as they stepped onto the grounds. UST's reputation as a place of learning and history seemed overshadowed by the darker purpose of their visit. Conrad walked ahead, his face serious as they made their way to a more secluded area near the back of the campus, away from prying eyes.

They stopped in a small courtyard, the towering shadow of the UST Main Building looming behind them. A fountain in the center trickled water softly, the only sound breaking the stillness of the night. Conrad turned to Zyro, giving him a nod before taking a deep breath. The air felt charged as Conrad began to summon the spirit, his eyes glowing faintly with supernatural energy.

The ground around them seemed to shift, and a cold breeze swept through the courtyard as Conrad worked his magic. Shadows lengthened unnaturally, and then, slowly, a figure began to materialize before them.

Zyro's mother.

She appeared as she had in life—graceful, with soft features and deep, knowing eyes that seemed to pierce through the veil of time. Her presence was both comforting and unsettling, a mix of warmth and sorrow.

Zyro's heart raced. "Mom... I have so many questions."

Her gaze shifted, looking at him with a mix of love and sadness. "You've always deserved the truth."

Zyro swallowed hard, nervous about what he was about to hear. "About Godfrey... about you... what happened?"

His mother's expression darkened, and she looked away for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Godfrey is not the man you think he is," she began, her voice heavy with bitterness. "He was once my protector, my lover, but he wasn't loyal. He never was."

Zyro's eyes widened, shock evident on his face. "What are you talking about?"

"He cheated on me, Zyro," she said, her voice carrying the weight of years of deception. "He was driven by his lust for power. He wanted to rule over the vampire covens, to control everything. Our relationship was a convenience for him. When I became a threat to his ambitions... he turned his back on me."

Zyro clenched his fists, anger rising in him. "You mean to say all this time, he was just using you? Using me?"

His mother nodded, a tear slipping down her ethereal cheek. "I didn't see it at first. I believed in him, in us. But Godfrey's hunger for dominance blinded him. And now, he's doing the same thing to you."

Zyro's jaw tightened as the realization hit him like a punch. Everything Godfrey had ever said, all the trust he had placed in him—it was all a lie. The man he thought was his protector, even his father, was nothing more than a manipulator, just like Vanong.

"I couldn't reach you until now, thanks to your friend, and you weren't ready to hear the truth," she whispered. "But I'm telling you this now, because I want you to know—Godfrey's plan has always been about power. He doesn't care who gets hurt in the process."

Zyro felt a storm of emotions inside him—anger, betrayal, confusion. His entire world had been flipped upside down. "So what now? Am I supposed to just walk away from this?"

His mother shook her head. "No. But you need to decide who you truly are. Don't let Godfrey, Vanong, or anyone else get into your head. None of the Vampire Coven are. But you have royal blood, Zyro. You are the son of the first vampire."

"You can lead your people." Conrad muttered. "You could be the next King."

"I'm no king. I'm just a detective." Zyro's mind whirled, fury building inside him. He couldn't believe he had been manipulated for so long. The history, the lies, everything about Godfrey's presence in his life was a facade.

Zyro's mother nodded, her form beginning to flicker. "Listen to your friend, Zyro. Trust those who've stood by you. Especially Bjorn."

With that, her form dissipated, leaving behind an echo of her presence in the cold night air.

Zyro stood there, fists clenched and eyes burning with fury. Everything he had believed was shattered, and now, he had to make a choice about who to trust and what his next move would be. His mother's warning echoed in his mind: Godfrey wasn't who he appeared to be.

Conrad placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll get through this. But we need to be smart."

Zyro's gaze hardened as he stared into the night. "Godfrey's going to pay for this."

A sudden roar erupted across campus. Zyro and Conrad looked at each other. "Sounds like a tiger."Zyro said.

A gust of wind swept over them. The trees rustled, and an eerie silence followed. The sound of flapping wings echoed through the air, growing louder and more ominous. Both men snapped their heads upwards, and there it was—an enormous shadow flying across the night sky, casting its dark figure over the campus.

"That's no tiger." Conrad said.

The giant bat—its wingspan impossibly wide, its eyes glowing a sickly yellow—circled above them like a predator eyeing its prey.

Conrad growled under his breath, his eyes locked onto the beast. Without warning, he shifted into his wolf form—a towering, sleek black wolf with glowing eyes. His muscles rippled as he prepared to lunge at the bat.

With a terrifying screech, the bat swooped down, its talons aimed directly at them. Conrad charged, leaping into the air, his claws slashing at the creature. But the bat was faster than he anticipated. Its wing struck him like a battering ram, sending Conrad crashing into the ground, the impact shaking the earth beneath them.

"Conrad!" Zyro shouted, rushing to his fallen friend. 

Conrad groaned as he struggled to get up, his wolf form battered and bruised. The giant bat circled again, preparing for another attack. Zyro grabbed Conrad's arm, pulling him to his feet.

The bat screeched again, its glowing eyes locking onto them with an intense hunger. They had to move fast. Without thinking, Zyro led Conrad toward the nearest building—a tall, ivy-covered structure that seemed to loom over them like a fortress.

They burst through the doors, slamming them shut behind them. Inside, the dimly lit corridors of UST offered some respite from the chaos outside. The flickering fluorescent lights cast long shadows as they hurried deeper into the building, the bat's screeches still echoing faintly from the distance.

Conrad, now back in human form but clearly still in pain, leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath. "Is that..."

Zyro nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "It's got to be Dracula," he whispered, the weight of the realization sinking in. "Violet mentioned something about Vanong creating a giant bat—a monster that's been terrorizing these parts for centuries."

Conrad winced as he touched the side of his ribs. "Well, it definitely fits the description," he said with a dry chuckle, though there was no humor in his voice. 

Zyro's eyes darted around, looking for any sign of safety or an escape plan. "We need to alert Bjorn. If that thing's out there, there could be more coming. Vanong's sending all his pets after us."