Bloodlines Legacy Arc 1 Eternal Night

Chapter 13: The Hidden Threat

Olivia trailed Ivan and his companions through the bustling streets, her heart racing. The mysterious man, accompanied by a strikingly beautiful woman and an equally well-dressed man, led the way with a calm, confident stride. She couldn't shake the strange, magnetic pull she felt toward him—like there was something about him that she couldn't quite explain. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her, and she knew she had to follow them, wherever they were going.

The trio arrived at a sleek, modern hotel—one of the tallest in the city, with balconies on every floor overlooking the skyline. Olivia lingered across the street, watching as they entered the hotel lobby. She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Ethan's number.

"Ethan," she whispered, her voice urgent.

"Liv?" came his confused reply. "Where are you? What's going on?"

"I'm at a hotel downtown. I've been following this lead for days, and I think I've finally found something. Big."

Ethan's tone shifted to one of cautious interest. "What kind of something?"

"I'm not sure yet, but I need your help. I'm at the Westmont Hotel on 5th. I can't do this alone—I need your agility. There's a multi-story balcony setup here. If you can get to the room next to theirs, you can hop over to their balcony and snap some photos. I'll listen from the door, see what I can hear."

Ethan hesitated for a moment. "This sounds dangerous, Liv."

Olivia bit her lip. "I know. But trust me, if we can crack this story, it'll be worth it."

There was a pause on the other end, and then Ethan sighed. "Alright. I'll be there in ten."

Olivia thanked him and hung up, her eyes darting back toward the hotel entrance. She needed to move fast.

Twenty minutes later, Olivia stood in the hallway of the hotel's tenth floor.

The tension in her chest was unbearable. Ethan had arrived not long after her call, and they'd managed to book a room next to Ivan's. Now, it was time to put their plan into action.

"I'll get to the balcony from our room," Ethan whispered, peeking through the window. "I'll take photos, you listen from the door."

Olivia nodded, positioning herself near the hallway door as Ethan slipped out onto their balcony. He was quick and nimble, easily making the jump over the short gap between the two balconies. Within seconds, he was at the glass door of Ivan's suite, camera at the ready.

Meanwhile, Olivia pressed her ear to the door, trying to make out any sounds from inside.

At first, she heard nothing but muffled voices. The walls were thick, but she could make out the low hum of conversation. Ivan's voice was smooth, almost soothing, but there was an undercurrent of danger. Then, there were softer sounds—the shuffling of fabric, a soft moan, and then silence.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she strained to listen. What the hell was going on in there?

Minutes passed, and the silence stretched on. She was about to move closer when she heard the door to Ivan's suite creak open. She quickly ducked into the alcove of the neighboring wall, her breath catching in her throat. Ivan stepped out, his tall figure silhouetted by the dim hallway lights.

For a moment, Olivia thought he was going to turn toward her, but instead, he simply walked away, his long coat trailing behind him as he disappeared around the corner.

Olivia waited until he was out of sight, then rushed to the door. She tried to catch it before it closed, but just as her fingers brushed the handle, the lights in the hallway flickered.

For a split second, the world went dark, and when the lights came back on, the door had clicked shut.

"Damn it," she hissed, pulling out her phone and dialing Ethan. "Did you get anything?"

"Liv," Ethan answered, his voice shaky. "You need to see this. I'm going to try to open the door."

"What? What did you see?"

But before Ethan could respond, she heard him fiddling with the lock. Seconds later, the door swung open, and Olivia stepped into the room.

The sight before her made her stomach drop.

The man and woman who had been with Ivan earlier lay naked in the bed, their bodies completely still. At first, Olivia thought they were simply asleep, but as she stepped closer, she realized something was terribly wrong. Their skin was pale—too pale—and their eyes stared lifelessly at the ceiling.

"Are they..." Olivia began, but the words died in her throat.

Ethan stepped closer, his face ashen. "They're dead. And look..."

He gestured to their bodies, and Olivia gasped. The man and woman were completely drained of blood, their skin wrinkled and withered as if all the life had been sucked out of them. They were husks, their once vibrant forms now nothing more than empty shells.

"What the hell happened here?" Olivia whispered, a sense of dread creeping up her spine.

Ethan shook his head. "I don't know, but we need to get out of here. Now."