The Vampire's Release

Chapter 3

" What do you think about so many people being lost to the trenches?"

" I think The Cooperation should stop trying to close up the trenches"

"Why do you think they want to close it up?"

" It's because of what happened last month."

The sonar beeped in a warning. Something was coming. Daniel flipped on the searchlights. The ocean floor was empty save for a few corals. Luke stared at the sonar. It beeped furiously.

" I think the sonar is malfunctioning "

" That happens every time we come to the trenches"

" True. What do you think is making the sonar go mad?"

"Your guess is as good as mine"

"Does anyone know what causes the malfunction?"

"Everyone says something diff-"

The submarine shook violently. Luke was thrown against the wall. Daniel held on to the chair. Both immediately reached for each other. Whether to check if the other was unharmed or for stability it was unclear. They both sat there for what seemed like ages as the submarine shook around them but was only a few seconds. Both men knew that the chances of surviving this were unlikely. Then as suddenly as it started the shaking stopped. Both men leapt apart. Neither wanted to admit that they ran to the other for comfort. Whether it was due to pride or something else neither man knew.

Eventually, both men knew they needed to find out what the shaking was. Daniel was startled as he noticed his bag was vibrating. Getting up on shaking knees Daniel stumbled to his bag. Running a hand through his dirty-blonde hair Luke turned to the sonar. In all the chaos he had failed to notice that it had stopped beeping and was now working as usual.

"The sonars are back to normal"

"Makes sense."

"Why?"

"Remember that thing we get at the start of our training at E.V.I.L?"

"Yeah. The thing that can sense magic right?"

"Yep. Well, I think it sensed something."

"Magic?"

"Maybe"

Daniel said with a sigh. His blue eyes were filled with a mixture of excitement and fear. This was what worried Luke the most. More than the shaking and the weird tech glitches. It was seeing the man who he had known since they had both started working there look scared.

But he supposed that his partner's fear made sense. After all, if the device that Daniel still clutched like it was a lifeline, did what it was meant to do then they had stumbled into mage territory. Luke shivered at the thought. Mages were not to be messed with. Their gift to harness the old Magiks made them dangerous and indestructible. It also made them greedy and powerful. Or so he had heard. Despite their fame, no one had seen a mage in a long time. This made people more scared of them than ever. Mages were said to have built the old buildings from dust. The stories that surrounded them gave them a reason to be feared.

His partner's face may have been a replica of his own. Unblinking Luke stared at Daniel's face so shaken by what he saw that he had forgotten to look away. Or maybe it was the fact that he couldn't look away. Maybe he was afraid that if he looked away, Daniel would disappear as his brother did. Daniel looked up at Luke. A light blush swept his face as he stared right back. As Daniel opened his mouth to perhaps ask why Luke was staring. A sudden uproar from the sensor caused Luke to look away.

Turning to the sensor Luke stared as a dark shape seemed to move closer. But a quick sweep of the light showed that there was nothing in front of them or behind them. Whatever the sensor showed it could not be seen. At least not by humans.

Then the fear increased. Luke jumped at Daniel. Grabbing onto Daniel and ignoring his yelp, a sound that made him shiver. Began pulling him towards the bunker. He knew the protocol said that they had to stay and fight. But he knew that he had to protect Daniel from whatever this was. Especially if this was a mage doing. He needed to protect his mate. Wait, mate? Why did he call Daniel his mate? The word was so strange yet so familiar.

Daniel stared at the sensor. It was beeping furiously in his hand. And then it stopped. Looking around he knew why. He was in the bunker. The walls of the bunker kept out any signals and all of the old Magiks. Luke slammed the door shut behind them. What the hell was going on? His thoughts buzzed through The sea was surprisingly calm. Daniel stared ahead. Taking a deep breath, he sighed. On a different day, the same task. Rescue another lost diver. Taking the case file, he stepped into the submarine. Luke was already there. As always. He handed over the case file.

"Looks like we're looking for a female. Age 22. Height 5'4. Lost in the Trenches. Another experiment by The Cooperation."

Daniel nodded. It was the 5th case this week. Starting up the submarine he angled it towards the trenches. Turing on the sonar Luke turned toward him.

" What's the girl's name? "

"Elyssia Williams "

his head. But one seemed to win above all else. The feeling of Luke's hand on his arm. An involuntary smile coupled with a light blush rose to his face. Why was this making him happy? Butterflies erupted in his stomach when he realized that Luke was protecting him. Why did he react this way? Then the whole world started shaking.