Soulbound

Hunting For Clues

The streets of Prague were quiet, the cobblestone alleys glistening under the pale moonlight. Isabella moved silently through the shadows, her senses heightened, attuned to every sound and movement around her. She had learned long ago how to blend into the night, how to become invisible in a world that no longer felt like her own. Tonight was no different—she was hunting, not for prey, but for information.

For weeks, she had been tracking rumors and whispers across Europe, following every faint lead, every mention of the Heart of Eternity. The artifact had become her obsession. It was her only hope of reclaiming her life, her humanity. But the deeper she dug into the vampire underworld, the more she realized how well-guarded the secrets of the Council truly were.

Prague was one of the oldest cities in Europe, steeped in history and mystery. Its winding streets and towering Gothic architecture gave it an air of ancient secrets lurking just below the surface, and Isabella had come here hoping to uncover some of those secrets. The city was known to be a crossroads for rogue vampires, those who operated outside the strict laws of the Council, and if anyone had information about the Heart of Eternity, it would be found here.

She had already met with a few contacts—vampires who had spent centuries navigating the world of darkness, gathering knowledge, trading information like currency. But so far, none of them had been able to tell her anything she didn't already know. The Heart of Eternity was a myth to most, a story passed down through the ages, whispered in dark corners but never truly believed. Some had laughed at her for even asking about it, dismissing her quest as a fool's errand.

But Isabella wasn't deterred. She knew the Heart existed. It had to. It was the only thing keeping her going, the only hope she had left.

As she turned down another narrow alley, the sound of muffled voices caught her attention. She stopped, her body tensing as she focused on the conversation coming from a nearby doorway. The voices were low, barely audible over the distant hum of the city, but her enhanced hearing picked them up easily.

"...Council's vault... no one gets in... not even the Elders..."

Isabella's heart skipped a beat. The Council's vault. It was the first time in weeks she had heard anyone mention it, and her instincts told her that this was exactly the lead she needed. She moved closer, staying in the shadows as she approached the doorway, careful not to make a sound.

The voices belonged to two men—both vampires, by the smell of them. They were standing just inside the doorway of an old tavern, their backs turned to her. One of them was tall and thin, with sharp features and a slicked-back mane of dark hair. The other was shorter, stockier, with a heavy brow and a deep voice that rumbled through the alley.

"I'm telling you," the tall one said, his voice laced with impatience, "the Council doesn't let anyone near that vault unless they're part of the inner circle. And even then, it's guarded by wards—ancient magic, the kind that can't be broken."

The shorter vampire grunted, crossing his arms. "You really think it's in there? The artifact?"

"It has to be," the tall one replied, lowering his voice. "I've been hearing whispers for years about it. The Heart of Eternity. They keep it locked away because they're afraid of what it can do."

"Afraid?" The stocky vampire scoffed. "The Council doesn't fear anything."

Isabella's mind raced as she listened to the exchange. These two knew something—something real. Her pulse quickened, though she was careful to keep her breathing steady. This was the first solid lead she had found, and she couldn't afford to let it slip away.

She waited for the conversation to end, her body still as a statue, her senses alert. The two vampires talked for a few more minutes, mostly discussing their frustrations with the Council's tight control over the artifact. Eventually, the shorter one grumbled something about needing a drink, and they both disappeared into the tavern.

Isabella moved quickly, slipping into the alley and positioning herself near the back entrance of the tavern. She needed to know more, but she couldn't afford to draw attention to herself. Confronting the two vampires directly could lead to trouble, and the last thing she wanted was to alert the Council that she was sniffing around their most closely guarded secret.

Instead, she decided to follow them.

She had learned the art of tracking long ago—following from a distance, staying out of sight, but always keeping her target within reach. The two vampires left the tavern an hour later, walking side by side through the streets of Prague, their conversation now more casual, less guarded. Isabella kept to the rooftops, leaping from one building to the next with the ease and grace of a predator. She stayed in the shadows, her eyes locked on her targets as they made their way through the city.

They eventually stopped at a small, unassuming house on the outskirts of town. Isabella watched from a nearby rooftop as they entered, her mind racing with possibilities. If these two knew about the Council's vault, then there was a chance they had more information hidden away. Perhaps they had contacts, or even documents, that could point her in the right direction.

She waited for the lights in the house to dim before making her move. Silently, she descended from the rooftop, landing on the cobblestone street without a sound. The house was old, its wooden shutters creaking in the wind, and the door looked as though it had been repaired more than once. Carefully, she approached the side of the building, testing the windows until she found one that wasn't locked.

Sliding the window open, she slipped inside.

The room was small and sparsely furnished—a few chairs, a table, and a bookshelf crammed with old volumes. The air was musty, the scent of dust and damp wood filling her nostrils. Isabella moved quickly but cautiously, scanning the room for anything that might give her a clue. She didn't have much time—if the vampires woke up and found her here, it would be difficult to explain her presence.

Her eyes fell on a small stack of papers on the table, hastily gathered and covered in scribbled notes. She leafed through them quickly, her heart pounding in her chest as she read fragments of conversations and half-finished thoughts.

"...Council vault... Heart of Eternity... power to reverse... hidden chamber, only the Elders know the key..."

Isabella's breath caught. This was it. This was what she had been searching for.

The notes were vague, but they confirmed what she had suspected—the Heart of Eternity was real, and it was hidden deep within the Council's vault. The mention of a hidden chamber, a key known only to the Elders, sent a chill down her spine. It wouldn't be easy to find, let alone access, but at least now she knew where to start.

She carefully folded the papers and tucked them into her coat, her mind already racing with plans for her next move. She would need more information—more allies, perhaps—but this was the breakthrough she had been waiting for.

As she slipped back out the window and into the night, Isabella felt a surge of determination.

The hunt for the Heart of Eternity had just begun, and she was closer than ever to finding it.