Soulbound

Recon

The Vampire Council's stronghold was a fortress hidden in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains. Few had ever seen it, and fewer still had lived to tell the tale. For centuries, it had been shrouded in secrecy, its location protected by ancient magics and guarded by the most powerful vampires in existence. But Isabella had found it.

Now, as she crouched in the shadows of the surrounding forest, her sharp eyes scanning the mountain cliffs and the sprawling structure below, the weight of what she was about to do pressed heavily on her. This was the center of power for the vampire world, and she was about to infiltrate it.

Her reconnaissance had to be perfect.

It had taken weeks to reach the stronghold. After discovering the notes in Prague, she had spent her nights gathering as much information as she could, carefully piecing together the movements of the Council and its members. The Heart of Eternity was real, and she was certain it was hidden within these walls. But getting to it would require more than just courage—it would require precision, strategy, and the ability to disappear into the shadows.

The stronghold was built into the side of the mountain, a massive stone fortress that looked as though it had grown from the rock itself. Towers and battlements rose high into the night sky, their dark shapes outlined against the pale glow of the moon. The main entrance was a massive set of iron gates, heavily guarded by vampire sentinels who stood as still as statues. Their eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, scanning the forest below for any sign of movement.

But Isabella had no intention of using the front door.

From her vantage point, she could see other entrances—small, narrow paths that wound around the cliffs, hidden from view. They were likely used by lower-ranking members of the Council or by the servants who maintained the fortress. These side entrances would be her way in. She had spent days watching the movements of the guards, noting the patterns of their patrols and the shifts in their defenses. Every detail mattered. Every mistake could mean her death—or worse, capture.

She hadn't come this far to fail.

Carefully, she slipped back into the cover of the trees, moving silently through the dense underbrush. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth, but beneath it, she could smell the faint traces of blood and decay that clung to the stronghold like a shroud. The vampires within were ancient, and their presence left a mark on the very land around them.

As she crept closer to the side entrance, her mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead. The Council's stronghold was more than just a physical fortress—it was a labyrinth of power, influence, and ancient magic. The Heart of Eternity was hidden somewhere within, but its exact location remained a mystery. The notes she had found in Prague had mentioned a hidden chamber, accessible only to the Elders, but the details had been vague at best.

Isabella knew she would have to find someone inside the stronghold who could point her in the right direction. But that posed its own set of dangers. The Council was not only guarded by physical defenses but by vampires whose abilities far exceeded her own. These were the oldest of their kind, creatures who had lived for millennia, growing more powerful with each passing century. If she was caught, there would be no mercy.

Reaching the base of the mountain, Isabella pressed herself against the cold stone wall, listening intently for any signs of movement. The path she had chosen was narrow, barely wide enough for a single person, and it wound up the side of the mountain, disappearing into the shadows. It was dangerous, but it was her best option. The main gates were too heavily guarded, and there was no other way in that wouldn't draw attention.

Taking a deep breath, she began to climb.

The path was steep, the rocks slick with moisture from the mountain air. Her enhanced strength and agility made the ascent easier than it would have been for a human, but even so, she had to move carefully. One wrong step could send her plummeting to the ground below, and there would be no surviving that fall.

As she climbed, her mind wandered to the thought of Vincent. He was here. She had no doubt of that. He was one of the Council's most powerful members, a vampire whose influence extended across continents. He would sense her presence eventually, she was sure of it. Their bond, the one created the night he turned her, had never fully broken. Even now, she could feel it—a faint pull, a reminder of the power he still held over her.

But she was no longer the frightened girl who had fled from him all those years ago. She had spent decades running, hiding, and fighting to survive. She was stronger now, more determined than ever to reclaim her humanity. And if that meant facing Vincent again, so be it.

Reaching the top of the narrow path, Isabella crouched behind a large outcropping of rock, her eyes scanning the area for guards. The side entrance was just ahead—a small, wooden door set into the stone wall, almost invisible from a distance. There were no guards posted here, but that didn't mean it was unprotected.

She moved cautiously, her eyes searching for any sign of magical wards or traps. The Council was known for using powerful enchantments to protect their stronghold, and she had no doubt that this entrance would be guarded by more than just physical means. As she approached the door, she paused, sensing a faint pulse of magic in the air.

Wards.

Isabella knelt beside the door, her fingers hovering just above the surface of the wood. She could feel the magic crackling beneath her fingertips, a barrier designed to keep out intruders. But she had prepared for this. During her time in Prague, she had made contact with a vampire who had once worked as a servant for the Council. He had given her a charm—a small, carved stone infused with old magic—that could temporarily disable wards like these.

She pulled the charm from her coat and pressed it against the door. For a moment, nothing happened, and she felt a flicker of doubt. But then, slowly, the magic began to fade, the pulse of energy weakening until it disappeared completely.

Isabella allowed herself a small smile. The door was unguarded now.

She pushed it open and slipped inside.

The interior of the stronghold was dark, the stone walls cold and damp. The air was thick with the scent of age and decay, a reminder of the ancient beings who resided here. Isabella moved quickly and silently through the narrow corridors, her senses alert for any sign of movement.

She had studied the layout of the stronghold as much as she could, gathering whatever scraps of information were available. But the truth was, she was venturing into the unknown. The Heart of Eternity was somewhere within these walls, hidden in a place few had ever seen. Finding it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack, but she had no other choice.

As she moved deeper into the stronghold, her thoughts returned to the Council. These were the most powerful vampires in existence, beings who had shaped the history of their kind for centuries. But they were also flawed, driven by fear and greed, desperate to maintain their power. The Heart of Eternity represented a threat to everything they stood for, and they would stop at nothing to keep it hidden.