Raizel had barely set foot inside the mansion when a presence flickered at the edge of his awareness. A subtle shift in the air—familiar yet unwelcome.
His gaze drifted toward the woods.
Bats.
A few at first, clinging to the branches like harmless creature. Then more, hidden among the trees, their beady eyes gleaming in the dim light.
Raizel narrowed his eyes.
That was… odd.
"Master."
Frankenstein's voice broke the momentary silence, his own gaze locked onto the same direction.
Selene, ever perceptive, didn't need an explanation. A single glance between Frankenstein and Raizel was enough. Without hesitation, she shifted Eve onto her back, securing the child against her.
Something was coming.
And it wasn't friendly.
Raizel exhaled, a slow, measured breath. "Looks like we have an uninvited guest."
Not that it mattered.
With a flick of his wrist, he gestured toward the mansion. "Frankenstein, show them to their rooms."
Frankenstein hesitated, his eyes flickering with unspoken concern. But Raizel's gaze left no room for argument.
"Yes, Master."
With a bow, Frankenstein turned, ushering Michael, Selene, and Eve toward the mansion.
Eve glanced back just in time to see—
Nothing.
Raizel was gone.
One moment he had been standing there, and the next…
He had vanished into the woods.
.....
Frankenstein led them through the hallway, the soft hum of the mansion settling around them like a quiet whisper. The place felt still—too still.
Dr. Lida hesitated before speaking, glancing back toward the entrance as if expecting Raizel to walk in any second. But he didn't.
"…Is everything okay?"
Her voice was softer than she intended, laced with something she didn't like admitting—concern. It was ridiculous, really. But if something happened to Raizel… well, she wasn't naïve enough to believe it wouldn't affect her too.
Frankenstein didn't turn, didn't even slow his pace. "It's fine, Dr.Lida."
A lie.
She wasn't sure if he was trying to reassure her or himself.
Selene, walk behind alongside others, finally broke the silence. "Who is he?"
Frankenstein glanced over his shoulder. "Someone like me."
Selene frowned. "Someone like you?"
"Yes," he confirmed. "A contractor."
She didn't understand what that meant. "Is he trouble?"
Frankenstein smiled—a small, knowing curve of his lips. "No. If he has funny ideas, he's just asking for trouble."
Lida, still uneasy, spoke again. "But you looked worried when Raizel left."
Frankenstein exhaled, a sigh carrying more weight than he'd like.
"Well… Master's health isn't great right now. He can't afford to use too much power." His voice dropped slightly. "I hope he won't."
Silence.
Selene's grip on Eve tightened. She glanced at Michael, concern in her eyes.
Lida's gaze dropped to the floor, thoughtful.
And Frankenstein?
He just kept walking.
---------------------------
The night grew darker as Raizel walked into the woods. The air was cold, carrying the scent of damp earth. Everything was silent except for the sound coming from the faint rustling of unseen creatures.
He stopped.
He wasn't alone.
The bats clinging to the branches above twitched, their tiny claws scraping against the bark. Their beady red eyes gleamed, unblinking, as their chittering sounds filled the air.
Raizel's own red eyes glowed as he looked ahead.
"What business do you have with me?" he asked.
A figure emerged from the shadows, each step measured, deliberate.
He looked to be in his mid-thirties, though age meant little here. His jet-black hair, much like Raizel's, framed a face devoid of warmth. His red eyes burned—not with quiet intensity like Raizel's, but with something far more like a monster.
And yet, as he met Raizel's gaze, there was no hostility.
A slow smirk curved his lips.
Raizel's expression didn't change, but inwardly, he exhaled.
Of course.
Who else would it be?
Vlad III.
The Impaler.
Dracula.
[
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