The city had always been a place of chaos, a place where the supernatural often lived in the shadows, hidden just beneath the surface of the everyday world. But there were certain people—certain forces—that had the power to stir up the balance, to disrupt the uneasy truce between the various factions that called this city home. And Seraphina Graves was one of them.
She had arrived with no fanfare, no warning, but her presence was enough to send ripples through the supernatural community. Seraphina was an enigma, a force to be reckoned with—a vampire who had been silent for decades, content to stay out of the limelight. But now, she was back, and everyone was on edge.
Zane had felt the change in the air the moment she set foot in the city. It was a weight on his chest, a feeling he couldn't ignore, even as he tried to keep things in balance at his bar. He'd lived long enough to know when something—someone—was dangerous. And Seraphina was dangerous.
But it wasn't just her power that worried him. It was the way she watched Nyx from the shadows, the way her gaze lingered on her like a predator sizing up its prey.
Seraphina knew about Nyx. And she wasn't happy about it.
Zane had been trying to keep his growing feelings for Nyx buried, trying to avoid the dangerous path that seemed to be pulling him in. But Seraphina's arrival had complicated everything. The vampire community was known for its loyalty—and its possessiveness. And Nyx, for reasons Zane still didn't fully understand, was a threat to that loyalty. She was something more than just another human, something he hadn't been able to ignore, no matter how hard he tried.
But Seraphina didn't see it that way. To her, Nyx was an obstacle, something that threatened to undo everything she had worked for. She wasn't about to let some human woman-no—matter how special she might be—stand in the way of her plans.
Tensions in the supernatural community began to rise. Whispers in the dark. Unseen eyes followed Nyx wherever she went. It wasn't long before violence started to surface, the kind of violence that couldn't be explained away. Zane had seen the signs before—vampires feeding too recklessly, werewolves snapping at strangers, witches casting spells that were meant to intimidate rather than protect.
The first incident was subtle, almost unnoticed by anyone except Nyx. She'd been in the shop late one evening, working on a design for a new client. The tattoo needle had hummed in the quiet room, the only sound breaking the stillness. But something had felt off. It wasn't until she turned around to grab another ink bottle that she saw it—a shadow, slipping through the window, just out of her line of sight. It was gone in an instant, but the feeling lingered.
Later that night, she had received a warning from a regular customer, someone who had been coming to her for tattoos since she got her booth. He had asked her to be careful, to watch her back. His words had been cryptic, but she understood the message: Someone was watching her.
The second incident was more direct. Zane had been out of the bar, handling some business, when a group of aggressive strangers had shown up at The Pink Needle. Their eyes were dark with intent, their manner aggressive, though they hadn't made a direct move on her—yet. But Nyx had been unnerved, her usual calm demeanor shaken. She wasn't used to being targeted like this, to having enemies she didn't even know.
When Zane arrived, his presence alone had made the strangers retreat into the shadows. But the unease remained.
Nyx couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. There was a growing pressure in the city, like a storm waiting to break. And the closer she got to Zane, the more it seemed like the storm was gathering around her.
"I don't know what's going on," Nyx said, sitting across from Zane after they had arrived at his bar that night, the weight of the events hanging heavily between them. She hadn't told him everything—about the shadow at the window, about the strange customers—but she couldn't deny that she felt it too.
Zane's gaze darkened, a flicker of concern in his eyes. "I don't like it either," he admitted, his voice low. "There's something about Seraphina. I don't know exactly what she's after, but I know she won't stop until she gets it."
Nyx didn't flinch at the name. It sounded familiar, but she couldn't place it. Seraphina Graves was a name that carried weight, one that could strike fear into the hearts of even the most powerful beings.
"What does she want with me?" Nyx asked, her voice steady, though there was a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. She hated the uncertainty, the feeling of being caught in the middle of something she didn't understand.
Zane hesitated for a moment, his fingers drumming lightly against the bar. "She sees you as a threat," he said finally. "From what we know, she's been watching you. She doesn't like the way I've... become attached to you."
Nyx frowned, the words sinking in. She didn't like the sound of that. She had never felt like she was someone's possession or felt the need to claim someone as a possession, but this? This was different. Zane was hers. Right?
"I don't want to be a threat," Nyx said, more to herself than to Zane. "I just want to figure out what's going on, why everything feels so strange. And why does she have beef with me over you? That shit aint got nothing to do with me, at all."
Zane's eyes softened as he reached out to gently touch her hand, his thumb brushing over her skin in a gesture of reassurance. "You're not just some pawn in a game, Nyx," he said softly. "This isn't about you. It's about what you represent. There's more to you than even I understand. She thinks you're in her way."
Nyx shook her head. "Then help me understand," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't want to be part of some... some supernatural war. I just want to be me." She pulled her hand away from his pacong the floor.
"We are way too old to be fighting over dick, your literally thre hundred plus years old. I can't imagine how old she is. It just seems desperate and dramatic. But what do I know, I'm only 27." Nyx said, fingering her curly hair.
Zane laughed softly, "A couple hundred like me. It is a tad bit dramatic, but I'm here." Zane wandered over to the beautiful woman pacing the floor. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her hair, her body melting into his. It was as if she belonged there, and Nyx never felt like she belonged anywhere.
Zane took a deep breath, pulling away, his eyes meeting hers with a mixture of regret and determination. "I'll help you, Nyx. I promise I'll take care of it, but I need you to trust me. There's more at play here than just Seraphina. And if we're going to figure this out, we need to stick together. No matter what."
Nyx nodded slowly, her heart heavy with the weight of his words. She wasn't sure what was coming next, but she was certain of one thing: She couldn't do this alone either. She had so much to deal with on top of her weird gift. She has no choice but to trust Zanw, no matter how much it scares her.
And as much as Zane wanted to protect her, he knew the coming days would test both of them in ways they couldn't yet foresee. The city felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for the storm to finally break.
He needed answers. He would scour every last inch of the earth if need be. He needed to do something.
They needed to visit the Archives.