The man continued to stalk the woman, his footsteps growing faster, more deliberate—like a predator closing in on prey. Angel's eyes narrowed as unease slithered through his chest.
"This isn't normal anymore," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
He quickened his pace, maintaining enough distance to go unnoticed. When the man raised his hand to tap the woman's shoulder, Angel stepped forward and grabbed his wrist.
"Stop," Angel said coldly, his crimson-tinged pupils faintly glowing in the moonlight.
Startled, the woman turned around at the sound of Angel's voice. Her eyes darted between the two men, confusion writ across her face.
"W-what's going on?" she asked, clearly alarmed.
"Tch... seriously? I was hoping for a quiet meal tonight," the masked man muttered in annoyance. His voice dropped an octave, distorted and inhuman. With a casual motion, he pulled off his mask, revealing sharp fangs and pupils that burned a deep, sinister red.
Angel's breath caught. He's like me...
The woman stumbled back, terror spreading across her face. She turned and bolted into the darkness of the park.
"There goes my meal," the vampire sneered. "You better compensate for it, boy."
Before Angel could react, a force like a freight train slammed into him, sending him flying into a tree.
"Keuk!"
Pain flared in his ribs, but he rolled just in time to dodge the man's fist, which shattered the tree trunk behind him with a resounding crack.
"Hey, let's just talk this out! I've got blood fruit pills on me!" Angel said hastily, fumbling to pull out the small bottle Malachi had given him.
The older vampire laughed darkly. "You think I care about that synthetic garbage? Nothing compares to fresh, warm human blood."
He licked his fangs, his smile wide and hungry.
This guy's insane! Angel thought, heart pounding. He turned to run.
But the vampire was too fast.
In a blur, he appeared at Angel's side, slashing with a silver-edged knife. The blade bit into Angel's shoulder, and he cried out.
"Argh!"
Warm blood dripped down his arm as Angel staggered back, clutching the wound. Fear gripped him like a vice.
I'm going to die...
The older vampire licked the blood from his knife, eyes glowing with euphoria. "Delicious."
Angel's knees buckled. He could feel his strength fading. His mind raced for answers, strategies—anything.
Then, amidst the fog of panic, a voice rang out.
"Disappointing."
Angel blinked. The voice hadn't come from the man. It was inside him.
"What...?"
Before either could move, the blood spilling from Angel's wound began to twist in the air. Like liquid thorns, the droplets sharpened and launched forward—piercing the man's hand and knocking the knife from his grasp.
"Release it. Release me," the demonic voice urged from within, ancient and cold.
The vampire screamed, shaking his hand in pain. "You little—!"
He charged again, rage contorting his face, but stopped mid-step.
Angel hadn't moved. He remained on one knee, breathing heavily, eyes hidden beneath his bangs.
But something felt different.
The older vampire's instincts screamed at him to retreat. He froze, heart hammering, as Angel slowly lifted his head.
His pupils were no longer faintly glowing. They blazed a brilliant crimson, rimmed with black, the unmistakable eyes of a noble-blooded vampire.
"No... impossible," the man muttered, stumbling back. "You're a noble...? But you're just a kid!"
Angel stood up fully, and in that moment, his bleeding shoulder closed up, skin knitting together with supernatural speed. His body radiated an aura of sheer dread.
"Devour," the voice whispered from within. "Let his blood stain the earth. Let your fangs taste fear."
Angel clenched his fists. "No... I won't... I won't become a monster!"
The internal pressure mounted, his control slipping—but then, before either could act—
Crack!
A strike landed at the back of Angel's neck, and everything went black.
The older vampire turned just in time to see a man with short blonde hair standing over Angel's unconscious form, holding a sleek black sword.
"He did well for a rookie, wouldn't you say, Seraphine?" the blonde man remarked, brushing imaginary dust from his shoulder.
The masked vampire's eyes widened in horror. "Y-you... that crest...! Unitas Alliance!?"
Behind him, a woman emerged from the shadows. She wore a form-fitting black and white combat suit, accented with red—matching the man's attire—and spun a silver revolver on her finger.
"You're still as brutal as ever, Julian," she said playfully, resting her elbow on Julian's shoulder.
Julian smirked. "Violent, but efficient."
Before the vampire could flee, a silver bullet pierced his skull. His body crumpled to the ground without ceremony, the stench of burning flesh filling the air.
"What about the kid?" Julian asked, lowering his sword and glancing at Angel's unconscious body.
Seraphine crouched beside him, inspecting Angel's face.
"Didn't you see his eyes?" she said. "Those weren't your average crimson pupils. That glow—only nobles have that."
Julian scoffed. "That can't be right. I've never heard of this kid in any noble family records."
"Even so," Seraphine said, standing, "we're bringing him in. If he's unregistered, it's even more reason to get answers."
Julian groaned. "Ugh... fine."
---
When Angel awoke, his body ached as though he'd been hit by a truck. He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes, only to realize—
This wasn't his room.
He was lying in an ornate bed, the kind you'd see in antique catalogs. The wooden walls were carved with intricate patterns, and the room carried an air of age—old, yet not dusty. Through a tall window, golden sunlight streamed in, casting long shadows across a stone-paved courtyard below.
He stood, walked to the window, and gasped.
Outside, dozens of youths were gathered—some wielding blazing magic, others transforming into monstrous wolf-like forms. Among them, several bore eyes like his.
"Where... am I?"
Just then, the door opened, and Seraphine stepped in, arms crossed.
"You're awake," she said, a note of relief in her voice.
Angel turned sharply. "W-who are you...? No—where am I!?"
"Relax," she said calmly. "I'm Seraphine Everett. You're in the dormitory of the Unitas Institution Academy."
"Eh!?"
Angel's jaw dropped, eyes wide.
Seraphine gave him a smirk. "Welcome to the real world, rookie."