The room had gone quiet again.
Eva stood near the window beside Julien, staring into the thick fog outside. Nora and Zoe sat on the couch, both thinking about what Julien had just said.
A blood-thirsty vampire.
A brother who hated him.
Lucas Kane.
The name still echoed in the room.
Nora finally spoke.
"So if Lucas is really here… we're basically hunting a vampire who might want revenge on you."
Julien didn't answer.
His eyes were still fixed on the darkness outside the window.
Then suddenly—
Knock.
A sharp sound echoed across the wooden table in the middle of the room.
Everyone turned instantly.
A man was standing on the other side of the table.
None of them had heard the door open.
None of them had heard footsteps.
He was simply… there.
Tall.
Relaxed.
Leaning slightly against the table with an amused expression.
His dark jacket hung loosely over his shoulders, and his eyes carried a dangerous kind of confidence.
He slowly clapped his hands once.
"Well…"
His voice was smooth and playful.
"Everyone's talking about me."
He smirked.
"Wow."
"I'm famous."
Julien's entire body went tense.
"Lucas."
Lucas tilted his head slightly.
"And there it is."
He pointed lazily toward Julien.
"That look."
Julien's eyes burned with anger.
Lucas sighed dramatically.
"Don't give me that pity look again."
His smile disappeared slightly.
"Understand, brother?"
The word brother came out like a quiet insult.
The girls looked between them, realizing immediately who this man was.
Lucas Kane.
Julien stepped forward.
His voice was cold.
"What is your problem?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"My problem?"
Julien's anger finally broke through.
"Why are you killing people?"
Lucas blinked.
Then he laughed.
A slow, amused laugh that filled the room.
"Oh wow."
He walked casually around the table.
"That escalated quickly."
Lucas stopped directly across from Julien.
"If I wanted to kill someone…"
He leaned closer slightly.
"I would probably start with you."
The room went still.
Lucas's smirk returned.
"But you're still alive."
He spread his arms slightly.
"So that means one thing."
His eyes glimmered.
"I didn't kill anyone."
The silence that followed was thick.
Lucas suddenly noticed the girls properly for the first time.
"Oh."
He smiled charmingly.
"Well hello."
He waved slightly.
"Didn't notice the audience."
Nora stared at him carefully.
Zoe crossed her arms.
Lucas looked at them with curiosity.
"So what's going on here?"
He leaned casually against the table again.
"What are we talking about?"
His smile became mischievous.
"Murder?"
He glanced at Julien.
"That sounds exciting."
Eva spoke for the first time.
"Lana."
Lucas looked back at her.
"Lana?"
His expression became thoughtful for a moment.
"Oh."
"The human girl."
Julien's eyes hardened.
"Watch your mouth."
Lucas rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Relax."
He looked back at the girls again.
"So you're trying to figure out who killed her?"
He shrugged.
"Well."
"I'd love to help."
Zoe narrowed her eyes.
"Why would you help us?"
Lucas smiled again.
Because honestly?"
He leaned slightly forward.
"This mystery sounds fun."
Then his eyes shifted toward Julien again.
"And if someone is actually killing people in Ashwood…"
His voice became quieter.
"…I'd really like to meet them."
The room went silent.
Lucas Kane stood there smiling like the whole situation amused him.
But behind that smile…
There was something darker.
Something dangerous.
And for the first time since arriving in Ashwood…
The girls realized something terrifying.
Julien Kane might not be the most unpredictable vampire in the room anymore.The living room of Julien Kane's house had fallen into a heavy silence.
Outside, the wind moved slowly through the tall trees surrounding the old house. The wooden walls creaked softly, like the house itself was listening.
Eva Carter stood near the window, arms crossed, her thoughts racing.
Nora Wells sat on the edge of the couch, staring at the floor.
Zoe Harper leaned against the wall, watching everyone carefully.
Lucas Kane, however, looked completely relaxed, leaning back in his chair with a careless smirk on his face.
Julien stood near the fireplace, his expression dark.
"Let me understand this," Eva said sharply. "You're telling us an ancient vampire who hates you might be killing people just to get your attention?"
Lucas raised a finger lazily.
"Not just attention," he said. "Drama."
Julien shot him an annoyed look.
"Lucas."
"What?" Lucas shrugged. "I'm just saying. If you're going to terrorize a town, at least make it interesting."
Eva rolled her eyes.
Before anyone could respond—
A scream cut through the night.
A loud, terrified scream.
Everyone froze.
The sound came from somewhere outside.
Lucas was the first to stand.
"Well," he said casually, stretching his shoulders, "that doesn't sound good."
Another scream echoed through the trees.
Julien's eyes darkened.
Lucas looked toward the door.
"Something happened," he said. "Let's go find out."
They rushed outside.
The cold night air hit them immediately as they ran toward the sound.
The scream had stopped now.
Too suddenly.
Too quietly.
The forest beside the road was dark, but Lucas moved quickly through the shadows like he knew the path.
Eva followed behind him, her heart pounding.
"Where are we going?" Nora asked breathlessly.
Lucas suddenly stopped.
"Right there."
They stepped into a small clearing.
And then they saw her.
A girl lay on the ground.
Motionless.
Blood spread across the grass beneath her.
Zoe gasped.
Nora covered her mouth in horror.
Eva felt her stomach drop.
It was exactly like Lana.
The same pale skin.
The same lifeless stillness.
And on the girl's neck—
Two deep bite marks.
The blood had dried in dark streaks down her throat.
Lucas slowly crouched beside the body.
Julien stood silently behind him, his face tense.
Lucas examined the neck carefully.
Then he tilted his head slightly.
"Hmm."
Eva's voice came out sharp.
"What?"
Lucas reached beside the girl's hand and picked something up from the ground.
A folded piece of paper.
His lips curved into a mischievous smile.
"Well well…"
He held the paper up and looked at Eva.
"Look what I found, little girl."
Eva's eyes flashed with anger.
"What did you just call me?"
Before Lucas could answer—
Zoe lifted her hand slightly.
Her eyes glowed faintly.
A sudden invisible force struck Lucas.
He jerked backward.
"Ow!"
He grabbed his chest dramatically.
"That hurts!"
Zoe stepped forward, her voice cold.
"Never talk to us like that again."
Lucas blinked.
Then he slowly straightened.
A teasing grin appeared on his face.
"Noted."
He looked down at the paper again.
The letter was stained dark red.
Written in blood.
Lucas unfolded it slowly.
Julien stepped closer.
"What does it say?"
Lucas read the message silently for a moment.
Then he chuckled.
"Oh wow."
Julien's voice hardened.
"Lucas."
Lucas looked up.
"Look, brother… someone is really jealous."
Julien's expression darkened.
"Is it Kaela?"
Lucas handed him the paper.
Julien read the words.
The message was short.
Only a single sentence.
Written in blood.
Never forget me.
Love, you are mine… and I am yours.
Julien clenched the paper slowly.
His jaw tightened.
Lucas crossed his arms and laughed softly.
"Well," he said, shaking his head, "that's not creepy at all."
He looked between Julien and the dead girl.
"You know," Lucas continued casually, "your ex has a very dramatic way of saying she misses you."
Julien glared at him.
"Lucas."
"What?" Lucas shrugged. "I'm serious."
He pointed toward the body.
"She kills people…"
Then he pointed at the letter.
"And writes love notes in blood."
Lucas smirked.
"That relationship must have been amazing."
Eva looked furious.
Nora looked terrified.
Zoe stared at the message, her voice barely above a whisper.
"She's playing with us."
Lucas nodded.
Lucas read the message again and let out a low whistle.
"Well… that's romantic."
He waved the bloody letter slightly.
"Nothing says I miss you like writing love notes with someone else's blood."
Julien glared at him.
"Lucas."
"What?" Lucas shrugged innocently. "I'm just saying your ex clearly didn't take the breakup well."
He looked down at the dead girl, then back at Julien.
"Brother, you really need to start dating less dangerous women."
Zoe crossed her arms.
"This isn't funny."
Lucas gave her a crooked grin.
"Trust me… if I stop joking, that's when you should start worrying."
He tossed the letter back to Julien.
"So congratulations."
He gestured around the dark forest.
"Your psycho ex-girlfriend is back in town."