PRIME APEX

The abandoned cathedral loomed over us, a skeletal giant of crumbling stone and forgotten whispers.

Its stained-glass windows, long shattered, left jagged holes in the walls where moonlight spilled in slanted beams, illuminating the dust that swirled in the stale air.

The scent of damp stone and old decay clung to the air, thick and heavy, as if the building itself still remembered the prayers whispered here centuries ago.

My footsteps echoed on the cracked marble floor as I followed Xander deeper inside. My pulse was steady, but I remained on high alert, the silence pressing in from all sides.

He was already there.

Vlad leaned against a worn stone pillar as if he had been waiting for us for hours. The long coat draped around his frame seemed more like shadows given form than fabric, shifting with his every movement.

His sharp features bore that ever-present smirk—mischievous, unreadable. Yet, when his gaze landed on me, something flickered in his expression.

Interest. Amusement. Curiosity.

Xander wasted no time.

"One of yours just tried to attack her," he said, voice clipped and cold.

Vlad arched a brow, his amusement unwavering. "Which one?"

"Jody," I answered before Xander could.

"He said he didn't answer to you."

A pause. A flicker of something dark crossed Vlad's face—not anger, not surprise, but something heavier.

A calculated shift behind his eyes, like a predator considering its next move. His smirk didn't falter, but the weight beneath it sharpened.

"Interesting," he murmured, more to himself than to us.

Xander crossed his arms, his posture rigid. "This better not happen again."

Vlad exhaled through his nose, shaking his head as if we were discussing an unruly pet rather than a rogue vampire.

"And here I thought I made myself very clear."

Then, suddenly, the air changed.

A pulse of something unseen rippled through the cathedral. It pressed against my skin, like the weight of invisible hands. The air turned frigid, sharp enough to sting.

Vlad wasn't just irritated.

He was furious.

"Apparently," he said, his voice smooth as silk, "some of my subordinates need a reminder of who they serve."

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

Vlad's dark eyes met mine, sharp and unreadable.

"Make an example."

The words were simple, but they held a gravity that made my stomach twist. I didn't know what punishment he had in mind, but I was sure of one thing—Jody wouldn't survive it.

Silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken tension.

Then, as if the moment had never happened, Vlad sighed, his smirk returning. "You won't have to worry about him anymore."

Xander didn't react, his expression carved from stone.

Vlad turned his attention back to me, his gaze assessing.

"And you," he mused, "they couldn't seem to resist your attraction."

I lifted my chin, refusing to let him see my unease.

"Maybe they just have a habit of not following orders."

Vlad chuckled, the sound low and amused.

"I owe you an apology," he said smoothly. "But you shouldn't have been out alone at night. I promise, there won't be another attack. And if there is… I'll personally end every single one of them."

Xander glanced at me.

"He's right, you shouldn't be out there alone."

I frowned. "I was looking for an apartment. Besides, you both said it was safe for me to go out now. I didn't expect to get jumped by a vampire."

Xander's expression darkened.

"Safe doesn't mean invincible, Leighton. You're a target now, whether you like it or not."

I exhaled sharply, a mix of frustration and lingering fear twisting inside me.

"I know that," I admitted.

"But I can't just stop living my life."

Xander studied me for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. Then, finally, he let out a slow breath, raking a hand through his hair.

"I'll find you a safe place to stay," he said.

I blinked. "What?"

"Just to be secure. If you have to, you can stay at my place. Temporarily."

I hesitated. "You don't have to do that."

Xander's eyes darkened slightly. "I know."

A slow, thoughtful hum came from Vlad.

"Or," he drawled, "you could stay with me." His smirk widened, teasing.

"No one would dare to lay a finger on you under my protection."

I shot him a deadpan look.

"No. I start my new job next week. How am I supposed to stay with you?"

Vlad sighed theatrically. "Tragic. But fine."

Then, his expression darkened, all traces of amusement vanishing.

"Listen carefully," he said, his voice low and deliberate.

"I am this close—" he held up two fingers, barely an inch apart, "—to uncovering the whereabouts of some of the oldest vampires to have ever walked this earth. If my lead proves correct, we will be hunting them before the month is over."

His gaze locked onto ours, unyielding.

"And when that time comes… you must leave your job. No distractions. No excuses."

I stiffened. "What do you mean… 'we'?"

Vlad tilted his head, his sharp gaze studying me.

"The three of us, of course. You don't think we'd just leave you behind, do you?" His voice dipped lower.

"It's about your safety, Leighton. I'm afraid it's not just us who are interested in you."

A cold weight settled in my stomach, heavy and unrelenting, like a stone sinking into deep water.

Xander met my gaze and nodded.

"He's right. When the time comes, you should come with us."

His tone was firm, leaving little room for argument. But before I could even formulate a response, he continued.

"I've got leads of my own. If my instincts are correct, they'll take us to the same place."

His voice carried a quiet certainty that made it clear—this wasn't just a theory. This was real.

I swallowed, my pulse quickening. The weight of their words pressed against me, making it hard to breathe.

"...Okay," I said quietly.

Xander nodded once before turning toward the cathedral's exit.

"Come with me."

I hesitated for just a second before following, my mind racing.

I was starting to trust him.

Behind us, Vlad let out a soft chuckle before vanishing into the cathedral's shadows, leaving Xander and me standing in the eerie silence.