Chapter 19: The Forgotten Ally
The city pulsed with life, its neon glow casting long shadows across the streets. Aarav walked beside Veyron, his senses sharper than ever. He could hear the distant hum of conversations, the rhythmic thudding of footsteps, the faint heartbeat of every mortal in his vicinity.
It was intoxicating.
Yet beneath the city's vibrancy, something felt off. An unseen force lingered in the air, like a storm waiting to break.
"Where are we going?" Aarav asked, keeping his voice low.
Veyron didn't look at him. "A club. The kind mortals think is just another underground scene. But to our kind, it is neutral ground. A meeting place for those who do not wish to swear fealty to the Elders."
Aarav raised an eyebrow. "And this 'old friend' of mine?"
Veyron smirked. "He was once your most trusted general. A warrior feared across the lands. But now…" He paused, eyes gleaming. "He is a broken remnant of what he used to be."
Aarav's jaw tightened. "Then we remind him."
Veyron chuckled. "That's the plan."
They turned a corner, the city's usual noise dampening as they approached a narrow alleyway. At the end stood a nondescript building with a single crimson light above the door. A lone bouncer stood outside—a hulking man whose eyes glowed faintly red beneath the streetlights.
A vampire.
Veyron strolled forward casually. "We're expected."
The bouncer studied them before stepping aside. No words were exchanged. Just an understanding.
As they entered, Aarav was hit by a wave of dark energy.
The club was unlike any human establishment he'd ever seen. Shadows flickered unnaturally along the walls, and the air buzzed with raw power. Vampires filled the space, some engaged in quiet conversations, others watching from the darkness with hungry eyes.
Aarav's gaze swept the room until Veyron nodded toward a booth in the farthest corner.
A man sat alone, a glass of something dark in his hand. His presence was heavy, commanding, despite his relaxed posture. Long, silver-streaked black hair fell past his shoulders, and a jagged scar ran from his temple to his jaw.
Aarav's breath hitched.
He knew this man.
Not just from his visions—but from something deeper. A bond that had once been unbreakable.
Veyron leaned in, whispering just loud enough for Aarav to hear. "Meet Kieran. Your right hand. Your executioner. The one who fought by your side until the end."
Aarav swallowed hard. "And now?"
Veyron sighed. "Now, he drinks away memories he does not understand. He has forgotten you, Kairos. But he remembers something is missing."
Aarav squared his shoulders and stepped forward.
Kieran didn't look up as he approached. He merely swirled his drink, his voice a low, tired growl.
"I don't do jobs anymore, Veyron."
Veyron chuckled. "This isn't a job. It's a reunion."
Kieran's fingers tightened around his glass. For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, finally, he lifted his gaze.
His crimson eyes met Aarav's.
And for a split second, something flickered in them—confusion, recognition… pain.
Aarav took a breath. "Kieran."
The name seemed to strike something in him. He flinched, his grip on the glass tightening until the crystal cracked. His breathing became shallow, as if fighting against a memory trying to surface.
Aarav stepped closer. "You know me."
Kieran exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "No. I don't."
But his voice wavered.
Aarav placed his hands on the table, leaning in. "You were my brother in battle. My most trusted blade. You swore an oath to me, long before the Elders betrayed us." His voice dropped. "You bled for me."
Kieran's hand trembled. His eyes darkened.
Veyron watched with intrigue. "Ah. There it is."
Aarav didn't back down. "You feel it, don't you? The hole inside you. The missing pieces. That's because they took your memories. Just like they took mine."
Kieran's breath hitched. His fingers clenched into a fist.
For a long moment, he said nothing. The club around them buzzed with energy, other vampires taking notice, their whispers filling the air.
Then, slowly, Kieran stood.
And when he did, the entire room seemed to shift.
A dangerous, predatory aura rolled off him.
He met Aarav's gaze, his voice quiet—but sharp as a blade.
"If this is true…" His crimson eyes burned. "Then you'd better prove it."
Aarav's lips curled into a smirk.
"Gladly."
To be continued…