Chapter 272: Start of the investigation

Hours later, after I left Elena peacefully sleeping, the calm evaporated the moment I stepped into the night. The city's cold bite pierced through my skin, a harsh reminder of the dangers that lurked just below the surface.

Tonight, I was determined to find answers. The thought of Sydney's family plotting against Elena gnawed at me like a festering wound, the possibility of her being used in some twisted revenge game keeping me on edge.

The streets of Manhattan glowed under the pale lights, a deceptive facade of normalcy. The towering skyscrapers and the constant hum of life gave the city an air of invincibility, but I knew better.

Darkness festered beneath its surface, hidden in plain sight. I could feel it, an invisible pulse that called to creatures like me, creatures that thrived in shadows.