Chapter 168: Fighting against guards

Lydia nodded, her demeanor shifting to that of a seasoned strategist. "Follow me. I know a way to get around Sydney's traps."

Lydia, my trusted assistant, was more than just a sharp-minded aide. She was a vampire too, one of the most resourceful informants I had ever encountered. Turned during the height of the Renaissance, she possessed a keen intellect honed over centuries and an unrivaled network of connections within the vampire community.

Her ability to gather intelligence and strategize in the most dire of situations had saved me countless times. It was no wonder I trusted her implicitly.

As we moved through the darkened alleyways, I couldn't help but reflect on the dual nature of our existence. We were vampires, creatures of the night, endowed with immense power but cursed with an insatiable hunger.