บท 7: Eternal
The afternoon sun slammed into Callista like a judgement, its harsh glare a stark contrast to the cloying, perfumed air of the chamber she'd just escaped. Blinking rapidly, she adjusted her vision, each breath of fresh air a desperate attempt to cleanse the bizarre cocktail of emotions churning within her.
She walked with forced nonchalance, the urge to vomit rising in her throat. Years of hunting vampires had made her a master of stoicism. She knew their mask: dazzling creatures in exquisite clothes, masking hearts rotten with insatiable hunger. If humans were selfish, vampires were distilled selfishness, embodying humanity's darkest desires at full volume, their indulgence bordering on grotesque.
Gliding through the bustling crowd, she ignored Natalia's frantic calls. This job, infiltrating the Academy, was a mistake. The promised payment meant nothing now. She craved the simple, familiar thrill of dusting vampires, not this... whatever this was.
Suddenly, a strong grip yanked her into an empty classroom. Her back slammed against the door, the impact momentarily knocking the air from her lungs. Instinct flared, blade almost materialising in her hand. But then she saw her captor.
Athena.
The princess stood, her body pressed against Callista's, the warmth radiating through her light clothing a stark contrast to the clammy sweat gathering on Callista's skin. Her lips, painted the colour of forbidden fruit, brushed against the cool metal of Callista's earrings. "Curious about what you saw in there?" she purred, her golden eyes smouldering, amber flames dancing within their depths.
Callista's voice, despite her best efforts to maintain composure, dipped to a low growl. "Let go of me," she warned, her gaze flickering to the princess's eyes, which seemed to hold an unsettling fire within them. "Before you regret it."
Athena chuckled, drawing her body impossibly closer. Her hand, cool and smooth, slid down Callista's arm, sending a jolt of electricity sparking through her veins. A traitorous gasp escaped her lips, as she could feel the heat radiating from their thin fabrics, fueling the infuriating smirk playing on the Princess's lips. Her long lashes cast mesmerising shadows on Callista's flushed cheeks. "And what would you do then, darling?"
Fury battled disgust at the endearment. "Didn't you say I wasn't your type?" Callista challenged, her voice cracking under the weight of their tangled proximity. "What game are you playing?"
"You weren't," Athena murmured, her gaze flickering to Callista's choker, barely concealing the frantic beat of her pulse. "...But it seems I might be yours."
Callista's crimson eyes narrowed, a surge of anger and something else coursing through her. She shoved Athena away, the contact sending a strange sensation through her. "I have no interest in this," she hissed, her voice tight with barely suppressed emotions.
Athena's arm, surprisingly quick, blocked Callista's escape. "No interest in what, exactly?" Her voice was a low purr, a challenge embedded in the words. "Our differences," she continued, her lips hovering dangerously close to Callista's, "or your supposed preferences?"
Callista's chest tightened, a mixture of anger and something else she couldn't name clawing at her throat. "Both," she rasped before sprinting away, the heat in her cheeks rivalling the setting sun.
Athena watched her go, the enigmatic smile lingering on her lips. Yet, a flicker of something deeper, something unreadable, shadowed her golden eyes.
**
Indigo swung open the study door, expecting the familiar scent of aged paper and the quiet rustle of turning pages. Instead, Callista stood near the window, her presence radiating an icy storm. Her crimson eyes, usually glinting with a hunter's resolve, now held a simmering anger.
"I quit," she spat, the word a venomous hiss.
Indigo's heart stuttered. "Callista, but... didn't you say you had a lead?" He knew the Academy was a gamble, a chance to finally get close to the Queen's inner circle. Two years of painstaking preparation, just to see her walk away after three days.
Callista's laugh was a cold, humourless bark. "I signed up to hunt monsters, not play nice with psychopaths. Find someone else, Watcher. Preferably someone with a stomach for their... games."
Indigo sank into his armchair, the weight of her words heavy on his shoulders. He had known this day might come, the Academy's toll on her spirit. But the Queen's plans wouldn't wait. He couldn't afford another two years. "What happened in there, Callista?"
Her gaze darted away, flickering to the window where the neon city lights battled the glow of the full moon, the only source of unpolluted light in this concrete jungle. A flicker of something raw, something vulnerable, crossed her face before it was masked by icy indifference. "A particularly infuriating creature."
Indigo's brows furrowed. Callista, with her fleeting connections and hardened heart? This was unprecedented. "Someone... captured your interest?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
She scoffed, but the defensiveness in her eyes betrayed her. "Interest? More like disgust. But also... curiosity."
A shiver ran down Indigo's spine. Curiosity about a vampire, especially one like Athena, could be a dangerous path. "The Queen's plotting something big, Callista," he said, his voice low and urgent. "The longer we wait, the more lives are at stake."
Silence stretched, thick with tension. Finally, Callista turned to him, her crimson eyes locking with his. "I knew you'd play that card. Three months," she bargained, her voice a rasp. "Three months until their excursion. We capture Athena then. And if this lead fails... that's on you, Watcher."
A thin smile played on Indigo's lips as he approached her, his calloused hand resting gently on her shoulder. He saw the flicker of sadness in her eyes, the conflict between duty and the unexpected turn her mission had taken. He knew her distrust of vampires ran deep, fueled by a past he couldn't share. And he understood. After all, what had these creatures done, besides leaving a trail of blood and heartache?
Callista pulled away, her gaze hardening once more. "Don't mistake this for a change of heart, Indigo. This is just..." she paused, searching for the right words, "personal interest."
The lie hung heavy in the air, but Indigo chose not to challenge it. He knew the price of leads, the sacrifices hunters made. He only hoped, for all their sakes, that Callista's "curiosity" wouldn't lead them both into the darkness.
**
Dust motes danced in the crimson light filtering through stained glass, illuminating the cavernous chamber. A lone figure, draped in obsidian robes, sat upon an imposing throne carved from bloodstone. His golden eyes, piercing and cold, surveyed the figure before him.
"What has she done this time?" The figure's voice, a rasping whisper, echoed through the room, laced with an icy disdain that sent shivers down Adrian's spine.
Adrian, his right arm still bandaged from his recent encounter with Queen Eydis, bowed low, wincing at the strain. "Greetings, Grand Elder Ares. The Queen's... feeding habits have become... uncontrolled. The government is raising concerns."
Ares scoffed, a sound like wind whistling through bone. "A liability, she may be, but undeniable power resides within her." He gripped the armrest of his throne, his knuckles white against the polished stone.
"Indeed, Elder," Adrian pressed on, his voice carefully neutral. "But perhaps... we could revisit the solution we explored during the academy excursion years ago. The Queen rarely leaves the academy, and when she does, her movements are unpredictable."
Ares stroked his long, blonde beard, contemplative silence filling the chamber. "This time, Adrian, failure is not an option. Remember, your sister's fate hinges upon this."
Adrian gritted his teeth beneath the mask of nonchalance, his knuckles turning white. "Fear not, Father. This time, the Queen of the Damned will rest... eternally." He bowed once more, the crimson light catching a glint of steel in his eyes, then melted into the shadows, leaving behind a chilling silence and the scent of ancient power.
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