Ryan's POV
The warehouse was dim, the air heavy with the scent of rust and damp wood, as Frank and I hashed out our next move. My phone buzzed on the table, cutting through our low voices. I glanced at the screen, and my blood ran cold. The caller ID read Freya. A cold sweat broke across my skin, my heart pounding like a drum. Frank's eyes widened, catching my panic, but we stayed silent. The call was a ticking bomb, and whatever came next would change everything.
I answered slowly, my voice tight. "Good afternoon, Lady Freya."
A seductive voice purred back, smooth as velvet. "Hi, Ryan. It seems things have been… fun on your end, hehe." Her giggle was light, but it sent a shiver down my spine, like an enchantress weaving a trap.
"Oh, Lady Freya, I wouldn't say fun," I said, forcing calm despite the sweat beading on my forehead. "Just minor inconveniences, that's all."
"I see," she replied, her tone teasing. "How about you pay little ol' me a visit and explain it in person?"
The words hit like ice water. My legs felt weak, my mind racing. Does she know about Ethan? "I'll be there soon, Lady Freya," I managed, my voice barely steady.
"Okay, I'll be awaiting you, Ryan darling," she said, and the call ended. My head throbbed, fear clawing at me. Damn it, Ryan, what were you thinking? If Freya had discovered Ethan's existence, punishment was the least of my worries—she'd tear me apart. I looked at Frank, his face tense with questions he didn't dare ask.
"We'll continue this when I'm back," I said, standing. "I need to know how much Freya knows so we can plan our next move."
Frank nodded, his eyes wary. "Okay, I'm heading back to my place. Call me after you talk to her. Keep me in the loop this time, Ryan."
My eyes flashed cold, but I masked it with a nod. "I will. For now, I need to prepare to meet Lady Freya." Keep you in the loop? Only as long as you're useful.
Ethan's POV (Third Person)
At Bellingham High, the final bell rang, unleashing a flood of students eager for the weekend. Ethan slung his backpack over his shoulder, the weight lighter than the questions pressing on his mind. The blood bag test had ruled out vampirism, but the fiery wolf in his dreams and the heat in his chest pointed to something else—something tied to Ryan's ritual. As he stepped into the crowded hallway, Mia appeared, her chestnut braid swaying as she caught up to him.
"Hey, Ethan," she said, her smile bright but soft. "Got any big weekend plans?"
He paused, her curiosity sparking that familiar flicker of confidence. "Not much, just chilling. You?"
"Harper's dragging me to some party," she said, rolling her eyes playfully. "Have a good weekend, okay?"
"You too," Ethan replied, his grin lingering as she waved and disappeared into the crowd. She's still noticing me. The thought was a small warmth against the chaos of his life.
Outside, Ethan found Jamie by the bike racks, his friend fiddling with his phone. "Yo, you surviving?" Jamie asked, glancing up with a smirk.
"Barely," Ethan said, leaning against his Yamaha V-Star. "This week's been insane. Wanna play some games this weekend? Minecraft, maybe?"
Jamie's eyes lit up. "Hell yeah, let's hit our server. Modded chaos, just like old times. You still got that lava moat obsession?"
Ethan laughed, the sound easing the tension in his chest. "It's not an obsession—it's strategy. Tomorrow night work?"
"Perfect," Jamie said, fist-bumping him.
"Deal," Ethan said, mounting his bike. The idea of losing himself in Minecraft's blocky world was a lifeline, a way to dodge the dreams, the fire, and Ryan's shadow for just a little while. As he rode home, the fog swallowed the town, the engine's growl a steady anchor.
Ryan's POV
I drove out of Bellingham, the fog thinning as I headed toward Freya's estate, a sprawling mansion nestled in the forested hills near Mount Vernon, thirty miles south. The road twisted through dense pines, the air growing colder, heavier. My mind churned with questions. Does she know about Ethan? Did Oscar sell me out? The uncertainty was a knife in my gut. If Freya had uncovered the ritual, I was walking into a death trap. If not, I had to play this perfectly to keep her in the dark.
The mansion loomed ahead, its gothic spires piercing the sky, surrounded by manicured gardens that felt too perfect, too still. Two vampire bodyguards stood at the iron gates, their eyes glinting with predatory calm. I greeted them, my voice steady despite the dread coiling inside. "Lady Freya summoned me."
One guard nodded, speaking into a radio. After a tense wait, he gestured me forward. "She's expecting you." I followed the gravel path to the entrance, as one of the guards followed me in. The mansion's interior was opulent—marble floors, chandeliers casting golden light, the air thick with the scent of roses and something metallic, like blood.
In the living room, Freya lounged on a velvet chaise, her beauty as mesmerizing as ever. Her raven hair cascaded in waves, framing a face both angelic and cruel, with emerald eyes that seemed to see through flesh and bone. Her crimson dress hugged her curves, and a single ruby pendant gleamed at her throat. Every time I saw her, it was the same—a pull that threatened to drown me. I snapped out of it, forcing focus.
"Hi, Ryan," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "I'm glad you could make it. I was looking forward to talking to you."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "It's good to see you well, Lady Freya. I hope you've had a great day."
She laughed, a sound like tinkling glass. "Well, I had a good day, but that's not why I called you, is it?" Her eyes locked onto mine, and a shiver ran through me. "Let's talk, Ryan."
"L-Lady Freya, about that, let me explain—" I started, but she cut me off, her smile vanishing.
"What is there to explain?" Her voice turned cold, her aura pressing against me like a physical weight. "You think you run things, killing vampires just because they're your underlings? You don't get to end them however you like."
I froze, confused. "Lady Freya, what do you mean?" Killing my subordinates?
Her eyes glinted, and in a blur, she was in front of me, her hand piercing my chest. Pain exploded, blood soaking the floor as her fingers crushed my lung. I gasped, the world narrowing to agony. "You know what I hate most, Ryan?" she hissed. "People who think I'm stupid. You fooled humans with your tricks, but as a vampire stronger than you, I see through your lies. Two vampires don't just kill themselves. You killed them. Want to lie again?"
The pain was unbearable, but her words sparked relief. She doesn't know about Ethan. It bought me time. "Lady Freya, I'm sorry," I choked out, blood bubbling in my throat. "They made a mistake, almost exposed vampires to humans. I should've reported to you."
She tilted her head, studying me. "I like you, Ryan, so I'll let this slide. But don't make me replace you." Slowly, she withdrew her hand, licking the blood from her fingers with a smile. "Go back now."
"Have a good evening, Lady Freya," I rasped, stumbling out. The pain lingered, my body struggling to heal as I drove away, relief and fear warring inside. I'm alive. For now.
Third Person POV
Freya watched Ryan leave, her smile fading. She turned to the bodyguard who'd escorted him, a tall vampire with a scar across his cheek. "Find someone to follow Ryan," she ordered. "Keep their distance. We need to know what he's hiding about those deaths."
"No problem, Lady Freya," the guard said, exiting swiftly.
Freya leaned back, her eyes narrowing. You think you're clever, Ryan, but you're a fool. I'll uncover what you're hiding, no matter how far you go to protect it. The game was on, and she always won.