After finishing their preparations, James and Sam had one last task before hunting the vampires—gathering information at the local bars. It wasn't the most exciting part of the job, but it was often the fastest way to pick up leads. Small motels and diners around Berkeley were usually filled with people eager to share stories over drinks. Asking the right questions with the right attitude often revealed useful details.
James strapped his machete inside his jacket and double-checked the dead man's blood syringes before pocketing one, just in case. Sam, always thorough, tucked a notebook into his jacket for taking notes.
"Ready?" Sam asked, holding the door open.
"Yeah," James replied, sliding his phone into his pocket.
Their first stop was a bar called Rusty's. It was dimly lit, smelled of stale beer and fried food, and had a jukebox playing old rock music in the corner. A few patrons sat quietly, focused on their drinks. Sam led them to the bar, where a scruffy, middle-aged bartender was lazily wiping a glass.
"What can I get you?" the bartender asked without much interest.
Sam ordered a beer, and James went with a soda to keep a clear head. While waiting for their drinks, Sam eased into the conversation with small talk.
"You been in Berkeley long?" Sam asked casually, taking a sip of his beer.
"Long enough," the bartender replied. "Why?"
"Just passing through," Sam said with a faint smile. "Heard some strange stories about this place—people disappearing and all that. Figured it might just be rumors, but thought I'd ask around."
The bartender looked at him with mild suspicion but seemed more curious than concerned. "You one of those crime podcast types?"
"Something like that," Sam said smoothly. "Anything to the stories?"
The bartender hesitated before lowering his voice. "Five people found dead in the last couple of weeks. All drained of blood. Cops are keeping it quiet, but folks around here can't stop talking about it."
"Drained of blood?" James repeated, raising his eyebrow. "That's… creepy. Any theories or suspicions?"
The bartender shrugged. "Some say it's a cult. Others think it's some kind of animal. Either way, it's bad for business."
"Any idea where these attacks happened?" Sam asked, still sounding casual.
"Mostly near the edge of town," the bartender said, wiping another glass. "A couple bodies near the old railroad tracks. Last one was dumped behind a warehouse in the industrial park. Gives me the chills just talking about it."
Sam nodded and left a tip on the counter. "Thanks for the info."
The bartender pocketed the money, and James and Sam headed out.
"What do you think?" James asked.
"Sounds like we're on the right track," Sam said. "Let's hit another place and see if we can find out more."
Their next stop was a bar called The Silver Lining. It was livelier, with younger patrons—college students and locals—and louder music. This time, James took the lead, weaving through the crowd to the bar.
A friendly blonde bartender in her late twenties greeted them. "What can I get you?"
"Two beers," James said, smiling back. As she poured their drinks, he leaned on the counter. "Busy night?"
"Not bad for a weeknight," she said, handing over the beers. "You two from around here?"
"Just visiting," James replied, taking a sip. "We've been hearing some wild stories—something about people disappearing?"
Her smile faded slightly, and she leaned closer. "You've been talking to Rusty, haven't you?"
James raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think that?"
"Because he loves freaking people out with those stories," she said with a laugh. "But honestly? There's some truth to it. People can't stop talking about those murders."
"Any idea who or what's behind it?" James asked lightly.
She glanced around, checking that no one was listening, then leaned in again. "There's this guy and his group who comes in sometimes, always at night.They are new to the town and have a creepy vibe going on around them."
James muttered. "Anything else?"
The bartender shook her head. "Just… be careful. Things have been weird around here."
"Thanks," Sam said, leaving a generous tip.
Outside, James zipped up his jacket against the cool air.i
They decided to check the industrial park, hoping to find a clue. The streets were eerily quiet as they drove, the dim streetlights casting long shadows. James felt like they were being watched, but shook it off as nerves.
When they arrived at the warehouse, Sam turned off the car and grabbed a flashlight. "Ready?"
"Always," James said.
The warehouse was dark and eerie, its broken windows and rusted doors adding to the unsettling atmosphere. The air smelled damp and stale.
"Stay sharp," Sam whispered as they stepped inside.
Despite their careful search, they didn't find any sign of the vampires' base. Frustrated but determined, they returned to the car. Just as they were about to leave, James' phone buzzed. It was Ash.
"We found their coven," Ash said quickly. "Meet us back at the motel."
James and Sam drove back to the motel, their thoughts focused on the upcoming hunt. The parking lot was quiet except for Dean's Impala. Inside the room, Ash was pacing while Dean sat on the bed, looking annoyed.
"They're staying in an old factory outside of town," Ash said as soon as James and Sam walked in. "It wasn't hard to figure out. The locals are scared and talked about it."
Dean stood up and crossed his arms. "We'll hit them in the morning. Vampires are weaker during the day. It'll be safer for us to take them out then."
Sam frowned. "We don't have that kind of time. What if they leave town tonight? Or worse, kill someone else before we get there?"
Dean glared at him. "And what if we rush in and get ourselves killed? These vampires aren't amateurs. They're organized. Waiting till morning gives us the upper hand."
James, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "We're not helpless, Dean. With my abilities, we can handle them. I can shield us, attack them from a distance, and burn them if we need to. Plus, I can sense exactly where they are in the factory. We'll know what we're walking into."
Dean sighed, clearly frustrated. "Your powers don't make you invincible, James. These things are dangerous. We've got one shot, and I'd rather not screw it up because we're in a hurry."
Sam stepped closer, keeping his voice calm. "Dean, I get your point, but every minute we wait is a chance for them to disappear or hurt someone else. We've faced worse before. If we're careful and stick to the plan, we'll be fine."
Dean looked between Sam and James, his jaw tightening. Finally, he gave in. "Fine. But if this goes sideways, I'm blaming you two."
With the decision made, they gathered their weapons—machetes, dead man's blood syringes, and James' Essence Sovereignty abilities. They piled into the Impala and headed for the factory.
---
The factory was huge, dark, and falling apart. Its broken windows and rusted walls made it look like something out of a horror movie. The empty lot around it was eerily quiet except for the distant sound of crickets.
James used his essence sense. A faint glow appeared in his mind, showing four distinct presences inside the building. "Four vampires," he said softly. "They're not moving. Feels like they're resting."
Dean nodded, gripping his machete. "Good. That gives us the element of surprise."
"We should split up," James suggested. "Sam and I will go in from the east side. You both, take the west. We'll trap them inside so they can't escape."
Ash hesitated. "And if they fight back?"
James smiled. "They won't get the chance. I'll use my shield to protect us from their attacks. Once we're ready, I'll hit them with the flames. They will be in too much pain to care about anything."
Sam nodded. "Sounds like a good plan. Let's move."
---
They moved silently, careful not to make any noise. Inside, the factory was a mess of rusted machinery, broken walls, and scattered debris. James led Sam through the east entrance, guided by his essence sense. The glow of the vampires' presence grew stronger as they got closer.
Dean's voice came through their radios. "I'm in position."
"So are we," Sam whispered back.
James held up his hand to signal silence. He could see the vampires now—four pale figures slumped on beds in a large room. They were completely still, almost like statues.
"They're vulnerable," James whispered. "This is our chance."
Sam nodded, and James activated Essence Guard, creating a shimmering energy shield around them. "Stay behind me," he said.
They moved closer, surrounding the vampires. As they approached, James raised his hand and summoned a pulse of energy. The Essence Strike shot forward and hit the closest vampire, making it hiss in pain as its eyes flew open.
The other vampires began to stir, but James was faster. He unleashed Essence Flame, a wave of burning energy that engulfed the room. The vampires screamed as the flames burned them, their movements slow and uncoordinated.
"Grab them!" Dean shouted, running forward with his machete. He slashed at one vampire, cutting off at its side, then jabbed it with a syringe of dead man's blood. The vampire collapsed, weakened but alive.
Sam and Ash each tackled another vampire, pinning it to the ground while James used Essence Flame to keep all of them unable to do anything. The flames made them weak and sluggish, unable to do anything.
Just then, James felt five more people enter the edge of his Essence Sense, which he had kept active. Their energy felt much stronger than the vampires', and they were moving incredibly fast. Alarmed, he quickly warned the others.
"There are five more coming! They're fast—really fast!"
Before anyone could react, the five figures were already in the room. They moved so quickly it was hard to follow their movements. Dean and Sam raised their weapons, ready for a fight, while Ash stepped back into the shadows.
James lifted his hand, ready to fire his Essence Flames at the newcomers. The glow of his energy flared brighter, but he suddenly froze just as he was about to attack. His eyes widened in shock as he stared at two of the people standing among the five.
"Sarah? Nick?" he muttered, his voice filled with disbelief. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Of all the people who could have shown up, these two were the last he expected.
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