Drake woke up to the sound of his phone's notification. The emergency alert flashed on the screen, announcing that all vampire slayers were to gather at the Shadowfang assembly area, with further details to be provided once they arrived.
Drake hurried to freshen up, quickly preparing breakfast and changing into his clothes. As he was about to leave, he noticed Selena waking up.
"I have to attend a meeting," he said, glancing at her as he grabbed his things. "I've already made some food for you. Please eat it, and don't leave just yet. I know we agreed you'd head home today, but can you wait for me until after the meeting? Just for a little while, okay?"
He looked at her, hoping she would agree.
Selena smiled and nodded. "You don't have to worry. I'll wait for you. Take your time." Her reassuring smile let him know she wasn't planning to leave without saying goodbye.
Feeling a little lighter, Drake nodded back and quickly headed for the Shadowfang assembly area.
Everyone had gathered in the assembly area, their curiosity evident as they murmured amongst themselves, wondering what was going on.
"Good morning, everyone," Leo Carter said, his voice cutting through the chatter. "I've called you here because there's something important I need to tell you."
Standing next to him was Adrian Thorne, his ever-present secretary, who stood quietly, observing the room.
"The village of Willowdale was attacked by five Nosferaboars," Leo Carter continued, his tone serious. "Their crops were devastated, and unfortunately, there were casualties. Two farmers lost their lives in the attack."
The murmurs grew louder as everyone reacted in shock. Nosferaboars hadn't been seen in years, and now they were attacking.
Drake, however, wasn't as surprised. He had already encountered them recently, but he hadn't expected them to make their way to the village so soon.
"One of our Vampire Slayers reported this, and we conducted a secret investigation to verify the claim," the President continued, his voice cutting through the chatter. "But we found nothing — that is, until last night. One of the village elders came to us with a report about the attack and asked for our assistance."
He paused. "This is serious. The threat is real, and we need to act."
Kaelen, a well-known and powerful slayer, asked about the reward, his voice showing both curiosity and a hint of doubt. "How much is the reward?"
"Fifty gold coins for each one," the figure answered firmly. "I need you to hunt them all down and get rid of them completely. Find out where they're coming from, how they are able to return. I think someone is controlling them. But don't do this alone. It's too risky. You'll need help."
The room went quiet, except for the worried whispers of the vampire slayers nearby. As they understood the mission, their whispers got louder, full of disbelief and fear. For some, it was the first time hearing about something so dangerous. The reward was huge—fifty gold coins for every vampire killed—but they knew such a big reward meant big trouble.
Drake stayed quiet, his eyes moving over the other vampire slayers. The worry in the air was clear without anyone speaking. His thoughts drifted back to the day he first saw the Nosferaboar – a horrifying mix of vampire and animal. The memory still scared him: the way it rushed at him with terrible speed, its red eyes shining with hunger. The scars from that fight were still on him, though no one else knew.
He hadn't told anyone about it and didn't plan to. He couldn't face their laughter and doubts. A weak slayer who couldn't even beat one Nosferaboar. The thought was awful.
Part of him wanted to take on the mission, to prove to himself that he was more than just someone who survived. The reward – fifty gold coins for each Nosferaboar – was tempting. It was the kind of job that could make a slayer famous. But a bigger part of him, the part that remembered the fear of that first fight, held him back. Fear had grown inside him, making him doubt himself.
He looked at the few female slayers in the room. They were different – brave and not scared by the terrible things they faced. It was rare, but some of the best and most fearless vampire slayers were women. In every family, at least one person had to become a slayer. It was a tradition passed down through generations. But there was no rule that said those who weren't born brave had to act like heroes. Drake wasn't sure he was meant for this, and he wasn't sure he ever would be.
While the room filled with worried whispers and loud talk about the mission, Drake's thoughts went somewhere else. He wasn't focused on the words being said or the danger of what they had to do—he was thinking about her. Selena.
He wanted to go back to his apartment to see Selena, but he couldn't leave yet because the meeting had not yet adjourned.
Suddenly, a hand gently touched his back, pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Hey! Want to team up for this quest?" a girl about his age asked him.
He didn't know what to say. It was the first time anyone had asked him to be their partner, especially knowing he wasn't a strong fighter.
"I think you've got the wrong guy," he replied, trying to ignore her.
"Yes, you are," the girl replied. "We're both new to this, and I really need the rewards – they'd help me out a ton. We can split everything evenly. Oh, sorry for not introducing myself earlier. I'm Lyra Blaze. You're Drake Night, right?"
"How do you know me?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"Well, everyone knows you," she chuckled. "You're the talk of the town, the one who runs and sleeps," she explained with a teasing smile.
"Oh! I see. Then you can ask someone else. I have to go now," he said, trying to walk away.
"Ehhhhh. Come on."
He didn't bother to listen to her response and pushed his way through the crowd, eager to get away from the persistent girl.