Chapter 1: SHADOWS IN THE CITY
Lila stepped through the neon-lit roads of New Asylum, her faculties receptive to the beat of the city's pulse. The air was thick with strain, a delicate harmony kept up with among people and vampires. As she moved toward the crime location, her sharp eyes selected the indications of a battle. Blood splatters on the asphalt flickered under the brutal glare of streetlamps, and the fragrance of iron blended with the city's never-ending exhaust cloud. She felt the natural stirrings of craving yet shoved them to the side, zeroing in rather on the main job. Another body, another secret, and the uncomfortable inclination that this was just the start.
Criminal investigator Imprint Dawson was at that point there, his rough face set in a frown as he talked with the criminology group. He looked up as Lila drew closer, his eyes limiting marginally. In spite of their organization, there was generally a propensity of strain. It was difficult for him to completely believe a vampire, even one who should be his ally.
"Evening, Lila," he said, his voice cut. "Seems as though we have another."
Lila gestured, her look moving to the body lying in the back street. The person in question, a moderately aged man, was spread gracelessly on the ground, his throat cut and peculiar images cut into his chest. She stooped alongside the body, her improved faculties getting the slightest hints of dread and torment.
"Any ID on him?" she asked, her voice consistent.
"Better believe it," Imprint answered, giving her a wallet. "Name's Alan Grayson. He was a backer for vampire freedoms. Been vocal of late."
Lila scowled, flipping through the wallet and noticing the different IDs and participation cards. "Any observers?"
"Only one. Claims he saw a shadowy figure running away from the area, yet all the same nothing concrete."
Lila's eyes restricted as she inspected the images cut into the casualty's chest. They were mind boggling, practically formal, and something about them pulled at her memory. She looked around, her eyes examining the dull rear entryway for anything awkward.
"Did you find something else?" she asked, standing up.
Mark signaled to a little, fancy knife lying a couple of feet away, painstakingly stowed by the legal sciences group. "Tracked down this close to the body. Looks old. Genuine old."
Lila got the proof sack, her fingers brushing the cool metal through the plastic. The knife was canvassed in peculiar markings, like the ones on the person in question. She had an inclination this was no customary deadly weapon.
"Mind on the off chance that I investigate this back at the lab?" she asked, definitely knowing the response.
Mark murmured however gestured. "Of course, simply be cautious with it. I don't like this one."
"Me as well," Lila mumbled, her contemplations previously dashing. There was something about this case that felt unique, more hazardous than anything she'd managed previously. She had a sinking doubt that Alan Grayson's passing was only the start of something a lot bigger and more evil.
As they wrapped up at the crime location, Lila couldn't shake the inclination that they were being watched. She filtered the encompassing structures, her eyes waiting on the shadowy corners and housetops. Nothing. Yet, the anxiety remained.
Back at the region, Lila subsided into her lab, the knife spread out on the table before her. She pulled up records of comparable images and markings, expecting to track down a match. Hours passed as she filtered through antiquated texts and wrongdoing reports, her disappointment developing with every impasse.
At last, similarly as first light broke, she found a reference to a comparative arrangement of images in an old vampire faction file. The markings were related with a failed to remember organization known for their ruthless and ceremonial killings. The order had evidently been cleared out hundreds of years prior, however Lila knew not to trust such suppositions.
She reclined in her seat, scouring her drained eyes. Assuming this order was involved, it implied inconvenience. Enormous difficulty. Furthermore, on the off chance that they were focusing on vampire freedoms advocates, it could start a contention that would destroy the city.
With a weighty murmur, she went after her telephone and dialed Imprint's number. He replied on the third ring, his voice drowsy.
"Mark, I believe we're managing something significantly greater than we suspected," she said, her voice critical. "I really want to circle back to certain leads. I'll fill you in straightaway."
"Okay, simply be cautious, Lila. We don't require you causing problems than you can deal with."
"Try not to stress over me," Lila answered, her eyes flickering sincerely. "Simply prepare sure for's coming."
As she hung up, Lila felt a restored feeling of direction. The shadows in the city were becoming more obscure, and it ultimately depended on her to expose reality. Regardless of the expense.
