Devil's Lair

Chapter 5

The night hummed with a wild rhythm of wings. A swarm of bats darted through the stormy skies, their dark bodies slicing through the rain with desperate speed. However, when the cold droplets became more intense, the swarm weakened. The creatures started to plummet one by one, their wings wavering and faltering.

The bats coalesced into a single figure, landing with a shuddering gasp. There stood Liam Welles, his dark suit plastered to his pale skin, his red umbrella in his hand. He hurriedly opened the umbrella, shielding himself from the relentless downpour. But it was too late. The icy rain had sapped him of his strength.

Each stride felt heavier than the last, and his legs barely obeyed his commands. His normal grace had faded, replaced by desperation as he sped along the abandoned street, the world around him blurring, even his pride in speed had deserted him.

His vision dimmed, his breaths came in quick rushes, and his knees buckled beneath him.

He looked ahead, squinting through the rain. The destination seemed impossibly far away, yet he pushed himself harder. The ground blurred beneath him as he burst into a sprint. However, his energy left him too soon.

As the world tilted, a firm hand caught him before he hit the mud, pulling him back from the edge of unconsciousness.

“We’ve got you, son,” a familiar voice said, calm and cool.

********

When Liam opened his eyes, he was bathed by a soothing blue light. His father, Ethan Welles, knelt at his side, one hand hanging over Liam's chest. The light emanated from Ethan's palm, throbbing gently as it entered Liam's body. With each pulse, Liam felt his strength return, the cold grip of lethargy loosening.

"Careless," Ethan remarked calmly, his tone empty of rage but weighted with disappointment.

"You pushed yourself too far, You should know better than to test your limits in the rain." He added.

Liam blinked up at him, his voice hoarse. “I didn’t have a choice. I……”

He was about to finish when the door creaked open. Selene Welles entered, her motions beautiful and her presence imposing. She stopped in the doorway, her piercing stare raking over Liam.

“He doesn’t need to explain,” she said softly, her voice smooth as silk. “I already know.”

Liam stiffened, his jaw tightening.

“Of course, you do, you always does,” he muttered, sitting up slowly

Selene raised a brow, unfazed by his irritation. “You stayed out too long. You underestimated the rain. You thought your umbrella would suffice, and now here we are.”

Ethan glanced between them, his brows furrowing slightly. “Selene……”

“He’s embarrassed,” Selene interrupted. “Not just about the rain. He’s embarrassed because he had to leave the beauty all on her own in the street while running for his own life, pathetic, right?”

“Mum …….” Liam groaned.

“Quench your rage dear, leaving her with your wallet and trying to buy her pride off with money twice in just a date isn't that bad also, but which gentleman does that?” she mocked.

Liam shot her a glare. “Could you stop digging through my head for once?”

Selene’s lips curved into a faint smile, unapologetic. “I don’t need to dig. You wear your thoughts on your sleeve, my son. Perhaps if you learned to shield them, I wouldn’t have to.”

Ethan let out a soft sigh, his hand dropping as the healing light faded. “Enough, both of you.” He glanced at Liam. “You’re fine now. But she’s right, you need to be more cautious. Your strengths are formidable, but they’re not invincible.”

Before Liam could respond, the door creaked open again. An identical person entered, exactly the same as Liam in every way, down to the damp hair and faint scowl, just like a carbon copy of him.

“Well, look who finally got himself in trouble,” the doppelganger said with a smirk.

Liam’s eyes narrowed, a low growl escaping his throat. “Vex.”

“When was the last time I warned you never to take up my form again? You this f*cking chameleon”, Liam yelled as he dashed towards Vex angrily but got hurled away by Vex’s single punch.

“You look like a puppy drenched in cold rain, junior brother. Stand up and try harder, perhaps this time my fists will send you back to your innocent girl you left hanging in the streets “, he mocked.

“Stop picking on your brother, and when was the last time I warned you to stop eavesdropping?”Selene scolded him.

Vex grinned wider before his form rippled like water. His face shifted, the features melting into something sharper, older. Within seconds, the true Vex Welles stood before them, his arms crossed and an infuriatingly smug expression on his face.

“Relax, little brother. Just having a bit of fun.”

“Fun?” Liam snapped, rising to his feet. “You think pretending to be me is fun?”

Vex chuckled, unbothered by Liam’s anger. “Well, it is when you make it so easy. Getting yourself nearly killed by a bit of rain? Pathetic.”

“Enough,” Ethan said firmly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

Vex raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave.” He glanced at Liam, his smirk returning. “But I have to say, Father, maybe it’s time you let me handle this Isabelle mission. Clearly, our dear Liam isn’t up to the task.”

Liam’s fists clenched. “I don’t need your help.”

“Oh, come on,” Vex said, smirking. “How hard can it be? Human girls are simple. A few sweet words, a charming smile, and they’re putty in your hands. I’ve done it a hundred times.”

“This isn’t about charm,” Liam snapped. “It’s about strategy. Subtlety. Two things you wouldn’t understand.”

“Enough,” Ethan said again, his voice louder this time. He stepped between them, his presence commanding.

“The mission remains Liam’s. He’s the best suited for it. But,” he added, his gaze locking onto Liam, “you are not to let emotions cloud your judgment. This is about the family, not your personal feelings. Do I make myself clear?”

Liam nodded stiffly. “Yes, Father.”

“Vex, go back there and support your sister in protecting our territory. A strigoi was reported to have been found in other provinces”, Ethan said, fear revealed in his voice.

“A Strigoi?, Liam would've been the best suited for fighting a strigoi due to his speed. Not me?”Vex complained.

“Wasn't suggesting, Vex”, Ethan shot back even before he completed his speech.

“More reasons to be swift with your mission, Liam. Dracula needs to be stopped, he's going round among humans as Viktor Alucard. Isabelle is our only approach to him, else he'll kill us all”, he warned.

“Yes, I'm meeting her again tomorrow night”. He replied.

Ethan’s expression softened slightly. “Good. Then remember this: never mistake the game for the player. And above all, never let yourself fall.”

“Duuuuuhr”, Vex chimed in. “Father and son, so emotional”, he mocked.

Vex snickered as Ethan left the room. “Don’t let yourself fall, little brother. Sounds like good advice. Not that I’d need it.”

Liam glared at him, his fists tightening. “Stay out of my way, Vex.”

Vex smirked, heading for the door. “Don’t worry. I’ll be watching. Try not to mess it up again.”

Selene watched silently, her eyes flicking between her sons. As Vex also turned to leave, she stepped closer to Liam, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Careful, my son,” she said. “The heart is a dangerous thing, even for creatures like us.”

“I mean, don't mistakenly love that human girl. And next time, stop staring at her stained skirts for too long….. you'll mistakenly see her spotless and sweet thighs again”, Selene added, giggling.

“Sh*t” Laim scowled, irritated by his mothers ability to read his mind so easily.

As the door closed behind her, Liam sank back onto the bed, his mind racing. Vex’s laughter echoed faintly from the hallway, and Liam clenched his jaw.

Falling? That wasn’t an option. Not for him. Not for a Welles.