the blood pack

blood pack chapter 5

THE BLOOD PACK

Chapter Five: Beneath the House

The mansion became strangely quiet after midnight. No one slept. The attack in the forest had left every member of the pack uneasy, and Darius could feel tension spreading through the house like smoke. He stood alone in the library, studying an old map of the city when he heard three slow knocks beneath the floor.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Darius froze.

The sound came again.

He moved toward the fireplace and examined the stonework behind it. Something was wrong. One of the stones was newer than the others. He pressed his hand against it, and a hidden mechanism clicked.

The fireplace moved.

Behind it was a narrow staircase leading underground.

Darius called the others.

Within minutes, the entire pack stood at the entrance.

Seraphina stared into the darkness.

"You shouldn't go down there."

Darius looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because something is awake."

Victor smiled.

"Good."

Seraphina looked at him.

"You don't understand."

Victor stepped closer.

"Then explain."

Seraphina's expression hardened.

"Some vampires are born from darkness. Others are created by it."

Marcus looked toward the staircase.

"You're saying there's another vampire down there?"

Seraphina shook her head.

"Something older."

Darius took the first step.

"Stay behind me."

They descended into the darkness.

The walls were covered with ancient symbols. Some showed vampires kneeling before a strange creature with enormous wings. Others showed humans running from a city engulfed in flames.

Adrian touched one of the symbols.

"This writing is older than the mansion."

Marcus nodded.

"Much older."

Then they reached a massive underground chamber.

At the center stood a stone coffin.

Darius approached it.

Seraphina suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Don't."

He looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because that coffin isn't holding someone."

A low growl came from inside.

The vampires stepped backward.

The stone lid slowly moved.

Something slammed against it from underneath.

Once.

Twice.

Then the lid shattered.

A black mist exploded into the room.

Everyone raised their weapons.

The mist moved directly toward Seraphina.

She screamed.

Darius grabbed her and pulled her behind him.

The mist stopped.

Then it whispered her name.

"Seraphina."

Everyone froze.

Darius looked at her.

"You know it."

Seraphina's eyes filled with fear.

"I told you I was hiding something."

The black mist disappeared into the walls.

Seraphina slowly looked at the others.

"That thing isn't here for the pack."

Darius waited.

"It's here for me."

Before anyone could ask another question, a violent crash shook the mansion above them.

Then came the sound of breaking glass.

Hundreds of footsteps filled the halls.

Darius looked at the pack.

"The hunters."

They rushed toward the stairs.

But before Darius could leave, Seraphina grabbed his hand.

"Whatever happens tonight, don't let them take me."

Darius looked into her eyes.

"I won't."

For the first time, Seraphina smiled at him.

And that was when Lucian saw them.

His expression changed.

Jealousy burned behind his eyes.

The pack had been warned not to touch her.

But nobody had said anything about falling in love.

And Lucian was beginning to believe Darius had already broken the rule.