Game Of Fangs

The Return

Red and blue lights bounced off the stone facade of the grand estate, casting eerie shadows across the lawn.

Police cruisers were scattered across the driveway, blocking the entrance.

Vampires from their clan lingered at the edges of the property, their eyes glowing faintly in the low light, watching the human officers with barely contained contempt.

Seth and Ruth arrived in silence, their black sedan screeching to a halt at the gate.

The mansion, usually a symbol of power and stability, now felt cold and alien, an ominous shell of what it had once been.

Ruth clutched her phone tightly, her knuckles white, while Seth sat motionless beside her, his face a mask of tightly controlled rage.

“This can’t be real,” Ruth murmured, her voice trembling despite herself. “Not her…”

Seth didn’t respond.

His eyes were fixed on the mansion, scanning the chaos unfolding before them. His mother—dead. Murdered.

The words still felt foreign in his mind, a surreal concept he couldn’t quite grasp. His mother, Elena Deluca, had been untouchable, the heart and soul of their family. The idea that someone had managed to take her life—it didn’t seem possible.

But the evidence was there. Police, medics, and the strange quiet that had settled over their once lively home.

“We need answers,” Seth said coldly, his hands gripping the steering wheel so hard that the leather creaked under the pressure. “And I’m going to get them.”

Ruth gave him a sharp look. “Don’t lose control. Not here. Not now.”

Seth shot her a dark glare. “I’m not the one who’s lost control. That was earlier tonight.”

“Enough,” Ruth snapped. “This isn’t the time for—”

“I know what time it is,” Seth interrupted, his voice low and dangerous. “And I’m going to find out who killed our mother. If you don’t like how I do it, stay out of my way.”

With that, Seth shoved the door open and stepped out into the night.

Ruth hesitated for a moment, then followed, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew Seth was furious—so was she—but the last thing they needed was more reckless action.

The two of them moved quickly toward the mansion, weaving through the officers and clan members who were scattered across the property.

Some of the vampires inclined their heads in respect, while others kept their distance, their eyes filled with wariness. No one wanted to get too close to Seth right now. His reputation for ruthlessness wasn’t just legend—it was a proven fact.

As they approached the front entrance, they were stopped by two uniformed officers. One of them, a stocky man with a stern expression, held up a hand. “I’m sorry, but this is an active crime scene. No one’s allowed inside except—”

“We live here,” Ruth interrupted, her voice icy. “And that was our mother. Step aside.”

The officer hesitated, glancing at his partner, who merely shrugged.

After a moment, the officer sighed and nodded, stepping out of their way. “Go ahead. But don’t touch anything.”

Seth brushed past the officers without a word, his shoulders tense.

Ruth followed close behind, her mind racing. She didn’t want to believe it—couldn’t believe it—but the moment she stepped inside, the reality of what had happened hit her like a tidal wave.

The once pristine foyer was now a scene of destruction. Furniture had been overturned, glass lay shattered across the marble floor, and the scent of blood hung thick in the air.

For a vampire, the smell was unmistakable, sharp and metallic, cutting through the other smells of wood polish and fresh paint.

Their father, Vincent Deluca, stood near the grand staircase, speaking in hushed tones with two other vampires from the clan.

His face was pale, his usual commanding presence diminished by the grief that clung to him like a shroud. When he saw Seth and Ruth approach, he dismissed the others with a wave of his hand and stepped toward them.

“Father,” Ruth said softly, her voice strained. “What happened? How did this—?”

Vincent shook his head, his eyes hollow. “I don’t know,” he said, his voice rough. “I came home and found her like this… She was already gone.”

Seth’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know? How could you not know?”

Vincent’s gaze hardened. “Don’t you dare accuse me of something, Seth. I’ve already lost your mother tonight. I won’t tolerate your disrespect.”

Seth took a step closer, his posture aggressive. “Disrespect? You’re the one who’s been sitting here, letting this happen. You’re the one who—”

“Stop it!” Ruth interjected, stepping between them. “This isn’t helping! We need to figure out who did this, not tear each other apart.”

But Seth wasn’t listening.

His eyes were locked on his father, and Ruth could see the suspicion brewing there.

The family business had always been a delicate balance of power, and with their mother gone, the scales had shifted. Elena had held a large share of the empire, and she had made no secret of her plans to will it to Seth. He had been her favorite, after all.

And now she was dead.

“Who else knew about her plans?” Seth demanded. “About the shares? The will?”

Vincent’s jaw tightened. “What are you suggesting?”

“I’m suggesting that someone wanted her out of the way,” Seth snarled. “And I’m wondering just who might have the most to gain from her death.”

Ruth’s heart pounded as she looked between her father and her brother.

The tension was suffocating. She couldn’t deny the thoughts racing through her own mind—the doubts, the questions. Their mother’s death was too convenient, too perfectly timed. And the Deluca family had no shortage of enemies, both within and outside the clan.

Before Vincent could respond, a voice cut through the air, calm and measured despite the chaos around them.

“I think that’s a question for all of us to consider.”

Seth turned sharply toward the source of the voice, his eyes narrowing.

Standing in the doorway was a woman in a dark trench coat, her blond hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were sharp, taking in every detail of the scene before her.

Sarah Bennett.

Seth’s breath caught in his throat for a moment, despite the intensity of the situation.

He had escaped her at the dock—heard stories about the detective who had been investigating the Deluca family’s business dealings for months. But seeing her at a close range was something else entirely.

She was beautiful, no doubt about that, but there was something more—a quiet strength that made her stand out even among the chaos.

“What are you doing here?” Seth asked, his voice sharper than he intended.

Sarah raised an eyebrow, unfazed by his tone. “Investigating a murder,” she said simply. “Same as you.”

Seth’s eyes flicked over her, sizing her up. She was calm, collected—a stark contrast to the storm of emotions roiling inside him. He could feel the tension between them, something unspoken yet undeniable. He didn’t trust her, not for a second, but there was something about her that intrigued him.

“We don’t need your help,” Vincent said coldly, stepping forward to address Sarah directly. “This is a family matter.”

Sarah met his gaze evenly. “I’m afraid it’s more than that now. With all due respect, Mr. Deluca, your wife was murdered, and that falls under my jurisdiction. I’m here to find out who’s responsible.”

Seth clenched his fists, fighting the urge to lash out.

He didn’t need the police involved—not now. This was a supernatural matter, something far beyond the reach of human law enforcement. But at the same time, he knew that Sarah wasn’t someone to be easily dismissed. She had a reputation for being relentless, for digging until she found the truth, no matter how deeply it was buried.

“Do you have any leads?” Ruth asked, her voice quieter now, her grief evident in her eyes.

Sarah’s gaze softened slightly as she looked at Ruth. “Nothing concrete yet,” she admitted. “But I have a few theories.”

Seth’s eyes narrowed. “Theories?”

Sarah glanced around the room, her expression thoughtful. “Your mother’s death doesn’t appear to be random. Whoever did this knew what they were doing. It was planned, targeted. But the question is... why?”

Seth took a step closer to Sarah, his voice low and dangerous. “And who do you think would want to kill her?”

Sarah met his gaze without flinching. “That’s what I’m here to find out.”

Ruth's phone vibrated in her pocket. She brought it out and took a close look at the screen. She just received a message from Brayen Foster.