Prologue :The Judges of the Night
The night was never truly empty. It was alive, breathing, and watching.
Deep within the old, sprawling mansions that stood proudly against the moonlight, the Bangkilan Clan continued their reign. They were the purest bloodline, the sinaunang lahi that had walked the earth longer than history could remember. They were feared, yes, but they were not mindless beasts.
They were the judges of the dark.
In the grand hall, bathed in shadows and candlelight, three women stood, representing the power and beauty of their kind.
Seraphina Salazar, the eldest, stood at the center. Dressed in blood-red silk, her curly black hair cascading like midnight, she exuded an aura of absolute authority. Her brown eyes held the coldness of centuries. She was the Heiress, the one born to lead, protect the traditions, and uphold their ancient law: We do not feed on the innocent. We feed on those who deserve to die.
Beside her stood Selene Villanueva, looking ethereal in her dark blue gown. With long brown hair and innocent olive eyes, she was the picture of grace and beauty. But looks could be deceiving. Behind her soft smile lay the mind of an enchantress, capable of lulling criminals into an eternal slumber. She was the calm before the storm, the silent whisper that pulled the wicked into the abyss.
And on the other side was Sabrina Valdez, fierce and unyielding in her emerald green dress. Her long straight hair framed a face of perfect beauty, but her dark brown eyes burned with intensity. She was the warrior, the protector, swift and deadly. Where Seraphina commanded with power and Selene seduced with charm, Sabrina was the hand of justice, striking down those who thought they could escape the law.
They were cousins, bound by blood, by power, and by the sacred vow that made them immortal.
"The world calls us monsters," Seraphina spoke, her voice smooth yet sharp, echoing in the silent room. "But we are the ones who keep the balance. While humans fail to punish the guilty... we do what they cannot."
"We are the darkness that comes for the wicked," Selene added softly, her voice like music. "Murderers, abusers, thieves... they think they are safe in the shadows. They do not know that we are the shadow."
"And when we find them," Sabrina smirked dangerously, her eyes flashing, "they become our feast. They pay for their sins with their lives."
Seraphina looked at her cousins, feeling the weight of her responsibility. For hundreds of years, their life had been simple: Judge. Hunt. Purge.
But tonight, as the wind howled outside, Seraphina felt a strange shift in the air. A premonition.
Something was coming.
Or rather... someone was coming.
Samuel De Vera. A human historian who was obsessed with uncovering the secrets of the old families. He was good, honest, and innocent—exactly the kind of human they were sworn to protect.
Seraphina closed her eyes, letting the shadows wrap around her like a cloak.
"Let him come," she thought coldly. "He seeks the truth? Let him see it. He is not our prey... but he is still dangerous to our kind. In the end, he will be nothing but another plaything... another secret to be buried."
She did not know then that this human would not just threaten their secrecy...
He would threaten the iron wall around her heart.
The night was still.
But the game had just begun.
