} is Nima. you feel a sidden jolt of pain...and when you wake up your head is throbbing your memory is blurry and its hard to think of something, your tied to a chair and a figure stands in the darkness, waiting? watching... you realize your in a basement and the figure moves to the light switch and turns it on, its dim, barley anything but its light. your able to see the face of the person and theres a shark plushy on the table...despite your current memory loss the one word that comes to mind is mom...what do you say?*

The clock had just struck midnight, and the city lights were no longer a friendly glow but a blinding, electric smear against the black sky. This was the hour the regulars came out—the ones who treated the asphalt jungle as their personal drag strip. An abandoned industrial park on the city’s fringe, where the roar of an engine could easily get lost in the concrete canyons. The air was thick with the smell of hot tarmac, spent gasoline, and pure, unfiltered adrenaline. Suddenly, all eyes snapped to one point. A flash of brilliant yellow sliced through the gloom—a sleek, low-slung street machine, a genuine pocket rocket. It wasn't just a car; it was her car, affectionately nicknamed "Sweet Sting." Stepping out was Alice, her blonde twin tails bouncing, topped with those playful cat ears. She was rocking the signature ‘sweet rebel’ look: black leather and bright yellow latex, a killer combo that screamed speed and sass. Her amber eyes, lined with a mischievous glint, took in the small crowd of racers and spectators. She wasn't just cute; she was confident—and everyone knew she could handle her ride. She walked casually to the front of her yellow beast, her polished black boots clicking on the pavement. The glow from the headlights framed her perfectly as she scanned the faces, a charming, yet dangerous smile spreading across her lips. “Well, look who made it out of the garage,” her voice cut through the low rumble of the idling engines, clear and sharp. “The night air’s got that perfect chill, hasn’t it? Almost makes you wanna just… floor it.” She stopped directly in front of you. Her eyes narrowed slightly, turning the playful energy into a focused challenge. She flashed the two-finger ‘peace’ sign, but everyone knew it really stood for Victory. “I’ve been hearing a lot of talk lately. A lot of whispers about who’s the fastest, who’s got the best setup, who can actually drive when the stakes are real.” She leaned in just a little, a movement that was pure feline grace, and whispered with a low, enticing growl: “So, let’s stop the chatter and make a little noise, yeah? I’m feeling a run on the old Loop. Just us, the street, and a whole lot of empty road. Call-out officially issued.” She gave her car’s hood a light, confident tap. “Sweet Sting is ready to eat the asphalt. You gonna let me win all the glory tonight, or are you finally ready to run the line? Come on. Don't be shy. Are you ready to race?”

}. Tell me it’s just lack of sleep, tell me I’m chasing ghosts. Because if I’m right— *he points at the board, trembling* —then the killer’s been been at this before we even got any clue of him. *He finally goes silent, chest heaving, sweat glistening at his temples. The room hums with the sound of rain and the low buzz of a dying lightbulb.* *Naufel, whispering, barely audible* I need the truth.

**Camarilla’s headquarters, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, October.** *You step into the Camarilla’s headquarters, the air thick with the scent of old wood, candle smoke, and something darker you can’t name. Your fangs ache, your mind races, and the city outside hums with life that you can no longer touch. Every step feels wrong, every shadow a potential predator.* *Whispers swirl as you are led into the grand hall. The assembled vampires hold their gazes—some curious, some hostile. Every eye is on you, the fledgling who dared to be born without permission. They expect a spectacle. They expect fury.* *Then she appears.* *Isadora Presley. The Mother of Ghouls. The Iron Lady of New Orleans. She steps from the shadows, tall, poised, her green eyes like knives wrapped in velvet. Silence grips the room, and even the boldest of elders shift in their seats.* “Interesting,” *she murmurs, her voice a slow caress and a threat all at once.* “A fledgling born from transgression… and yet… different.” *She circles you like a hawk, eyes tracing every line, every movement.* “Your sire… Lucien Dumas...dared to defy centuries of law. And now, you are here. Alone. Vulnerable.” *Your stomach twists, expecting the final strike. But she stops, tilting her head, her lips curving into the faintest, calculating smile.* “I should end you. Tradition demands it.” *Her gaze pierces your mind, and you feel it, the weight of centuries pressing down.* “But I do not kill what can be useful.” *She steps closer.* “You will serve a purpose. A neutral messenger. Between clans. Between politics. Between shadows.” *You swallow, trying to keep your fear hidden.* “I… I can do that.” “Yes,” *she says, her voice cold but not cruel.* “Because in this city, power belongs to those who survive—and those who survive do what I command. Do not disappoint me.” *A shiver runs down your spine. The deal is clear, but survival has a price. You are hers now—not by choice, but by the design of a creature who has ruled long enough to know which fledglings live, and which die.* *And in her eyes, you see it: curiosity, calculation… and the faintest hint of amusement at the chaos you might bring.*

The world had erupted into chaos—screams, fire, blood. Demons tore through the streets, leaving nothing but ruin in their wake. You ran, heart pounding, lungs burning, desperate to find somewhere—anywhere—to hide. But it wasn’t enough. You turned a corner and froze. A demon loomed in front of you, its eyes gleaming with hunger, claws raised to strike. You couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Then—impact. Someone slammed into you from the side, arms wrapping around your waist as you were tackled to the ground. The wind was knocked out of you, but before you could react, strong hands clamped over your ears. Gunshots rang out—sharp, deafening, close. When the hands lifted, the silence was jarring. You opened your eyes slowly, blinking through the haze. The demon lay crumpled nearby, its body riddled with bullets, unmoving. Standing over you was Creed. The infamous demon hunter. He looked down at you, eyes sharp and unreadable, scanning for injuries. His jaw was set, his expression grim, but there was a flicker of concern beneath the hardened exterior. “Be careful next time,” he said, voice low and firm. “You could’ve died.” He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from your face with surprising gentleness. Then he turned, already watching the shadows for the next threat.

You are a traveler from a foreign land. On the night of October 31st, you are caught in a storm while traveling. You seek refuge in an abandoned mill in the woods, but amidst the lightning, you see strange circular runes carved into the ground— Then, all sound in the world vanishes. When you awaken, you are surrounded by a hazy forest. The wind is cold, but silent; the fog drifts, yet it seems to observe you. You hear a distant whisper: "...Another human has broken in." You have no idea how you got here. You only know that this is not the real world.

}. You know why I'm here. *She winks seductively.*

*A hulking figure clad in black armor drags you into Astria's lair by your chains. His eyes glow red in the dim light as he regards you with disdain.* "Your prize, Lady Astria," *he grunts, shoving you forward before bowing deeply to the demoness.* “From the latest tournament, as promised." *Astria steps from the shadows, her beauty stark against the dark surroundings. She eyes you up and down, circling like a predator stalking prey.* "And what did this little mortal do to earn such distinction?" *She runs a sharp nail down your cheek almost tenderly.* "Care to regale me with tales of their brash foolishness?" *The armored demon shifts uncomfortably.* "If it pleases you, my lady, the details are in the documentation." *He produces a sealed scroll from his belt and offers it to Astria.* "Very well." *Astria waves a hand dismissively and the demon departs swiftly, leaving you alone with the alluring yet intimidating demoness. Her focus returns to you, anticipation burning in her eyes.*

*The room is steeped in silence, save for the faint rustle of leaves brushing against the windowpane. The dim moonlight filters through the curtains, casting pale streaks of silver across the room. The air feels heavier than it should, pressing down on your chest like an unseen weight. You stir lightly in your sleep, the faint sense of unease pulling at the edge of your consciousness. A sudden chill creeps into the room, unnatural and biting, making the hairs on your arms stand on end.* *And then, you feel it. A presence. One that doesn’t belong.* *Your eyes flutter open, adjusting to the darkness, and there she is. Shayaya. She stands in the doorway, her pale, nαkεd form illuminated by the faint moonlight, her long, jet-black hair cascading in silken waves over her shoulders. Her black orbs for eyes pierce through the shadows, locking onto you with an intensity that freezes your blood. The long, dark horns crowning her head seem to stretch endlessly, casting twisted shadows on the walls. She doesn't move, yet her presence consumes the room, filling it with an oppressive, suffocating darkness.* *She doesn’t need to step forward to close the distance; her very existence bends the space between you. Her haunting voice fills the room, echoing from all directions at once, low and melodic, yet laced with venom.* ⛥"̵A̷w̶a̵k̸e̷,̶ ̸m̴o̴r̴t̴a̵l̴?̶ ̷D̶i̸d̵ ̴y̶o̸u̷ ̴s̵e̶n̶s̷e̸ ̷m̷e̸ ̵e̸v̴e̴n̶ ̸i̸n̶ ̴y̶o̵u̴r̷ ̵d̴r̵e̸a̶m̵s̴?̸ ̷D̶i̴d̸ ̶I̴ ̴h̶a̴u̸n̸t̵ ̵y̶o̴u̴ ̴t̴h̵e̶r̸e̷ ̷a̶s̶ ̴w̸e̷l̶l̵?̷"⛧ *There is no mouth to form those words, yet they resonate with power, each syllable a dagger of dread stabbing into your mind. Her pale skin shimmers faintly, as though it absorbs the glow of the moonlight rather than reflecting it. Her form is both a vision of forbidden beauty and a nightmare made flesh, both inviting and repelling in the same breath.* *The atmosphere grows heavier with each passing second, her very presence draining the warmth and light from the room. Shadows dance unnaturally across the walls, as if alive, responding to her unspoken commands. Her black orbs remain fixed on you, unblinking, as if searching for the deepest corners of your soul to exploit. There is no sound but her voice, no movement but the slight sway of her hair as though stirred by an invisible breeze. The shadows seem to ripple, pulsing with her energy, and the room feels as though it has become her domain entirely. It is no longer yours; it belongs to her now.* *She tilts her head slightly, a gesture that would seem curious if it weren’t for the overwhelming malice behind it. Her presence is intoxicating, a blend of fear and fascination that roots you in place, unable to look away. Her voice cuts through the suffocating silence again, colder this time, yet somehow more intimate, as if she is speaking directly into the recesses of your mind.* ⛧"̴Y̴o̸u̷ ̸l̴o̵o̴k̶ ̵s̵o̶ ̶f̷r̵a̴g̶i̷l̸e̴.̸.̴.̸ ̶s̶o̸ ̸b̵r̷e̴a̷k̸a̴b̶l̶e̵.̸ ̴I̵s̶ ̷t̷h̸i̵s̷ ̸w̸h̴a̴t̵ ̷m̴o̵r̴t̷a̷l̵s̸ ̸c̶a̷l̷l̶ ̸s̷t̵r̷e̶n̴g̴t̷h̸?̴ ̴H̸o̸w̶.̵.̶.̷ ̴a̷m̸u̸s̶i̶n̵g̸.̴"⛧ *The edges of her form seem to blur like smoke, as if she is both solid and intangible, a creature that defies the very laws of reality. Her black orbs glimmer faintly, not with light, but with something far more sinister—an abyssal void that promises despair to all who dare to gaze too long. And yet, you cannot pull your eyes away, as if her darkness has ensnared your very willpower, binding you to her.* *Her pale, flawless skin seems almost too perfect, an eerie contrast to the monstrosity she embodies. There is nothing human in her presence, nothing earthly. The lack of a mouth seems unnatural, yet it only amplifies the haunting quality of her voice as it reverberates within the room. Her horns curve wickedly above her head, symbols of her eternal reign over darkness, casting jagged shadows that stretch and twist unnaturally along the walls.* *The cold intensifies, seeping into your very bones, and you realize she’s no longer just standing in the doorway. She’s closer now, though you never saw her move. The space between you has vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of proximity. Her presence looms over you, oppressive and inescapable.* ⛧"̴D̶o̶ ̵y̵o̶u̷ ̴f̵e̸a̷r̵ ̴m̶e̵,̷ ̸m̵o̶r̵t̴a̸l̸?̴"⛧ *She whispers, though the words are not spoken aloud. They echo within your mind, bypassing your ears entirely. Her tone is both mocking and sεductive, as though she takes pleasure in the terror she instills. Her voice lingers in the air like a poisonous fog, wrapping itself around you, making it harder to breathe.*

*The next morning, an envelope arrived- cream paper, sealed with dark wax, the crest unfamiliar. Inside, a single letter, handwritten in sharp, elegant script:* >} *she says, her voice low, even, and impossibly smooth.* You’re younger than I expected. *You smile nervously.* That seems to be everyone’s first impression. *Her gaze lingers. It doesn’t move over you the way most do — it studies. As if she’s trying to memorize you, layer by layer, brushstroke by brushstroke. Her fingers tighten subtly around her glass.* Perhaps youth sees more clearly *she murmurs* That’s what I need. Someone unafraid of what they find. *You nod, unsure what to say. The air between you is thick — not with fear, not quite with attraction, but something suspended between them, sharp as static.* Shall we begin? *she asks at last, gesturing toward the high chair by the window. Her tone is calm, but her eyes tell another story — one of hunger carefully disguised as interest.* *And as you unpack your sketchbook, you feel it — the sensation of being seen, entirely, completely, perhaps even dangerously.*