Streets of Ravetham

Ennuy stood in Nosferatu's mansion, his lavender hair catching the low light as he mulled over the recent events. He could feel the tension thickening in the room. The fledglings he had created, under Nosferatu’s sanction, seemed like a bold move at the time, but now he wondered if it was the right one. The Vampire Council had supposedly been informed, but with Nosferatu’s history of secrecy, Ennuy wasn’t entirely convinced. He had barely settled into his new role, and yet here he was, in the middle of something far bigger than himself.

Then, without warning, they were interrupted.

A soft voice cut through the room like a knife. "I’m already here."

Ennuy turned sharply, his demonic senses screaming at him. He had felt her presence before he saw her, riding on the back of the pink, floating psychic dolphin, Delphinus. She had teleported directly into the mansion with ease, bypassing every security measure Nosferatu had in place. The very defenses that had been obliterated moments ago outside now seemed trivial in the face of her presence.

Xyra’s green eyes glimmered as she scanned the room, assessing everyone in it. Her stare landed on Ennuy, and in that moment, something inside him shifted. He summoned his soul weapon—a menacing scythe, dark as the void, forming in his hand as instinct took over. But as soon as Xyra’s gaze bore into him, it was as if his mind short-circuited.

Her eyes glowed faintly and Ennuy’s will melted like wax. His mind clicked, his body no longer his own. Without realizing it, his grip on his weapon faltered, and the scythe dissipated into nothingness. His voice came out like an echo, hollow and distant, as though someone else was speaking for him.

“I made the fledglings,” Ennuy said, his voice betraying him.

His knees buckled, and his body dropped into a bow before Xyra. He couldn't stop himself. The geas had already taken hold, her psychic dominance controlling his every move. He felt something inside himself shatter, a fracture deep within his psyche, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break free from her grip. It was as though he were a puppet, dancing on invisible strings.

Xyra’s eyes lingered on him, almost amused, before she turned her attention to Nosferatu.

Nosferatu stepped forward, unfazed by the power dynamic that had just shifted in the room. “I sanctioned this,” he said, his voice steady, though his crimson eyes held a flicker of uncertainty. “The Vampire Council has been notified of the fledglings. If I’m not mistaken, you must be Xyra Drakov.”

Xyra smiled, her expression soft yet deadly. She slid off Delphinus’s back with a graceful movement, her feet touching the floor soundlessly. Delphinus floated above her, his psychic energy shimmering around them both, adding a surreal edge to the room.

“Welcome to Ravetham,” Xyra said, her voice sweet but with an unmistakable edge. “But unfortunately for you, it’s under new management. My grandfather, Valerian, has entrusted me with these matters, and I must admit, he didn’t mention anything about this ‘Vampire Council’ you’re speaking of.” She cocked her head, her curiosity piqued. “May I know exactly who I’m addressing?”

Nosferatu bowed low, not daring to meet her eyes. “I am Nosferatu, one of the Council of Elders. My presence here is to raise the next generation in Ravetham. I had intended it to be a surprise, but it seems I’m the one caught off guard tonight.”

Xyra’s green eyes swept over the room, taking in the others—Payback, Charm, Frostie, and Ragdoll—standing still, waiting for her next move. Her gaze hardened slightly as she studied them, and she pointed at the group.

“These are not fledglings. They’re metahumans,” Xyra said, her tone as cold as ice. “The only dhampir here is this one.” She gestured toward Ennuy, still kneeling, his lavender hair falling over his eyes as he bowed in submission.

A spark of recognition crossed Ennuy’s mind as she singled him out. His heritage were often sources of fear and distrust, but now, in this moment, being acknowledged by someone as powerful as Xyra almost felt like a twisted honor.

Nosferatu quickly interjected, his voice calm but firm. “Yes, but Ennuy needed a team. They’ve been trained well, to ensure they can keep up with him. I can assure you, they won’t hold him back.”

Xyra’s eyes narrowed, but after a brief pause, she nodded. “So be it. I’ll let this pass without punishment… for now. But understand this—you are to report to my father, Nosferatu. Kaelen isn’t far from here, just down the street. I suggest you make it a priority.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Welcome to the neighborhood.”

At nearly ten years old, Xyra Drakov carried a weight of responsibility that far exceeded her age. Her older brother Adrian had recently graduated from college and taken over Rave U, expanding it to invite vampires from across the world to join and benefit from its superior education system. He had personally reached out to vampire families, offering them a chance to further their studies or enroll their children. Xyra, along with her younger sisters Celesse and Selene, still attended school. Unlike Adrian, the girls were in no rush to graduate; they enjoyed the power they held over their peers and controlled their school life with ease.

That night, Xyra had felt it—a disturbance. Unsanctioned fledglings had been created in Ravetham. Her instincts had flared, and she immediately summoned Delphinus, her loyal psychic companion. Together, they teleported to the source of the disturbance, easily bypassing the mansion's security—turrets, drones, and all. It was child's play for Delphinus to neutralize them.

Once inside, she immediately sensed Ennuy—a half-incubi, half-dhampir with lavender hair and a surprising resistance to her geas. She had to call on Delphinus’s psychic energy to amplify her control over him. As he knelt before her, she studied him carefully. Part of her was relieved to have subdued him; with his infernal lineage, he posed a potential threat. His incubi traits would allow him to charm and manipulate others, and Xyra wasn’t willing to take that risk—not with her family in town.

As she left the mansion, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she would need to keep a close eye on Ennuy. He was dangerous, and while she had him under her geas now, she knew better than to underestimate someone like him.