When Brandon stepped into the room, it was like the oxygen was vacuumed out. Luka seemed calm, of course. The bloody vampire plopped himself down on the black couch without a single care in the world. Unfortunately, Brandon wasn’t giving off the same impression. He towered over the other male with eyes ablaze with a fit of simmering anger. His jacket was gone; belatedly, Sophia realized she had the coat around her own shoulders. His once pristine black button-down was wrinkled, and the sleeves pushed up past his elbows. Neither male paid any attention to the girl still unmoving on the floor. 

“Hungry?” Luka gestured mindlessly to the floor. 

“No.” The word itself caused Sophia to flinch back with fear. What was she doing? She needed to get out of her as soon as possible. “What do you think you are doing?”

“Don’t be like that, Mattia. It isn’t that big of a deal. She is still breathing.”

“That isn’t the point,” Brandon or Mattia was it, snapped. “You know the rules. These rules have been established to ensure our safety, and yet here you are making a mockery of our family.”

Luka pushed himself forward, and for the first time, he showed emotion besides laidback ease. “I don’t know what you’re getting at. Dispose of her if you wish; I could care less.”

The tense moment that passed between them was nearly palpable. Sophia inched her way by towards the hallway as slowly and as quietly as she possibly could. Her heart was hammering in at her temple, and the cold sweat that formed on her palm was disheartening. She tried to gulp down air to her lungs, but the fear it would sound how to make a sound for these creatures to catch her by kept her from pulling in the oxygen she needed. Even though their forms were disappearing behind the wall, she could hear their voices echoing down the mostly empty hall. 

“What I am getting at,” each word out of Mattia’s mouth sounded clipped with pure disdain for Luka, “is that you’ve been caught one too many times. We have reports by the hundreds of your misdeeds- not to mention the large sum of money that has mysterious disappeared for our accounts offshore.”

“Uh- Mattia? You-u must be mistaken! I would never betray-” 

“Enough!” The words boomed, and it was enough to give Sophie that final push. She clasped her clammy hands over her mouth and took off towards the nearest window. She didn’t think too hard about her actions, only that she had to get away. It wasn’t until her bare feet touched the dewy grass that she realized she had left her friend behind. She wasn’t even sure if her actions were quiet enough to escape the vampire’s wrath, but she had to believe. There was a gate around this condo but not around the wooded area. So she would have to get clever. Run as far as her legs would push her and get something to help her friend… if there was a chance, she was alive still. But, no, she couldn’t think like that. 

She propelled herself into the dark woods with a racing mind. The blood that bubbled and pooled under her feet gave her a good idea. Vampires would follow her blood which meant her best chance at survival was a false trail- if she had enough time, that was. She prayed that was the case as she continued running through the heavy brush. 

This was just a shit night. If it wasn’t for the fact the patron of the family reached out to him personally, there would be no way in hell he would be caught in this place. Mattia could have sworn if he still had a blood pressure, it would be skyrocketed at this point. He felt the muscles strain in his neck from the tensing of his jaw as he glared down at the asshole Luka. He was clearly at too much ease around him, but that was undoubtedly about to change. 

“Enough!” 

His words were reaching him now. The single command caused the other vampire to visibly flinch back. His hands dropped from his face; his fingers were once fussing with the blood that was drying onto his delicate features. Typical narcissist asshole. 

“Luka, your time is up. Alessio sent me here himself to take care of you.”

The more petite man jolted forward on the couch with wide eyes. “You can’t mean that, Mattia! I have done nothing more than Alessio himself; why am I being punished?”

“You misunderstand, Fratello.” The taller man’s tone became much softer as he approached Luka’s couch. He reached a large hand towards his face. The moment his cold skin touched the other vampire’s cheek, Luka flinched back as if he was stuck. This caused a dangerous smirk to form on Mattia’s face. Fool, he thought, but he merely stroked his face with a feather-light touch. It seemed to ease his worries. 

The crack echoed loudly through the mostly empty room. The look of betrayal was plastered on Luka’s face. It was the final look he would ever give. “Your death was inevitable, you stupid fuck.” 

Mattia wiped his hands on the front of his form-fitting slacks just as a few other vampires entered the room. None of them seemed shocked at the body turning to an ashen pile at his feet. They knew his purpose was to end his friend’s life; he never disappointed the family. The killer turned away from his victim while pulling out his cell phone with a sigh. He started to punch in the number of Alessio when one of the lackeys spoke up. 

“Sir… What do you want me to do with the girl?”

He looked down at Eliza, who was bleeding out at his feet. He almost forgot about her- and her friend. Sophia, what an odd little girl. He could tell immediately she wasn’t supposed to be at the club. But, on the other hand, she seemed bright and warm; it was regrettable that he would have to kill her. Nevertheless, he didn’t feel guilty for using these two humans as bait to lower Luka’s guard. After all, he had been alive far too long to get attached to humans. 

“Kill her. And her friend- she should be out on the second-floor balcony.” He paused, “wait, she is expecting me. I will go ahead and clean up that mess. You take care of things in here.” 

The two lackeys nodded in understanding. By the time Mattia was heading up the stairs, he had heard the revolting snap of the girl’s neck. Truly a shame. He pushed slid open the balcony door to be greeted to an empty space, besides the girl’s shoes that were left behind. He narrowed his eyes and scanned the treeline in disbelief. There is no way she fell off the balcony. It wasn’t a fatal height, but it wasn’t one she would be able to walk away unscathed. And if she was hurt, he would smell her… blood. He didn’t realize his eyes shut as he took in the breeze, but once his senses picked up on that familiar iron scent, they snapped open with a start. 

Calm down, Mattia. It was barely any blood. There was still blood clinging to his hands even. Why would she run without her friend? Unless… He cursed out loud and stormed back into the house with a start. 

“Glenn! Natasha!” His voice bellowed through the halls. The moment they rushed him, he barked orders at them. “Find the little human girl who got away, or I will be snapping your necks next!”