The tea Rena brewed was still steaming when the first sound came.
A faint scratching—like nails dragging across glass—echoed from the window.
Everyone froze.
Celene's hand went to the hilt of her sword in an instant. "That's not the wind."
Tusiko moved toward the window slowly, her steps soundless. "Don't get too close," she warned, eyes narrowing at the darkness outside. The scratching stopped… then, just as suddenly, came a low, guttural laugh that made the hairs on Airi's neck stand up.
"Move back!" Lys hissed, pushing Airi toward the far wall. She positioned herself between her and the window without hesitation.
The glass shattered.
A blur of movement burst through in a shower of shards, landing in the middle of the room with inhuman grace. The rogue vampire was tall, lean, and radiated a suffocating aura that made the air feel heavier with every breath.
"Well, well," the vampire purred, its voice like smoke. "The one with the awakened charm… and her little protectors. How convenient."
Celene drew her sword in a fluid motion. "You'll regret stepping foot in here."
The vampire smiled, fangs glinting. "I doubt that."
Before Airi could react, the fight erupted. Celene's blade flashed, forcing the intruder back a step. Lys moved in from the side, fists wrapped in glowing light as she struck at the vampire's ribs. Tusiko darted behind the enemy, her dagger aimed for a vital spot, while Rena began weaving a barrier spell around Airi.
The vampire was fast—faster than any of them expected. It twisted away from Tusiko's blade, blocked Lys's punch with one hand, and shoved Celene back with surprising force.
"Pathetic," the vampire sneered. "Do you think you can keep her from me?"
Airi's heartbeat thundered in her ears. The rogue vampire's gaze locked on her, and she felt something strange—like invisible threads pulling at her will. She staggered back, gripping the edge of the desk for support.
"Airi!" Rena's voice snapped her back. "Don't look at its eyes!"
The others kept pressing the attack. Celene slashed low, forcing the vampire to leap back just in time for Lys to launch an uppercut that grazed its chin. Tusiko took the chance to throw a small vial at its feet—when it shattered, a burst of pale smoke hissed upward, making the vampire recoil with a snarl.
"That's vampirebane," Tusiko said coldly. "You won't be walking out of here easily."
But the rogue vampire only laughed, even as it hissed in pain. "You think this is over? I only need one moment… one touch…"
It feinted toward Celene, then lunged at Airi with blinding speed—only for Rena's barrier to flare, shoving it back like a wall of solid light.
"Not so fast," Rena said sweetly, but her eyes were hard.
The vampire hissed, clearly irritated now. "Very well. I'll take her another night."
With unnatural agility, it leapt backward through the shattered window and vanished into the shadows outside.
The room fell silent except for the sound of heavy breathing.
"Is everyone okay?" Airi asked, her voice trembling.
Celene sheathed her sword slowly. "For now. But this isn't the end."
Lys cracked her knuckles. "Next time, I'll put it down for good."
Tusiko started cleaning the remnants of her broken vial from the floor, her tone calm but tight. "We need better security. That thing was toying with us."
Rena sighed, collapsing onto the bed with a dramatic flop. "And here I thought we'd get a quiet night in."
Airi sank into the nearest chair, her hands still shaking. The pull she'd felt from the vampire's gaze lingered in her mind, an unsettling reminder that the charm awakening might be more dangerous than she realized.
One thing was certain—this was no longer just a rumor or a distant threat. The enemy knew where she was, and it wouldn't stop until it got what it wanted.
And the thought of what it wanted made her stomach twist.