Morning brought deceptive peace to Hartford mansion. I was in my private chamber, where vampire symbols carved into the walls gleamed, as if the heritage in my blood was speaking. Devil, William, Lucas, and Henry were with me, their strength fully restored. My father, Richard Hartford, had summoned me to Hartford Tower's boardroom. On the top floor, where Phoenix's skyscrapers and casino glitter were visible, Father sat before a digital screen. "Lucy, you defeated Charlie," he said, pride in his voice but with cold cunning beneath. "But Phoenix's business world is becoming more dangerous now." A map appeared on screen—Phoenix's underground mafia network. "These mafia families are targeting Blood Moon Resort. They're connected to Charlie."
I furrowed my brow. "Mafia? Charlie's with them?" Father nodded. "Charlie Brown isn't just a businessman. He's the head of Phoenix's biggest mafia syndicate, Desert Scorpion. Blood Moon is their new target—they want to control it, or destroy it." Devil placed his hand on my waist, his fingers cold but strong. "Lucy, this business war is now a mafia war." I asked, "And the temple scroll?" Father took a deep breath. "That scroll is your destiny, Lucy. But first, we must stop the mafia. Tonight there's a meeting—with Desert Scorpion's leaders, at a secret club. You'll go there."
That night, we were at a hidden club downtown Phoenix called 'Shadow Venom'. This was where business deals and mafia transactions happened, drowning in blood and whiskey. I wore a black gown, my four vampires behind me, deadly charm in their suits. The club held smoke, music, and the cold gazes of mafia leaders. Charlie was there, Damien beside him, and a new face—Viola, Desert Scorpion's queen, her eyes like a snake's. "Lucy Hartford," Viola said, her voice velvety but dangerous. "I've heard your story of becoming queen. But in Phoenix, there can only be one queen." I smiled, "Then you'll have to step down."
Charlie laughed, "Lucy, you shook my business, but the mafia? This is my game." He placed a contract on the table. "Give us 50% of Blood Moon's shares, or this club becomes your graveyard." Devil whispered in my ear, "He's bluffing." But I sensed dark magic in the air. Damien's eyes gleamed, and then the club's lights went out. Screams in darkness, and mafia thugs attacked us. Devil and William formed a wall before me, their speed and strength vampiric. Lucas and Henry grabbed thugs, broke their weapons. I looked at Viola, my eyes red. "Wrong move," I said, and grabbed her wrist, twisted it. She screamed, but Damien pushed me.
Then the temple's scent in the air—blood, dust, and magic. My mother's shadow emerged again. "Lucy, the scroll!" her voice echoed. I released Viola, and Devil threw Damien against the wall. I grabbed Charlie's collar, "Where's the scroll?" He laughed, "In the temple. But you'll never reach there." I pushed him, and we left the club. Toward the temple, into the desert. There, on the altar, was the scroll—red ink, ancient symbols. I opened it. "Lucy Hartford," Mother's shadow spoke, "your blood is royal. This scroll will make you Phoenix's true ruler—of business, mafia, and the vampire world. But you must perform a new ritual."
I read the scroll—a ritual requiring my blood, my four vampires' blood, and a promise. "No blood will be spilled," I said. Devil placed his hand on my shoulder, "We're with you." We began the ritual—my blood, their blood, on the altar. Light burst in the air, and the temple shook. Charlie, Damien, and Viola were outside, but they were now broken. "You've lost," I said. Charlie hung his head, "Lucy, you've won."
Charlie's voice was broken, defeat showing in his body collapsed on its knees. Damien and Viola were beside him, fear and desperation in their eyes. The temple's cold air carried the scent of blood and magic, and on the altar, drops of blood from me and my four vampires—Devil, William, Lucas, and Henry—still gleamed. I looked at Charlie, my eyes red, my hunger calm but my power uncontrolled. "You messed with the wrong person," I said in a cold voice. Then I turned to my vampires. "Devil, William, Lucas, Henry—eliminate these three forever. Not even their names should remain in Phoenix."
Devil's eyes gleamed, his smile dark. "As you command, queen." William transformed his nails into claws, Lucas and Henry nodded at each other. Charlie screamed, "Lucy, no! We've surrendered!" Viola tried to flee, but Lucas's speed threw her against the wall. Damien bared his teeth, but Henry read an ancient chant, and Damien's body froze in the air. Devil grabbed Charlie's throat, his teeth sinking into his neck. Blood flowed, but no scream—Charlie's end came instantly. William grabbed Viola, broke her neck, and her body turned to dust. Henry and Lucas surrounded Damien, their claws in his chest, and he too vanished, as if the temple swallowed him. No trace, no evidence. "Done," Devil said, his fingers soaked with blood. I nodded, the hunger inside me calm, but a new emptiness awakening.
I returned to Hartford Tower. Phoenix's streets gleamed, Blood Moon Resort's lights illuminating the city. I was in my office, flipping through pages of an ancient file—Hartford Empire's mafia connections that Father had hidden. Then my phone rang. Unknown number. I answered, and a cold, heavy voice came, "Lucy, your younger sister, Alice." The call disconnected. My heartbeat seemed to stop. Alice? My younger sister who vanished years ago when I was only 16. Father said she was dead, but I never believed it. Her face surfaced before my eyes—her laughter, her golden hair in the desert sun, and that night when she disappeared from my room. My breathing quickened, my nails dug into the desk. "Alice," I whispered, my eyes red. Who was that? And why did they mention Alice's name?
Devil entered, saw the color drain from my face. "Lucy, what happened?" I showed him the phone screen, my voice trembling. "Someone mentioned Alice. My sister." Devil's eyes narrowed. "This could be Mr. Don." I asked in shock, "Mr. Don?" William, standing at the door, spoke, "Phoenix's underworld king. He never shows himself, but his network is everywhere—mafia, drugs, weapons. Charlie worked for him." A storm rose in my mind. Alice's name? Mr. Don? Did he know my sister?
I closed the files. "We need to find him," I said, anger and fear in my voice. Lucas and Henry entered. "Mr. Don is a shadow," Henry said. "He's connected to the temple too. Perhaps he knows the prophecy." I slammed my fist on the table. "Alice is alive, and he knows her. I must go to the temple." Devil placed his hand on my shoulder, "Lucy, this could be a trap. Mr. Don controls Phoenix's underworld. He wants to destroy Blood Moon." I looked into his eyes, "Then we'll stop him. But first, Alice."
That night, we headed to the temple. The desert's cold wind carried the scent of blood. New symbols had emerged on the temple walls—ancient but strange. My mother's shadow was there. "Lucy, Mr. Don is part of the prophecy," she whispered. "He's holding your sister to control you." I asked, "Where is Alice?" The shadow faded, but a symbol emerged—a black scorpion. "Desert Scorpion," William said. "Mr. Don is their real leader."
In the temple was a new altar with a photo—Alice's. My heart pounded. "She's alive," I whispered. But then a cold laugh echoed in the air. "Lucy, you're too late," a voice came—Mr. Don. He wasn't visible, but his presence was everywhere. "Alice is with me. Abandon Blood Moon, or she dies." My eyes turned red, my hunger awakened again. "You can't even touch her," I roared. Devil placed his hand on my shoulder, "Lucy, we'll find her."