The Council chamber doors opened.
Silence fell like a guillotine blade.
Councilor Zhang led the five Elders back to their seats, their faces unreadable. Behind them, Hayes stood with barely contained satisfaction. Mae Siri gripped her staff tightly. Karan held his breath.
Through the bond, Arav felt Kayen's terror—a thousand years of existence, and he'd never been this afraid.
*Whatever happens,* Arav thought to him, *I don't regret us.*
*I love you,* Kayen replied. *In this life and every one after.*
Councilor Zhang stood, a scroll of parchment in her hands—ancient vampire custom, written verdicts on physical material that couldn't be magically altered.
"The Council has deliberated," she announced, her voice echoing. "We have reviewed the evidence, heard testimonies, and consulted ancient precedents. We will now deliver our verdict."
She unrolled the scroll.
"On the charge of unlawful violence against humans: We find Arav Kumar... NOT GUILTY."
Gasps erupted. Hayes's face went purple with rage.
"WHAT?" he shouted. "You saw the evidence—"
"Silence!" Councilor Zhang's power rippled outward, forcing Hayes back into his seat. "The evidence showed self-defense. Commander Hayes, your organization attacked first. Destroyed property. Attempted kidnapping. Under the Bangkok Accord, supernatural beings have the right to defend themselves from unlawful aggression."
She continued reading. "However, on the charge of bond manipulation through unauthorized blood marking, we find Kayen of Thailand... GUILTY."
Arav's world tilted. Through the bond, Kayen's acceptance washed over him—he'd expected this.
"No," Arav whispered. "No, he didn't—"
"The blood marking occurred without consent," Councilor Zhang continued. "This violates Accord provisions protecting human agency. Regardless of later consent or genuine affection, the initial act was a violation."
"What's the punishment?" Kayen asked, his voice steady despite the fear radiating through their bond.
Councilor Zhang's expression was grave. "Normally, unauthorized marking carries a sentence of fifty years imprisonment or termination of the bond through magical severance."
"No!" Arav shouted, surging forward. Jin and Preeda held him back. "You can't separate us—the bond is complete, it'll kill us both—"
"We are aware," Councilor Zhang said. "Which presents a unique problem. The bond cannot be severed without killing you both. Imprisonment would be torture for bonded pairs—the separation would drive you both insane within weeks."
"Then what?" Kayen demanded.
"The Council proposes an alternative sentence," Councilor Zhang said. "Community service."
The chamber erupted in confused murmurs.
"Community service?" Hayes sputtered. "For bond manipulation? That's absurd—"
"One hundred years," Councilor Zhang spoke over him, "of service to the supernatural community. You will act as enforcers of the Accord. Hunting actual rogue vampires. Protecting innocent supernatural beings from human hunters who operate outside the law." She looked directly at Hayes. "Including investigating and prosecuting hunters who violate the treaty."
Hayes went pale.
"You'll hunt your own kind?" he asked Arav.
"I'll hunt criminals," Arav corrected. "Human or supernatural. Anyone who murders innocents." He looked back at the Council. "We accept."
"Hold on," Kayen interjected. "A hundred years is longer than most vampire sentences—"
"You marked a convergence bloodline without consent," Councilor Zhang said sharply. "The most valuable supernatural asset born in a millennium. You're lucky we're not demanding execution. One hundred years service, or we find another punishment. Choose."
Through the bond, they made the decision together in a heartbeat.
"We accept," they said in unison.
"Good," Councilor Zhang rolled up the scroll. "You will report to Councilor Tanaka in Tokyo next month to receive your first assignment. Until then, you're free to go."
"Wait," Hayes stood again. "That's it? He gets away with—"
"Commander Hayes," Councilor Zhang's voice turned to ice. "This Council has also been reviewing YOUR activities. We have evidence—provided by Karan Suwan—that your organization has killed seventeen supernatural beings in the past year alone. Beings who violated no laws. Beings who were simply... inconvenient to your crusade."
Hayes's face drained of color.
"Furthermore," the werewolf patriarch on the Council spoke for the first time, his voice a rumbling growl, "you destroyed the property of Mae Siri, a respected elder witch. You organized an illegal ambush at a civilian airfield. You violated treaty provisions at least eight times in the past week alone."
"We were protecting humanity—" Hayes tried.
"You were committing murder," the ancient witch on the Council said coldly. "And now you will face consequences. Commander Hayes, you are hereby stripped of your authorization to operate in Southeast Asia. Your organization is banned from these territories. If you or any of your operatives are found here again, you will be arrested and tried under supernatural law."
"You can't do this!" Hayes shouted. "We have government backing—"
"Had," Councilor Zhang corrected. "We've already contacted the relevant authorities. Your crimes have been documented. Your funding is being frozen. Your operations... shut down."
Hayes looked around desperately, realizing he'd lost. His hunters in the audience were being quietly escorted out by Council guards.
"This isn't over," he hissed, looking at Arav. "I'll find a way. I'll expose all of you. The world will know—"
"The world won't believe you," Seraphina said lazily from her seat. "Three thousand years, Commander. I've outlasted countless crusaders, inquisitors, and fanatics just like you. You're not special. You're not even interesting."
Hayes's hand went to his weapon, but vampire guards were already surrounding him.
"Escort Commander Hayes out," Councilor Zhang ordered. "And inform his government that the Accord stands. Any further violations will be met with... extreme prejudice."
As Hayes was dragged away, still shouting threats, the tension in the chamber finally broke.
"This hearing is concluded," Councilor Zhang announced. "Arav Kumar and Kayen of Thailand, you are free to leave. Remember—one hundred years of service. Don't make us regret this mercy."
The chamber began to empty. Supernatural beings filed out, gossiping about the unprecedented verdict.
Arav stood there, stunned. They'd survived. Not just survived—won.
Through the bond, Kayen's relief and disbelief mirrored his own.
"We're alive," Arav whispered.
"We're together," Kayen added, pulling him into a fierce embrace.
Mae Siri approached, leaning heavily on her staff. "Congratulations. Though a hundred years of hunting rogues isn't exactly a vacation."
"It beats death," Arav said, smiling through blood tears.
"Or separation," Kayen added.
Karan appeared, looking exhausted but satisfied. "Your family's archives saved the day," he told them. "All those documented kills, all that evidence of Hayes's crimes. I spent two days scanning everything."
"Thank you," Arav said sincerely. "For everything. For saving us."
"Don't thank me yet," Karan said with a weak smile. "My family disowned me this morning. When they found out I helped vampires, provided evidence against Hayes..." He shrugged. "I'm homeless and penniless."
"You can stay with us," Arav said immediately. Then paused. "Well, wherever 'us' ends up being. My visa is revoked, so..."
"About that," Mae Siri interjected. "The Council's ruling includes supernatural citizenship. You're now officially recognized as residents of the supernatural community. No human visa required. You can live anywhere that recognizes the Accord."
"So... anywhere?" Kayen asked.
"Anywhere," Mae Siri confirmed.
Before they could celebrate, Seraphina appeared beside them, moving with that unnerving ancient vampire speed.
"Congratulations on your freedom," she said sweetly. "Now, about that life debt."
Arav's stomach dropped. "The Vatican heist."
"Indeed," Seraphina smiled. "You have four weeks to prepare. I'll provide you with everything you need—maps, intelligence, equipment. But Arav, Kayen—understand this: the Vatican is the most dangerous place on Earth for vampires. Even with your divine blood, the risk is enormous."
"Why is this Crown so important to you?" Arav asked.
Seraphina's expression turned distant, almost vulnerable. "Because two thousand years ago, I wore it. I was immune to everything—sunlight, holy water, blessed weapons. I was truly free. Then the Catholic Inquisition stole it during the purges. They've kept it locked in their vaults ever since, using it as leverage against vampire kind."
"So this is revenge?" Kayen asked.
"This is justice," Seraphina corrected. "And you're going to help me get it. Four weeks. Don't disappoint me."
She vanished, leaving them with the weight of impossible task ahead.
"The Vatican," Karan said faintly. "You're seriously going to rob the Vatican."
"We don't have a choice," Arav said. But through the bond, an idea was forming. "Unless..."
"Unless what?" Kayen asked.
"Unless we find a way to make it a trade," Arav said slowly. "The Church took the Crown during the purges, right? When they were killing vampires indiscriminately. What if we could prove it was stolen property? Get them to return it voluntarily?"
"The Vatican doesn't negotiate with vampires," Mae Siri said.
"But they might negotiate with a convergence bloodline who has divine blood," Arav pointed out. "I can walk on holy ground. Touch consecrated objects. I'm not just a vampire—I'm part divine. Maybe that gives us leverage."
Kayen looked at him with newfound admiration. "You want to diplomacy our way into the Vatican instead of stealing?"
"It's worth trying," Arav said. "Worst case, we fall back on the heist plan. Best case, we avoid starting a war between vampires and the Catholic Church."
"I like how you think," Seraphina's voice echoed from nowhere—she was still listening somehow. "But you'll need more than pretty words. You'll need proof of the Crown's origins. Historical evidence. And you'll need a miracle to get an audience with the Vatican."
"Then we'll find proof," Arav said determinedly. "Mae Siri, you said you're an elder witch. Do you have access to historical archives?"
"Some," Mae Siri said thoughtfully. "And I know witches in Europe who might have more. The Crown's theft was documented—we just need to dig deep enough."
"I'll help," Karan volunteered. "I've got nothing but time now. And my family's hunter archives might have information about the purges."
"Then we have a plan," Arav said. "Four weeks to research, prepare, and attempt diplomacy. If that fails, we steal it."
Through the bond, Kayen felt both pride and fear. *You're either brilliant or insane.*
*Maybe both,* Arav thought back.
As they left the Council chamber, walking out into Singapore's humid afternoon, Arav's phone buzzed.
Unknown number. Against his better judgment, he answered.
"Hello?"
Heavy breathing. Then a voice—young, female, familiar.
"Bhaiya?"
Arav's heart stopped. "Priya?"
His sister. His baby sister who he hadn't spoken to since his mother's rejection.
"Don't hang up," she said quickly. "Mom doesn't know I'm calling. She'd kill me if she knew."
"Priya, I—"
"I saw the news," she interrupted. "About the trial. About you being declared innocent. And bhaiya, I've been thinking... Mom said you're a monster now. That you're not my brother anymore."
Arav felt tears forming. "Priya—"
"But you sounded like you at that trial," she continued, her voice breaking. "You sounded exactly like my brother. The one who taught me to ride a bike. Who helped me with homework. Who promised to always protect me." A pause. "Are you really a monster, bhaiya?"
Through the bond, Kayen felt Arav's heart breaking and reforming simultaneously.
"I'm different now," Arav said carefully. "I have powers I didn't before. I'm bonded to someone Mom wouldn't approve of. But Priya... I'm still me. Still your brother. Still the person who loves you more than anything."
Silence. Then: "Can I meet him? Your... bonded person? The vampire?"
Arav looked at Kayen, who nodded immediately.
"Yes," Arav said. "Anytime you want."
"Not in India," Priya said quickly. "Mom watches everything here. But maybe... maybe I could visit Thailand? Or Singapore? I'm eighteen now. Legally an adult. She can't stop me."
"Are you sure?" Arav asked. "If Mom finds out—"
"I don't care," Priya said fiercely. "You're my brother. Monster or not, human or vampire, you're my brother. And I'm not losing you because Mom is too stubborn to see that love isn't something to punish."
Arav was openly crying now—blood tears streaming down his face. "I love you, Priya. So much."
"I love you too, bhaiya," she said. "Send me your address. I'll visit soon. And bhaiya? I'm proud of you. For choosing love. For being brave enough to be yourself."
She hung up.
Arav stood there, phone in hand, crying and smiling simultaneously.
"Family?" Kayen asked gently.
"Not all of it," Arav said. "But enough. My sister... she still loves me."
"Then we haven't lost everything," Kayen said, wrapping him in an embrace.
Around them, Singapore bustled with life—human and supernatural, visible and hidden, all coexisting in fragile balance.
And for the first time since his transformation, Arav felt something other than loss.
He felt hope.
**To be continued...**