We parked directly across the street from his house, eyes scanning every detail, making sure no one entered or exited. The street was quiet, almost eerily so.
"Do you know if he has a roommate or a girlfriend living with him?" I asked Tunde.
"He lives alone," he replied. "He had a girlfriend earlier this year, but they broke up suddenly. From what I saw, he was the one who ended it. I've seen her at his doorstep multiple times, but he refused to talk to her."
"That's… cold," I said, frowning.
"Maybe," Tunde shrugged.
"And his workplace? How is he there?"
"I admitted myself once," Tunde said casually. "Had a witch implant a fake tumor in my head and slowed my healing and vampire abilities. He performed the surgery flawlessly. Very competent."
I raised an eyebrow. "He's over 400 years old, of course he's competent. But what about his colleagues?"
"They respect him immensely. He isn't overly talkative, but he's courteous. He smiles often."
"And you know what that really means?" I asked, leaning forward.
"He's sad. Hiding something," Tunde said, impressed.
"Do you think he remembers his past?"
"I have no idea," Tunde admitted.
I checked the time. "10:59 p.m."
"Shall we head in now?" he asked.
I paused. "Not yet. Let's wait a bit longer."
Another silence settled between us. Tunde finally broke it. "Why is your father so intent on killing his own son, his only son?"
I exhaled deeply. "We didn't share the pure-blood prophecies with… lesser vampires. Only those of royal lineage were privy."
"You royal-blooded can be cruel at times. But who else would you trust with such secrets if not me?"
I sighed and leaned back. "Fine. You do know the story of how vampires came to exist, right?"
Tunde nodded. "I know the basics. Your father and relatives were the first vampires. They struck a deal with a famous witch to gain strength and win the war against the Nupe."
I shook my head. "What you know is only a drop in an ocean. My grandfather was Asogun, also known as Are-Ona-Kakanfo, the supreme military commander of ancient Oyo. The first attack against the Nupe ended in defeat. When they tried again, they realized victory was still uncertain. Desperate, my grandfather and his brothers sought counsel from Akaja, a legendary sorcerer so powerful he was exiled for threatening Oyo itself. They told him of their predicament.
"Akaja devised a potion. They drank it, fell into a deep sleep for three days, and when they awoke, they were no longer entirely human. Their strength, speed, senses, and reflexes were superhuman. Akaja instructed them to feed on animals to sustain themselves, but when they returned to war, the taste of human blood revealed itself as far superior. They won decisively, but people soon feared them."
"They returned to Akaja to show gratitude," Tunde murmured.
"Yes. They offered to bring him back to civilization. He refused, demanding only that their powers could be passed down through his own bloodline—his daughters. Reluctantly, my grandfather and his brothers married them. Their children inherited these abilities. But there were rules: the vampire within would awaken only at a certain age, halting natural aging, and endowing them with full vampire abilities.
"With time, we discovered a loophole: we could turn humans into vampires by draining them and feeding them our blood. However, Oyo grew fearful and consulted Orunmila, the deity of divination. He cursed us: pure-blood vampires could no longer reproduce naturally, the sun would be fatal to lesser vampires, and stakes or fire could kill both us and the lesser vampires. Eventually, the worshipers of Orunmila hunted Akaja down in the forest, ending his life."
Tunde was silent, listening intently.
I continued, voice steady but cold. "Years later, a prophecy arose: a child would be born half-human, half-vampire a Dhampir and that child would mark the end of the pure-blood lineage. My father, fearing this prophecy cause he had impregnated a human woman before we got banished and my mother sent the mother away. That child… exists, and that is why we are here now."
Tunde's eyes widened, the weight of the story sinking in. "So… that child—"
"Yes," I interrupted. "And tonight, we finish what has been destined for over half a century."
The street was unnaturally quiet, almost as if the city itself was holding its breath. I crouched low in the shadows, eyes fixed on the house two doors down. The garden was pristine, neatly trimmed, the faint glow of security lights reflecting off the polished windows.
Then, like shadows given life, two men dressed entirely in black emerged from the darkness. They moved toward the fence, scaled it, and disappeared into the building.
"Is he getting robbed?" I whispered to Tunde.
"I think so," he replied, his eyes narrowing.
We waited a few moments, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on. I checked my watch: exactly 12:00 a.m. I signaled Tunde.
"Move."
In a blur, we advanced. Our vampire speed erased us from the human eye. Within seconds, we were at the edge of the estate's garden. The fence loomed like a minor hurdle—I leapt over it effortlessly, landing silently. Tunde followed, ghostlike beside me.
I scanned the house, searching for the intruders. Windows were dark, but faint shadows flickered, hinting at their movements.
"He's still asleep. I can feel it," I whispered.
The front door was already ajar. We stepped inside carefully. Two dim flashlights bobbed in the distance, likely the dining room—and I knew immediately they were robbing my brother. I moved to the light switch by the entrance and flicked it on.
The sitting room blazed with sudden light, and the robbers' heads snapped toward us. They raised their guns, but I didn't hesitate. In a heartbeat, I closed the distance, my vampire speed making me a streak of motion. I snapped their necks effortlessly. Both men collapsed, rifles clattering to the floor.
"Be careful, you're going to wake him up," Tunde whispered.
"But I'm already awake," came a calm voice from the darkness.
I froze. From the entrance, my half-brother emerged—the Dhampir. He was tall, easily six-foot-three, broad-shouldered, with a chiseled face that even sleep couldn't soften. Striped pajamas clung to his frame, and even in that simplicity, he exuded power and presence.
"Shit," I muttered.
I swung at him instinctively, trying to knock him out with my fist—but he caught it with ease, twisting my arm effortlessly. His strength was staggering.
"Who are you people?" His voice was steady, controlled, yet laced with suspicion.
Tunde acted next. Using his vampire speed, he shot forward, striking my brother on the back of the head with one of the robbers' guns. It barely phased him. With a single, fluid motion, my brother countered, sending Tunde flying into the dining table.
"I said, who are you people?" he demanded, still holding my wrist with inhuman grip.
I had only one option. I cupped his face with my other hand and began chanting in an ancient, forgotten language, calling upon power older than kingdoms. Slowly, his eyelids drooped, and within seconds, he sank to the floor in a deep sleep.
Tunde rose beside me, rubbing his side. "That… strength," he muttered, staring at my brother in awe.
"Would you like to do the honors?" Tunde asked, his tone practical.
I looked down at him. Perfect. Peaceful. Why did he deserve to die? His only crime was being my father's child. Just like me, we deserve more. I couldn't bring myself to do it, I refuse to be my father "I… I can't," I admitted.
"What are you saying?" Tunde's eyes searched mine.
"I just… I can't," I repeated.
Tunde gripped my shoulders, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "Juliet… let's just get this done and go home. We're almost finished. Do you really want to risk your family's life over a boy you barely know?"
"He's still family," I said coldly.
He finally released me, sighing in resignation. "So… what do we do now?"
I scanned the room—the dead robbers scattered across the floor—and an idea formed. "We take one of these dead men to my father and tell him it's his son."
Tunde chuckled softly. "Do you know your father? I can't lie to him. Your mother's magic will see through it immediately."
"You don't have to lie," I said, a cunning smile forming. "You just tell him we went to his house. I killed him. Set his body on fire. You weren't technically lying—you can leave out the rest, let him figure it out."
"This… won't end well," he muttered.
"Don't worry," I said. "Just tell them I did everything and that I told you to wait outside. You'll be safe."
We carried one of the dead robbers outside and loaded him into the boot of the car. In silence, we drove to a desolate lot where tall, dry grass stretched for miles. I stepped out and ignited the body with a thought. Flames roared to life, consuming the corpse in a brilliant inferno, smoke curling into the night sky.
Once it was done, we returned to the car. Tunde sat in the driver's seat, waiting. I lingered at the edge of the lot.
"Why aren't you getting in?" he asked.
"I can't come with you. Not yet. It's too risky to face my parents—they may uncover the truth."
"So… where will you go?"
"I'll figure something out. Don't worry. You'll see me soon."
He studied me for a long moment. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "You've looked after me enough. Now, you should live your life in peace."
"I'll miss you," he said softly.
"I'll miss you too. Be safe."
Before he could respond, I vanished—a streak of darkness, faster than the eye could follow, my vampire speed carrying me into the shadows, leaving only silence behind.