chapter 3

"Yes Mama, it was delicious. We're all well aware of uncle's cooking skills." Samira said sweetly over the phone.

"Don't worry, we'll sleep soon." She crossed her fingers as she whispered a soft chuckle, clearly not intending to sleep anytime soon.

"I'll go and bring snacks for the movie," Talia leaned in and whispered, already tiptoeing away.

Samira simply nodded, still on the call. She spoke to her mother for a few more moments, soft-spoken and smiling, before finally ending the call. As soon as the line disconnected, her smile faded into curiosity.

Something didn't feel right.

Her eyes automatically shifted toward the window. A strange sensation had been crawling over her skin for the past few minutes—like someone was watching her. The prickling at the back of her neck was sharp, insistent. Without thinking twice, she moved toward the window and looked outside.

Her gaze halted at the villa across the road. A mansion or what used to be one—stood shrouded in silence and darkness. No lights flickered. No shadows moved. It looked... deserted and haunted.

Her breath slowed as her eyes narrowed.

And then, she saw it.

A pair of eyes—piercing, motionless, watching her—from a second-floor window of the villa.

His face was hidden beneath the shadows, but the dim streetlight outside fell just enough to reflect in his eyes, revealing a gaze that was cold... and deadly.

A chill ran down her spine.

But she didn't flinch.

For the first time in her life, Samira found herself staring directly into a man's eyes without looking away that too for such a long time. She was someone who always kept her distance—especially from men. Aside from her father and brothers, she avoided most male interaction altogether.

But this–

This felt different.

Those eyes were sharp. Calculating. A warning wrapped in a challenge.

Her instincts screamed at her to look away, but her pride made her hold the gaze longer. There was a strange pull—unnerving yet magnetic. She could feel his stare seep into her bones, as if making an unspoken promise.

Her heart pounded in her chest. Her breath trembled. And still, she didn't break eye contact.

Neither did he.

Those eyes—void of warmth, void of emotion—felt like a silent conversation, laced with a threat... or was it fascination?

"Here I am with our caramel popcorns and hot chocolate shake..!" Talia chirped as she walked back into the room.

Samira flinched hard, snapping out of her trance. Her body recoiled slightly as she turned toward Talia.

"You're still standing here? I left you like ten minutes ago!" Talia raised a brow, amused.

"What K-drama are we going to finish tonight?" Samira asked, attempting to brush off the tension.

Talia beamed. "Of course, our Lee Min-ho's ‘The King.’ We can never skip our king!" she said dreamily.

Samira chuckled weakly. "Let's start, then."

But before sitting down, Samira couldn't resist. She turned back for one last glance at the villa.

Those eyes were still there.

Still watching...

Still waiting...

She swallowed hard and yanked the curtain shut, drawing them over the window with swift hands. Then, without a word, she walked back to Talia and joined her on the bed.

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[Some time ago – Villa Across the Street]

Python entered the abandoned mansion that they had temporarily rented for their time in L.A.

He moved wordlessly through the darkness, pulling off his hoodie. His black shirt clung to his chiseled torso, veins pulsing against skin as he loosened his collar. As he stripped his shirt, he heard faint voices coming from outside.

This was a high-end area—quiet, sealed off from city noise. Any sound carried easily in the silence.

His expression remained unreadable as he stepped toward the window. Like a predator, he moved silently, with deliberate grace. His sharp gaze landed on two girls standing near their window—dim light washing their faces in warmth.

His eyes narrowed instantly.

The same girls from the restaurant this afternoon.

One of them left the room, but His gaze locked on the one who remained.

She was on a call, her lips moving in soft conversation. He couldn't hear her, but her expressions—pure, gentle, slightly defiant—made something stir within him.

He watched her, and continued watching her like he was memorizing her face.

And then... she noticed him.

But she didn't back away.

Her eyes found his through the distance. Her gaze sharpened, unmoving. And to his surprise, she didn't look away.

Python's lips lifted into a faint smirk.

"Daring enough to meet Python's eyes?" He mumbled under his breath with a smirk on his lips corner.

Time blurred. He didn't notice how long they stood like that, staring into each other. Two strangers sharing a silent war from across the street.

When the other girl came back and drew the curtains shut, he stepped back too, almost as if their connection had been forcefully cut.

He closed his eyes, inhaling sharply through his nose. His chest rose, but he remained quiet.

"We're waiting for you," Rex called out as he entered the room.

Python didn't respond. He opened his eyes, the smirk was gone long ago. Without a word, he walked to the cupboard, pulled out another black shirt, and buttoned it swiftly—veins bulging along his hands with every movement.

Then, slipping his hoodie back on, he vanished into the darkness again, his mind no longer on the mission... but on her.

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[Later That Night – Dark Warehouse]

Four figures moved like shadows across the deserted compound.

They watched as several men loaded suspicious bags into a van.

"Told you. Authentic news," Rex whispered with a smirk.

"Good job, Rexy," Eiran muttered, his eyes fixed on the scene.

Without a word, they launched into action. The guards didn't even have a chance to scream. Necks snapped. Bodies dropped.

Inside the warehouse, silence reigned. Their steps were ghost-like, undetectable. They moved like reapers—silent, brutal, merciless.

Izan crouched near a table, reaching for a packet of white powder. Before he could sniff it, Python took it from his hand, and examined it silently with his fingers and looked up at Eiran. "It's drugs."

Izan sighed in disappointment.

Rex chuckled and patted his head. "Don't worry, baby boy. You'll get your share tonight."

"Brother never lets me do anything..." Izan mumbled with a pout.

"Because he cares about you," Rex replied casually.

Just then, Eiran tossed a firelighter toward Izan, while Python simply tilted his head slightly, signaling.

"Thanks!" Izan beamed with a wicked grin and poured fuel over the van.

Moments later, flames erupted, engulfing the drugs in fire.

Eiran scoffed at Izan. "Drama queen."

Without wasting another second, the four of them opened fire.

Bullets rained inside the warehouse.

Screams echoed—brief and blood-curdling.

And then... silence.

Just like that, another drug ring was reduced to ashes—courtesy of the four monsters that hunted in the shadows.

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Samira was going to stay at Talia's place for a few days. She and her brother, Kai, had secretly arranged a surprise anniversary trip for their parents—something special just for them. Their plan worked, and the Orlaith couple had left for a short vacation, smiling with joy.

Kai, too, had to travel to another city for some important business meetings, leaving Samira behind for five days. But she wasn't alone. Talia was more than a friend.

The bond between the Orlaiths and the Valeries wasn't built on blood but on something stronger—trust and time. For over forty years, both families had lived side by side. Even before Samira and Talia were born, their parents shared a connection so deep that it felt like family.

Now, two days had passed.

Both girls sat in the lawn, wrapped in cozy shawls, enjoying their late-night snacks under the moonlit sky. The winter breeze carried a soft chill, but the warmth of the bonfire beside them made everything feel magical.

"Simmi..." Talia broke the silence.

"Hmm?" Samira responded while munching the chocolate..

"I'm going inside. The fog is getting thicker. What if a ghost shows up out of nowhere?"

Talia clutched her shawl, a dramatic shiver escaping her.

Samira burst into laughter. "Seriously!! You're scared of ghosts??"

"As if you're not!" Talia rolled her eyes. "Don't act so brave. I know you get scared too."

"No, I don't. Because there's no such thing as ghosts or djinns." Samira huffed confidently.

"Really? Then I wish you meet one someday, so you'll stop calling me stupid for believing in them!" Talia snapped playfully.

"Tch..!! There are no such creatures, stupid!! Now sit down and enjoy this bonfire, the moonlight, and this winter breeze," Samira said, pulling her shawl tighter around her.

"You enjoy this frozen night. I miss summer already," Talia grumbled and walked back inside, leaving Samira alone near the fire.

Samira looked around, taking in the stillness of the night. The wind rustled the leaves. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked. She leaned forward, trying to warm her hands—but then, she felt it again.

That strange gaze.

A cold sensation crawled down her spine.

Her eyes darted to the same window she had looked at two days ago. The same house. The same darkened window.

And there they were...

A pair of hazel-brown eyes.

Watching her again.

Staring at her with a piercing, dreadful intensity.

Samira's breath hitched.

It was him—the same mysterious man. His presence made the air around her feel heavier. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, her thoughts went haywire.

"Who is he? Wait... no way. Could he actually be a ghost?" Unknowingly, she mouthed the words.

And he saw it.

Python had just returned to his room when he heard the sound of laughter. Drawn to the noise, he went to the window and saw her—sitting by the fire, her face glowing under the moonlight, her laughter echoing faintly in the night air.

His eyes narrowed.

He saw her lips move... and understood what she was saying.

"Ghost?" He almost smirked.

Hidden by the shadows, his lips curved just slightly. Even he didn't realize he had smiled—a subconscious reaction he hadn't felt in years.

"I think I should go inside," Samira muttered to herself nervously. "He's indeed a djinn or ghost. That Talia really has a black tongue!"

"What are you muttering to yourself?" Talia returned, holding two mugs of steaming hot chocolate.

Samira took hers with a smile. "I was talking to a ghost."

"You found your ghost already?" Talia laughed.

"Yeah... kind of," Samira chuckled and took a sip—

"Auhhh!" she winced, rubbing her lips. "It's too hot!"

From the window, Python's smile vanished as he frowned, seeing her flinch in pain.

"Be careful, girl... It's hot. Don't get so lost in your imaginary ghost." Talia spoke teasingly.

Again, his lips curved unconsciously.

"What are you staring at?" Eiran's voice cut through the room.

Python blinked.

Eiran followed his gaze, looking out the same window. He saw two girls laughing near the fire. Innocent. Normal. Unaware of the darkness that lurked so close.

"Nothing," Python replied coldly, looking away.

Eiran shrugged. "Hmm... Anyway, I'm going to meet the Hunter group tonight. I'll see you later."

He started walking toward the door, then paused, glancing back. "Python..."

The tone shifted. He wasn't joking anymore. "Don't let this... temporary infatuation dominate you. Our world is different from theirs."

Python didn't respond.

"People like them–" Eiran continued, "...can only have one feeling for people like us—hatred."

Python lowered his gaze slightly.

"They can't survive in our world. And we... we don't have room for people like them." With that, Eiran left the room.

Python stood still for a moment, then reached out, slowly shutting the window.

No more moonlight.

No more laughter.

Just darkness.

Because in their world, emotions were forbidden.

In their world, quietness and violence ruled.

Their hearts were no longer homes—but graves.

He and his brothers had crossed every imaginable line of cruelty and bloodshed. Their names struck terror. They were proud of their notoriety. They wanted to be feared.

And yet... this girl—

She looked at him differently.

She wasn't afraid.

She didn't see the monster everyone else did.

She had caught his attention.

And that alone...

Made her dangerous.

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