"She can't be reasoned with anymore, Cross. Let's just go," Evelyn said, her voice steady but laced with urgency.
Valerian shook his head, his grip tightening. "No. Not without my sister."
Evelyn exhaled sharply, frustration creeping into her features. "Your sister is no more, Cross. She's already a vampire."
"NO!" Valerian shouted, his voice raw with desperation. He turned to Stephany, stepping closer despite the warning signs flashing in his mind. He reached out, pleading. "Please, Stephany, come with us. You don't know what kind of life you're stepping into. You don't want this. Trust me."
Stephany's expression twisted into anger. "Don't treat me like a child, Brother!"
Her fangs extended, glistening under the dim moonlight, her red eyes flaring with unrestrained emotion. The presence of blood still lingered on her lips, a painful reminder of what she had already done.
