NARRATOR

Katherine watched the twisted smile that appeared on the dying man's face, a bad omen flashing through her mind.

"Get away from him, Vorath! He's about to do something! GET AWAY!"

The giant lycan pulled his hand back, scattering the remains of Salvatore’s open chest.

Without a second thought, he lunged at Katherine to shield her, sensing the danger himself—there was no time for her to run.

He wrapped his body around her like a shield, forcing the witch to release the control spell over the dying vampire.

Suddenly, eerie shrieks rose into the night. They expected an explosion of energy, something devastating. Yet, it never crossed their minds that Salvatore would use his last strength just to send a message.

To mark a location, a beacon in the darkness that would clearly say, "Here lie succulent supernatural creatures to drain."

Through a small gap in Vorath’s fur, Katherine witnessed the vampire’s body disintegrate into hundreds—perhaps thousands—of tiny bats.

A cloud of cala