Quest For The Ultimate Artifact

in's

is footsteps eerily qui

away, to escap

re, no

rd and forced

a rock. As we stepped inside, a rus

walls, pulsing faintly in hues of green, blue, and gold. They il

s I have taken," Leonardo said, hi

sidian. Glimmering stones were arranged on its surface, but my

fixed on the empty slot, "is where the final gem b

art r

w anything a

ith something dangerous. "Your blood is the key," he said, stepping closer.

sbelief. "This can't be real

htly. "And a few drops of blood are all I need. It

ad and began

ic. "Why can't you just... jus

ze dar

escape this." His voice lowered, a cold edge creeping in.

eck like an invisible noose. I clenched my fists, anger and fear

w me on this quest, a couple drops of blood, and you walk away

day

tant. The cold, the glowing stones, the pedestal-it al

and the hiss of the espresso machine rushe

scanning the s

stared at the empty

eal? Or had I fin

I s

n autopilot. I stepped into the elevator, my thoughts stil

ispered under my bre

ng open. I walked straight to Marcus's offi

nd confused at

thing wa

re is a

rcus's door, my hand h

him I would be

if I said a vampir

ound like a

uldn't

breath, I fi

's voice called f

e. He glanced up from a stack of paper

back in his chair. "What'

forced a tight smile. "I nee

"Time off? What's goin

. I just... I need a b

he buys

I thought he might press further,

time in the city can be overwhelming. Take the time you ne

ed through me. "I'll be gone for a while, but I

a faint smile. "Take care of yourself

my hotel room, zipping my sui

, far and fast wi

wh

ibly hide from som

ind

nardo would find me. And th

breathing, but the

ly was m

en that artifac

is actions would pu

antly... where

thought

her's

. If he had left anything behind-any clue

ad t

ack to Arizona

memories of my father and relent

d, the old house was

ike the vibrant

, the house paint has faded, a

urned it i

de heavy with dust. A wave of nostalgia and s

to my father

flickered once before dying. Pulling out my phon

d papers. Sitting down, I began sifting through the mess, my f

t something solid. Pulling it free from the drawer

e sketches, and a map marked with a

ault o