Chapter 95: Strange Nerousness!

Jax continued with Nulissa on the tour, impressed by her intelligence and how dedicated she was to improving the lives of her people, constantly discussing different ways and techniques Jax can implement in his plan for the Vampire section of the Capital to improve quality of life.

However, as all of this was going on, Jax sensed something. It was very small, almost imperceptible, but as they continued walking through Nightengale’s moonlit arteries, through avenues that curved with predatory elegance and bridges that arched like rib bones over glowing rivers, Nulissa’s composure never cracked, but it definitely tightened.

Subtly. Almost imperceptibly. The way her shoulders held just a fraction higher than before. The way her fingers brushed the hilt of her rapier not in readiness, but reassurance.

She was nervous about something, but Jax just didn’t know what exactly she was nervous about, and that made him curious.

However, he decided not to comment on it. He had learned long ago that the fastest way to make a leader close ranks was to expose their vulnerability before they were ready. Instead, he listened. Not just with his ears, but with his presence, letting his awareness drift outward, tasting the city the way a predator tasted air.

He needed to find out what she was nervous about, but considering she hadn’t told him already, he probably wouldn’t get anything directly from her.

Nightengale City was disciplined.

That was the word that fit best.

Every street was clean, but not sterile. Every citizen moved with purpose, but not haste. Vampires passed them in twos and threes, some armored, some dressed as scholars, artisans, or administrators. No one ever loitered unnecessarily and no one panicked at his presence.

They acknowledged him with quiet, respectful bows, lowered gazes, or respectful stillness, then continued on with their day.

Compared to other places, Nightengale had absolutely no chaos here, no hunger riots or barely restrained savagery some people might expect if they watched Vampire TV Shows back on Earth.

This was a civilization that had learned restraint as survival.

They passed a wide plaza where a blood fountain rose from a sculpted basin of black stone, its surface perfectly still despite the liquid motion within. Vampires gathered there to draw.

Thin crystal vials were filled under supervision, recorded by scribes etched in sigils of accountability. They catalogued and regulated everything to maintain efficiency, and to solve any impromptu problems.

It was quite spectacular to see in Jax’s opinion, and his curved faintly with admiration.

Nulissa noticed his glance. “You see why we endure,” she said quietly. “We do not indulge. We persist.”

“You’ve built a system that doesn’t collapse the moment emotion spikes,” Jax replied. “That alone puts you ahead of most other powers,”

Her steps slowed, then resumed. “And yet… systems strain when horizons widen.”

There it was.

Not a confession. A test.

Jax let the silence breathe, allowing Nightengale’s eternal night to swallow the pause without pressure. They crossed into an elevated district where academies rose like spired sanctuaries.

Within, young vampires practiced blood shaping for combat and medical application.

Eventually, they reached a circular overlook carved into the cliffside, the city stretching below like a sea of stars trapped beneath obsidian glass. Far beyond the walls, the endless dark forest stirred, ancient and patient.

Nulissa stopped.

“This concludes the public tour,” she said. “At least for now.”

Jax nodded. “It’s… impressive.”

She turned to face him fully, crimson eyes steady but layered with thoughts she didn’t voice.

“I will prepare for your official introduction,” she said. “There are protocols that we have to go through for something like this, announcements and cultural rites.” A pause, “It will take some time.”

“I expected that,” Jax replied easily, “Take what you need.”

Her shoulders eased slightly, relief flickering before being masked again. “Until then… you should relax. There’s a dedicated room within the Admin Building for you to rest if necessary,”

Jax nodded, “Thank you,”

Nulissa bowed once more, respectful and precise, “When the bells sound, that means that the introductions are ready and you will be summoned. Until then, Nightengale is yours to explore.”

With that, she turned and vanished using her Vampiric shadow powers, the Clan Leader’s entire form dissolving into the architecture of her city as if it had swallowed her whole.

Jax could sense her moving swiftly throughout the City using his senses, heading to a special building that he presumed was related to business she needed to conduct.

Jax exhaled slowly.

“She’s carrying more than she lets on,” Hydra murmured softly.

“Yes,” he agreed. “And it’s not just political.”

They moved without urgency now. Jax wandered streets without direction, letting intuition guide him. He passed noble estates, blood sanctuaries, administrative halls, even pleasure districts designed for controlled indulgence rather than excess.

Everything had a place and everything had boundaries. Yet the longer he walked, the more something pulled at him.

Not a threat but an absence. He wanted to find out what Nulissa was nervous about, but he didn’t have any leads, so he was a bit stumped.

Then he saw it.

At the edge of one of Nightengale’s higher districts, beyond the reach of lantern light, stood a house that did not belong.

It wasn’t large. In fact, it was modest by vampiric standards, two stories, dark stone walls, narrow windows that reflected no light. No banners. No sigils. No wards visible on the surface.

And most importantly, there was nothing around it.

There wasn’t any neighboring buildings and n bridges connecting to it. No foot traffic moving near that building and no sentries as if this specific place didn’t need to be defended.

It sat alone on a plateau of black stone, separated from the city proper by a narrow span of shadowed ground, as if reality itself had quietly agreed to give it space.

Jax stopped.

Hydra followed his gaze, her pupils narrowing to slits. “That place,” she said slowly, “is being avoided.”

“By design,” Jax replied.

He extended his senses.

The house wasn’t empty, he could sense a woman living there. It was… contained. Like a knot tied too tightly around something dangerous, precious, or both.

Jax smiled faintly.

“Well,” he said, stepping forward, boots echoing softly against the stone as he headed toward the isolated structure. “Looks like I found where the truth is hiding.”

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