Chapter 1
Bound By Blood



Jude stood in the abandoned classroom, the dim light of the setting sun casting long shadows across the dusty desks. He ran his fingers over the faded graffiti on the wall, a mix of symbols and warnings that only a select few could decipher.

Suddenly, the creaking of the old wooden floorboards echoed through the room. Jude's eyes narrowed, his gaze scanning the shadows. He knew he wasn't alone.

A figure emerged from the darkness, tall and imposing, with piercing eyes that seemed to bore into Jude's soul.

"What do you want, Ryker?" Jude asked, his voice low and even.

Ryker, Jude's second-in-command, stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. "We've received a message from the Oracle," he said, his voice dripping with an air of mystery. "The balance is shifting, Jude. The time of reckoning is near."

Jude's eyes locked onto Ryker's, a spark of tension igniting between them.

Ryker's eyes seemed to bore into Jude's soul as he spoke in a hushed tone. "The Oracle's message is clear: the Blood Brothers' legacy is built on lies and bloodshed. Our founders made a pact with a dark force, trading power for souls."

Jude's expression turned grim, his mind reeling with the implications. "What...