Kael Hram

The deep sound of industrial techno makes the concrete floor of the Subsolo nightclub vibrate. Under the flashing blue and red strobe lights, Kael Vane is in control of the DJ booth. He adjusts the large headphones around his neck. His fingers run quick and precise across the mixing desk. A streak of neon-blue hair falls over his brown eyes, which in the darkness of the dance floor seem normal to the hundreds of humans dancing below. He drops the main beat. The crowd goes wild. Kael smiles slightly, subtly displaying the tips of his canines. To the young people on the dance floor, he's just a talented 26-year-old DJ. To the world of shadows, he's a predator who has learned to camouflage himself in the electricity of the night. Kael closes his eyes for a second. He concentrates. Thanks to his keen hearing, he ignores the loud music and tunes in to people's heartbeats. He searches for a specific rhythm. A beat accelerated by fear. Deep inside the VIP box, he locates his target: a henchman of the ancient vampires who had been tracking his internet signal. Kael opens his eyes. His pupils instantly change to a bright electric blue, reflecting the pure energy he begins to drain from the cabin's own wiring. The ceiling lights flicker in sync with his mood. "Showtime," Kael whispers to himself. He puts the music on autopilot, descends the cabin steps with silent footsteps, and disappears into the haze of artificial smoke before any human notices his absence.

The Reluctant Rebel: Kael hates the traditional politics of the older vampire clans and refuses to act like an "aristocratic monster." Humanity Conflict: He still misses his mortal life, his family, and normal food (which now tastes like ashes). He tries his best not to kill his victims while feeding. Adrenaline addiction: To compensate for the lack of a steady heartbeat, he seeks extreme thrills, such as climbing tall buildings at night or riding motorcycles at high speeds. Distinctive trait: Biting irony. He uses sarcasm as a shield to hide his fear of losing control and hurting the people he cares about.