11. Attack

Tom realized that the people were vampires. When he tried to read their minds, he learned that the woman's name was Victoria, one of the men was named Laurent, and the last was Richard.

The vampire named Richard moved faster than a car and lunged at Tom. Just as his hands were about to make contact, he was thrown back as if hitting an invisible wall. Tom's protective spell, 'Fiento Duri,' had shielded him effortlessly. If he had reinforced it, Richard would have met instant death.

Tom turned to the fallen vampire and pointed his wand. He cast 'Immobulus,' freezing Richard in place. Victoria, thanks to her heightened perception, sensed that Tom was contemplating whether to end Richard's existence.

Laurent quickly interjected, his voice filled with caution.

"It's his own fault. We don't want to fight with you."

Laurent knew they stood no chance against someone like Tom. He was not willing to risk his life because of Richard's reckless behavior. Tom, who had been working on changing his old ways, decided to let them go—this time. Without hesitation, Laurent and Victoria fled, realizing that the man they had confronted was far from ordinary.

Turning back to Richard, Tom lifted the freezing spell with 'Finite.' As soon as he was free, Richard's face twisted in fear, realizing that the man before him was no less than a monster himself. Tom pointed to the lifeless man by the tree and asked with a piercing gaze:

"Did you kill this man?"

Richard trembled before responding. "No! It was James! We had nothing to do with it."

Tom's expression remained unreadable, but his wand movement was swift. He cast the Cruciatus Curse—'Crucio.'

Richard collapsed onto the ground, writhing in sheer agony. His screams echoed through the night. Tom had no sympathy for someone who had tried to kill him. This was not about cruelty, but about dominance. If Richard had lived, he would have remained a threat.

Tom briefly considered capturing the vampire and conducting experiments on his body. However, he was too tired for that tonight. Deciding against it, he raised his wand once more.

A green flash illuminated the dark forest.

Richard didn't even have time to react. The Killing Curse—'Avada Kedavra'—ended him before he could stand. His lifeless body was quickly reduced to ashes with a flick of Tom's wand. He never left traces behind.

With the vampire disposed of, Tom apparated to town. He discreetly cast the Imperius Curse on a passerby, compelling the man to walk into the forest and report the dead human body to the authorities. Once the task was complete, Tom lifted the spell and apparated back home, successfully avoiding any direct involvement with law enforcement.

By the time he arrived, it was quite late. Just as he was preparing for bed, a firm knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

When Tom opened it, he found Sheriff Charlie standing there.

"Mr. Miller," Charlie greeted him, his expression serious. "We meet again. I didn't realize your house was this close to the crime scene. Did you notice anything unusual outside tonight?"

Tom's face remained neutral. "No, Sheriff. I was home all evening."

Charlie didn't seem suspicious. He was merely doing his duty, collecting information. The closest residence to the site of the body happened to be Tom's, making him an obvious person to question.

"I understand, Mr. Miller. Please avoid going out at night. It can be dangerous."

The Sheriff didn't mention finding a body. He was keeping it confidential for now.

Tom nodded. "Thank you for the warning, Sheriff."

"Take care, Mr. Miller."

"You too."

Charlie walked away, his mood heavy due to the string of recent, unsolved murders. Once Tom was back inside, he sat on the sofa, thinking about the night's events. He wasn't the ruthless man he used to be. If he had been, he would have killed Laurent and Victoria without hesitation. But now, he had a new rule—he no longer killed without reason.

Still, deep down, he knew his restraint wouldn't last forever. The world would always challenge him. And when it did, he would respond in kind.