A ripple of excitement moved through the Underground's main chamber. Elena looked up from the medical supplies she was organizing, catching fragments of animated conversations.

  "—actual research, not just theories—" "—studied them directly—" "—might have found weaknesses—"

  Professor Sophia Chen approached, her usually stern expression softening with rare enthusiasm. "Elena, you'll want to hear this. Dr. Eliza Wright has arrived from the Eastern Outpost with documented vampire research."

  "Eliza Wright?" Elena's professional interest was immediate. "The immunologist?"

  "The same. She's been studying captured specimens." Sophia lowered her voice. "Actual vampires, Elena. Controlled observation and experimentation."

  Elena maintained her composure despite the chill that ran through her. "That's... significant. When can we review her findings?"

  "She's setting up in the lecture area now. Given your background, I've arranged for you to have access to her notes."

  "Thank you," Elena said, already wondering how Viktor would handle this development. She found him in their shared quarters, reading by mplight.

  "There's a new arrival," she said quietly. "A Dr. Wright with vampire research. Actual experiments on captured subjects."

  Viktor's expression remained neutral, but she noticed the slight tensing of his shoulders. "What kind of experiments?"

  "I don't know yet, but we should both hear what she has to say. Just... stay in the background?"

  He nodded, closing his book. "I'm curious what humans think they know about us."

  The lecture area was crowded when they arrived. Viktor positioned himself against the far wall, partially concealed by shadow, while Elena took a seat near the front with Sophia. Dr. Eliza Wright stood arranging diagrams on a makeshift dispy board—a middle-aged woman with sharp features and precise movements.

  "For those unfamiliar with my work," Wright began without preamble, "I've spent the past eight months conducting systematic research on vampire physiology and behavior at the Eastern Outpost. We've had seven specimens of varying ages since turning."

  Elena felt a flicker of disgust at "specimens" but kept her expression professionally interested.

  "Their regenerative capabilities are remarkable," Wright continued, pointing to detailed anatomical drawings. "Tissue regrows at approximately forty times human rate, depending on feeding status. Arterial ceration that would kill a human heals in minutes."

  From his position, Viktor observed silently. Most of Wright's observations were accurate, if incomplete. Her misunderstandings about their sensory perception and metabolic rates were almost amusing, but her data on their physical limitations was disconcertingly precise.

  "Their strength increases with age post-transformation," Wright expined, "and appears to correte with blood consumption patterns. Regur feeding maintains baseline enhancement, while blood deprivation causes progressive weakening."

  Elena raised her hand. "Have you observed differences based on blood type consumed?"

  Wright nodded approvingly. "Excellent question. There appear to be meaningful variations. Type AB produces the most sustained strength enhancement, while O negative creates shorter but more intense power spikes."

  Viktor suppressed a smile at Elena's clever probing. She was gathering information while maintaining her cover as a curious researcher.

  Wright moved to her next diagram. "Their sensory capabilities exceed human parameters by factors of fifteen to fifty, with variation by sense type. Hearing is most enhanced, followed by smell. They can detect human heartbeats through standard building materials."

  As the presentation continued, Elena noticed conversations around Viktor where he stood listening. Two men were discussing rumors from outside.

  "Keller's organizing them, that's what Runner said," one murmured. "Setting up territories, establishing feeding protocols. Not just random attacks anymore."

  "Heard he's got hundreds following him already. Using that scientist background to create some kind of system."

  Viktor's expression tightened almost imperceptibly.

  After the presentation, Elena approached Wright. "Your research is fascinating, Dr. Wright. I'd appreciate examining your experimental notes—my immunology background might offer useful perspectives."

  Wright evaluated her briefly. "Professor Chen mentioned your qualifications. The notes are in my assigned quarters. You're welcome to review them there, though they don't leave my possession."

  Two hours ter, Elena returned to their quarters, face carefully composed until the door closed behind her. Then her professional mask crumbled.

  "It was butchery," she whispered, hands trembling slightly. "Vivisection, Viktor. Systematic dismemberment to observe regeneration rates. Starvation followed by controlled feeding to measure strength differentials. Sensory torture to map pain thresholds."

  Viktor sat beside her on the narrow bed. "I suspected as much."

  "They justified it all as necessary research. And the worst part?" She looked up at him, eyes haunted. "Some of her data is genuinely valuable. I learned things about vampire physiology we hadn't discovered yet."

  "The eternal scientific dilemma," Viktor said softly. "Unethical methods producing useful results."

  "She recorded exactly how long it takes different limbs to regenerate. The subjects were conscious during the procedures, Viktor. They were restrained with silver-infused restraints while she—" Elena stopped, unable to continue.

  "You don't need to describe it."

  "How can she justify this? How can anyone?"

  Viktor was quiet for a moment. "They don't see us as people anymore. Just predators to be studied and eventually exterminated."

  "Wright's most troubling finding is actually wrong," Elena said, regaining her composure. "She believes vampires progressively lose capacity for emotional response the longer they're turned. That the transformation gradually destroys the limbic system over weeks and months."

  "Completely incorrect," Viktor said. "If anything, emotions intensify after turning. The difference is learning control and concealment."

  "I wanted to correct her, but... how would I know that?"

  Their conversation was interrupted by a knock. Elena opened the door to find Adam and Eva, the twins they'd been looking after.

  "Miss Elena," Adam said, his voice small, "Eva can't sleep. Can you tell us a story?"

  "Of course," Elena smiled, her scientific concerns momentarily set aside. "Viktor tells better stories, though."

  The twins looked hopefully at Viktor, who couldn't resist their expectant faces. "One short story," he agreed.

  As the group moved toward the children's sleeping area, Sophia Chen watched from across the common space, her eyes narrowed in thought.

  Later that evening, during the communal meal, Sophia observed Viktor from her table. He appeared to eat like everyone else, but she noticed his pte never seemed to empty despite his fork regurly moving to his mouth. Occasionally, scraps would disappear into his napkin when he thought no one was watching.

  After dinner, Viktor visited the maintenance section, offering to help with electrical repairs—work typically done during daylight hours when power usage was lower.

  "I have insomnia," he expined to the maintenance chief. "Might as well make myself useful."

  Sophia noted his extraordinary vision in the dimly lit areas, how he never stumbled or squinted like others did. How he could identify frayed wires without additional light.

  Near midnight, when most of the Underground slept, Viktor worked alone in the storage room, cataloging medical supplies with Elena's methodical system. His enhanced senses detected someone watching—Sophia, partially concealed in the corridor shadows, observing with clinical intensity.

  He pretended not to notice, continuing his work with deliberately human movements and occasional manufactured fumbles for realism. But he knew the charade was wearing thin. The professor was connecting dots, forming a hypothesis.

  And scientists, Viktor knew all too well, were relentless in testing their theories.