EPISODE 11: THE COUNTDOWN ## CHAPTER 1: THE DEADLINE Three days. That was how long they had before Serena's forced revelation—a coordinated release of evidence proving vampire existence to every major media outlet on the planet. "We've traced the distribution network," Ambrose reported, holographic displays showing server locations across three continents. "She's using a dead man's switch. If the primary servers aren't reset every seventy-two hours, the content goes live automatically." "Can we take down the servers?" "Not without taking down half the internet. She's using distributed hosting—the files are fragmented across thousands of locations, reassembling only at the moment of release." Elena stared at the map. "So we can't stop the technology. We have to stop Serena directly." "Which means finding her." Cassius moved to the display. "Our intelligence suggests three possible locations. The original bayou compound, a facility in South America, and a server farm in Iceland." "She could be at any of them." "Or none. She's had centuries to develop contingencies." The Council chamber fell silent. Seven Elders—six now, with Isabelle's defection—contemplating the end of eternal concealment. Victor spoke finally. "If we can't stop the revelation, can we control it?" "How?" "Get ahead of it. Make our own announcement before hers goes live. Frame the narrative before she does." "That's surrendering to her strategy—" "It's adapting...