Streets of Ravetham

Kaelen leaned back in his plush leather chair, gazing at the glowing screen before him. The soft hum of the club, Black Fang, vibrated in the background. The club thrived under his ownership, a venture he had taken on after purchasing it from Don Cappo. But his mind was elsewhere—on numbers, power, and what he had gained since stepping into his new life. The weight of responsibility had never been clearer, but neither had the rewards.

The Costs:

Reptile Zoo (Scalescape Sanctuary): Purchased from Don Cappo at a hefty price of $1.2 million. The sanctuary was more than a zoo, doubling as a cover for his secret weed-growing operation. It housed rare species and magical creatures, making it an investment that had paid back in more ways than one.
Shadow Sweets Bakery: The cost of acquiring and revamping the bakery with Jason’s side hustle included was around $300,000. The storefront became an instant success, thanks to its prime location and the secret “enchanted” recipes Jason added. Their products sold out daily.
Lock and Loaded (Gun Shop): Surge and Elara had helped him set up a formidable armory near the club. The cost of this establishment, including licenses and stock, amounted to $500,000. It catered to a unique crowd—those who preferred to handle disputes with lead, not words.
With these purchases, Kaelen had spent $2 million out of his initial $9 million, leaving him with $7 million.

Revenue Generated:

Scalescape Sanctuary (Weed Operation):
Jason and Draken had turned the sanctuary’s secret greenhouse into a lucrative grow-op, producing three strains: Dragon’s Breath, Pixie Dust, and Celestial Dream.
Each strain netted them massive returns. The demand from their underground clientele alone brought in roughly $1.5 million per quarter. Since the time he bought it, Kaelen had made around $3 million in revenue from the operation.
Shadow Sweets Bakery:
The bakery’s daily sales of enchanted sweets brought in about $10,000 per day, equating to $300,000 per month. Over the few months since its opening, Kaelen had earned $1.2 million from this venture.
Lock and Loaded (Gun Shop):
Catering to Ravetham’s more aggressive clientele, the gun shop raked in about $200,000 monthly in weapons sales and repairs. Over time, this shop had generated $600,000.
Black Fang Club:
Hosting concerts, private events, and regular club nights, the Black Fang earned Kaelen approximately $500,000 in revenue monthly. Since acquiring it, he had generated roughly $2 million.
Lost Strays Label:
His record label had exploded in popularity. With merchandise sales, streaming revenue, and concert tickets for artists like Trap Icy and Oy Yo, Lost Strays was making waves in the music world.
Merchandise sales and streaming alone brought in about $1 million in earnings, with concert revenue adding an additional $800,000.
Casino Winnings:
His recent night at the Abyssal Vault Casino was a staggering success. After bending reality with his Domain, he had won a total of $3.5 million, despite Zareth’s attempts to rig the game.
Total Earnings
From all his ventures, Kaelen had made back $12.1 million in total earnings, far surpassing what he had initially spent. Adding this to the remaining $7 million he had after his purchases, his current wealth stood at a solid $19.1 million.

As Kaelen closed his laptop, his phone buzzed. It was Rachel.

“Kaelen,” her voice was urgent, but laced with familiarity. “Your grandmother is at Always Home Diner. Mason and Jason are with her. She’s… waiting for you.”

Kaelen blinked. His grandmother was always an enigma, appearing at the most unexpected times. But the fact that Zelyndra Nyxaris was there, with his adoptive father and Jason, meant this was more than a casual family gathering.

Rachel added, “She mentioned to bring your friends.”

Kaelen glanced around the club. Seraphis, lounged nearby, sipping on a glass of wine. Loren was adjusting her maid outfit, while Trap Icy and Kunai chatted by the bar. Kaelen knew where Draken was—handling business with Oy Yo for her new album’s commercial.

“Let’s go,” Kaelen said, rising from his seat. He motioned for Seraphis, Loren, Trap Icy, and Kunai to follow.

As they arrived at Always Home Diner, Kaelen’s gaze swept over the familiar neon sign flickering outside. Inside, the diner hummed with low chatter and clinking dishes. His keen senses picked up on the unusual crowd that had gathered there.

At one table sat Patch, Bolt, Glitch, and Surge, members of Jason’s crew, all deep in conversation. Near them were Elara and Vex, their faces filled with quiet intensity.

Kaelen’s eyes fell on Surge, whose sharp, predatory eyes locked onto him. Her gaze held something more than just casual interest—it was hunger. Jason noticed, chuckling before nudging her. “That’s my girl, Surge. Go get ‘em.”

Surge blushed, playfully swatting him. But before she could retort, Elara interjected, her voice cold and biting. “A maid has no place putting their hands on their betters. I demand to know your family name.”

Surge, without missing a beat, responded, “I am the only daughter of the House of Priceworth.”

Elara froze, her eyes wide. The realization hit her hard. “Priceworth… as in the Ducal House of the Alfheimr Nation?”

Surge simply nodded, a smirk playing on her lips.

Elara, flustered, muttered, “Noble maids are only for royalty,” before glancing toward Jason, remembering the Valrath name—the grand ducal household. She sat down quietly, her previous arrogance diminished.

Kaelen sat down beside his grandmother, Zelyndra Nyxaris, who was sipping tea and observing the antics with a faint smile. But as he settled into his seat, her sharp, calculating eyes focused on him.

“What a peculiar domain you have, Kaelen,” she said, her voice both intrigued and commanding. “It seems to be affecting even me. I’ve decided not to kidnap you today… but I’d like to ask if you would be willing to deactivate it in my presence.”

Kaelen blinked, doing a double take at the casual way she dropped such a threat. “Oh, hell no,” he muttered, his expression suspicious.

Mason, seated beside Zelyndra, chuckled. “No, Kaelen. Keep it on. If it can affect your grandmother, that means its power is absolute. She’s wearing protection against domain effects, after all.”

Zelyndra’s eyes narrowed dangerously, clearly displeased with Mason. “Aelira, let’s go,” she ordered, rising from her seat. Her security detail moved swiftly, escorting her and Aelira out of the diner.

As soon as they were gone, Glitch and Patch burst into laughter, cracking jokes. “She’s gotta be a human trafficker stuck in a traffic jam,” Patch said.

Glitch added, “Dreaming if she thinks she’s gonna catch Kaelen lacking.”

Bolt shrugged, then stood up. “I’m headed to Shadow Sweets.”

Jason laughed with them, clearly enjoying the moment. But Rachel’s voice cut through the lighthearted atmosphere. “Kaelen, your grandmother… she’s evil, yes, but at the end of the day, she’s still family. You’ll have to put up with it.”

Kaelen sighed, already knowing this was true. He had considered calling Thaige, his half-sister, but remembered she didn’t have a phone yet. Then it hit him—Valerian did.

He quickly dialed Valerian, and after a moment, his father answered. “What is it, Kaelen?”

“I want to talk to Thaige.”

A pause, and then the familiar voice of his sister came through the phone. “Brother! I’m a Day Walker now! I sparkle under the sun. Sadly, the fledglings still burn, though. Must have something to do with me drinking your blood.”

Kaelen smiled, shaking his head. Things were getting stranger every day.