Chapter 56

Chapter 56

ANDREAS

I found myself enveloped by an unusual ambiance the moment I set in the catacombs. Aware that Aiden and the rest were already inside, along with the captured vampires, I braced myself for the weight of Dreyfus and Aran’s questions. After what they have witnessed, I know they are already thinking about the same thing.

Yet, I also know that they are aware that this is not the right moment for me to tell them. Not yet. Not when we have more pressing matters to deal with.

“There eight of them,” Dreyfus informed me. I looked at the vampires they captured and only counted seven.

“Where’s the other one?” I inquired.

Aran and Dreyfus looked at each other. From their grave expressions, I could already guess an unsettling

revelation.

“The Palace got her,” Aiden disclosed, punctuating the grim reality. A female vampire was captured by Philip.

Swearing quietly under my breath, I struggled to contain the frustration brewing within me. The palace is already frightened of the vampires after the first killing. If they see one aggressive vampire, it would tarnish the vampires even more when in fact they are just victims of some scheme I’ve yet to know. The Palace is not going to be merciful after the deaths that have happened so far.

“It was Philip who apprehended her, wasn’t it?” I asked gravely and they all nodded.

“She’s set to be executed in public. To assert the wolves‘ dominance in this Kingdom. They plan to extinguish fear using that one vampire they captured.”

As a warrior who have worked with soldiers and health with prisoners, I already know what fate waits for the vampire that was captured, and I know it’s not going to be an easy one.

“Were you careful on your way here?” I inquired and they u

nodded once again.

“We made sure we were not followed. And besides, I talked to Philip after putting the vampires here. I was certain they were heading back to the dungeons to keep that vampire and he told me to tell you something.” he said. “He wants you to be there on the day of the execution which will be on the next day.”

Chapter 56

I furrowed my brows. “Isn’t that the Alpha King’s birthday?”

Dreyfus and Aran were already looking down. I know how they feel about another vampire set to be executed. It is not something I’d want to happen as well. I can’t do much if the Alpha King orders the vampire to be executed. If I make one wrong move, everything I have built so far would crumble before my eyes and I can’t risk that. Not when lives are depending on me.

“That’s exactly the reason why they wanted to have the execution on that day,” Dreyfus answered. “It’s like the

of one vampire is some sort of entertainment.”

With a heavy sigh, I sank to the ground, my back against the cool stone wall. It has been that way for a very long time. Vampires and werewolves have always been at each other’s throats. There may be a few of these creatures who got along but it was something frowned upon.

I looked at the unconscious vampires they captured.

“None of them woke up yet?”

They all shook their heads. “None of them.”

I looked at Aran. “You still don’t remember everything? What they did to you?”

Looking disheartened, Aran shook his head. “I don’t think I was meant to remember any of it. Whatever they did to me, they made sure I would die or forget about it.”

“That’s the question: what did they do to you and all these other vampires? They don’t act like normal vampires at all. It’s like they’re…”

“Animals who couldn’t control their urges,” I added, earning a nod from Aiden. “The night you attacked Henrietta, you can’t remember it. But I remember it vividly. Indeed, you look like an animal who couldn’t be

tamed.”

“What I don’t understand is how I returned to normal from that state,” Aran said, looking at me.

I sighed, not knowing the answer as well. It could be that something happened and made Aran return to normal or some sort of miracle happened to him.

“Maybe it was the catacombs? With all the ancient spells placed in here, perhaps it might have cleansed him of whatever they did to him?” Dreyfus said and looked at the unconscious vampires. “We can test it out once these

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Chapter 56

vampires awaken.”

It sounded like a good idea. As of the moment, the best thing we could do was wait and see. From there, we determine the next course of action.

However, something kept tugging in my consciousness. For some reason, I have a feeling that something else made Aran return to normal.

Closing my eyes, I pinched the bridge of my nose. I have to find some answers as to how Henrietta became a vampire as well. I could not find any other reason as to how she became one. She was not bitten when she got attacked. The only time she got bitten was that night Aran attacked her but she did not show any signs of change

then.

Another thought tugged in me but before I could even acknowledge it, I heard the grunts of the vampire who as slowly regaining consciousness.

“We have movement,” Dreyfus declared, his voice carrying a note of urgency. I looked up and saw one of the vampires shifting on the floor. I remained seated on the ground, watching what would happen.

The va

vampire opened its eyes and then suddenly, his eyes met ours. It still has the same color– bright and wild.

He started running towards us but the invisible barrier was there to stop him. He tried again, but the results were the same. A normal vampire would have stopped immediately. However, the vampire in front of us kept on charging forward as though it does not know how to think at all.

Dreyfus and Aran took a step back and Aiden looked at me.

“I guess the catacombs is not our answer. They are not returning to normal,” Aran said.

I racked my brain, trying to think about any other possibilities. Aran might have been just experimental and perhaps, whatever they were doing, it wasn’t as strong. Maybe that was why Aran easily returned to normal.

The other vampires started to wake up. The moment they realized where they were, they started to ram themselves into the invisible barrier, only for their efforts to go in vain. The catacombs did not make them return

to normal. What made Aran different?

However, as I pondered about it, a thought came across me once again. There is only logical explanation for all of this, I stood from where I was sitting and looked at them.

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“Henrietta is a vampire,” I blurted out and they looked at me in confusion.

“What?” Aiden looked at me like I had just lost my mind.

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“She turned into a vampire. Or that’s what I thought. But perhaps…she’s already a vampire before all of this.”

Aiden turned. “Did you just say that Henrietta turned into a vampire?”

“How is that even possible?” Dreyfus inquired but I faced Aran.

“You attacked her that night,” I began and before he could say something, I went on, “You drank her blood. It wasn’t the catacombs that turned you back to normal. It was her blood. Because from the very beginning, she’s always been a hybrid.”

They were all silent. The only sound that we could hear was the grunts and groans of the vampires trying to get out of the invisible cage. The weight of my words nestled in them and they looked like they were pondering the possibility of it.

“But how…how was she able to hide it if she’s been a vampire all this time? And why did it only come out now?”

I shook my head. “I am not sure as well but I will make sure to find the answer. Perhaps Henrietta might be the key to help us solve this dilemma.”

IfI dug deeper, perhaps I might be able to find answers to Aran’s case as well.

“I need to talk to Nadia. I want you three in the manor. Henrietta is asleep but I don’t know how long my compulsion will work. I need to go. Make sure she does not go out and do everything necessary to stop her should she insist. We can’t let her out, especially in her state.”

I immediately ran outside however, before I could even speed up, I felt someone’s hand gripping my shoulder. I turned only to see Dreyfus. His face was grave but as I stared deeper, I saw the hope and desperation in his eyes.

“Who are you?” he asked.

I stared at him. I know what the Vampire Prince means to him. One thing I admire about Dreyfus is his loyalty to his people and his faith in the Kingdom of Aldoria. He believes that the Vampire Prince was created out of desperation by the vampires that were left alive after the war. The thought of the vampire prince coming back to give them redemption was something that kept them going.

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Chapter 56

What they don’t know is that the Vampire Prince is very real. That he is not a mere myth.

However, I can’t tell him now who I truly am.

“I am who you think I am, Dreyfus. One thing you know now is that I am not your enemy. I am here to help.”

“But you’re a wolf. How are you able to do what vampires can?”

I grabbed his hand and said, “There will be a right time for this conversation, Dreyfus. For now, we have vampires to save.”

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Before he could even–respond, I was gone in front of him and I raced through the woods, letting the surroundings

blur around me.

I have mysteries to solve and I don’t have the luxury of