Chapter 37
Standing outside the surrounding boulders were the Elite Guards, wearing gray capes, holding a sharp spear in their right hands. Eleanor walked pa.s.sed them, staring with furrowed brows to a man who's skin was s.h.i.+ning under the moonlight. She breathed deeply before diverting her gaze towards the hostages.
"Are you positive they're well-chained?" she asked the Elite near her.
He narrowed his eyes. "Affirmative. Their chains contained poisons. If they get wounded with their desperation to escape, the poison will seep through their skin and melt what's left of them."
Eleanor's eyes widened. It only took a little of her strength to knock him down. "Are you trying to kill his majesty? This is treason—"
"There's no need for you to get upset," Xavier interrupted, "I just want to make sure everything will go as plan, and you have no choice but to oblige. Do you know what I mean, or do you want me to show you what exactly would happen to those who go against my will?" His arms were crossed as he eyed Eleanor like a wolf, ready to pounce his prey.
"I understand, your majesty." Eleanor bowed her head slightly. "I just thought that the king, your son, don't deserve to die that disgraceful—"
"That is not for you to decide as well. Tell me, Eleanor, where does your loyalty lie?" Xavier inclined his head. "I just get the feeling that you're going to turn your tail against me. A fair warning, don't p.i.s.s me off!" He moved slightly and was in front of Eleanor in a blink, patting her back gently with a low snarl.
Closing her eyes, Eleanor said, "Louise said that you will kill Vladimir," she paused, daring herself to stare at Xavier's lifeless...o...b... "That's not we'd agreed upon. I did not enter this contract—"
"Ah, Eleanor! My dear, dear, Eleanor! You are blinded by your l.u.s.t—"
"This isn't l.u.s.t! I'm only following your orders because you told me that Zheira would die and Vladimir would be mine—"
Xavier hissed. "Stop dreaming! My son will never look at you the way he looks at Zheira. You are too late." He patted the top of her head gently. "So why don't you act like a dog you usually are, okay?"
"I shouldn't have trusted you." Eleanor gritted her teeth, putting her hand to his back. "I will kill you! I will kill you!" She hurriedly grabbed her dagger and plunged its tip deeper into Xavier's chest.
He didn't so much as winced, but the surrounding Elites gasped. They're about to attack Eleanor when Xavier raised his hand. He shook his head. "That right there is your ticket to h.e.l.l."
Shouting, Eleanor pulled the dagger and sliced it relentlessly to his body. However, there wasn't a single scratch that dented his skin.
"Tch. Tch. You never learn." Xavier hit her in the head, sending her towards the boulder of rocks. She coughed as pain crawled in her back. It didn't cross her mind how strong the former king had been.
"I hate
"Y—you won't get away with this!" Eleanor tried standing but a red-like chain brought her back down.
"I already did." Xavier squeezed his fist, and the chain binding her tightened. Eleanor's screams rented the air as it penetrated her bone. She could hear it broke as the chain drew deeper. It was a pain like no other. All of a sudden, cracks slithered through her skin. It filled her body in a blink. Her eyes bulged as she stared at Xavier who gave her an evil smile. It happened so fast. One moment, Eleanor was writhing on the ground, but now, all that could be seen was a pile of smoke.
"Louise," Xavier called, "I trust you're not here to give me bad news, or else you'll suffer the same fate this traitor face."
Louise was hiding behind a tree, shaken by what he'd witnessed. "I—I've done what y—you asked me to. The mortal realm is in chaos." He forced himself to walked towards the former king.
"Excellent work. Now give Vladimir's blood." He raised his open palm, his eyes still set to the pile of smoke where Eleanor should have been. Such a waste of a talented vampire, he thought.
"I—it has been broken—"
"You broke it? Unbelievable! Do I have to do things on my own? You're all useless!" His cold voice carried out at the forest, making crows flew out of their way. Louise gulped while the Elite Guards cowered, gripping their spear tightly to stop themselves from shaking.
"Forgive me—"
"I don't need your stinking apology! What I need is good results for the task I've entrusted you with!" He pushed him back with his forefinger, glaring at him. "You're of no use to me!" With one last glare, he walked pa.s.sed him. Louise released a deep. He'd thought perhaps he'd die on the spot. Fortunately, the former king was merciful. At least, he'd live. How very wrong he was.
When Xavier pa.s.sed by an Elite, he gave him a slight nod. The Elite bowed before he sneaked behind Louise. Xavier heard an exchange of punches, but in the end, someone had been pierced. He looked back and snickered at the pile of smoke dancing in the air.
Now that his allies had been sort out, he needs to step ahead of his plans. His eyes were fixed at Vladimir's s.h.i.+ning skin. It's like small diamonds were surrounding his body.
The sudden flickering of light caught Xavier's attention. He looked up and saw a small shadow slowly covering the moon. His time's coming to an end. He needs to finish this now, or he'll lose the chance.
In a flash, he injected a syringe in Vladimir's neck. When Xavier extracted it, it was filled with a thick crimson-blood. He then injected Vladimir's blood to the six unconscious mortals tied in the boulders of rocks. His moves were too fast it's as if six figures were moving at once.
He waited with bated breath as the blood flow through the mortal's weak veins. He could feel it move towards their heart, felt it melt any traces of the mortals. A light-hearted laugh issued from his throat when their heart stopped beating. They're engulfed with an eerie silence, but it seemed that Xavier's still waiting for something to happen, because he's narrowing his eyes to the mortals.
Instantly, purplish veins bulked at the poor mortal's temple. It was crawling towards there cheeks where thin bluish veins crept. Their blended screams echoed in the forest as a shadow engulf their irises. It didn't take long 'till they stop screaming. They looked down for a moment before, with an ear-splitting sound, they started tras.h.i.+ng from the binding, growling while black saliva drools over their mouths.
The Elites stared with wide-eye at the tras.h.i.+ng mortals. They were so strong that cracks were starting to dance in the rocks binding them.
At that moment, Vladimir started stirring. The noise was irritating his sensitive ears. At first, all he could see was a fuzzy line, and a big stooping figure. He blinked rapidly, allowing his vision to adjust.
"Did you like them? I've prepared everything for you, your majesty." Xavier stretched his hand on the side and bowed slightly with a mock smile.
Vladimir's eyes landed at Zheira. She was hanging upside down on a tall, rough rock. His eyes widened. "W—what d—did you do t—to her?" He tried moving away from the chain, but it only stretched itself and tightened its grip as it came pelting back.
Xavier followed his stares. "Wonderful, isn't she?"
"G—get h—h—her out of the—there!" Vladimir winced. The chain was doing its best for him to be in pain.
"Nah. Can't take orders from you, my dear son! No worries, though. You'll have her back after I'm done."
His brows puckered and his body started shaking. "D—don't do—do it, please!"
"I like you begging! Do it again." Xavier relaxed his hand on his back, amusing himself with his son's stupidity.
Biting his lips, he whispered, "Please!"
"Alright then. I'll male this quick and painless."
Vladimir's hoa.r.s.e voice reverberated in the stillness of the night the moment a knife pierced Zheira's chest. Her blood squirted towards Xavier's face. He licked it with closed eyes. "You didn't tell me this girl is very delicious. She's good for an appetizer." He slightly turned his head to see Vladimir's horrified look.
Serves you right, he thought savagely.