Aelvien stood unmoving in front of Rouen, who was presently sitting on the bench with the sleeping girl in his arms. The moment he took control of Rouen's mind, he watched how protectiveness overflowed from the prince while he held the girl securely close to him, as if he did not want a single scratch to befall her.
What was it he said? "Touch a single strand of her hair and I'll decapitate you." He smiled at that.
Would a guy be that protective if he doesn't feel something towards a girl? Someone who is not his beloved? No. So Rouen's intentions towards her must be true after all.
"Shall I leave you two alone?" He asked in a whisper, but he knew only he could give an answer to that.
What Aelvien didn't expect was that the other side of the prince would awaken when he unmercilessly killed the girl right in front of him. Even in the present, away from the fake reality he had shown him and made him think he had experienced, Rouen's presence changed to that of a more dangerous one as his pupils turned to slits like that of an angered beast. The beast that is Rouen in the flesh only ever cared about the life of the girl in his arms and nothing else. He awakened forcefully because of her, did he not? Making him see the person he awakened for, dying right in front of him, making him witness how she took her last breath and making him hear the last beat of her heart, brought him to a corner where he wanted nothing but to destroy everything, because the thing he treasured the most, the person who was keeping his wrath away from everything else is gone.
Rouen is ready to kill anyone on his way and leave nothing but chaos and darkness. He is determined to cause a bloodshed that will paint the ground red and will leave a mountain of corpses behind. And he is ready to let all hell break lose, because in his subconscious, he witnessed the death of the human being he cared about the most right in front of him, something that Rouen had a hard time accepting because he wanted her to live.
Aelvien only ever wanted to test him and he passed. But Rouen's anger caused by the thought that the woman he holds close in his heart is dead is starting to create havoc even in the present. With an even breath, Aelvien looked up. The situation is starting to get dangerous, but he is not even the least worried. The dome of aura he created to hide what was happening in the back garden, outside the Crystal Manor where the soiree is still being held, is starting to get thinner by the minute, as if it is being slowly melted, because it is being affected by Rouen's power. The brick ground cracked at an uneven length and an oppressive power suddenly engulfed the place they were at, which was slowly spreading from the centerpoint that was Rouen himself.
Aelvien knew he needed to stop Rouen because the prince might unknowingly cause a complete disorder because of what he thought had happened to the girl he was protecting. But before he could move another step towards the couple, swords positioned at the front and back of his neck from his sides stopped him midway. One move and his neck or nape would meet the edge of their blades, but it isn't like he could not disappear from there and render their efforts useless.
"Silver Bloods," he acknowledged.
With his blood as a Royal and power as the Monarch, he could easily tell which Pureblood had sired their family's blood. All of them were those who brought disorder to the higher kingdom of vampires and others, especially in the world of the living. They are Nobles whom he is currently hunting from the day he woke up from his sleep because he knew their existence would only bring about another war, chaos and bloodshed. It is something he could not afford to happen again if only he could prevent it. He knew if it ever happened again, it would be more chaotic, bloody and tragic than the first.
The Silvers are the successors of the Noble Bloods who had betrayed Elysia, but they are unaware of it, much like the prince who was the heir apparent of Victor Landegrei, a Royal Blood who is among the traitors that turned the world upside down during the First Blood War. Their hate towards the vampires from higher society has a ground and he understood that. Being inheritors, they are bound to follow the words of those who had sired their blood the second their paths cross, not unless their connection was severed, which only him, as the Monarch, was capable of severing. And depending on what is going to happen tonight, he might or might not sever that bond they shared with the Purebloods who had chosen to betray him.
The two never said a word. In fact, they didn't even move an inch because their priority was to keep the prince safe from him, who for them was a stranger and a trespasser. It is a responsibility that their blood is obliged to follow. A few seconds later, another Silver Blood appeared right in front of him. Those forest green eyes that seemed to penetrate a soul had now become familiar from the few times they had met. Aelvien recognized him immediately and he smiled at him knowingly. Sin looked at him as if he was seeing a ghost. He must never have expected he'd see him personally tonight after what happened last night in the girl's dreams - something that was caused by two female Silver Bloods who were punished immediately at sunrise this morning.
The successor of Figlia Adair, Sin Aragorn Edelweiss, the successor of Jerod Severus, Caius Cyprian Ahlefeldt and the successor of Forrest Sirian, Mihai Alexandru Elfenbrehm. Three Dukedom heirs from the renowned duchies of Aceldama - born vampires whose strength was only a level lower than the prince himself and are certainly on par with most of the Purebloods from the higher vampire society. It is something that born vampires like them are privileged to have in their blood even if the reality that they are from the lower vampire society holds them back. If only they could get rid of that thought and live up to the blood that was gifted to them. They'd certainly reach higher ground.
The dome is still in effect but the Silvers were able to enter it because it is starting to fade. Rouen, whose mind is still under his control, is unknowingly rendering it useless by his power that is oozing from him right at this moment.
"Move another step and we will end your life right here, Noble Blood," Caius gritted.
From birth, they were taught about their beginning and no matter how much they rationalize everything, they still end up despising the existence of the vampires from the higher society because it was them who murdered human beings due to their greed and excitement that they had gained access to a human's blood without restrictions. It was them who damned them to this kind of life after their victims were turned into vampires out of their own free will. Their people only ever multiplied because such disgusting acts conducted by the Nobles themselves were repeated one after the other, creating more victims and turned vampires along the way.
"Aren't you informed that Purebloods actually consist of two vampire bloods? Why do you keep calling me a Noble?"
"Well, we - " Caius was not able to finish what he was about to say because another voice interrupted him.
"Lower your swords, Silvers. Hence, we'll end your prince right here."
All eyes fell on where the voice came from and Aelvien pursed his lips because he knew that the arrival of those who guarded him was a signal that he wouldn't be able to be in that place for long. He didn't expect they'd be able to follow him here immediately. Sin, Caius and Mihai had their guard up immediately and their eyes glistened dangerously under the moonlight, ready to fight to the death if it came down to it. Their fangs lengthened and they hissed and growled at those they considered a threat. Their instinct to protect the crown prince as Silver Bloods, took over the three of them when they saw two modified human beings who held Rouen at gun point and at a sword's edge.
"Tresspassers." Mihai said in a whisper.
How did they enter the lands of Laudicea without being noticed by the sentinels stationed around it? Besides, the security is even tighter tonight because of the soiree, yet they got this close to them without even feeling their presence. Sin immediately went to his friend's rescue and flashed towards those who held Rouen captive, but before he could even reach them, another modified human, one of which was a werewolf, appeared and pushed him back rather strongly. With his quick reflexes, Sin turned airborne to balance his fall and he fell on the ground with his two feet but also with his hands that supported his weight. The brick floor crumbled beneath him but he never gave it any attention. Both the upper and lower teeth of the modified human being who was turned into a werewolf were elongated, turning them into canines. His nails were also protracted like that of a real wolf and his silver fur covered almost all of his skin from his upper body while his eyes gleamed silver angrily. He tried to invade his mind and control him from there but he was not able to do so.
How far have humans progressed all this time to be able to create such beings? They are no longer naturals, but they can't be considered as supernaturals either. They are beings who stood in the middle ground - humans but can no longer be considered as one, a supernatural but at the same time not. They are the ones who were created through unending experiments, something that had a lot of failures stacked up in the past until their successful creation.
They have neglected to watch over the movements of naturals after all this time while thinking that they can never be a threat to them, but seeing these three, it seems like they have to start monitoring them immediately if they don't want chaos to settle down in between races, creating the Second Blood War that is about to take place where Rouen himself will stand in the middle of it according the the Book of Unknown Prophecies.
"Settle down, all of you," another voice interceded before Blaze appeared there with them with Siegrain by his side. "That is if you don't want this place to disappear from your maps by the end of the night."
His voice held authority but none of them moved away from their positions and each side still had their guard up. Before Blaze could even say another word, Siegrain let his power go out of control when he saw his master being threatened and before the Silvers could react, floating black swords surrounded them from all directions, ready to strike them down upon Siegrain's command.
"You dare point your swords at my master?" Siegrain gritted as his blue eyes gleamed dangerously. "You must be wishing for your life to end tonight."
Siegrain really intended to attack but he immediately halted his plan and the swords stopped midway from striking when Aelvien looked in his direction. Even without a word of command, because of the blood contract he himself had willingly signed back then, Siegrain always knew whether the Monarch wanted him to let loose and untangle his chains or to stop everything at once. Most of the time it was the latter. This time is one of them.
Mihai and Caius felt the danger Siegrain possesses like it was his own and with the black swords floating around them, they were left with nothing but to think about what might or might not happen depending on their decisions. They knew they should prioritize Rouen's safety first, but they were also aware that they needed to restrain or, when it came down to it, kill those who threatened the safety and peace of their kingdom. But will they even be able to do that? Even if they are Silver Bloods, they are outnumbered. And their instincts as predators tell them that the beings with the red and golden eyes are far more dangerous than what they are showing them. It also applies to the human who controls the black floating swords.
Mihai frowned. How could he possess such power when he is presently giving off the presence that he is human and nothing beyond that? Is he a modified human, too? If so, then why doesn't he give off the same presence as those three who held Rouen hostage? But for a human being, is it even possible to have power as strong as the one he wields?
Blaze sighed like a father having problems restraining his sons who started to fight because of their only sister and it was started by the eldest, who was none other than Aelvien. Three of the youngest had taken his side and the remaining three had taken Rouen's. He almost laughed at that thought.
"Are you aware that your thoughts have just become questionable?" Aelvien asked him through telepathy.
"I know. That is why I cut it off immediately. There is no way you will be my son. We're just about the same age after all."
"You are a few months older than me. But still, don't think of yourself as my father. It makes me want to kill you for some reason."
Blaze only chuckled at that statement before he focused all his attention on what was happening around them. He didn't have any other choice but to exert his authority over them all. It was the only way to stop them and make them see reason. This was supposed to be a peaceful night - one that was supposed to end happily for the couple, Rouen and Eona. But the bloddletting that happened between them just a moment ago drove Aelvien to act out on his own. They have been watching from the sidelines. They never planned to show themselves to the vampires of lower society, especially in front of the Gold and Silver borns, but they unexpectedly witnessed Eona undergoing bloodletting under the hands of the prince. No matter how much they restrained Aelvien, no matter how much they insist that she went through it willingly, the fact that the blood of the girl Aelvien is protecting was spilled in a way that has someone else benefitted from it, drove him to ignore everything and show himself in front of the crown prince of Aceldama.
Blaze's eyes gleamed golden underneath the moonlight and his presence engulfed them all. The pressure he put on them cannot be compared to anything else and it was then when the Silvers realized that he was not an ordinary werewolf. For the first time, they felt like they were doomed if they didn't follow his command or surrender. Who are these people? A group with a Pureblood, a Great Wolf, a human and three modified human beings certainly raises suspicion, especially when they possess powers that can not be considered ordinary. Why are they even working together in the same group to begin with? Aren't modified humans supposed to be working for the organization that created them?
"I told you to settle down. You are all so busy threatening each other that you didn't even notice the prince's power was getting out of hand. And without Aelvien's power, it had long reached those who are inside the banquet hall."
"What?"
"Look around you."
They did. And what they saw diverted away all of their attention from each other. They have forgotten that they are supposed to kill each other because the situation at hand is much more grave. They need to do something or else Rouen's power will ruin a part of Laudicea without him being aware of it. The water in the fountain along with the pool is frozen and all the plants at a certain radius from where they are at were frosted. The birds that fly past them fall and break upon impact on the ground because they too are being turned into ice crystals. The cracked floorbed even became worse, as if a huge earthquake was happening underground, ruining the landscaped space behind the manor.
Blaze then focused his attention on his friend who stood by the edge of the swords of Mihai and Caius. He had chosen to stay still even if he could actually overpower the Silvers.
"Aelvien, what did you do?"
"I killed the girl," he nonchalantly answered.
All Silvers looked back at him, their eyes openly showed the anger they felt at the news they had just heard. Their emotions clouded their judgement and it made them unable to hear her even breathing and the soft beating of her heart that was thumping steadily inside her chest.
"What the hell did you say?"
Aelvien chuckled. It seems like it isn't only the Gold Blood who is ready to protect her when needed and knowing that made him feel at ease a little. He guessed he really needed to sever their bond with their Noble Blood predecessors before he left this place tonight. Knowing that they cared about the girl under his protection, that was the only thing he could do for them.
He glanced at Saber. "Get the girl away from the prince. He will attack the moment I release my hold on him."
With questions in his eyes, Saber who had turned back into his human being form, followed Aelvien's order and took Eona away from the prince's hold. For a while, all of them waited for what he was about to do. The Silvers moved away from him while Archer and Lancer moved out of the way. They all waited and the second Aelvien released his control over Rouen's mind, he growled angrily accompanied by grief and the frost surrounding them doubled. The whites of his eyes turned black and his eyes glistened even more. His pupils that turned into slits made him look like the beast that he is - a demon that cares about nothing but spilling blood.
Ice crystals engulfed the whole garden. If it was not because of their abilities, they would have frozen to death too.
When he saw Aelvien standing there, Rouen flashed towards him with the full intention of killing him, but Archer and Lancer's instinct to protect the Monarch took over them, so they stood in Rouen's way. Siegrain was not able to get in between them because he was ordered not to do anything while Blaze just watched. Lancer and Archer were able to stop his assault immediately but they were only able to withstand him for a few minutes.
"Ah, damn it," Siegrain cursed before he moved himself to help out. He is aware that Aelvien will be displeased, but he can't let any harm befall him.
With Siegrain's assistance as well as all the three Silvers, they were able to restrain Rouen before he even reached the Monarch, but his hate, rage and anguish were still there in his eyes as he struggled.
"How dare you?! I will kill you! I will kill you!"
Aelvien smiled, pleased. He walked forward, towards Rouen, who was being restrained by all his friends. He held out his hand and touched his forehead using his forefinger. With his gleaming red eyes, he looked at him straight in the eyes.
"Return, Gold Blood," was all he said to him.
Rouen's hostility settled down until his eyes returned to their normal color, his fangs receded, his pupils now round again.
"Are you here with us, prince?"
"You?!"
Rouen was about to attack but they held him down on the ruined floor. He glared at his friends.
"She's alive."
"What?"
Aelvien looked at the bench where Saber had settled the sleeping girl down. Rouen tried to calm himself. His lips trembled and he bit his lower lip to keep himself composed when he saw her chest slowly rising up and down. He could hear her breathing and he could hear her heart beating clearly. She is alive. For a while he stared at her. The mere thought of her death drove him to madness. Something that had never happened to him before. Is this what it feels like to care, to love? He may not feel the pull of a beloved from her, but that woman would surely be his downfall one day.
"How…"
"One of the reasons your race hates us - mind control. If I am not mistaken, in the lower vampire society, you call it compulsion. But a Pureblood's power to control one's mind, even though we don't use it often, can never be compared to anyone. Purebloods who are under the rule of the Archduke can only use that ability during assignments. But I am a different matter. I am covered by the laws of Elysia and, at the same time, privileged to break them at my will if my purpose and responsibility requires it. I can change people's memories en masse, I can erase everything and instill false ones - without the person himself or those around him even noticing the changes. Those who fell under my control live their lives normally as if nothing was wrong and they are not even aware that they are living a false life. That is how us Purebloods play with those who are not immune to our abilities. We are selfish that way."
"Why did you take control of mine? What could you have gained from it? You don't look like you plan to wage a war against this kingdom."
"What could I possibly gain from attacking a kingdom that lives peacefully with the laws that governs it under the rule of your present king? My existence and responsibility is for those who threaten the balance of life, not for those who keep it stable, no matter how thin the pillars have become compared to the Golden Age. I took control of your thoughts and showed you her death to test how far you would go for her. I need to know how much you are willing to do for the girl since I am about to entrust her life to you."
"You're the one protecting her," Rouen stated after a while.
The questions he and Sin formulated back then were true - a Pureblood is behind the reason as to why Eona's thoughts were guarded. And it is this Pureblood right in front of him.
"I am one of them and the other one is him, Blaze," Aelvien confirmed as he gestured to his friend.
Rouen frowned. "A werewolf?"
Why would beings from two different races protect a human?
Sin, on the other hand, was busy thinking back on the night Eona almost died at the hands of the Lepers. He knew he had seen a red and gold pair of eyes back then. He was sure that the two silhouettes he saw that night were real. And seeing Aelvien and Blaze right there in front of them, he couldn't help but think that the silhouettes he saw were them.
Aelvien looked at Sin and answered him through telepathy. "Yes, that was Blaze and I."
Blaze looked up and saw the aural dome which Aelvien created is now thinning and the moment it completely disappeared, every vampire would feel their presence. They cannot let them all know of their existence yet.
"Aelvien, we need to go."
Aelvien looked up then nodded before he glanced over at the four vampire borns who are destined to become the pillars of the lower vampire society depending on their future choices and decisions.
"I can sever your bond to the Purebloods who sired your blood. If you want to, I can do it right now."
All four of them looked dumbfounded.
"What?"
"Who are you to be able to do such things? The ones who sired our blood were no ordinary vampires."
"Yes, I am aware. But they are still those who walk below me. Vampires who have chosen to betray me in the past. They have surrendered their right to live the second they broke the law prohibiting them to victimize naturals."
Those who walk below him. His words hit them like lightning because it made them realize something - something which Sin had been made aware of all this time.
"Could you be the Monarch?" Rouen asked.
If he really is, then the wolf he called Blaze could only be the Werewolf Supreme, the one lycan who had befriended him. Why would the Monarch and the Werewolf Supreme themselves protect a mere human being? Who exactly is Eona to them? And aren't they supposed to be dead?
"Aelvien…" Blaze reminded him. "We can't let them know we're here."
Aelvien nodded at his friend, but if these four agreed, he only needed to cast his power and the rest would be up to them. They can leave immediately after he has done his part.
"We agree to have our bond with the ones who had sired our blood be severed tonight," Mihai stated.
They knew how strong that bond could be and even if they were born vampires of the lower society, if matter comes to worse, they'd be subjected to follow every word of the Pureblood who had turned their blood into what it is now. If they ordered them to kill, they would do so out of their own free will. Thinking about it, they don't want that happening even for a second. They will only ever have this chance once and if it can be severed, they'll take it with open arms.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," it was Caius this time.
"Bond severance comes with great suffering. It'll tear you up from inside out, making you wish you never should've agreed to it in the first place. If not, you'd wish you'd die immediately to escape the pain. Only a very few made it out alive and most ended up dead. Are you still willing to go through it?"
"Yes."
"After this, you will no longer be bonded to your predecessors. They will recognize you but can not order you to do their bidding. You will live your life free from the reins you were born to have. Until then, you have to survive what is about to take place tonight first."
They breathed in deep and nodded for him to start the process.
Aelvien said something in the language of Purebloods as his red eyes glowed. Aural chains appeared from the ground and attached themselves to their hands, rendering them incapable of doing anything but stand there.
"What's with the chains?"
"It's to keep you from doing anything rash. During the process, you will lose yourself. The pain will bring you to hell and back. It is to prevent any casualties. Believe me, you'll view everyone as an enemy and your instincts will tell you to kill."
They gulped as they started to suffer from cold sweat. Why didn't he tell them that sooner?
Not even a minute after, a red aura that looked like a phoenix appeared and settled on his arm like a falcon or an eagle would to its master. Aelvien said something in their language and the bird split into four before it flew and each entered them through their forehead. The second that it did, they all fell to the ground and screamed in pain.
Mihai cursed. "Fuck!"
"Resistance is useless because the pain will only ever intensify. The process will only be done when the seal of Aeternus completely etched itself on your whole body."
"Aeternus?" Sin asked as he gritted his teeth to keep himself from screaming. "The phoenix?"
"Yes."
"For how long are we going to endure this?" Caius asked with his uneven breath.
"It depends, but not later than sunrise," Aelvien answered before he glanced at the prince who clenched his teeth together. His eyes turned from their normal state to that of his beast form once in a while and then back. "Prince…"
Rouen groaned, trying not to growl or scream. The pain he is feeling right now cannot be compared to anything else. It's like being stabbed with a thousand silver blades and a thousand more. Like the others, he was kneeling on the ground. His fingers had already digged themselves on the paved floor like it had just become a lifeline. He looked at the Monarch. With the moon behind him, he looked otherworldly. Why didn't he notice it before? That he is way more different than any vampire he had ever encountered. All of them were expecting pain, but not this kind of pain where everything negative seemed to befall on them that instant. They could feel the marks ever so slowly being carved deep into their skin as if it was taking its sweet time to torture them.
"W-what?"
"I can only help you this one time, Gold Blood. Remember this: when the time comes that you need to choose who is to stand beside you, you can only trust and follow your heart."
Rouen frowned. Follow his heart? Is he supposed to choose his beloved?
"May you all survive this night," was what Aelvien told them before him and his companions disappeared one after the other until the only ones left were Rouen, Sin, Mihai, Caius and Eona.