Vampires were a peculiar race amongst the Cryptids.
They were the only race blessed with functional immortality.
Unlike dragons and gryphons that lived for long periods but still died from old age, as long as a vampire was not killed, they cannot die.
Which meant that a Vampire that wanted to could live forever.
All they had to do was avoid conflicts and lead peaceful lives.
Because of this, a vampire's power would most times be measured by their age.
So for a vampire like Victoria that had lived for almost 800 years, there were not many she had come across that could suppress her.
Of course, she never went above her means but after so long, one would think she would be sensible enough to discern those she shouldn't mess with.
But then again, it seemed even the discernment she had built up over so many years was unable to save her from the humiliation she was currently experiencing.
Forced to kneel before Alex as a starry sky covered their location, Victoria was left completely speechless.
Meeting Alex's disdainful gaze, she shook and quickly dropped her head.
No words were spoken but the pressure Alex's presence had was enough to put her in her place.
"I…"
"Do you dare still make me your pet?" Alex asked, cutting her off.
Victoria trembled as she slowly replied. "...I wouldn't dare."
Alex glanced at Douglas still hanging in midair. "Take him down from there."
Victoria nodded without raising her head as she ordered the cat on her neck to release Douglas from his bindings.
Placing Douglas gently on the floor, the cat returned to her neck and waited for her next assignment.
Alex noticed her still shaking and couldn't help but wonder if she was that scared of him.
He had already retracted the pressure from Nyx's authority yet…
Not reading much into it, he inquired. "You poisoned him?"
"...Y…yes. It's a special mix of wolfsbane and garlic, both of which are known weaknesses of werewolves and Vampires."
"Why did you give it to him?"
"As a form of training, ma…mister."
Alex raised a brow. "Training?"
"Yes. Training his endurance… Douglas is a Hybrid, the first of his kind. Everything about him is unknown so I'm…"
"Experimenting on him?"
"...Yes."
Alex glanced at Douglas's unmoving body. "Will he die?"
"No." Victoria quickly replied. "I wouldn't allow that. Please trust me."
"Hmm… alright then. But if anything happens to him… I will come for you. Remember that."
"Thank you for trusting me."
Alex looked her over for a moment before turning away and walking towards Emily.
He crouched beside her body and placed his palm on her cheek.
"I said I'd take you back home but now… I don't think I'll be able to." Alex muttered softly.
With how dangerous things were in BoneHaven, he wasn't about to take Emily over.
He was already considering how to get there on time and then taking a second person?... It didn't seem doable.
Letting out a sigh, he didn't want to but he had no choice.
Emily would have to be left behind.
It was unfortunate that because of her brothers, she was dragged into a most uncanny world with dangers everywhere.
Alex rose to his feet and then turned to Victoria. "You."
"Yes, mas…mister."
Furrowing his brows, Alex said. "You can lift your head."
"I don't think it's proper."
"I insist."
Victoria paused before she slowly nodded in response.
Taking a moment, she raised her head, revealing the sensual expression she had on her face.
With how red her cheeks were, one would think she was… turned on?
Alex frowned. "Is something wrong with you?"
"N..no. it's just. No man has ever treated me the way you have and… I don't know.." Victoria trailed off as she quickly turned away to hide her face.
Alex's eyebrows twitched but he decided not to address the topic any further.
"I will have to leave now."
"Mis…master. I mean, Mister." Victoria was completely flustered with no way to regain her bearings.
Finding it quite difficult to keep a straight face, Alex turned away before he spoke.
"I will leave them in your care. If anything happens to them… I will look for you, I will find you… and I will kill you."
"Ngh." A strange sound suddenly escaped Victoria's lips causing Alex to glance back in utter disbelief.
'The fuck was that!'
Victoria dropped her head down and for a moment, an awkward silence existed between the two.
Alex took quite some time to regain his composure as he coughed awkwardly.
"Well then, I will take my leave."
Turning around, he was about to snap when Victoria called to him.
"Mis…master. I mean, Mister."
"...Yes?"
"Where are you going?"
Alex slowly turned to face her again.
Seeing how nervous and horny she was, Alex couldn't help but wonder if he had overdone it.
He only wanted to scare her off but this… wasn't this a bit much?
This was a whole new level of strange, high above Arthur and Ana.
He wondered if he was strange, which was why he was attracting such types into his life.
Sighing helplessly, he replied. "BoneHaven."
"...How do you intend to get there?"
"Why?"
"...I can help you."
"Hmm?" Alex raised a brow as his interest was piqued.
"Well, I'm not disparaging your great might but then, if there is an opportunity for easy travel, shouldn't you take it?"
Alex pondered the suggestion and found it to be quite reasonable.
Initially, he had also wondered how he would get to BoneHaven before it was too late.
Public transport was out of it and private transport would be a waste of time.
So, he was left with supernatural means but his teleportation only worked when he could see where he was going.
It was unfortunate he hadn't still mastered placing markers.
Naturally, since he couldn't see BoneHaven from Townsend, he had no choice but to teleport multiple times.
Just the thought of that alone was already exhausting, talk more of the actual task.
If indeed Victoria had the means to get him over there before it was too late, was there a need to waste his energy?
Glancing at her, he remarked. "What method do you wish to use?"
"Navigating the Spirit world."
"Hmm?"
Victoria quickly explained. "My bloodline is that of Spiritomancy. By signing contracts with spirits, we gain access to familiars which allows us access to the Spirit world.
"With that access, I'm able to traverse that plane as I want, reaching places in the real world by entering a corresponding node in the Spirit world."
Alex nodded thoughtfully. "Is that how you arrived here after Douglas sent the message?"
"Yes, master. May I call you master?"
"You are already doing so though."
"But you haven't approved yet."
"... Do whatever you want." Alex didn't bother driving the matter.
He didn't think he would cross paths with her again and even if he did, as long as he didn't overthink it, he should be fine.
"So how long would it take to get to BoneHaven from here?"
Victoria closed her eyes and after a full minute passed, opened them again.
"Roughly two hours."
"Good enough." Alex nodded in satisfaction. "Let's go."
"At once, master," Victoria said as she turned toward a certain direction and stretched out her hand with her palm wide open.
Then, she began to chant. "Open sesame."
Alex raised a brow at the strange term used only to be even more shocked as the space in front of Victoria opened up, revealing an alternate dimension.
"That works?"
Victoria revealed a sensual smile. "Yes, master. If one that isn't accepted by the Spirits attempts to chant it, their souls would immediately suffer a terrible backlash, leading to varying degrees of injuries, and of course…it won't still open."
"I understand. Let's go." Alex said only to pause as he recalled something. "What about Douglas and Emily?"
"Don't worry master. They are safe."
"Hmm." Alex pursed his lips before ultimately nodding.
"Alright, let's go."
With that, he stepped into the spatial tunnel with Victoria following closely behind.
Once the tunnel closed, a certain fox-like creature with three tails revealed itself as it muttered.
"Is that dark god gone yet?"