As the full moon ascended higher in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the Moon Palace, everyone stood in tense anticipation. But nothing happened. The massive stone gate before them remained unmoved, its ancient symbols and carvings taunting them with their silence. Alia furrowed her brow, contemplating the mystery of the gates.
"The broken claws must be the key to opening the second gate," she murmured aloud, breaking the silence. "Beyond this gate, there should be a third one. It would likely bear the symbol of vampires, as the blood flowing is the key to opening it. After that, the Moon Palace should open completely."
Howard, standing nearby, followed her train of thought and offered his own insights. "Exactly. But what intrigues me is why a human-powered palace of worship like this requires both werewolves and vampires to open. It's especially curious given that we have both here today." He gestured to Talon and Alia with a smirk, as if the answer was obvious.
"A trap," Howard concluded, his eyes narrowing slightly. However, he seemed neither worried nor nervous about this possibility. He turned to Alia, his gaze piercing as he added, "Humans as clever and brave as you are rare. Deciphering this puzzle is not difficult, but for you, a mere human, to stand here and analyze it with me, despite being under Talon's protection, is quite bold. In the face of absolute power, conspiracies and traps become meaningless. Follow me inside, and I will protect you. Afterward, you may come with me. I permit you to become my follower."
Alia's heart raced at Howard's words. The first part of his speech made her wonder if he had discerned her true identity as a vampire. But as he continued, arrogance dripping from his voice, she felt a surge of fury. Her? A follower? She was of royal blood, a true vampire princess. How dare he offer such an insult? Still, she kept her emotions in check. If she wasn't careful, Howard might sense her bloodline and expose her true nature to everyone present.
"No need," Alia replied, her tone steady but firm. "I have my own means of protection."
Howard gave her a sideways glance, clearly uninterested in further conversation with her. He shifted his attention to Talon, saying, "You heard the plan. This first gate is for your werewolves to open, and the next will be our responsibility, the responsibility of the vampires."
Alia, sensing a chance to clarify the mystery, interjected, "Talon, when they say 'broken claws,' it doesn't mean literal harm to your people. I believe it refers to the ancient practice where werewolves were used as keys, their claws inserted into these holes in the monument, exerting downward force. In the past, many werewolves lost their lives in this ritual. That's why they refer to 'broken claws.'"
Talon's eyes flickered with a mix of relief and anger. He was grateful that no werewolf would need to be sacrificed today, but the implication that his ancestors had been used this way stirred a deep-seated resentment.
Howard, ever pragmatic, commented, "Don't hold a grudge over past events. The Moon Palace's power once surpassed both werewolves and vampires. It's only natural they imposed such conditions. Besides, in the next phase, 'blood flowing' will likely require our vampire blood."
Alia couldn't hide her surprise. Howard's knowledge of the Moon Palace's inner workings was startling. Who exactly was this vampire lord, and how did he know so much?
Talon, his face darkened by the weight of this knowledge, turned to Charles and said, "I wasn't keen on cooperating with them initially, but it's clear someone is trying to trap us all. Let's open the gates first. After we enter and deal with whoever is pulling the strings behind the scenes, we'll figure out what to do with whatever treasures are inside. Everyone will have their fair shot at claiming them."
Charles gave a curt nod of agreement, and with that, the plan was set into motion.
Talon and Alia moved toward the werewolf section of their group. As they walked, Howard called out to Alia, his voice dripping with curiosity, "What's your name? Who are you?"
Without missing a beat, Alia replied, "I'm Alia, just a scout. Nothing more. Please, Vampire Lord, stop concerning yourself with me." She maintained her composure, carefully suppressing any signs of her true bloodline as she left with Talon.
Back in the werewolf camp, Alia and Talon relayed the plan to the others. Emma, ever brave, volunteered. "Let me do it," she said confidently. "If anything goes wrong, Talon and Peter can step in and pull me back."
Peter, never one to back down, immediately countered, "No, I'll do it." He glanced at Emma, his protective instincts clear.
Seeing the eagerness of both, Alia stepped in. "There's no need for alarm," she reassured them. "According to my analysis, this step carries minimal risk. However, we should be prepared for any unforeseen dangers when the vampires open the final gate. Peter, Talon, be ready for combat. Emma, I believe you can open the gate safely."
Talon nodded in agreement. "Yes, Emma, you'll open the gate. The rest of us will stand guard and be prepared for battle if needed."
With the plan agreed upon, Leona stepped forward, placing her massive sword next to Emma as a gesture of protection. "Don't worry," she said firmly. "I'll be by your side. You focus on opening the gate; I'll make sure no harm comes to you." Her tone left no room for doubt.
Emma, grateful for Leona's support, gave her a small nod of thanks before stepping up to the stone monument. The others formed a protective circle around her, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any threats.
With determination, Emma transformed her hand into claws and inserted them into the three holes in the monument. Slowly, she exerted downward pressure, and with a deep rumble, the monument began to sink into the ground.
The second gate of the Moon Palace creaked open, but instead of revealing the expected vampire symbol, something else appeared—a Tai Chi symbol, spinning slowly in the moonlight.