In the Vampire Clan, few were pureblood vampires. Most were turned from humans. So, for a vampire to seek The Embrace wasn't difficult, but finding the right person to share it with was the real challenge.
Elysia fell silent for a moment, then mentioned two familiar names from the Clan's history: "You mean Esme and Lilith?"
Esme, age unknown, male, and the ancient Emperor of the Vampire Clan.
He was the most remarkable leader the Clan had ever known, unmatched in leadership skills and revered as the progenitor of the Vampire Clan. Under his reign, the Clan set its future course, and it was also during his time that the 'Eternal Peace Treaty' with humanity was signed, ushering in thousands of years of coexistence.
In ancient times, Esme fell in love with a human woman named Lilith.
Lilith adored green silk robes and the serenity of flowing rivers and vast skies.
To be near her, Esme draped himself in green robes and spent his days hidden in bamboo groves, quietly watching over the woman who had captured his heart.
But as time passed, Lilith grew old and her beauty withered. Unable to part from her, Esme bit her, fed her his blood, and killed her, seeking to bind them together in eternal life.
Afterward, the world gained a beautiful moonlit maiden, and the Vampire Clan lost one of its greatest leaders.
Elysia finally finished a blood bag and wiped her lips. "The Embrace is supposed to be mutual. Do you really like him? Does he like you?"
"..."
The laughter in Elena's eyes faltered, her gaze dimming as a melancholy swept over her.
In her mind, a fleeting thought, like the wind scattering the petals of a flower, left her feeling hollow.
"Elena, no matter how you feel, I don't agree with you giving that man The Embrace. Unless, of course, some miracle happens." Elysia's tone was serious. That man was a vampire hunter, after all!
Last night, he had set up a barrier outside her room, similar to an electronic radiation field, which had severely disturbed her sleep.
Elena sipped her blood, then turned her attention toward the windows.
She had seen a fleeting shadow outside just now. Was it Damon?
Elysia, following her gaze, squinted and then blinked in surprise. After a moment, she suddenly stood up, puzzled. "Elena, what's that over there?"
Outside, on the rooftop of a nearby building, a cloud of black smoke swirled in the afternoon sun, moving swiftly with the wind.
A shadowy figure emerged from the smoke, its cold and sharp features briefly visible—a handsome, fleeting face that disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
A strong gust of wind followed the figure, as though someone was chasing after it.
But when the wind died down, the rooftop remained spotless, not a single scrap of paper left behind.
Elena narrowed her eyes, silver glints flickering in her pupils. She remained silent, mulling over the scene.
In the entire Vampire Clan, the only one who could turn into mist to escape like that was the one still in slumber.
It seemed that a civil war was brewing, and the Clan members had recklessly awakened him.
But why had he entered the human realm?
Was it true, as Damon had suggested, that certain members of the Vampire Clan, after millennia of silence, were now openly defying the peace treaty with humanity?
This could be an extremely dangerous situation.
Though Elena didn't want to get involved with the young intruder, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. A child, no older than a fledgling, sneaking into the human world like this was troubling.
Elysia, too, quickly deduced the identity of the black smoke and remarked, "Elena, aren't you going to help him? He must be being pursued by the hunters. Otherwise, why would he use Dark Gift in broad daylight? Doing so will only attract more hunters."
"A child who doesn't understand the troubles of the human world running off to get himself killed? Why should I care?"
Elena snorted, straightening up and sitting properly on the sofa. She took out a makeup mirror from her bag, adjusted her hair, and slipped in a pair of dark violet contact lenses.
Elysia stared, wide-eyed in disbelief. "You're still worried about your looks right now? He's supposed to be one of your own—your so-called family. If he dies, it won't be good for you either."
Elena glanced at her, nonchalant. "And if he doesn't die, what's in it for me?"
"At least you won't become a widow..."
Before Elysia could finish, Elena's cold, sharp gaze silenced her.
"Shut up. If a second person knows about this, I'll drink your blood." Elena's voice was icy, and the threat was clear. Vampires' blood was more delicious than humans', especially pureblood vampires.
"Fine, you win." Elysia smiled awkwardly and scratched her nose, realizing it was better to keep quiet. Though the apartment was in her name, Elena could easily take it back if she wanted to.
Elena and Elysia exited Shan Global Mall and hailed a taxi. Elena showed the driver a map on her phone. "Take me here."
"Cluck'n'Wild Farm? That's in the suburbs." The driver hit the gas, heading toward the western outskirts of Windy City.
An hour later, Elena paid the fare and, along with Elysia, stepped out of the cab.
The sharp sound of chickens clucking pierced the air, ringing loud and clear. "You're not planning to stay here overnight and wake the humans up at dawn, are you?" Elysia grimaced, covering her ears. They stood outside the chicken farm, staring at the gate.
"You have that kind of hobby?" Elena pulled Elysia toward the side door. "Look through the crack, see where it's less crowded."
Elysia took off her glasses, squinting as she observed the scene. "It's all mechanized farming now. The control room has two people, but everywhere else is free-range. However, there are twelve outdoor cameras. What are you planning?"
"What else? Rescue someone," Elena replied with a scowl, baring her Lunar Trace Teeth, two sharp fangs gleaming as her nails sharpened into claws.
"You're planning to eat chicken tonight?" Elysia's voice grew excited, her neck cracking as she grinned, her eyes gleaming gold. It had been a long time since she'd had a real fight. "Well, I'll take care of the cameras. One minute, then you come in. We're having chicken tonight!"
Elysia sprang into the air, a gust of wind following her. She moved with the swiftness of a shadow, vanishing like a shooting star in the night, her speed almost impossible to track.
Standing at the gate, Elena revealed her Lunar Trace Teeth, her aura exuding the overwhelming presence of a true Vampire Clan ruler. Her posture was poised, head tilted toward the sky, arms tense at her sides.
Power surged from her core, building in her throat, ready to explode. Then, with a roar that shook the very air, she let loose:
"Aaaah!"
The sound ripped through the sky, an echoing thunderclap that reverberated across Windy City, shaking the heavens and earth. The roar was like a sonic wave, a declaration to the world:
She, Lord Vesper, the king of the Vampire Clan, had arrived.
Windy City University, 2:30 PM, Capital Time
Nine Dragon Blood Vessels, placed in different directions across the campus, suddenly hummed in unison, vibrating with the same strange, powerful Vampire Clan aura. The sound grew louder, a relentless buzzing: 'Vvvv—'
In the principal's office, Jay received the alert and immediately reported it to the Vampire Enforcement Agency (VEA), awaiting further instructions.
Windy City University was supposed to be a reserve base for VEA personnel, long retired from frontline operations. Now, they only trained recruits.
However, given the intensity of the current situation in Windy City, it was highly probable that they were dealing with a powerful vampire. There was no way Jay could be excluded from the action.
He paced back and forth in his office, anxiously smoking one cigarette after another.
Five minutes passed. No call from VEA.
Ten minutes. Still nothing.
What should he do?
Suddenly, the phone rang. Jay's heart skipped a beat. He picked it up quickly, almost desperate.
The voice on the other end was cold, like death itself:
"What happened?"
"Why are you calling me?" Jay's voice trembled, anxiety creeping into his tone.
The woman on the line was unfazed. "What happened?"
"Big trouble. Massive trouble! I'll tell you later. I'm waiting for a call from above. Hanging up now!" Without waiting for a reply, Jay hung up.
He wiped his sweaty palms, waiting in a nervous silence.
Then—ding ding ding!—the phone rang again.
Jay grabbed the phone, eager to pick it up. "Hello, this is Jay."
"Mr. Harris, hello." The voice on the other end had been altered, a playful, mechanical tone, like that of a doll. "Based on your previous report, we've mobilized personnel to Windy City. The situation is critical."
"Yes, yes! Any further instructions?" Jay asked, his voice laced with caution.
The Barbie-doll voice giggled before speaking again: "Of course. Given the urgency of the situation, the Bureau has decided to put you in charge temporarily. Mobilize all available resources in Windy City and capture the intruding Vampire Clan. No mistakes."
"Understood! I will complete the mission." Jay responded solemnly, his voice firm.
"Line's cut," the cold voice replied, and the call ended.
Jay let out a sigh of relief. It seemed the Bureau hadn't given up on him—they were still willing to offer him a chance.
He opened the partition in his office and walked over to a 24-hour computer terminal.
After entering his six-digit dynamic password, he sent a command to all the vampire hunters in Windy City.
Task: Tonight, we're eating chicken.
Location: Cluck'n'Wild Farm, Windy City West.
Compensation: Big chicken 3 million; small chicken 500k; eggs 10 bucks.
Beep beep beep!
The message spread across Windy City like wildfire. One by one, people began dropping everything, donning their gear, and heading toward the farm.
Windy City Streets
At a red light, Damon checked his phone, a smile tugging at his lips. He quickly slammed the gas pedal and swerved through traffic, his car drifting smoothly at 100 mph.
"Let's go hunting," he muttered under his breath, his excitement palpable.
Windy City Hotel
Mason had just stepped out of the shower when his phone buzzed. He looked at the message and handed his companion a check. "Here, a small token of apology. I'll catch you next time."
The woman, leaning against him, pouted. "No! Don't go..."
"Don't worry, you're beautiful. I'll definitely come back." He smiled, kissing her cheek, before walking into the changing room.
Windy City Police Station
Shawn yawned as he woke from his nap.
He glanced at his phone, cursing when he saw the message. "Damn! A mission?"
"You missed a big payday," Clerk teased, tossing him a pack of gum. "Wake up, we're going."
Shawn chewed lazily on the gum. "Clerk, are we really going to avoid screwing up this time?"
Clerk gave him a confused look. "What do you mean by screw up?"
"Remember that hair sample we tested last time? The report came back: 3 years old, carnivore, carnivorous..." Shawn grinned, pointing to the door.