Ascendant Path of a Lustful Vampire

Chapter 436: Death to Bloodsuckers!

Arlette adjourned to Caius’s room where she placed her Loqui-link once she had finally gotten through to Caius. The communication was accompanied by a projected visual of Caius standing at the desk, with the rest of the council members gathered close as they discussed strategy.

"Caius, please tell me you don’t actually mean to confront Brogan," Arlette said with a glower.

"I have to, Arlette," Caius said with a heavy tone, "They’ll be sitting ducks to Brogan’s noble authority otherwise."

"Caius—" Arlette tried to argue, but Caius was quicker.

"Trust me," he said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes which seemed quite solemn, "It’ll be alright."

Arlette stared back. She wanted to believe him. Caius had proven enough times to be capable but to face off against a fellow Noble, one who was at a much, much higher Magic Circle might be the toughest challenge he had ever faced.

"I’ll make sure he’s alright, Arlette," Kerwin said firmly.

"You’ll be going with him?" Arlette asked with a raised brow.

Kerwin stood a bit straighter.

"If my Lord is willing to lead the charge, what right do I have to sit back and await news?" Kerwin asked rhetorically.

The truth was there was much that could be done from the ’safety’ of the underground Coven. Kerwin could guide and offer insights even away from the actual battle. However, this didn’t seem like a situation that would require that area of his expertise.

Among the Leopold Vampires, Kerwin was undoubtedly the most powerful. Being at the Tenth Circle, he surpassed even Brogan’s Magic Circle. Of course, that means nothing in the face of Vampire Noble Authority but it’s a good force to have on one’s side anyway.

"I will also join the fight," Roxanne announced, drawing the attention of all.

Even with all the discussions that had been had thus far, the actual members of the Coven who would be participating in this battle hadn’t yet been decided so, after Kerwin, Roxanne was only the second to offer.

"Roxanne—" Lorton said and his expression looked like he was questioning his partner’s sanity. Lorton remained of the mind that this was not a battle for Vampires, regardless of what Caius had said.

"I will join as well," Meline Leopold said with her chest—heaving bosom and all—thrust out.

"And I!" Kyre Leopold announced next.

One by one, more and more members of the Council announced the desire to join the battle to the point where the few who didn’t began to feel... wrong. Like they had just failed a test.

The ones who had still not proclaimed their desire to join averted their eyes from Caius in shame but he could not have cared less because his attention was on Arlette’s still-worried face.

"Do you still not trust us to do this?" He asked.

Arlette looked from one face to the other and her worry never lessened until she announced,

"I’m coming too. Stay where you are and I’ll head over right now!"

"No, stay away from this, please," Caius said with imploring eyes.

"Caius, are you— worried about me?" Arlette asked in a knowing voice,

"Is this your misguided attempt to protect me?"

They shared a glance for a full minute before Caius then said slowly.

"It’ll be over before you know it. Trust me. And be safe."

And the communication was cut off.

On his side, Caius was aware that every member of the Leopold Council had gone quiet and was watching him. He allowed himself a second to collect himself before he plowed right back into the assault plans.

On her side, Arlette stared at the Loqui-link for a full minute before she snatched it off the desk and tossed it into her storage ring. She walked out of the room then and back toward the Alchemy hall.

She arrived just in time to see the door open as Alexia stepped out with a vial of the serum in hand.

"Arlette, there you are," Alexia said and held out the vial,

"Look at it all cooled and perfect. For having a monster for an ingredient, it sure does look beautiful."

Trying to keep her worry off her face, Arlette asked,

"What next?"

"Simple," Alexia said with a shrug and began to walk away, "I gather up some Hellsingers, track the enemy down, and finish what I started last night."

At that, Arlette got an idea and sped up a bit so she was by Alexia’s side as they walked away from the Alchemy Hall together.

"I’ll come along," Arlette said.

"To round up Hellsingers?" Alexia asked lightly.

"And to hunt down Brogan," Arlette added.

Alexia paused and then smiled.

"Do you have any experience Monster Hunting?"

"I think I’ll be able to hold my own," Arlette said with more confidence than her actual sentence showed.

"This will be dangerous," Alexia pointed out.

"I wouldn’t expect it not to be."

"It’ll be a battle," Alexia said.

"Bring it on," Arlette said calmly with a shrug.

Alexia had more objections but really didn’t think it was worth it to bring them up. She wouldn’t bring Caius along for this because of his lower Magic Circle and the fact that he hadn’t yet gone through his Induction to become a true Von Helsing Monster Hunter.

Unlike Caius, however, Arlette’s magic circle was quite high. And while she was lacking the Von Helsing Induction, there was nothing to be done about that anyway.

All in all, Arlette might end up being more qualified than the Hellsingers Alexia was planning to round up for the hunt.

While Lucian Von Helsing had declined to actually have a County to govern despite holding the title of ’Count’, he did have a massive territory where he housed his Hellsinger force so they could be more easily summoned. They also served as defense for the Estate.

Anyway, the Hellsingers are largely separated by tiers with the highest tiers answering only to Lucian himself. At the moment, while Lucian was out of the Estate, a bulk of the higher-tier Hellsingers had gone with him and the others deigned themselves to be on vacation, resting and maintaining their strength until his return.

All in all, the Hellsingers who answered Alexia’s calls were at the tier usually in charge of Caius’s protection. The ones who escort him to the Academy and back in an entourage of carriages.

One of such Hellsingers, was Gareth who stood as straight as an arrow and did not allow himself to be at leisure compared to the rest of his comrades.

Gareth had been the leader of Caius’s protective entourage when they had been attacked by Anton Orlock’s vampires, who killed the rest of the entourage, concussed and knocked Gareth out before ultimately kidnapping Caius.

That failure had stuck to Gareth all that time and he had spent the bulk of his time since on training and improving himself to ensure such never happened again.

That incident had caused him to go from a fairly advantageous position that put him close to promotion to the higher tiers and knocked him down to the point where he couldn’t even be trusted with the protection of his Young Lord.

Alexia looked at the ones who were tiered low enough to not ignore her call and she wasn’t particularly disappointed. To have enough sway to get this many of her Uncle’s men to respond to her was good enough.

"The Capital has been under attack for weeks now. Many have lost their lives. Parents have been taken away from their children. Children ripped from their parents by cruel bloodsucking monsters.

We have a chance today to put an end to it and rid the Capital of this infestation. I may not be your Lord and have no actual right to command your effort, but I do know the statutes the Hellsingers were built upon. And I know you are not meant to stay docile in the face of the suffering and death of the innocent.

So I ask you all, with your honors as Hellsingers of the Von Helsing Family on the line, will you join me?"

The first hand up belonged to Gareth. There was no question in his mind. This was his chance to prove himself once again.

"AYE!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

Instantly, every other hand was raised. Every posture was straightened and there was resolution on all their faces as they chorused.

"AYE! DEATH TO BLOODSUCKERS!!!"