Ascendant Path of a Lustful Vampire

Chapter 437 437: Come Nightfall…

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-Anton Orlock's Manor-

Following the death of Anton and the subsequent invasion of Lucian Von Helsing and his Hellsingers, the formation that used to shroud the entire region had been destroyed, exposing it for all to see.

The sun that shone the day after that incident had incinerated the carcasses of the hundreds of dead vampires, and the ashes were so great that even now, months later, they remained a coating all over the stones of the Manor.

But that was only really about the part of the Manor that was above ground.

As a location meant to house Vampires, the Manor had been built with ample space underground. Space that was comparable to half of the Manor that was above ground. It was sealed from any hint of sunlight and was where Brogan now resided, brooding.

Secluding himself even more from his coven, he picked a room that used to be an intimate study hall for Anton Orlock. A location where he researched his Blood Alchemical practices and furthered his accomplishments in mutation.

There was very little left here of Anton's time. It had all been stripped away and anything left behind was useless. All of this added to the vile taste at the back of Brogan's tongue at the loss.

Much of Anton's fate was a mystery. The one thing that was known for certain was that his Noble title had been succeeded.

Every Vampire Noble leaves a strong signature behind at the place of their death— Their unclaimed noble authority will hunt the site of their demise for all time, and is only really sensed by fellow Nobles. That it was missing here meant it had been claimed before Anton died.

And yet, only a Noble can perform the Rite of Ascension. So a Noble had to have been involved in his death. But who? Brogan had investigated and exonerated every one of his peers— All except one; Athenodora.

"She did it," Brogan repeated a conclusion he had arrived at long before today.

It wasn't a secret that Athenodora was after Anton's life. His decision to reside here at this Manor, protected by illusory formations, was all because of her. There were vows Anton had forced on Athenodora to ensure she wouldn't be able to seek him out.

And yet, somehow, she had gotten to him.

It had to be her. It could be no one else.

And she hadn't just killed him, she had given his Noble title away. But to whom? That was the question Brogan wanted answered.

There were other questions such as the possible relationship this new Noble had with Athenodora to even inspire the desire for her to perform the Rite of Noble Ascension. But all other questions would have to wait until Brogan finally gets its hands—well, hand now—on the bastard.

Really, if his suspicion held true, and it likely did, Athenodora should have been the target of Brogan's ire but he knew that would be suicide. It would also be foolish when there was an easier enemy to seek out. One who had the title of Count that Brogan would very much like to get for himself.

Yes, his actions had been inspired by vengeance, but there was nothing to say he shouldn't gain a great boon through it and finally acquire power to rise in the ranks of the current standing Vampire Nobles.

"It's what Anton would want," Brogan assured himself and then raised his head, staring at nothing but envisioning the visage of Anton with his wizened appearance, looking at him with approval.

"There is one who stands in your place. One who stripped you of your might and dares attempt to replace you in our ranks.

I swear to you, Anton, he will fall, and on his corpse, I will prove myself the only one worthy to be your successor."

Brogan pushed away from the desk then and walked up to a door at the end of the room he was in, throwing it open. Behind the door were his lieutenants. The strongest of his Coven. His actual Coven and not the band of newly turned vampires he was letting loose all over the Capital.

"What's the time of the day?" He asked.

"Almost sunset, My Lord," said the lieutenant.

Brogan clenched his fist. He had another Moonstone ring but to move in the day would be to great disadvantage. And it was only the threat of getting burnt to a crisp by sunlight that still kept his rage contained so far.

"How many newborns do we now have?" Brogan asked.

"About five hundred and fifty, My Lord."

"That little?" Brogan asked with a frown. The population of Capital City numbered in the tens of millions, and to have only managed to acquire and turn less than a thousand of that was unsatisfactory.

"It- it has been a difficult task to keep the newborns contained. Many of the turned barely survive the first day because of their recklessness—" the Lieutenant started.

"Excuses!" Brogan snapped, turning them mute.

There was a moment of quiet and then Brogan smiled a crooked smile.

"Let them loose."

"What?"

"Let them loose," Brogan repeated, "Let them all loose. As many newborns as have been turned, let them loose on Capital City."

"They'll be killed, My Lord," the Lieutenant said.

"Eventually, yes," Brogan said and then chuckled. The chuckle became a malevolent laugh like he was truly proud of himself.

The strategy so far had been all about targeted attacks all over the City. Attacking small groups of City Guards and civilians to kill most and capture the rest to be turned. It was all about sowing an air of terror all over and leaving them guessing where the next attack would come from. An all-out attack, with an army numbering as small as five hundred and fifty or so newborns would fail quickly but not quickly enough to douse the fire of chaos that would have been started.

"Do it," Brogan ordered then without explaining his thought process. But he didn't have to; At that point, the Lieutenants could already tell those newborns were to be fodder.

The order was given and now the restraints on the newborns were loosening. Once the sun had completely set and its rays were no longer a hindrance, Capital City would experience its largest vampire wave in recent history.

"The bitch who took my arm?" Brogan asked.

"We have learned she's a Von Helsing and likely resides at the Von Helsing Estate located at the Capital," a Lieutenant reported,

"The region is very tightly defended by both manpower and magic. It's the residence of Lord Lucian Von Helsing, a veteran Vampire Hunter."

"I don't care about the defenses," Brogan yelled, "I want her head—!"

*BANG!!!*

The sound came from above, rocking the structure of the Manor above ground and causing tremors all over the underground section.

"What—?" Brogan started before he was interrupted by another *bang!*. This one was softer and set off a chain of explosions that, even though he was underground and could not see, Brogan could tell was turning the Manor's structure to rubble.

The Lieutenants seemed to be in a stunned stupor at first and then shook out of it as they said as one;

"We're under attack!"

"Good of you to state the obvious," Brogan said, strangely calm.

*BANG!!!*

Another explosion. This one seemed closer and was followed by the cries of Vampires as well as the sizzling sound of burning that was accompanied by the smell of ash. At once, Brogan knew the enemy—whoever they were—had breached the first layer of this underground sanctuary, exposing the part of his force closest to the surface to the harshness of the setting sun.

"Rally everyone to the lowest part of the underground caverns and raise protective shields. We must wait out the assault until nighttime," Brogan said with just the slightest hint of urgency,

"Come nightfall, those foolish enough to storm here will face our wrath and will perish by our might."