Ascendant Path of a Lustful Vampire

Chapter 448 448: You don’t know

Kerwin could already feel that becoming a Noble hadn't rid him of Caius's control. The vow he had sworn, that had been then asserted by Nyx's divine might, did not include any clauses that freed Kerwin by virtue of Noble Authority.

Even if Caius were to lose his title as Count, whatever authority Kerwin now held or would ever hold would remain subject to Caius's will.

There was a resignation in Kerwin's mind as he really, really gave this some deep thought while his head remained bowed, and as Caius watched him, he could tell what Kerwin was thinking.

Maybe it was because he had just had some practice in reaching into the minds of the Leopolds when he gave Meline and the others the order to go ahead with the stealthy cutting of Brogan's limbs. In any case, Caius found it very easy to make his way into Kerwin's mind and he got a taste of the Coven Leader's thoughts.

There was probably a conversation to be had about that but it couldn't be now.

"Stand," Caius said, "We don't have the time to stand on ceremony."

Alexia's brows were furrowed in confusion. There was a lot she had heard and seen today that she didn't understand. Talks of Nobility and authority that were alien to her. She hadn't understood a word of the ancient chant, and the phenomenon had followed, with the ancient magic circles just as confusing. But best believe she was taking notes while her fingers flexed around her sword.

Arlette noticed.

"What are you doing?" She asked Alexia.

Alexia didn't stop staring at what was happening outside but she answered the question in a tone like it should have been obvious,

"Getting ready to burst out of here."

Arlette frowned but said nothing.

Alexia continued in a whisper.

"I might not have the time to reactivate the Hellsong Boxes but I still have a few tricks. Once, it feels like the right time, we'll burst out of here, kill them all, and head to the surface."

Arlette's frown got even deeper but still she said nothing.

Meanwhile, as Kerwin stood to his feet, Caius turned his attention to Brogan whose head was bowed and was kneeling on one knee while resting the rest of his weight on the bloody stump that was left of his other leg.

"Still alive?" Caius asked lightly.

It was slow and harsh but there were sounds of breathing coming from Brogan.

The Vampire raised his head and opened his eyes groggily. With so much blood loss and the trauma of losing his Nobility, he seemed very close to death's door. The look on his face remained defiant though.

"Yeah, I think you're well enough to answer one question," Caius said after observing Brigan a while longer. And then his voice took on a very serious and inquisitive tone,

"Heading here… You knew I wouldn't be strong enough to fight you, didn't you? You were confident you could win."

That was the only explanation that made sense. For Brogan's first instinct to be to launch an attack on a Vampire Lord's domain, he had to have known it was a battle he could win. Otherwise, Brogan would have tried some diplomacy. Or at least tried to meet Caius if only once to get a measure of him.

Caius just didn't believe Brogan was so stupid as to launch an attack in ignorance.

"Yes. I was," Brogan answered with as much gallantry as he could manage.

"How did you know?" Caius asked.

"Huh?"

Caius frowned, his eyes boring deep into Brogan's weak, groggy pair.

"How did you know I wasn't strong enough to face you?"

"What do you mean how did I—?" Brogan started at first with a tone of annoyance like the question was stupid but then he stopped and seemed to give it some thought and then became strangely confused as he mumbled,

"Hold on. How— How did I know?"

Try as he might, Brogan couldn't find an answer in his head. No one had told him of Caius's strength. He had just… known. Somehow, he had just known that the one who took Anton's Vampire Count Title was much weaker than he was. Somehow, he had just known this was a fight he could win.

As Brogan's eyes shifted weakly in confusion, Caius searched them for any signs of falsehood but he found none.

"You don't know," He said to Brogan.

"I— I— don't…" Brogan responded with his eyes getting wider as the feeling of confusion worsened.

"He's lost a lot of blood. And has been through much," Roxanne said by Caius side,

"It could be messing with his memory."

"My memory is perfect!" Brogan snarled and then looked over at Kerwin as he yelled,

"I remember how you looked in the Noble mental space, for instance. That mask of yours was absent there. I saw you for who you really are; That shiny blonde hair of a— Ack!"

Before Brogan could complete his sentence, Nadine Leopold thrust a sword through his mouth.

"What have you done!" Kerwin yelled at her, "The Lord needed answers!"

Nadine recoiled. In his anger, Kerwin had infused his words with his Noble Authority and practically smacked her upside the head. It was taking all she had not to fall to the ground and grovel because she felt it would weaken her stance as she answered,

"He was going to expose you!"

"That's not an excuse!" Kerwin snapped.

"No," Caius said calmly and looked over at Nadine, "You did the right thing."

"Thank you, My Lord." Nadine bowed.

"Lord—" Kerwin began to protest.

"Calm yourself," Caius patted Kerwin's shoulder, "Your authority is oppressing her, can't you see?"

Kerwin seemed not to have realized. He was still getting used to the Noble Authority and had turned it on Nadine without meaning to. He reined the Authority in and also calmed his anger.

Normally, Kerwin believed he would have been a lot calmer but for some reason, since becoming a Noble, he felt a need to prove to Caius that he was still going to abide by the standing vow. Even though he didn't really have a choice in the matter.

*Thud*

All eyes turned to Brogan who had now keeled over backwards and hit the ground fairly hard.

"He's dead," Roxanne voiced then, a little apologetic that Caius hadn't gotten what he needed.

"It's alright. He had nothing to tell me," Caius said, "Ensure he's truly dead."

Hayden Leopold stepped forward then and with a flash of his sword, he separated Brogan's head from his shoulders. Really, there was never a possibility Brogan still lived but Caius operated on the philosophy that one can never be too sure.

"They're still battling on the surface," Caius said to Kerwin, "Head up there and end it. But don't harm the Humans."

Kerwin left then. He didn't ask any of the other Leopolds to come along. At the Tenth Circle, he was more than capable on his own, and now, with his newly gained Nobility, no enemy Vampires stood a chance.

Once Kerwin was gone, Caius turned to Roxanne.

"Contact those we have within the Capital. If what Brogan said earlier is true, we need to act quickly."

It wasn't really a matter of 'if'. Caius was sure Brogan had truly set hundreds of Vampires loose on the Capital and he was sure there were already casualties. Whatever consequences would follow such a large-scale Vampire attack remained to be seen. For now, they needed to contain the situation and mitigate the disaster.

Roxanne stepped away, a Loqui-Link already in hand. Caius hadn't specified but it went without saying that she was to contact the human Mercenaries of 'Ophiuchus'. Yes, there was a risk that they could get turned in the battle but to send Vampires into the Capital when they were already on alert due to the recent Vampire attack would be foolish.