Rebellion

Letting Lucius take the lead, orchestrating the arrest of Van Helsing, and inciting the townspeople's opposition to Anna and her family were all Alexander's cunning schemes.

Alexander had resolved to claim Anna's soul, a soul that held the potential to become noble. To achieve this, he willingly aligned himself with Dracula's sinister plans, even aiding the vampire lord. It also served the purpose of driving a wedge between Van Helsing and Anna.

Alexander harbored two distinct objectives. Firstly, he coveted Anna's soul. If she proved her willingness to sacrifice herself to save her brother, then the noble soul might indeed materialize. However, if Anna resisted, her demise would yield just another ordinary, low-quality soul unworthy of Alexander's attention.

His second goal centered on acquiring the fallen Lucius's soul, a task he felt more confident about. Though hindered by a demonic pact, Alexander knew he could manipulate Dracula and even Van Helsing to eliminate Lucius.

Facilitating a meeting between Lucius and Van Helsing served as an extra layer of assurance. The demonic aura surrounding Lucius couldn't possibly elude the scrutiny of Van Helsing, a seasoned monster hunter.

Regardless of who ultimately dispatched Lucius, Alexander was certain of accomplishing his objectives. He found himself relishing the role of a mastermind lurking in the shadows.

As for Van Helsing's soul, it held no place in Alexander's designs. Alexander's recollection of the plot remained somewhat hazy, but he vaguely recalled Van Helsing being an immensely powerful entity, potentially an incarnation of an angel or something akin. Consequently, he harbored no ambitions of claiming Van Helsing's soul. Lucius's appearance might have exposed his pact with a demon, yet as long as Alexander kept his distance from Van Helsing, there was no cause for concern. In the event of his inability to hunt down the demon, he could simply deal with Lucius. Once Lucius met his demise, Alexander would depart and return to the Abyss.

Lucius, however, was a shrewd character. No one could guarantee that he wouldn't eliminate Van Helsing to prevent the revelation of his dealings with a demon, especially given that Van Helsing had been dispatched by the church.

Nevertheless, Lucius's actions held little consequence for Alexander. If he succeeded in eliminating Van Helsing, it would ultimately benefit Alexander. The pressing issue at hand was to buy Dracula the necessary time to execute his plan.

The townspeople bound Van Helsing and Carl to wooden crosses, securing their hands and feet, and left them in the desolate wilderness. This town had long employed this method for executing prisoners. As night descended, ravenous beasts would venture forth in search of sustenance. All the townspeople had to do was retrieve Van Helsing's lifeless body the following day and claim their reward for his head.

As the others departed, Lucius lingered behind. He waited until they were out of earshot before addressing Van Helsing, "I imagine the expressions of the church's representatives when they lay eyes on your lifeless form will be quite entertaining."

Van Helsing maintained his composure, remarking calmly, "You exude the stench of a demon. I detected it from a distance. I did not anticipate encountering another individual who struck a pact with a demon, apart from the vampires who infest this place. The church has indeed made the right decision in dispatching me to cleanse this land."

"Hmph, what does it matter if you know?" Lucius retorted fiercely. "The church has forsaken our lives for years, and now it seeks to portray itself as a benefactor? Am I wrong for seeking the assistance of a demon to ensure my survival?"

"That does not justify your descent into depravity," Van Helsing asserted. "I will end your life and expel that demon, regardless of the nature of your agreement."

"Yet another self-righteous crusader!" Lucius shook his head dismissively. "Nonetheless, you must possess the capability to follow through. You had best hope a savage beast arrives tonight to claim its meal. In that way, you may at least meet a swift end."

With those words, Lucius departed without a backward glance.

After Lucius's departure, Carl regarded Van Helsing with a sense of dismay. "Van Helsing, what course of action should we pursue? I have no desire to become fodder for wolves!"

Van Helsing struggled but found himself tightly bound, unable to free himself. However, he remained determined. "Don't worry. That striking blonde is a descendant of the Villelis family. Since she knows my identity, she'll understand that we've been sent by the church to assist her. She won't stand by and let us fall prey to wild beasts. She may come to our rescue after nightfall!"

"What if she doesn't come?" Carl asked with concern.

"Then we'll have to devise a way to save ourselves," Van Helsing sighed.

As time passed and night descended, a figure finally appeared. When Van Helsing saw that Anna had indeed arrived, he breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he had made the right bet.

Anna was no fool. She understood that Dracula had sent his bride to deliver a message with ulterior motives. While it may have appeared to be for her brother's sake, she'd be quite foolish to walk into danger without a plan. In the end, she wouldn't save her brother, and they'd both be captured. After careful consideration, Anna decided to rescue Van Helsing and join him in the mission to save her brother.

Anna carried a torch as she approached, swiftly cutting the ropes and releasing Van Helsing and Carl from their crosses.

But at that moment, two gunshots rang out from the night. Van Helsing staggered and slowly crumpled to the ground.

"Oh no!" Anna exclaimed with despair, rushing to Van Helsing as blood flowed from his chest.

Lucius emerged from the darkness, his smug demeanor illuminated in the torchlight. "Miss Anna, I had a hunch you might come to free these prisoners. You've kept me waiting."

"Why are you trying to kill him?" Anna demanded.

"Why can't I kill him?" Lucius retorted. "He's a wanted criminal. Do I need a reason to eliminate him? And Miss Anna, you came to free these prisoners. Do you intend to join them?"

Coughing up blood, Van Helsing whispered to Anna, "Don't listen to him. He's made a pact with a demon and has fallen."

Upon hearing this, Anna swiftly drew her gun, aiming it at Lucius, and fired two shots. Though they missed, they frightened Lucius, causing him to cower.

"My Lord! Save me!" Lucius cried out.

As Lucius pleaded, an unseen force suddenly yanked him away, vanishing into thin air.

Indeed, Alexander had been present but concealed in the darkness, allowing Lucius to take the lead. Though he found Lucius's cowardice baffling, he couldn't let him die, so he saved him.

All of this occurred in the darkness of night, hidden from Anna and the others, who believed Lucius had fled.

Anna felt a pang of despair. Her initial plan was for Van Helsing to accompany her in rescuing her brother, but Lucius's interference had left Van Helsing wounded. While he was still alive, he couldn't join her in this condition. After careful consideration, Anna rose and told Carl, "You stay here and tend to him. I'm going to the castle alone."

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