14 || Chapter 1.14 || First Move

Within the dust-covered room, Cadel calmly set the lamp on the table where it would illuminate most of the interior for him. The scent of old dust reminded him of when he used to live in an abandoned bunker for a year to escape his hunters. Although it wasn't his first time entering the secret room of Luke's parents, his dark memories kept erupting in his mind whenever he stepped foot in the room. He dismissed his thoughts and got back to work.

A finger gently caressed a book's tattered spine. An old dictionary, he read previously. It's been half an hour and he had no luck finding clues in the documents he collected. Turning his head, he gazed at the old desk belonging to Luke's father. The orange flame within the oil lamp flickered. Cadel stared at it for a few seconds before he gazed at the areas where the light touched. There was a faint depression on the wall behind the desk. A line of shadow trembled.

'Secrets in a secret room...' A corner of the young man's lips turned up as he approached the wall.

Barely restraining a sneeze, he moved the dusty table several inches to the side and had his hand feel the wall. He gave a few knocks. A hollow behind the wall. Cadel furrowed his brows. 'How typical...'

His palm pressed lightly.

Click!

Crouching, he pulled the wall cover to the side until it revealed a secret compartment. And slowly, the lamp illuminated the darkness within. Cobwebs filled every corner of the space and a thick layer of dust sat at the bottom. Cadel found two leather-covered books, both in bright red. They weren't too thick and fortunately, the paper was still intact. His eyes shone as he brought the oil lamp closer to his new findings.

"Journals..." The young muttered. Chuckling, he opened a random page and a frown immediately replaced his smile. Ahh, it is written in the same code in the hidden documents.

Sighing, he returned to the attic and began deciphering. While the young man was immersed in his work, Mary came to check on him with her brows furrowed suspiciously.

A few hours later, Cadel slowly put down the pen on the paper. His eyes silently scanned the last page of the second journal.

It seems he found the reason behind the Vermillion Patriarch's odd reaction during the meeting. Cadel sighed in pity. Luke's parents weren't involved in an accident. They were being targeted. The man behind their murder was none other than the half-blood vampire Valerian.

Valerian had acquired an ancient formula that could make his blood dangerous if consumed. If a vampire or hunter ingests a person contaminated by his blood, a fierce manic rage would erupt, destroying the victim's rationality and becoming an uncontrollable blood-thirsty monster. He has already completed and ingested the concoction and had the last remaining copy of the formula burned.

Luke's parents were once good friends with Valerian. However, they didn't have the same views of the world. While Luke's parents thought of living in peace together with the hunters, Valerian was inspired by the history of bloodshed between vampires and hunters in previous centuries. The strongest must come on top. The struggle and madness for strength should prove one's worth. Born from a hunter and vampire, Valerian naturally thought he was the strongest and the most special of all his peers. But he wanted more...

When Luke's parents discovered that Valerian had acquired the formula, they wanted to persuade him. However, it was too late. And the only way to counter the effects of the formula was to create a cure. When they had finally accomplished their goal, Valerian, feeling betrayed, found them and took their lives. However, he failed to find their research and their little son.

Cadel messaged his temples in frustration.

Kerpuffle: *poke, poke* Host...

"What?" Cadel rubbed his face, lifting his gaze.

Kerpuffle: Uhm, The next major event will occur in a few days.

"What is it?"

Kerpuffle: The Eleneiz Estate massacre...

Cadel stilled. From the plot, Valerian and his people had invaded a vampire family mansion. A dreadful massacre. He killed everyone inside and was cruelest to the family who owned the estate. He had every family member tied to the gates, tortured, and then burned alive. The association of Vampires and Hunters arrived too late and was riddled with fear and shock. From that day onwards, Valerian's name spread, and every single soul feared him. It was also on this day that many became foolishly inspired by his work and his followers grew to an unbelievable extent.

The young man's eyes narrowed. His fingers tapped the table in succession. And he thought he'd have more time to relax...

Sighing, Cadel shook his head. It seems he's going to have to make a move earlier than he thought.

"System, let's put you to good use."

Kerpuffle: ... I feel like a discarded toothbrush.

The young man stands from his desk, not even bothering to clean up as he left the attic.

Cadel smiles briefly as a certain person snuck into his room.

....

A few days later, in the Vermillion family's main house.

Within the silence of patriarch Vermillion's office, the old man was silently putting aside the thick stack of papers on the desk before placing a thick photo album. He opened the pages, smiling lightly at a picture of a certain little boy with pure-white hair and big dewy red eyes laughing happily within the arms of his parents. He gazed at another picture of toddler Luke with sparkling eyes trying to touch his mother's face.

How little you were back then grandson...

Suddenly, the communication device on his desk blinks red, signaling an unknown call request. Grandfather Vermillion casually took the earpiece and wore it, activating the call.

"Who is this?"

The person on the other line spoke and Mr. Vermillion froze in his seat. He was silent for a few seconds before recovering. Then he abruptly rose from the chair, filled with shock and disbelief.

"LUKE? How did you-"

The other person interrupted him and said a few sentences. This made the grandfather furrow his brows and sat down slowly, listening silently as the youth continued.

....

"Boss!" Mark abruptly bursts through the door and flinched when Cedric's cold murderous gaze met his eyes. However, this didn't stop him from talking.

"Boss, your grandfather urgently called for you."

The book in Cedric's hand slammed shut. The young man rose from the couch and walked past him. The intimidating aura he exuded almost made Mark flee in fear as he followed Cedric.

Entering his grandfather's study, Cedric shut the doors behind him and approached the desk where an old grim-faced patriarch sat. He looked conflicted and confused.

"Grandfather..."

"Cedric." Mr. Grey raised his dim gaze. He straightened up looking as though he had finally made up his mind. "Take your men and go to the Eleneiz main estate immediately."

Confusion filled the young man's eyes. "Why?"

"Valerian has made his move. He is going to attack the main house. Go."

Cedric's eyes narrowed dangerously. He quickly assembled the men and headed to the home of one of the noble pureblood vampire families in the country. Meanwhile, Grandfather Grey called all the members of the association for more reinforcements. When he put down the phone, his eyes deepened. How did that old fox Vermillion know?

...

It was chaos when Cedric and his men arrived at the scene. The screams of terror and agony filled their ears until they were ringing. Blood and smoke mingled. Dark pillars of clouds scattered throughout the area. Then there were people scrambling towards the gates being chased down by vicious killers, with bloodshot eyes and sharpened teeth, blood dripping down their jaws. They looked monstrous and mad.

Cedric didn't know what happened next. The scent of blood was so strong, that it was nauseating. However, with a steel mind, he commanded his men and charged. And they refused to remain passive before a murderous enemy. The crunch of bones, ripping flesh, and gunshots filled the air. What confused them was their enemy's lack of reason. With muddled minds and fierce eyes, the only thing they could perceive was the great thirst for blood. The endless itch in their throat. Seeing that these enemies couldn't be restrained, the men painted the ground red.

Cedric with Mark and Jessica and a few others entered the mansion. They split up in search of the family. Cadel heard a high-pitched scream on the upper floor and they followed the sound with haste. Bursting through the doors of the master bedroom, Cedric and his men invaded the area and were caught off guard by the number of enemies within.

A tall man in white drank from the stump of the severed head of the Eleneiz family head. His eyes are glowing red, filled with amusement as he drank in front of the corpse's family who was crying in fear and sorrow. The mother took her three children in her arms, trembling in fright and anguish. The man in white only cackled as he threw the severed head on the floor. It rolled and stopped before the remaining members of the family. Their cries grew louder.

Cedric gritted his teeth and ripped off the head of the feral vampire in front of him. They were no match for the man's strength. At the same time, the noise outside the house grew louder. It seems like reinforcements have arrived.

"Tsk..." The man in white viciously glared at the window. How was this possible? How did they arrive so quickly?

Cedric and his men finally pushed through their opponents. The young hunter's golden eyes blazed with fury and determination. He will catch you and cut you into pieces in a blink of an eye.

Seeing that his plan was far from progressing, the man in white clenched his jaw and disappeared in a swirl of smoke. Not a trace of him left. Seeing that his target had disappeared, abandoning his minions to save himself, Cedric released a furious roar.

...

An hour passed and the chaos finally eased. The vampires and hunters held a few prisoners who remained feral and uncontrollable. They are restrained from head to toe. However, they kept struggling biting hard against the metal gag between their teeth, struggling like fierce hounds.

Lady Eleneiz and her children were safe and taken to treat their injuries. The estate lost a few people in the invasion. If Cedric's team had arrived later, they would have lost more.

'I could have stopped him. He was right in front of us. So close...'

"Boss..." Jessica worriedly approached the golden-eyed young man standing on the balcony, gazing silently at the corpses being dragged away.

"What?" Cedric snapped.

Mark hurriedly stepped forth clutching his injured arm, "Boss, we've rescued most of the Eleneiz family and had fewer casualties. It's the best we could do. This is no one's fault."

A frown formed on the hunter's face. However, after a few seconds, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Mark and Jessica sighed in relief that the man decided to calm down.

"Check anyone for injuries and have them treated immediately." Ordered Cedric before turning around to head to the doors.

Mark's eyes gleamed. "Yes, Sir!..."

Cedric shook his head, gesturing them to follow. However, not a second later, a loud thud sounded behind him followed by Jessica's worried shout.

"Mark? Mark!"

Cedric turned welcomed by the sight of his unconscious friend, pale as death, and Jessica's anxious eyes. Her expression was riddled with fear. Cedric was immediately at his friend's side. He checked his pulse and breathing. He was just unconscious it seems. However, he was fine a minute ago. Why did this happen?

Suddenly, a series of shouts occurred from the balcony.

Cedric furrowed his brows and walked to check the sudden unrest. Below, he sees his men fall to the ground, one by one. A few remained standing, confused as they check their comrades' vitals. Dread filled his gut.

...

"It's starting..." Cadel sighed while walking back to the attic. His steps are slow and steady. The floorboards creaked under his feet.

Upon arriving, Cadel stopped.

Gazing at the thick stack of papers at his desk, Mary stood silently. Her pupils trembled as she processed every word.

After a minute of silence, she slowly turned to the young master.

"Young master... This... Where did you find this?"