17 || Chapter 1.17 || Growing Revenge

Orange and red hues painted the skies as evening closed in. Gigantic clouds rolled over the tight clearing where an abandoned factory resides. It was old and looked like it was on the brink of collapse. No road connects it. Instead, a pathway wide enough for a car to pass through stretched through the thin forest. The dried land looked yellowish with not a bit of green. The place was ultimately secluded, a perfect place to conduct a secret meeting.

Standing in the open space outside the building, a tall, middle-aged man in a white suit narrowed his eyes at the sky. Sunset rays, creeping through the tree leaves, dappled on his clean face. There are five men around him with blood-red murderous eyes, intent to secure their master at all costs. They are his finest creation. Loyal as dogs. And unlike the cold and strict atmosphere of the people around him, the man in white looked carefree and relaxed, as though nothing could disrupt his mood.

Finally, a black car drove through the pathway and stopped before Valerian and his men. The guards are wary with bared teeth and their eyes glowing viciously as if their stares could pierce through the black-tinted windows of the care before them. The car door opened with a click, and out came a tall young man striding casually toward the man in white. Impassively, he maintained a safe distance away from the madman.

Valerian's eyes are wide in surprise and delight. He had a wide grin stretched across his face like he was reuniting with a beloved relative of his. "Are my eyes lying to me, or is Cedric Grey of the Grey Clan truly standing before me?"

He jokingly turned to his men, but none responded, like dolls who cannot talk. Valerian naturally expected this and returned his attention to the young man before him. "The clan leaders must have been quite cautious about sending the finest hunter of all the clans to me. Such a fine specimen too. I didn't quite have a thorough look at your face during our last meeting. You look even more handsome than the rumors about you. My people are quite wary of you, Cedric. They trembled at the mention of your name, which is quite intriguing."

Valerian continued with a friendly smile, "How are your friends? Ah, forgive me. They're not even human anymore, am I right? Don't worry. All will be well soon, boy."

Cedric's eyes are sharp, glinting like the edge of a knife. He forcibly quelled the anger inside him and narrowed his eyes.

"My, what a look you have." Valerian grinned. "I've been watching you. You have quite the potential at such a young age. I can't help but think it's a shame to let those sadists from your clan take advantage of your strength and make it their own. How horrible. But I can change you, Cedric."

Valerian moved closer with slightly raised hands, "I can make you stronger. More powerful than those fools who sit a the top and mock your worth. I can ensure to quicken your advancing growth, and you will be more powerful than you can imagine, child. You will have anything you desire. All you have to do... is join me. What do you say, Cedric Grey? I know you already have the answer I'm looking for from your clan leaders. "

...

The hunter silently raised his chin.

"You think you have the upper hand, half-blood?"

Valerian's brows rose. The air shifted as he sensed something amiss. The men around him growled ferociously. Before he could analyze his surroundings, Cedric interrupted his thoughts.

"Keep your rigged cure. We are not afraid of you." His eyes flashed fiercely. "You will never have what you want."

Boom!

The car which had escorted the half=blood vampire to the location exploded, followed by endless gunshots, filling the air. Alarmed, the guards immediately surrounded Valerian and took the onslaught of bullets. Cedric snarled as he ripped out one of the man's minions and clamped a hand around Valerian's pale throat, and viciously slammed the man to the ground. The earth cracked around them.

Valerian clenched his jaw. His eyes burned in fury while he ignored his dying men.

"You sick piece of shit..." Cedric spat, tightening his grip so much that the bones within threatened to crack. "Go die in hell..."

'We're already in hell, boy...'

Valerian's laugh and voice echoed in his mind, startling Cedric. The young hunter scowled. The veins in his hands bulged at his strength.

Suddenly, the half-blood's eyes glowed red, and he bared his teeth, grabbing Cedric's wrist with undeniable strength, almost crushing it. He swiftly moved to sink his teeth into the skin between Cedric's thumb and finger. However, a shadow hovered over his head, and a sudden blow exploded on his face. His blood splattered everywhere. A choked shout escaped Valerian's throat.

Standing before Valerian and Cedric was Mark, all geared up and panting in exhaustion. He furiously held the sledgehammer in hand. "Oh, you're not doing anything again, you sick bastard."

Coughing, Valerian's eyes were wide as saucers as he stared at Mark. One of Cedric's men. This person... wasn't he infected?!

Cursing in his mind, Valerian immediately decided to retreat. Not a second longer, white smoke burst into Valerian's face. Alarmed, Cedric and Mark hurriedly grabbed Valerian, but he was nowhere to be found. The smoke dispersed, leaving not a trace of the half-blood madman.

Cedric cursed loudly. He banged his fists on the ground as numerous of their comrades, vampires and hunters, poured into the scene.

.....

The man who barely escaped the ambush swept all the things on his desk in a fit of anger. Glass shattered, and the wood broke. It wasn't long before everything in the room was in a filthy mess. Valerian seethed, kicking the desk, which exploded against his mighty strength.

"How did they have a cure?! How is this possible? I've already destroyed the information. How the hell did they recover it?! HOW?!"

His roars filled the entire mansion, and his minions trembled in fear of further upsetting him. Finally, Valerian took a breath, sighing in frustration.

No matter. No matter...

I have more time than those insects...

So what if they have a cure? How effective could it even be?

A low laugh escaped the man's mouth as he set his hands on the table surface. His head is lowered, and no one could determine the look on his face.

Let them celebrate their victory for a while. Let's see how all of you will fare soon. All of you will be kneeling at my feet...

...

Although Valerian escaped them once again, most of the leaders were more concerned about their men's welfare as the cure spread throughout their bodies. Soon enough, they all had their best people back on their feet.

However, it wasn't long before the patriarch of the Vermillion clan once again predicted another Valerian attack. At first, they were skeptical, but they had no reason to deny him after his help obtaining the cure for their men. True to his words, Valerian's men attacked a school where most of the offspring of the clans attended.

This time, they were all prepared, and the chaos ended sooner than they thought. None of the children and staff were hurt, and there were even fewer casualties among the men. They also apprehended multiple of Valerian's followers. The outcome was successful, and Valerian's anger soared once more.

A week after, three spies were caught within the Grey estate. Cedric had his men cruelly break every limb on their bodies until they confessed. Unlike those mindless soldiers Valerian always kept with him, these people were sane and full of resentment and fear.

"Take them away..." Cedric indifferently took the handkerchief offered to him by one of his men and wiped off the blood staining his fingers.

The three men screamed as they were dragged out of Cedric's sight leaving a bloody trail. A dark aura surrounded the man, followed by Mark and Jessica, as headed towards the meeting hall within the estate. This time it was them hosting the meeting.

It's been a few days since many of the clans pressed the Vermillion leader to reveal his sources to them. They were significantly curious about the intelligence the Vermillion leader housed. Who is this person? Certainly, it wasn't the Vermillion patriarch himself. It must be another individual. How did he manage to obtain information about the cure to Valerian's feral poison and accurately predicted Valerian's attacks?

They were about to know.

Cedric furrowed his brows in concern as he swept his eyes throughout the room. The once loud hall was immediately silent at the arrival of patriarch Vermillion and patriarch Grey. Another person followed them in. Curious and surprised stares followed the person's every movement. Cedric's expressionlessly stared.

Patriarch Vermillion revealed a faint smile as he gestured to the person beside him, "This is Maria, the person who answering your questions today so you can now stop pestering me all the time. She is a great asset to the Vermillion clan. From now on, she will be joining us to capture Valerian and end his villainous actions to society."

Maria, who was also known as Mary to Cedric, bowed coldly. She looked as though she's been through hell all her life. It was evidently in the coldness and indifference in her eyes.

Mary: I'm beginning to regret supporting you now, young master... (`A´)

One by one, questions were thrown at her.

"I am only the representative of the person who all of you are looking for." Before frustrated words could be said, she continued. "My master's health is very poor. Thus, he can't come personally. Please understand..."

There was nothing they could do with that. If this person truly wished to remain hidden, perhaps for his and their sake, then they could only concede and accept it.

Cedric didn't have much of a reaction to seeing her until the end of the meeting.

Cadel had already informed him a day ago that he could never come out of the estate and that this person wasn't truly Mary. She was a clone that Mary could use to transfer her consciousness if it was needed. However, whenever she did this, her original body would be on standby as long as her consciousness didn't return. Like a soul leaving the body. Patriarch Vermillion originally hesitated to agree to this idea, however, with Cadel's coaxing he sighed and surrendered. It would mean that Cadel would be alone and no one would be there to take care of him when Mary was away.

Cadel wasn't very troubled though. It would mean more time to do tasks without being watched. Currently, he was having the time of his life making homemade fertilizer with eggshells and banana peels, destroying the kitchen while learning how to cook, and making a fountain with scrap for his Yellow Garden.

In the afternoon, Patriarch Grey was doing his usual stroll in the garden at scheduled the hour. This garden was created by his wife and it helped his health significantly while he walked within it. Other than this, he would also be meeting Cedric to discuss some things. It would be a subject that he knows Cedric would dislike; an engagement.

As a worthy successor, it was necessary to secure an heir and alliances within the clan. It was a tradition within their families to be wed as early as possible. Before he was reluctant to bring up the idea but seeing Cedric's growing achievements, many were anxious about who would be the lucky partner of such a powerful young man.

Keeping a calm exterior, patriarch Grey silently headed towards the white gazebo in the distance. He could make out the familiar figure of his grandson leaning on the wooden railing while holding a device close to his ear. When the grandfather was close enough to see the young man's expression, he froze on the spot.

He had known his grandson long enough to witness every side of him, every expression, every goal. However, this time he didn't know Cedric had such an unexpected side to him.

The young man's eyes were bright with joy and affection. Although grandfather Grey couldn't discern their discussion, he could feel the softness in Cedric's voice and witness the longing expression on his face. He held the old phone close to his ear as though he was holding the other person close to his heart. The young man's eyes oozed with warmth and devotion like nothing the grandfather had seen.

For the first time, Grandfather Grey was at loss.