The pain in Ruelle’s back had dulled, her senses completely absorbed by what was unfolding in front of her. Beside her, Kevin’s expression had turned ashen and hadn’t moved from his spot. More than the gore, it was what Lucian had said about Ruelle that lingered in his mind.
"Bastard, d–don’t you dare," Bowen warned, his voice unsteady now. Panic flickered across his face. "Oak and Mortis won’t be pleased with this. You’ll end up in a detention centre for this."
The greatest humiliation any vampire could face was being defanged. Even execution would have been kinder.
Orpheus silently cursed his luck. Lucian had never openly claid the human for himself, which was why the younger vampire had never expected things to escalate this far.
The pureblooded vampire was weaving them into his punishnt so carefully that even if one of them tried to report the others, they would all be dragged down together. He would be either in the detention centre... or be on the bed for months recovering from whatever Lucian would do.
When Lucian reached for the iron stoker that had pinned Bowen earlier, the latter growled as it was pulled out with blood dripping from its end.
Bowen tried to push himself up, his arm trembling as he forced his weight against the ground. But the effort lasted only a mont before his strength failed him as blood continued to ooze from the torn wound at his side, spreading darkly across the floor beneath him.
When the iron stoker scraped again, the sound alone was enough for Orpheus to lower himself beside Bowen.
"Orpheus... don’t," Bowen rasped before threatening. "You touch my fangs and I’ll gut you the mont I heal."
"You were the one who touched and wanted her, Bowen," Orpheus gritted through his teeth. "This is out of my hands now."
"Fucker, you—" The threat broke off into a choked cry when Orpheus’ fingers slipped into Bowen’s mouth. And the next mont, a sickening snap followed as he ripped Bowne’s fangs.
And while the young vampire was following the orders, the people who noticed what was happening, their stomachs fell.
Orpheus turned, holding the bloodied fangs in his hand.
"Here are the fangs—" The words died in his throat. Lucian stood right behind him, the iron stoker still in his hand. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. "Wait—Lucian, I did —"
The rod swung so fast that most of the people failed to see it—only the dull clang of tal against bone was heard. Orpheus collapsed onto the floor. He clutched his head as a sharp ringing filled his ears and he felt the room spin.
Lucian stepped forward to where Orpheus quickly curled on the floor with his body drawn into a foetal position as he tried to shield his ribs. The pureblooded vampire looked down at him and asked quietly,
"Do you know how it feels when hot tal sinks into your eyes?"
"I will never go near her again! I swear," Orpheus shook violently, clutching his head as the world still rang around him. He gasped, "Please forgive . Ruelle! Please—please help !"
Ruelle had grown up learning to avoid conflict. Coming from the weaker side of the food chain ant always considering the retaliation that followed.
But Lucian did not seem to care about retaliation. In this mont, he appeared to exist only to punish those who had dared to disrespect her. His voice ca low and calm,
"You talk too much."
Before Ruelle’s na could leave Orpheus’s mouth again, Lucian brought the iron stoker down. The blow silenced her classmate instantly and he collapsed, unconscious.
Ruelle watched Alanna stand frozen across the room, the composure the vampiress once wore now slipping from her face. Even from where she stood, Ruelle could tell that Alanna was frightened—frightened of what Lucian might do to her next.
Before Lucian could step toward Alanna, the vampiress gathered herself and said with quiet firmness,
"Lucian, we should discuss what you said earlier privately. About the drink—"
Lucian stared at her for a second before speaking, "I am almost glad you did it."
Alanna’s brows furrowed in confusion and she blurted,
"The drink, it was only—I didn’t touch the human. I didn’t even know she would be here tonight. Then everything is fine between us... right?" she asked quickly, hope creeping into her voice.
"Soone capable of tampering with my drink could do the sa with anyone close to ," Lucian remarked, his gaze cold and unreadable. "That is not a risk I am willing to take."
"Are you going to treat the sa way as them then?" Alanna asked, her hands curling slowly into fists to hide the tremor.
For years she had hoped that one day Lucian might notice her. She had believed that patience and loyalty would eventually earn his attention. Yet tonight, for the sake of a human girl who had appeared out of nowhere, he stood before her as though she were no different from the others he had just punished.
Her eyes flickered briefly toward Ruelle before returning to Lucian. A bitter knot tightened in her chest.
Lucian walked to where Alanna was before moving past her and picking up the liquor bottle. He pulled out the top before he poured the alcohol over his hand, letting the blood wash away from his fingers.
"You already know the answer to that," Lucian replied with a detached expression.
Alanna’s lips pressed together before she tried to act brave, saying, "Then there’s no point pretending otherwise. Go on. Do whatever you think I deserve."
Lucian continued to walk while he cleaned his hand. He then ordered, "Take them out."
Alanna frowned, asking, "What?"
The pureblooded vampire’s gaze returned to her as he picked up another liquor bottle and he washed his other hand. "The ones in your mouth. Do it yourself."
A stunned silence fell across the room as eyes shifted from Alanna to Lucian. Another defanged vampire...
"Lucian," Alanna’s voice lowered, the composure she had fought to maintain beginning to crack, "you cannot be serious. You would humiliate like this?"
Lucian did not answer. He rely picked up two iron stokers, which weakened Alanna’s spirit.
When the vampiress didn’t seem to make an effort to follow his words, all Lucian did was throw one of the iron stokers near her, which sparked too close to where the alcohol had fallen a mont ago.
For a brief mont, several people in the room stiffened, half-expecting the flas to catch.
"Alanna, do what he says!" one of them shouted in worry. "Do you want us all burned because of you?!"
One of the vampiresses in the room whispered, "She should have known better. This is entirely her doing."
Alanna gritted her teeth while she was being cornered. She let out a soft, bitter breath. She murmured, "So that’s it..."
Slowly, her hand rose to her mouth, fingers hovering near her lips before stopping halfway, as she didn’t want to lose her fangs, as they were a sign of pride.
With great hesitation, Alanna forced one of her fangs free.
She looked back at Lucian, hoping it would be enough but he didn’t budge. Her lips trembled as she could already feel everyone looking down at her.
When another snap echoed through the room, Alanna was drenched in humiliation and she looked up at Lucian, who wore a look of boredom. He stated,
"I said all of them."
User Comments
0 comments from readers