Chapter 2

I Thought It Was BetrayalChapter 2

Vampires kidnapped innocent women and men on crescent nights. They also possessed red hair, befitting their heinous image. They did nothing but take the lives of innocent people. But one thing was certain – their very existence, sustained by human blood, terrified her people.

And as a result, vampires were ostracized by all the rest of the races.

“Knights, listen!”

Already queueing, including Mikhail, the knights looked at her. And soon, Selenia’s majestic voice reverberated above them.

“Last night, the filthy vampires once again went on a ‘human hunt’.”

Her tone was calm, but everyone could discern the anger she tried to swallow. She raised her sword high in the air and spoke in a loud voice.

“I command you. Cut the throats of those filthy folks who hide deep in the Witch’s Forest.”

“Kill them!”

With Selenia and Mikhail in the lead, the knights began to trudge behind them. The vampires’ shelter, Witch’s Forest, wasn’t that far from the Capital. It wasn’t a witch’s forest, but it had tall, and leafy trees. It was also because they rarely see sunlight most of the year.

“They wouldn’t be able to realize our advances.”

Mikhail had always admired Selenia’s determination in dealing with problems, always moving as quickly as possible. This time, too, she had immediately summoned the knights while the vampires had yet to be aware of their march towards them.

Of course, there were many other things to admire about Selenia. For one thing, she was the one who had personally knighted him when he was a mere commoner and not a noble. She had also been the one who reached out to him, a man whose swordsmanship was exceptional, but had never seen that success because of his identity. She was a light to him, with her blonde hair like warm sunlight. Mikhail looked at her longingly and Selenia was aware of his feelings for her.

“You can only win a game if you catch them off guard.”

She smiled brightly at Mikhail and hurriedly took the lead. After a while, thanks to their haste, they all reached the Witch’s Forest. The knights, including Selenia, slowly dismounted from their horses. As the ground was damp, it limited their horses to go any further. They tied their horses securely at the entrance to the forest, then slowly walked and headed inside.

The forest was but black as it had no sunlight, a stench smell of stagnant water wafted through the air. Somehow, the forest was eerily silent. The only sound that resonated in their ears was their crunching of feet on mud.

“Aren’t vampires a little stupid?”

“Hmm?”

They still had quite a path to go before reaching the base of the vampires. But without knowing when and where the vampires would appear, the tension was creepy and unguaranteed. Meanwhile, Mikhail, who couldn’t stand the silence, gripped the sword at his waist tightly.

“Since they don’t use weapons.”

Selenia didn’t relax at his words, her eyes darting around their surroundings.

“It’s not that they don’t know how to use them, rather…”

The corners of her mouth turned up sourly.

“It’s that they needn’t it.”

Selenia’s face sank into darkness. For a filthy race that fed on human blood, they had physical abilities beyond them. The Empire would never be able to stop them without the use of powerful weapons imbued with holy power.

“That’s because they have such strong bodies.”

Mikhail replied bluntly since vampires don’t have to use weapons as their sharpest teeth and nails are already their weapons. Thus, the Knights didn’t come out with their shields; no, they didn’t have to carry along their swords. Because vampires don’t use weapons like bows. It would be such a stupid action to shield against nothingness. What they needed was the sharpness and speed to plunge their swords soaked with holy water into their hearts.

“Hush, something is coming.”

The noble and pure blood of the Apollonian Imperial Family bestowed her abilities than ordinary people. As a result, with the help of her blood, helped her in many ways. She heard the sound of wind in her ears as if something was rapidly approaching. It was a sound so small that no one else would even notice it.

Selenia raised her index finger to her lips and gestured toward the knights following behind her and they swallowed hard and stopped walking. For a moment, a chill ran down her spine. Instead of the wind, it was something else.  As swift as the wind, the vampires were progressing towards them.

Selenia’s pupils instantly widened and shouted in urgency.

“Everyone, transform into battle formation!”

At that moment, an arrow flew out of nowhere.

“Ugh!”

The arrow pierced right through Mikhail’s leg.

“Mikhail!”

Selenia turned her head in surprise in the direction of the arrow. The leader of the vampires was Luciel, in the front line.  His face was pale white, and his characteristic red hair flowed wildly, corresponding to his rough movements. His relaxed demeanor amidst circumstances was not the only reason why he was seen as the head of the vampire at a glance. He was but a bloodthirsty beast, a vampire – amidst that, Luciel exuded unique elegance. A crafty grin came on his mouth, revealing his sharp canines and flashing green eyes.

“Don’t panic, everyone, get into battle formation…”

“Ugh!”

The vampires behind Luciel raised their bows in unison. Selenia’s mouth slowly opened. Shortly, arrows poured down like rain. At that instant moment, everything felt slower – as though time had slowed as she watched everything unfolding. In panic, Selenia’s eyes blinked slowly.

The storm of arrows pierced the hearts of her knights. As such, their screams of agony erupted here and there. The immutable truth that vampires would never use weapons had been shattered. What’s more, they were already nearing around the Knights, as if they had known they were coming.

Selenia internally swore and drew her own sword. Her silver blade flashed brilliantly in the dark forest. With one hand on Mikhail’s shoulder and the other supporting her sword, she turned to face the vampires that were attacking them.

“Oh, no, this… is not… How could they have seen us coming…”

Mikhail stammered, coughing up blood.

“Shut up, Mikhail. I won’t forgive you if you die!”

But ordinary humans were no match for armed vampires. Even the few remaining knights around Selenia were falling to the ground. The vampires cruelly tore their chests with their sharp fingernails.

“No!”

Her screams trailed off into nothingness. It wasn’t complacency. Even if they were unarmed, she should have been prepared for anything. This is all her fault. Selenia pursed her lips at the sight of her falling knights.

How the hell did they know they were coming?

They must have had a spy inside. They couldn’t have gotten this far ahead of time otherwise. Selenia shook her head as she plunged her sword into the vampires’ hearts. Their blood rippled in waves.

No, no.

She didn’t want to doubt her own people. To live with the thought that someone might have betrayed her was a path to self-destruct into a quagmire of misery. Waves after waves of thoughts jumbled in Selenia’s mind.

In the middle of her confusion, the vampire’s claws finally tore into her shoulder as she tried to pull away.

“Ugh…!”

She groaned, pulling back quickly.

“Let go of me… Your highness!” Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NøᴠᴇlFire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

“Silence your mouth! That’s an order.”

But though Selenia was one of the Empire’s finest, she could barely hold on against them while supporting Mikhail at that. Selenia let out a sharp breath and gritted her teeth. She looked around slowly. The Knights who had come with her had all fallen down, and the vampires who had fought them were gathered around Luciel. He opened his mouth with a sinister grin.

“Take the Crown Princess.”

Luciel’s serpentine voice echoed through the forest. The vampires lunged for Selenia in unison. Their nails, which had torn my knights like paper, were now aimed at her. Selenia breathed heavily, trying to parry their claws. The sound of clashing metal echoed sharply.

Having the noble and purest blood was of no use in this moment. There were way too many of vampires, and it was no lie that her strength had already weakened.

But how could she…!

Her cold sweat dripped on her jawline. No matter how strong she was, she couldn’t fight them all. In a fight that cannot be fought, elude is the best option. Selenia finally dropped her sword with hesitation.

She glanced at the vampires, hastily turned, and began to run.

“Get her!”

She ran with all her might, still supporting Mikhail with one hand.

“Hah, u-urgh….!”

After running for a while, Selenia’s steps came to an abrupt halt. In front of her, a high cliff with a strong current flowing below presented itself. Was there really no God who could help her?

Selenia squeezed her eyes shut. She ran to save their lives only to witness its futileness.  Just then, an arrow flew and struck Selenia in the back.

“Urgh!”

It happened to be right where her scar was. The arrow’s impact had released the priest’s holy power, and the scar began to ooze poison again. As the poison spread, an unbearable pain shot up her back. Selenia frowned and applied more pressure to Mikhail’s arm.

“Gotcha!”

She heard the vampires’ exultant voices. Luciel’s figure emerged from the dark forest briefly after. Unhurriedly, he approached her as his eyes only occupied with her. He looked ecstatic, as if he were looking at a finely crafted work of art.

“It is time to surrender, Your Highness.”

“Surrender?”

“If I bite you, your blood will transform like mine. As such, I’m your salvation.”

Luciel is a pureblood vampire so if he bit her, she wouldn’t die. Rather, she would become a vampire like him.

“Salvation? More like a curse.”

Selenia sneered at him and began to step backward a little.

“I’m sorry, Mikhail.”

Even in death, she didn’t want to be a vampire, she whispered quietly in Mikhail’s ear. Then she turned to the vampires, who were snickering at her, and spoke coldly.

“I don’t want to be one of those filthy things that drink human blood.”

Selenia grabbed Mikhail and threw him off the cliff in a flash.