The heavy footsteps echoed through the pristine corridors of the palace, drawing the attention of everyone who passed. The woman advanced with a clear purpose in her eyes. She had sacrificed many things to reach this moment, and nothing made more sense, as if her effort led to... nothing.
The palace was a spectacle of luxury and opulence, every detail meticulously crafted to exude wealth and power. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, embroidered with gold and silver threads, depicting scenes of victories and conquests. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft light that reflected off polished marble and gold surfaces.
The woman walked with long, heavy steps, holding the hand of a small pale girl who was completely absorbed in her red lollipop. The little girl wore a gothic black dress that contrasted with her black hair and red eyes, creating an enigmatic and somber figure.
"Ophis, I already told you not to bring vampire candies into the palace," said the woman with pink hair, dressed in leather and a black suit. She wore dark sunglasses that partially concealed the intensity of her gaze, but her tone made her disappointment clear.
Ophis, without taking her eyes off the lollipop, replied in a calm, childlike voice, "But I like them, Mother." She sighed softly, as if the idea of being without her sweets was unbearable.
"I know you like them, but rules are rules. Inside here, we must maintain a certain... decorum." She glanced around the palace, the luxurious and immaculate corridors reflecting the grandeur of the place. "Besides, you know those candies can cause problems. At least for now, avoid them... okay?"
Little Ophis finally looked up, her red eyes shining with innocent curiosity. "Problems? What kind of problems? They're just sweets."
"Do you really want to talk about the last time you ate sweets and killed fifteen vampires?" the woman questioned, and little Ophis shrank back, "It's not my fault if they're weak." She responded, while the woman put her hand on her face, "They were royal guards." She remarked, and Ophis continued to ignore her mother.
She sighed deeply and finally reached a massive double door, intricately carved with ancient symbols and adorned with precious stones. The guards at the door looked at her with a mixture of apprehension and reverence before bowing and opening the passage. The woman entered the room with the little girl and came face-to-face with a round table where three vampires were seated. .net
The woman, holding the child in her arms, gazed at the three individuals before her, all appearing intrigued by the reason for their summons. The grand and luxurious room felt small compared to the tension hanging in the air.
"It seems everyone is here," the woman said, her voice firm and authoritative. Her eyes scanned the faces of those present, assessing each one.
The tall, imposing blonde woman, standing at nearly two meters, stepped forward. Her crimson eyes glowed with impatience, and the beauty mark below her eye accentuated her striking appearance. Her black dress highlighted her sensual curves, emphasizing her powerful presence. "Speak, Rose, I don't have all day," she said with an authoritative tone.
Rose, the woman with rose-colored hair holding the child, took a deep breath before responding. "I summoned you all here because we have a matter to resolve regarding this alliance." She glanced at the silent little Ophis beside her before continuing, "I'm withdrawing from all of this. You're on your own." Her red eyes flashed with resolve.
"I'm sure we have an agreement," Elijah said, eyeing her warily, ready to strike if necessary. But he knew well enough that one wrong move could lead to immediate death.
"Exactly, is your word so weak?" the other man, named Klaus, added.
Klaus, still trying to process what had just happened, took a hesitant step back. "This... this changes everything," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "If she can do this to Elijah, then maybe we should reconsider our approach."
Ophis looked at them one last time before leaving. "You are all fools," she said, her voice cold. "You play with things you don't understand. If you want to survive, start respecting those stronger than you." With these words, Rose and Ophis left the hall, leaving the three vampires behind, still trying to grasp what had happened.
The atmosphere in the palace changed; confidence shaken, the alliance now uncertain.
When they finally managed to move, Klaus helped Elijah to his feet. "We need to reassess our strategy," he said, his voice serious. "If that girl is with Rose, then we have more than just Dante to worry about."
Elijah nodded, his gaze burning with hatred from being humiliated in such a manner. "Agreed. Let's investigate this child further. Find out who she is and what she can really do. We cannot afford to underestimate our enemies."
Carmila, observing the scene, shook her head in disdain. "I'm out," she said, turning to leave the room. "If you want to die, go ahead. I have more to do."
The two men remained silent as she left, their minds spinning with recent events. Klaus looked at Elijah, his gaze determined. "She's right about one thing, Elijah. We can't afford to make mistakes now."
Elijah took a deep breath, his hatred visible in every tense movement of his body. "We need allies, Klaus. If Rose has a child with that kind of power on her side, then we need to find a way to neutralize her."
Klaus nodded. "Let's start investigating. We need all possible information about this girl. Who she is, where she came from, and what she can really do. And we need to do it quickly."
And so...
"Ah-choo!" Dante sneezed, the sound echoing through the vast corridors of the Scarlet Mansion. His nose seemed quite irritated, and he frowned, clearly uncomfortable. "Skyla, clean this place!" He shouted, expecting an immediate response. However, the mansion remained silent.
Nagasawa, observing the scene with a slight smile, approached him. "Dear, I think someone is talking about you... I don't think it's the dust." She ran her hand over the furniture, which was impeccably clean.
Dante rubbed his nose, still suspicious. "Well, whoever it is, I hope they're not plotting anything. I'm not in the mood for dealing with problems right now."
Note: This is the beginning of Volume 6 - Vampire World. This volume will be a little shorter than the others, focusing more on the Vampire Counts and Vlad, as well as a better development of this world that I kind of left aside for a long time in the story.
Thank you in advance for those who have been following and don't forget to leave your comments with what you want and what you would like to see. *(Yes, I know that Nagasawa has been overshadowed, this arc will give her more development)*