Chapter 268: Holy war 6

In her millennia of existence, there were few things that could truly rile Elizabeth. Boredom, the capriciousness of the gods, defeat, and above all, submission.

Boredom, in particular, gnawed at her like a relentless hunger.

Like any long-lived race, the need for entertainment was an essential facet of existence. For Elizabeth, the remedy to this ennui lay in her kin—the vampires.

Watching them grow, evolve, adapt, and even witnessing their transformations was a source of fascination that had long kept her boredom at bay.

For countless millennia, this cycle of observation and fascination had provided Elizabeth with a sense of purpose, a respite from the monotony of immortality.

But in the last 500 years, since the establishment of a peace treaty between vampires and humans, a pervasive sense of boredom had settled over her like a suffocating shroud.

With the cessation of conflict, her once dynamic and ever-changing race had grown stagnant, trapped in a state of perpetual stasis.

No longer were there wars to wage, enemies to vanquish, or challenges to overcome. Instead, there was only the dull monotony of peace—an existence devoid of excitement, growth, or change.

It was a reality that grated against Elizabeth's very essence, leaving her restless and unfulfilled.

As she surveyed her kin, their once vibrant energy now dulled by centuries of peace, Elizabeth felt a surge of frustration building within her.

This was not how she had envisioned their immortal existence—a life of endless stagnation, devoid of purpose or meaning.

As a benevolent queen, Elizabeth understood the complexities of her immortal race and refrained from blaming them for their stagnation.

Instead, she exercised patience, though it wore thin as the culmination of her grievances unfolded within the same year.

The gods themselves deigned to visit her domain, a rare occurrence that stirred unease within her.

Coupled with her kin's stagnation and a defeat at the hands of the hero in an unofficial battle, Elizabeth found herself facing an unprecedented demand: to submit to demons, made by her own kind.

It was a betrayal that shook her to her core, challenging the very foundations of her authority and reign.

For the first time in her millennia-long existence, Elizabeth felt the primal urge to revert to the embodiment of the first sin she had long eschewed—wrath.

It was the very essence that had earned her the fear and respect of gods and high races alike, a force to be reckoned with and a reminder of her unparalleled power.

"Is this your will, your majesty?" Herton's voice trembled with resignation as he bowed before his queen. Even in the face of death, he remained loyal, willing to sacrifice himself for her cause. For the first sin upon the world.

As Elizabeth prepared to feed upon her loyal subject, a somber acceptance settled over Herton. If he were to die today, at least he would serve as nourishment for his queen, fulfilling his duty to the very end.

As the queen prepared to enact her grim intentions, a sudden interruption halted her in her tracks. A familiar voice echoed through the chamber, breaking the tense silence.

"Your Majesty," came the respectful address, accompanied by the arrival of a woman with striking red hair and eyes reminiscent of Elizabeth's own. Behind her, two other women bowed their heads in deference—an individual with red eyes and blonde hair, and another with black hair and red eyes, dressed in a maid's outfit.

Elizabeth's eyes widened slightly at the sight before her. She recognized this person all too well—one of the very few vampires she had genuinely cared about. When she had heard of their disappearance into the clutches of an unknown demon, she had been devastated.

"Charlotte?" the queen questioned, her actions pausing as a ripple of relief washed over the vampires in the room, feeling their strength slowly returning in the presence of the newcomer.

"Judging from your rash actions... are you not feeling well, Your Majesty?" Charlotte inquired with genuine concern as she approached, flanked by her companions. A crow with a hundred eyes perched on her shoulder.

"You were alive... Charlotte?" Elizabeth's voice held a mixture of disbelief and relief.

"Yes," Charlotte confirmed simply, her expression unreadable.

"How...? I'm sure your connection with me was clearly cut off," Elizabeth pressed, her gaze scanning the woman before her. She delved deep, searching for any sign of deception, but found none. It was indeed Charlotte standing before her, alive against all odds. Yet, the absence of their vampiric connection had left Elizabeth convinced of her demise.

"We can talk about all of that later, Your Majesty. How about we take this somewhere private first? My master is rather impatient at the moment," Charlotte suggested, a note of urgency in her voice.

"Master?" Elizabeth's curiosity piqued as she followed Charlotte's gaze to the crow perched on her shoulder.

In that moment, Elizabeth's senses were overwhelmed by a surge of primal energy emanating from the crow.

She attempted to peer into its essence, but before she could discern its identity her eyes exploded, a searing pain erupted within her, as if her very soul had been scorched.

"Looking without permission is rude, my dear progenitor," came a calm yet commanding voice from the crow.

The power it exuded was palpable, sending shivers down the spines of every vampire present.

In that instant, Elizabeth realized the magnitude of the being before her.

It was not merely a crow, but something far greater—an entity that commanded respect and reverence, akin to that of a god.

And as the weight of its presence bore down upon them, Elizabeth and her subjects could only kneel into submission.