Chapter 177: Vampire / 4.4 : The feast (Part 1)
Yuning looked at his little brother with a smile. He was sitting on the arm of his throne his eyes glued to the doors of the banquet hall. He seemed nervous and eager at the same time.
If Atlas said that he’ll be there he believes he will be. He looked around the room and his eyes landed on Yawen’s table. He was talking to his brother. After speaking to Atlas he sent someone to investigate.
It only took his men an hour to get all the information he needed. No one can compare to his people so it was easy to get all the tapes the queen had filmed of her experiments.
He watched her hurt and keep in captivity more than 20 vampires. He also saw her inject Atlas every composition she had created using the vampires’ blood and other organs.
He feels something different when it comes to Atlas but he isn’t sure if it’s because he’s been experimented on or something else. He can’t explain it but he also has this voice telling him to stay away but he doesn’t want to.
He looked at Xinzhi and his eyes darkened. That man was in a relationship with Atlas and promised he would free him but ended up leading him to his death. He saw their conversation.
Xinzhi made it seem like Atlas sacrificing himself would stop the tradition of human dying so he accepted despite not wanting to die. He looked at Yawen, to think he believed he was pure and unsullied.
He isn’t hurt by his behavior what infuriates him is that they were nice enough to let them be governed by humans yet they dared to use vampires as lab rats. No matter what they do they’ll never be able to harness their power.
When the doors opened Yuning looked at Atlas coming in. Atlas froze when he saw that everyone was looking at him then he resumed walking uncomfortable. Atlas walked up the stair and bowed.
He looked up and met Yuning’s eyes.
"Your majesty."
Yuning nodded and looked at Tan.
He smiled when he saw how excited he looked. Tan jumped down the arm and stood in front of Atlas. He didn’t know what to do or say and his cheeks flushed slightly.
Atlas’ eyes softened and he caressed his head.
"Sorry, I’m late."
Tan immediately said:
"It’s okay."
Atlas asked:
"Where’s my seat?"
Tan said:
"Since you’re the guest of honor you’re sitting next to the emperor and eating with him."
Atlas looked and saw that there were only two thrones. He asked:
"Where’s yours?"
Tan pointed dejectedly.
"I have to sit next to them."
Atlas followed his eyes and chuckled. There was the emperor’s table at the head of the room and on the left were the vampires and on the right the humans’. Next to the twins was a seat reserved for Tan.
The twins narrowed their eyes at their brother. They only let him act as he pleases because they plan on dealing with him for good very soon.
Atlas glanced at the twins and they looked at him. Zidong and Chen smiled and he smiled back. Tan narrowed his eyes. Atlas looked at him and asked:
"Will you sit with me? You’re my only friend."
Tan’s eyes lit up like fireworks and he nodded. Atlas smiled, he grabbed his hand and walked to the throne next to Yuning’s.
He took a seat and pulled him on his lap. Yuning looked at them with a smile. Since Atlas was finally here food was served.
Everyone started to eat besides Yuning. Atlas glanced at his plate and saw that it was untouched. Vampires eat human food too they just need to drink two liters of blood every day.
Yuning felt his eyes on him and met his eyes. Atlas asked after seeming unsure if he should speak:
"Aren’t you hungry?"
Tan said:
"Brother never has appetite at night."
Atlas tilted his head at Yuning. He checked Versem and frowned. After seeing all the information he understood why he only lived 900 years. 900 years for a vampire is short and he did think it was weird that he died early like that.
The originals are the most powerful vampires but it comes with disadvantages too. Their essence burns faster so they live half as long as other vampires. Because of that they can’t eat as much human food and have to drink more blood.
He should be able to fix that using a potion from Versem. He’ll just inject himself and once he let Yuning bite him and drink his blood he’ll receive the benefits from it. He wants Yuning’s bite since he is the strongest.
Yuning said:
"I don’t eat as much human food as other vampires."
Atlas nodded.
When Yuning reach out to brush a few strands of hair out of his face he froze. His cheeks flushed slightly and he felt his heartbeat quicken. This is fuckin ridiculous, he is like a kid having his first crush.
He’s crushing on him when he shouldn’t even feel. This makes no sense Er-Ge is his catalyst so why is crushing on him? He is everything that Er-Ge isn’t! Atlas looked at his plate and resumed eating.
Hearing Atlas’ rapid heartbeat Yuning felt somehow reassured. He still had that feeling that he should stay away but the other part was relieved.
Tan asked as they ate:
"Why did you sacrifice yourself?"
At that question, the hall quieted down and they all looked at Atlas. The camera zoomed in on his face. Yawen looked at Xinzhi a little worried.
He was stupid to let his brother talk to Atlas. He told him what he should say if anyone ask questions but now everyone knows that he knew nothing of the imperial family. What if they ask where he grew up and Atlas spills the beans?
Atlas looked at Xinzhi and he looked at him pleadingly. Atlas looked at him hurt than at Tan. He smiled and said:
"It was the last offering so I thought I might as well volunteer."
Xinzhi let out a breath. He knows that Atlas is hurt but he is grateful that he has his back no matter what. He needs to find a way to talk to him.
Tan asked:
"Why? You didn’t know about the originals."
Yawen felt like slapping that brat.
Everyone felt like his question was valid and they were all curious as well. Yuning didn’t intervene and looked at Atlas like the rest of the room. Atlas said:
"I don’t have family or friends so I had nothing to lose. If anyone were to volunteer I’m sure they would be missed so I thought I should do it."
Tan said:
"So you did it to protect the human?"
Tan felt nervous as he waited for his answer. If Atlas thinks that the tradition is wrong then maybe he won’t want to be friends with him since he is a vampire.
Atlas chuckled like he had heard a joke. He said
"I don’t care about the humans. Why should I protect them from their stupidity? They can all die for all I care."
The humans looked at Atlas furiously while the vampires laughed. Tan smiled and Atlas caressed his head. If the humans are too stupid to see that being an offering is bad then why should he help them?
They see it as an honor when it’s a way for the vampire to show that the only reason they have what they have is that they allowed it. Yawen knows that that’s why he did everything in his power to gain Yuning’s heart.
He also knew that he would die first because of his overwhelming power. In the OG timeline when Yuning died Yawen governed the vampire and the humans. He got exactly what he wanted.
He became the emperor of the world. He acts like he believes humans and vampires are the same but he doesn’t believe that or he wouldn’t have let Yuning turn him.
And since Yuning turned him and helped him strengthen his essence he was just as powerful as the originals. The part that angers him is Tan’s ending. The twins have always hated Tan because he’s the only one Yuning cares for.
Yuning has always loathed the way the twins’ acted. Even if he doesn’t feel for them he still took care of them and let them live at the palace. He could’ve tossed them out since he is the emperor and no one could’ve stopped him.
Seeing that Yuning only had an interest in their little brother the twins decided to get rid of him and he did.
Yawen knew full well but didn’t say anything because he felt like not having Tan in their life would allow him and Yuning to be closer and that’s exactly what happened.
Yuning was heartbroken when he died and found out that the twins were responsible so he killed them. He became more dependent on Yawen and their relationship grew closer.
Yawen is the biggest manipulator he has ever seen but now that he is here he won’t let Tan die or let him become the emperor of the world. The throne is his.
