Chapter 207 - Shadyside Monarch
The Sunnyvale football field was at full capacity. About five thousand people filled the stands, ready to watch the game.
The people of Sunnyvale waved flags and banners in the air.
This stadium, with a capacity of five thousand spectators, was a reflection of Sunnyvale's pride and investment in its team and in sports—a clear display of its superiority over Shadyside.
By contrast, Shadyside didn't even have enough population to fill a stadium of this size. With barely three thousand five hundred residents, only about eight hundred people had made the trip to the game.
The difference in numbers and energy among the spectators was obvious.
Before the game started, Sunnyvale put on a pre-match show, flaunting its opulence and competitive spirit.
The Sunnyvale cheerleaders were being led by a tall girl with a model-like figure, perfectly styled ash-blonde hair, and green eyes.
"That's Rosalie... I never get tired of looking at her. I only come to the game for this," Simon said, practically drooling as he watched the Sunnyvale cheerleading captain.
Kate, sitting beside him, rolled her eyes and elbowed him in the ribs.
"Where's your loyalty, Simon? We have Tuesday. Remember? Tuesday," Kate said, emphasizing the name.
Simon shrugged, tearing his gaze away from Rosalie for only a moment. "I know, I know... But it's different. Tuesday is like... a goddess. She's untouchable, you know?"
"Seriously? Rosalie doesn't even know you exist. Tuesday is our friend. You see her all the time," Kate said, looking at him in disbelief.
"That's exactly why. Tuesday acts like none of this matters to her. It's like the world is irrelevant to her. That cold demeanor, the way she looks at everyone with disdain... That makes her untouchable," Simon said.
Kate raised an eyebrow, but Simon continued before she could say anything.
"Rosalie, on the other hand, is like a celebrity who knows she's beautiful. She loves being the center of attention and acts exactly how you'd expect someone like that to act," Simon explained.
Kate scoffed, crossing her arms. She wanted to argue, but something inside her couldn't deny what Simon was saying. As much as she hated to admit it, there was something about Tuesday that made her unique—even to her, a straight girl. Tuesday had made her question her sexuality more than once.
But when she looked at Rosalie, all she felt was jealousy, and her self-esteem took a hit.
As Rosalie and her teammates performed flawless acrobatics, the Sunnyvale crowd erupted into cheers, clapping enthusiastically as the stadium's giant screens zoomed in on her.
With every ovation, Rosalie looked more satisfied, basking in the adoration of the crowd.
'The worship of normie masses... so easy and exhilarating,' Rosalie thought, executing a perfect flip and landing gracefully.
The roar of the audience surrounded her, feeding her in a way they would never understand. It wasn't just ego—it was power.
Despite her disdain for these simple humans, these mortals living their insignificant, fleeting lives, she couldn't deny how much she enjoyed the way they looked at her.
To them, she was a goddess—an untouchable figure of perfection and magnetism.
When Sunnyvale's performance ended, it was Shadyside's turn. The Shadyside cheerleaders and marching band did their best, with Violet playing in the band.
The difference between the two performances was stark. Shadyside couldn't match Sunnyvale's grandeur.
Murmurs, laughter, and boos came from the rival crowd throughout the show. However, Shadyside wasn't done just yet.
When the band's music stopped, Madison, Shadyside's cheer captain, stepped onto the field. She took the microphone with a calmness and confidence that contrasted with the hostile atmosphere around them.
"Well, it seems our humble little performance wasn't enough for you," Madison said in a light, almost mocking tone that momentarily silenced the laughter.
The Shadyside cheerleaders stepped aside, forming a semicircle as Madison extended an arm toward someone standing just behind the formation.
"Now, let's introduce our monarch... the monarch of Shadyside."
A murmur spread through the stadium. The spotlights turned toward a figure wearing an oversized black hoodie with the Shadyside logo, the hood pulled up over their head.
The Sunnyvale crowd looked confused—some laughed again, while others began speculating about the person's identity.
'When did I even say yes to this?' thought Luke, the hooded figure. The entire school had begged him to just show up for this moment, and he reluctantly agreed after countless pleas. It wasn't a complicated task, after all.
The only thing he asked for was to be called monarch instead of queen—there was no way he was letting them call him that, not even in this female form.
With no other choice, Luke raised his hands to the hood and pulled it back, revealing his face.
The stadium fell into momentary silence.
Everyone was stunned—not just by the blonde girl's striking features, but by something else. On the giant screen, her ice-blue eyes shone with an innate arrogance, as if she were looking down at a crowd of ants.
"Say a few words to our people," Madison said, making an exaggerated bow before handing Luke the microphone. He took it reluctantly.
"You better win this game, or you made me waste my time coming here," Luke said, his voice laced with irritation at all the attention.
Despite the annoyance and authority in his tone, the crowd was taken aback when his voice echoed through the stadium speakers. Cold and firm, yet carrying a melodic, smooth, and perfectly tuned quality—just as flawless as his appearance.
The Shadyside stands erupted into cheers, as if their monarch's words were an order that ignited them even more. The energy was far greater than what Madison and the band had managed to stir—achieved with just a few words from Luke.
The Sunnyvale spectators remained silent, some whispering in hushed tones as they continued staring at Tuesday.
From her spot, Rosalie watched the scene in disbelief.
For the first time in her life, she felt like someone else was outshining her.
'She looks completely different compared to the photos...' thought Rosalie, who had seen pictures of Tuesday—her reputation had even reached Sunnyvale.
But seeing her in person was an entirely different experience.
What unsettled her the most was the arrogance that radiated from every fiber of her being.
The mere fact that a normie girl could project such arrogance infuriated her.
Rosalie's green eyes filled with hatred as she glared at Tuesday.
'I won't wait a week,' she thought, a dangerous glint in her eyes.
With both spectacles over, the game began. It lasted nearly two hours and was fiercely contested. The final winner was Shadyside, securing victory with a one-touchdown lead.
The Shadyside players had seemingly entered a berserker mode, playing the entire game with one goal in mind: victory. They couldn't afford to lose—not after making Tuesday come all this way and waste her time. And they succeeded.
They won the game after two years without a victory.
The Shadyside stands erupted in cheers and excitement. Meanwhile, the Sunnyvale spectators had gone completely silent—a stark contrast to their earlier confidence.
With the celebrations over, Luke walked through the crowd toward one of the stadium exits. He pulled his hood back up and separated from his Shadyside teammates. It was time to begin the exploration of Sunnyvale in search of the vampire clan.
He would cover the eastern and northern parts of Sunnyvale, while Wednesday and Natasha took the other zones.
'I hope I get lucky,' Luke thought with a hint of impatience. He was tired of investigating and following leads—he wanted action. He wanted to finally find those damn pieces of evidence.
Reaching the parking lot, he noticed the crowd starting to disperse, many still discussing the game—most of them clearly unhappy, being from Sunnyvale.
Just then, Luke heard a voice inside his head, like a whisper.
"Come... Follow my voice."
Luke flinched slightly. He hadn't expected a whispering voice to suddenly appear in his mind, and yet, the voice carried an unmistakable magnetic pull. He instantly knew what it was.
'Vampire hypnosis,' Luke thought, pleasantly surprised. He had to hold back a manic grin from forming on his face.
Vampiric hypnosis and psychic mind control had distinct differences in their mechanics and effects on the victim.
Vampires didn't impose direct commands like a psychic would; instead, their hypnosis was more subtle, immersive, and seductive. Their power lay in suggestion—in a whisper that slipped into the victim's mind, drawing them in, absorbing them, even making them feel pleased at the mere idea of obeying.
On the other hand, psychic mind control is an absolute command. There is no seduction or persuasion—only a cold, mechanical order that the victim's mind executes without resistance.
It's as if their free will momentarily shuts down, and their body moves under the psychic's will, without questioning or feeling anything in the process.
Who would have thought a vampire would come knocking at his door? This was great news. He quickly concluded that the vampire must have seen him speaking in his Tuesday form and had been tempted by the beauty of his female appearance—or something along those lines.
'So they are in Sunnyvale, not in the forest. Thanks, female form,' Luke thought as he began following the voice guiding him.
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The vampire was gravely mistaken if he thought he could seduce him with such weak hypnosis. However, Luke decided to play along since he was being led toward the forest—an isolated place, far from prying eyes. All the better for him.
He didn't want to startle the vampire, so it was best to let him think his hypnosis was working.
'Who will be the lucky one? Hopefully, it's more than one,' Luke thought, already eager for battle. It had been a long time since he'd had an exciting fight. The last one was against the lesser demons, and while it had been fun, it wasn't exactly challenging.
Luke walked through the dark forest, guided by the vampire's voice. More than twenty minutes had passed since he started following it, and his thoughts were a mix of impatience and curiosity.
As he walked, his mind kept analyzing the situation. This group of vampires, a secondary branch of the Drosia clan, worked with great meticulousness to cover their tracks, making it seem as though the disappearances were just people leaving town.
But where was that meticulousness now? The way the vampire had lured him in was anything but subtle, anything but careful.
Tuesday was an important figure for Shadyside, known throughout the school and the entire town. She had even made a strong impression in Sunnyvale. Her face had been displayed on every big screen in the stadium.
If she were to disappear tonight, it would be noticed immediately. This was an impulsive abduction—something that didn't match the calculated modus operandi of these vampires.
Why were they acting so foolishly now?
After a few more minutes, Luke reached a slightly more open area. The trees remained tall, with thick trunks spaced apart, creating a broader field of vision.
At the edge of the clearing, he saw three figures. They stood motionless about fifteen meters away. The moonlight reflected off their hooded faces, but to Luke—being a clairvoyant—their faces were perfectly visible even at this distance.
Luke recognized one of those faces—the face of a pale-skinned girl with ash-colored hair. The only difference was her eyes; they had once been green, but now they were a deep, dark red.
'That's one of Sunnyvale's cheerleaders... Her name was Rosalie,' Luke thought as he observed the three figures. Sometimes, it was actually useful to pay attention to Simon's nonsense.
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