"Ugh!"
London looked back, seeing Conan collapse on the floor with a thud. It took him by surprise that London had to stop, turning around, only to see the cracks in the floor where Conan fell.
"If you do this, there's nothing I can do." Fabian kept his stance, but the surface he was standing on cracked until he sank a level. He knew if he ever took a step, he would fall just like Marsella, Conan, and Dexter.
"What an interesting ability," he mused, setting his eyes on Giselle's back. "If not for my years of experience and Maleficent's help, I would've been crushed."
Right now, Fabian could feel this terrifying weight on him. It was as if an entire mountain was placed on his shoulders, immobilizing him completely.
"Ugh!!! Giselle!!" Dexter grunted as an added weight fell onto his back, fixing him in the growing pit on the surface. Still, his unbending will give him the strength to raise his head. His teeth were clenched and blood soon dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Unlike Fabian and Conan, Dexter was more about growing his economic power. He could fight, of course, but against Giselle, he was hopeless. Even in a battle against Miguel, Dexter was uncertain whether he would win against a pureblooded, noble vampire. Everything he had until now was his will to fight for Aries — his will to protect his one and only family.
Now, not only Marsella was fixed on the ground, but Conan, Dexter, and Fabian as well. Those who had a hard time going past these obstacles were slightly surprised. The members of the Raven had been attacking Dexter all at once, but no matter how many times Dexter fell, he would stand right back up.
Giselle was genuinely brilliant and gifted, fitting the position she climbed with nothing but her efforts.
"Let us not waste more time!" Miguel's voice brought everyone back to their senses. "Giselle said she will deal with all these pests! Right now, the werewolves have snuck inside our territory."
Miguel turned his back against Fabian, facing the members of the council. "This land will be their graves."
"Yes!!!" the Ravens roared in unison, lifting their weapons in the air.
Meanwhile, London lifted his gaze at Miguel and the rest of the Raven. He was still not completely on their side, but their goal was the same.
"Abel Grimsbanne…" London whispered. "The presence of the werewolves isn't what's the scariest part."
He pressed his lips into a thin line, thinking about the situation according to Abel's nature. If there were a few werewolves on the mainland, it would be troublesome for the vampires. However, the mainland sheltered the best and the most capable vampires there were.
They could win unless… Abel lured the most troublesome werewolves.
'For now, let's not think about all those things.' London mentally shook his head, eyes shut. 'I don't think Abel would have the time to approach the King of Ronmin.'
Ronmin.
Just like the mainland, there was a land where all the werewolves lived. They also lived in seclusion, surrounded by nature. Although the mentioned land wasn't truly hidden like the mainland, it was hard to locate it, for it was vast and was surrounded by towering trees and wild animals.
Rumors had it that no one would even know there was a civilization in Ronmin unless they reached the center of the land. London only heard of that rumor when he was a child, but it stuck in his head since that was the only clue he had about the werewolves — the vampire's natural nemesis.
"Let's go!!" Miguel's voice thundered, followed by the high morale of the members of the Raven. London also nodded to himself, about to leave the great hall to execute their orders.
"Damn it…" Marsella cursed under her breath, grinding her teeth. "... once I get out of here, I will break all your bones, Giselle. You better make sure I will not get out of this weight."
Giselle ignored Marsella's threats while everyone on her side was leaving the great hall. She kept her face fixed in Aries's direction. Aries was the only one who wasn't affected by Giselle's power. Or rather, Aries was the only one Giselle was restraining.
"How insulting." Aries chuckled, sneering. "Does this mean there's no need to restrain since I can't do anything, anyway?"
"Marsella, His Highness Conan, Marquess Vandran, and Fabian the Butler. They were all individuals capable of fighting a member of the Raven head-on. I'd say it is the same with Her Majesty. However, right now, Her Majesty is going through the process of the ceremony." Giselle smiled subtly. "A normal person going through the ceremony will cost them their lives. That is why no one dared usurped the throne except Maximus IV. Understandable since he was a Grimsbanne by heart."
"Maleficent, why did you think I pushed through this ceremony even when Her Majesty is a turned vampire?" she continued, causing deep lines between Aries's brows.
"You don't say…"
"That is right, Maleficent. I know you will sustain her body so she had a place to return to," Giselle clarified, making those who had no choice but to listen almost gasp. "But since you are so busy sustaining her body, I wonder who would protect Her Majesty against the first king's will?"
"What…" Dexter's breath hitched, balling his hand into a fist. "Giselle! What are you saying?! What are you doing to my sister?!"
"I am doing nothing, Marquess Vandran. All I did was open the door for her. Her Majesty was the one who stepped inside that door. How she would get out is something she must figure out on her own." Giselle blinked ever so slowly, adding more weight to everyone until she could hear their suppressed grunts and a few bones breaking. "Now, Maleficent. What will you do now? Will you go to her and save her? Or would you wait for her while keeping her heart beating?"
Silence slowly descended in the room as the last member of the Raven fled the scene. Now, it was just Gisella against Marsella, Dexter, Conan, and Fabian. And yet, all of them couldn't even move, let alone do anything against her.
All of them were aware Giselle got the upper hand so easily. She didn't even have to move from her spot to take away the bright sliver of hope until…
"Ahhh!!!!"
The door was suddenly kicked open as a few figures went inside. But the motivated shouts abruptly died down as the people who came — to be precise, Miguel and the members of the Raven — realized they were back in the great hall.
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