Vamp City, fifth layer of the Obscure Guild.

Luo and Jenna had stayed in the Obscure Guild with Gabriella and Isaac.

Arrived in Vamp City, they were surprised by its gothic aesthetics.

Due to the roof blocking off the sun, the vampires weren’t affected by sunlight in the Obscure Guild. Still, the city was dimmer than any other.

It had been an old Orbarium city in the past. The city’s multiple towers and a grand town square for festivities came from the fallen guild.

At the town square, vampires were already there to greet them when they left the vehicle. What used to be a place filled with statues and greenery had become a dark fighting arena. The vegetation had died long ago due to the absence of light.

“Gabriella Rivampe,” ten vampires bowed down before her. “Welcome back, Vampiric Queen.”

“It seems we were worried for nothing. They don’t have any ominous feelings, see?” Gabriella cheerfully turned her back to look at Isaac, Jenna and Luo.

Everything was going well. No one showed a trace of resentment until a swarm of masked vampires suddenly dropped from the sky. Before anyone could react, the vampires, which had greeted Gabriella, were lying on the floor, motionless, their skin growing even paler.

Soon, they had become ashes flowing in the air, giving way to a well-prepared entrance. All the vampires had custom-painted masks covering their entire faces. They each portrayed zombies, demons or animals.

One of them stepped forward. The vampire’s black cape nearly touched the floor. His golden accessories, such as his watch and necklace, were purely to show off his wealth to Gabriella. He also had the best mask out of everyone: a dead elder's face cast in shimmering gold.

He reached below his waist and took out a small gun.

“Watch out!” Isaac made a red-magic shield and blocked the darts. “These are tranquillizers,” he realized.

Removing his mask, Gabriella instantly recognized him. It was Raphael Vanthorn. He was a member of the Vanthorn family, initially maintained by pure vampires. However, because of infighting, the pure-blood lineage had gotten lost a hundred years prior. While there were speculations that Raphael, who had taken control of the family, had incited the fight, how it took place and why was a mystery. The evidence had gotten lost over time.

As he approached Gabriella, the masked vampires behind him bowed and announced, “The king-in-waiting wishes to speak to the Vampiric Queen!”

Gabriella laughed with dread across her face from the cold-blooded slaying that had just happened, ‘The king-in-waiting?’

Raphael didn’t pay attention as he arrived before her. “Gabriella Rivampe, the last pure-blood, perpetrator of patricide.”

She frowned. She hated Raphael. He had repeatedly tried to offer to reunite the Vanthorn and Rivampe families through marriage when she was younger, but her parents refused each time. However, at this moment, Gabriella realized that the strongest vampire, the one with the most influence, was Raphael Vanthorn. Who knew what he could do now?

Gabriella took a step forward as her disgust towards him gave her strength. She was now staring into his eyes, face-to-face.

Raphael was a handsome person. His golden hair and blue eyes lit up the dark, and his physique was not too muscular but not too slim or tall. ‘This no doubt helped him conquer the hearts of numerous vampires who now think he’s the true vampiric king,’ Gabriell thought.

“I want you to be by my side once I ascend to the throne.” He smiled charmingly, but Gabriella knew it was insincere.

“Or what?”

“I have to get a pure-blood heir one way or another,” he responded with a straight face.

Gabriella clenched her fist as she grew quiet.

“Stop,” Isaac arrived at her side. “She’s the rightful heir, Arthea Rivampe’s daughter! Have you all lost your way? Have you become such strays that you’d accept a fake as king?”

-Slash

“Fuck off.” The high vampire’s demeanour became dark, and his claws were out.

Isaac looked down and saw a horrifying sight: some of his intestines had been clawed out of his belly, hanging down as he caught them in his bloody arms.

“ISAAC!” Gabriella turned toward him in a hurry. Adrenaline overtook her, though she didn’t know what to do but ask for help from the onlookers while Jenna brought him into the car. “Is there a doctor?! We need to bring him to a hospital!”

Asking for a doctor in a city of angry vampires proved pointless. Isaac seemed to be dying. It was a grievous wound, one that required immediate attention.

She hurried over to him in the car. “Isaac…”

Isaac couldn’t speak but smiled- before coughing up blood everywhere.

He couldn’t feel any pain; the red magic was doing its job as always. His eyes started glowing red as his body slowly patched up the wound.

“But is it enough to heal you like this?!” Gabriella was anxious as she cried.”

Luo stayed outside to stall for time, but the vampires didn’t want to wait any longer for Gabriella to come out.

‘He’s going to die… Isaac’s dying!’ She cried even more. ‘And there’s nothing I can do!’

Then, a sudden thought activated her. It wasn’t a good one. She took on her vampiric form, showing her canines and without hesitation, approached Isaac’s neck.

“Huh?” The girl widened her eyes.

Just before she could bite him, Isaac shook his head.

“Why? It’s the only way to save you!”

Isaac was still smiling. He had regained his voice. “No, I’ll be fine. I just need to rest.”

Gabriella Rivampe fell to her knees. She was sure he would die, but Isaac seemed confident in his regenerative power, so she trusted him. It was better than turning him into a murderous beast, she thought.

“Take care of him, Jenna.”

“Of course.”

She stepped outside the vehicle and faced Raphael again.

Luo had made a perimeter with blue flames. It was melting the solid ground.

The young vampire took a deep breath. “There’s only one way to settle this.”

She took one last step forward. “Raphael Vanthorn, I challenge you to a duel between life and death.”