In the Abyssal Sea, a large pirate ship with a flapping black flag was fighting against the raging storm and the unstoppable waves. The ship was called ‘Night’s Maiden’ and was quite famous for its impressive speed and its large twin-cannons.

Captain Buckrow was standing at the front, his thick arms holding onto a long chain as he tried to pull a creature zigzagging around the ship.

His crew were busy handling small flying and dangerous fish coming from all directions. The newcomer, the silver-haired demon, had both her arms raised as she shot one fireball after the other, frying anything that came her way.

Albeit the unfavourable circumstances of her and the pirates’ meeting, and her mistrustful attitude, she had grown accustomed to living with them. It wasn’t that they were ‘good’ people, but that their captain was exceptionally strict and didn’t let them assault her.

Then again, Lucy was more than capable of freezing or scorching them to death if they ever attempted anything. Weeks passed and Lucy decided to stick with them for the time being, first because it was safer on the sea than on the land, and second because her destination could only be reached by a ship.

“Get rid of those lil’ shits, ye damn drunkards!”

The captain’s resounding voice startled the pirates as they hastened their movements and formed a circle. They raised their shields and bashed the small flying fish.

Meanwhile, the waves were getting bigger and thunderbolts were zapping the ship’s deck and sides, causing more and more damage.

This was the Abyssal Sea, a stretch of water perpetually subjected to a violent thunderstorm that would grow stronger and stronger. The storm would disappear only for one day each month before resuming its progressive, deadly, and indiscriminate ravaging.

“Hold on!”

Captain Buckrow roared as veins bulge from his arms, his whole body exerting an insane amount of strength as it tried to pull the target from beneath the waters.

Night’s Maiden was rocking back and forth, seemingly about to get submerged, but Lucy intervened and stretched her arm while momentarily closing her eyes; A bone-chilling white and blue fog was unleashed from her body, instantly freezing everything around her, whether it was innumerable flying fish, the cascading volumes of waters, or the deck itself.

Still, her interception was more than helpful as, for a second, the ship ceased its shaking and the captain was finally able to pull the elusive creature.

It was then that the rumbling sky and the thunder came to an abrupt halt. The clouds cleared within a couple of seconds, and the sea returned to a temporary and peaceful stillness.

The pirate crew cheered and rushed toward their captain, who was cackling in joy as his eyes landed on a truly massive hammerhead shark with a blackened skin, countless scars, and a minuscule shiny crystal between its weirdly-shaped head.

“Hahahahaha! We’ve done it, ye fucking idiots!”

Buckrow celebrated with his crew while Lucy tentatively approached them and threw a curious glance toward the prize.

First, she gasped in surprise as it was her first time seeing such a big shark, but then she instinctively raised her hands and frowned.

“Back away!”

Hearing her soft cry, the pirates dispersed like frightened chickens, especially when they noticed the shark squirm and twitch.

Only the captain remained at the same spot, his muscular arms stretching toward the shark.

Before he could do any inspection and figure out the cause of its strange convulsions, the creature’s mouth opened.

There was a squeaky and unpleasant yell, followed thereafter by the emergence of a rotten hand with a light blue skin.

Even the brave captain flinched and backed away, surprised by what he was witnessing.

He raised his hand to stop Lucy from shooting her flames and motioned his frightened crew to be ready for any eventuality.

The hand clutched the teeth of the shark and pulled the rest of the body outside. Slowly, a bald head and a half-naked ‘human’ surfaced from within the hammerhead shark’s mouth.

The scene was so ridiculous and gob-smacking that everyone forgot to breathe or react.

“Who said Zombies don’t need to breathe? Aah! So sticky!”

Mort, unperturbed by the many pairs of eyes looking at him, got to his feet and, with a disgusted expression, he removed the organs sticking to his ruined clothes and then stretched his sore limbs.

Only when he was done did he raise his head and sweep his eyes across the pirate crew.

“Pirates? Cool cool. I’m Mort.”

“Miss, the two Militant Inspectors have departed.”

The old butler of the Lernon Family bowed toward Julie, but his eyes were staring at the docile rabbit nestling in the girl’s arms.

He still remembered how the Baron had brought most of her knights to Green’s End just to fetch this peculiar and vampiric animal. By now, the old man, who had first doubted Julie’s capabilities, no longer opposed her. So far, she had been a very good ruler and the public’s opinion was extremely positive.

She had significantly lowered the tax rates, assisted the noble families who suffered from the ‘Blood Purge’, and initiated the construction of a new residential district meant for the commoners.

Her young age notwithstanding, Julie proved to be responsible and reasonably strict with her ‘job’ as a Baron, thus earning the trust of all of her Knights and servants.

A week ago, two Militant Inspectors came to question her about her confrontation with the Holy Knights.

Julie not only refused to elaborate, but also ‘kindly’ asked them to leave and mind their own business. It wasn’t just courage that made her act like that, but because those Militant Inspectors clearly weren’t sent by the high-ranking members of the Militant Syndicate but by the Holy Church.

It was then that Julie chose to display her new abilities, enveloping herself in a curtain of blood and publicly showcasing her vampiric characteristics. While that might lead to unfavorable consequences, Julie chose to bet on getting assistance from other vampires.

Furthermore, neither the local aristocrats nor the commoners were perturbed by her true ‘nature’. Instead, they were pleased that the Baron was a strong ruler and unfazed by the Holy Church.

…

Two months after the incident at Green’s End, Julie Lernon received special guests.

It wasn’t long after the two Militant Inspectors were chased out.

“It is my pleasure to welcome you again, Miss Amare.”

Julie elegantly bowed toward the black-haired girl as she welcomed them into her office.

Accompanying Amare Na Xivia was also another vampire, her older sister Elise.

The older vampire, aged 31, was wearing a flamboyant golden dress and an absurd amount of jewellery. Unlike Amare’s reciprocatory polite attitude, Elise was sizin up Julie inquisitively.

“I can sense that you’re a Vampire… but you’re different. Who made you like this?”

Elise didn’t beat around the bush, but the Baron softly smiled and motioned for her to sit down first.

“I didn’t think we’d again so soon, Lady Julie.”

“Miss is fine.”

Amare was about to ease into the topic after gaining a bit of the girl’s trust, but Elise was uncaring as she blatantly stated,

“Unless we know your true nature, our family will not help you. That’s our stance.”

“I don’t understand, Miss Elise. I might not be exactly like you, but I am indeed a vampire.”

“Who turned you? If it’s one of the Originals, then there will be no cooperation. The Aeternus Family does not take the children of other families. That’s our rule.”

Julie nodded and responded, “I understand. Rest assured that the person who transformed me isn’t one of the Originals or their descendents.”

“Was it Arthur?” Asked Amare out of the blue, startling Julie and confusing Elise.

The young Baron’s smile vanished and her eyes turned cold. A sinister aura emanated from her, becoming an illusory wide-eyed bloodied face that hovered above her head.

It was a frightening sight, one that shocked the two vampires.

Elise frowned as she fixed her sitting posture and glared back at the creepy face while Amare’s eyes let out a purple glow.

“Who told you that name?”

“Are you really threatening u-”

Before Elise could lash out, there was an ear-piercing screech, followed by the appearance of white and purple rabbit. With its hair erect and its mouth open, it crouched on the ground, ready to pounce at the vampire.

Last but not least, the air behind Julie turned blurred as the old butler appeared. He had his hands behind his back and a solemn expression as he looked down at Elise and Amare.

“Honorable guests, this was supposed to be a peaceful conversation. Please refrain from any provocative words.”

“Provocative? We just said a name and she went all nuts!” Retorted the disgruntled Elise, who was surprised by Julie’s hidden powers and the unsettling aura emitting from Furball. However, she wasn’t scared, after all, she was considerably stronger than Amare or even Armen.

“We came here to help… Isn’t that what you need right now, Miss Julie?” Calmly spoke Amare as her eyes returned to normal. She pointed at Furball and added, “Also, I was the one who saved its life. It drank my blood but it didn’t become my familiar, which means it already belongs to someone else. It's Arthur’s.”

The girl paused for a couple of breaths and let out a soft sigh before continuing, “We have no intention to fight. But for us to help, you must officially become part of the Aeternus Family. A branching territory, for want of a better word. At least like that, the Holy Church will not dare to bother you.”

“...”

“Hmpf! Everything that has to do with that freak is creepy. You do the talking, Amare.”

Elise crossed her hands and averted her gaze, unwilling to argue with Julie.

…

Evening of that day

“Miss, was it wise to ally with the Vampires?”

“It’s better than to be at the mercy of the Ten Seats or the Holy Church. I’m only a Baron ruling over a minuscule territory. I need a shield.”

The old butler bowed and continued following her to the locked basement of the manor.

Furball was in Julie’s arms, rubbing its head against her caressing hand.

Soon, they reached a large black door, dusty and locked with multiple chains. The butler, with a bit of difficulty, removed the chains and opened the door.

Inside was a relatively small room, devoid of treasures, but there were a couple of two-meter-long statues.

The previous Baron, or even the one before him, were uninterested in this room, but Julie was the total opposite. She was deeply interested in her family’s heritage and now that she had time, she would come here to clean the place along with her loyal confidant.

The statues were that of the ancestor of the Lernon Family and some of his early descendants.

“Don’t you feel it, Razim?”

“No, Miss.”

Julie walked between the statues as she creased her brows and inspected the ground. She couldn’t express it into words, but there was an intangible yet terrifying ‘sensation’ lingering in this room. Furball didn’t react either, but Julie trusted her instincts and knew that there was something hidden.

“Stand here and tap your foot on the ground.” She ordered as she took a couple of steps back and perked her ears.

Razim, the old butler, although perplexed, obeyed.

‘Almost no sound? But how?’

She was barely three meters away but the tapping sound was oddly quiet, somewhat inconsistent even…