Ascendant Path of a Lustful Vampire

Chapter 432 432: A gift of ‘Sight’

Caius became very aware of the expectant eyes on him, and ordinarily, he would have found it easy to ignore. Still, as he stared at the images projected by Kerwinʼs magical device and tried to think, he found the attention distracting.

”Yes?” He asked them slowly and looked around the council hall.

Many averted their eyes bashfully while a few continued to look at him, maybe cocking their heads to the side to really prod him with their unspoken questions.

”What is it?” Caius asked, now getting frustrated by the clear intent for a question that was not being asked with actual words.

Kerwin cleared his throat and interceded for his Council members.

”Well, my Lord, weʼre simply wondering what your plans are.”

Caius frowned at that. For a second, he wanted to bite back with the question of how they would have handled the situation had he not been here but he knew that would be a bit unfair.

Had he not been here, the Leopolds would have faced Broganʼs Coven and ultimately lost. This, a threat of a Vampire Noble, was not one they were equipped or prepared to combat.

Also, they never would have had to face this threat if Caius hadnʼt acquired Nobility and gotten involved with them. He brought this upon them.

All in all, Caius felt it was his duty to deal with this. In a way, this was the first real test of how he would lead the Coven to possibly greater heights. And seeing as he had already made the declaration that Brogan was to die today, he was all the more responsible for orchestrating that.

With all that in mind, Caius steeled himself and returned his eyes to the projected images.

”Weʼll need to find Brogan. Plans are useless if we donʼt know where they are,” he said.

”The Capital is large,” Kerwin stated matter-of-factly. The Capital was like a nation within itself with territories being governed by many Nobles trusted by the Crown so to say it was ʼlargeʼ was really still an understatement.

”It is,” Caius admitted, ”And we donʼt have time to search it all.”

Caius was also just stating a fact. He had a way to find Brogan of course. It just so happened that he had a Vampire Hunter Cousin back at the Von Helsing Estate who had a piece of Brogan and could likely fairly accurately track him down.

Following how dangerous the previous night had been, Caius had a feeling Alexia might want to lessen his involvement in the whole situation. After all, he wasnʼt yet an indicted Von Helsing Monster Hunter which, as far as she knew, was something he could still undergo.

Still, despite her apparent desire to keep him away from the danger, Caius thought he could still convince her to make use of her tracking. It would then be a very risky line to toe by using her tracking to lead his Vampiric force, who she would be more than happy to slaughter, but it might be a risk they had to take.

”I have a way to find Brogan,” Caius announced, ”But itʼll be fraught with potential reveal and danger for us all.”

”And what way will that be?” Roxanne asked before Kerwin or anyone else in the Council could.

It was like she had sensed Caiusʼs unease better than anyone here.

”Vampire Hunters are equipped with skills specialized in tracking their prey and I have it on good authority that one such Hunter has all she could need to find Brogan,” Caius said in a clear tone.

There was a unanimous hissing noise from every Council member. Caius even heard hissing sounds from beyond the Hall like the guards had joined in to express their detestation.

Caiusʼs lips twitched a bit in amusement. Having spent centuries of their lives here, underground, there were very few of them who had had actual run-ins with Vampire Hunters. Yet, their detest for that kind persisted.

”My Lord, you would have us consort with the enemy?” Lorton Leopold sneered. Even in his anger at the suggestion—and maybe something else—he kept the respect for Caius and made sure to use the necessary honorific.

”Yes,” Caius answered lightly, ”For the good of all here, yes.”

Another round of hissing.

Caius rolled his eyes.

”If there are any other suggestions, Iʼm all ears.”

He said that with just a hint of annoyance. Here he was bringing suggestions and they were simply shutting it down with nothing to offer.

Well, except for Kerwin who stroked his jaw contemplatively.

”Actually, there might be another way, My Lord,” he said and when Caiusʼs eyes turned to him, he continued,

”We have a Leopold who is blessed with a gift of ʼSightʼ.”

”Who? And what ʼsightʼ?” Caius asked with a raised brow.

”THE Sight, My Lord. The ʼSightʼ to see beyond the physical and peer into the great mysticism that hides behind it all,” Kerwin said and there was a kind of pride about him as he spoke.

The ability to see more than what others can is not something Caius could ever think was impossible in a world such as this. Hell, in his role as Apostle of Aether, Goddess of Divine Light, Aurelius did go on a bout of prophetic spouts.

However, this was the first Caius had learned of someone with some incredible ʼsightʼ among the Leopolds. It made certain events in the original canon a bit more puzzling. Such as the eventual defeat of the Coven and the complete decimation of their family. If they had someone with such ʼSightʼ, how could they not have avoided such a tragedy?

”The one with the gift is Lyanna Leopold, My Lord. Sole heir to Keiran and the one poised to take over his position as proxy head of the Leopolds once Keiran joins us here,” Kerwin said.

”Lyanna,” Caius repeated the name. It hadnʼt been too long since he met that peculiar Leopold lady above ground so he couldnʼt possibly have already forgotten her.

”How exactly will her ʼsightʼ help us?” He asked then.

Kerwin shifted a bit.

”Itʼs a bit unclear how it works, My Lord. Sheʼs very vague about the… mechanics of her gift. But I do believe it canʼt possibly be terrible to consult her.

It at least seems a better alternative than dealing with a Vampire Hunter that will surely want our heads as weʼll want theirs.”

There was an outburst of agreeing murmurs that caused Caius to cast his eyes about the Council hall, his eyes falling on Roxanne during his glance-by. She had a smile on her face and hadnʼt joined in the murmurs but she tilted her head to show her agreement.

”Very well,” Caius said with a sigh, ”Iʼll go see her.”

”Why would you need to do that?” Kerwin asked with confusion and then chuckled a bit,

”Weʼll invite her here for the consultation.”

”Youʼll invite a human into a Coven of Vampires,” Caius said like he was amazed at the notion.

That caused a wave of laughter all over the council hall with Roxanne heartily joining in before she said amidst giggles,

”Come on, surely you donʼt think us lacking all self-control.”

”We didnʼt attack Miss Arlette, did we?” Kyre Leopold said with a chuckle and a glance at his fellows.

ʼYeah, because I was here with her,ʼ Caius thought but even he felt it was silly now to be pedantic about it.

If for nothing, Lyanna was a Leopold and one who would join the ranks of the Covenʼs Vampires in due time. Surely, they could keep their fangs away from her neck.