The First Pope - Chapter 160

Chapter 160

In the deepest part of the Blood Domain, a blood-red moon hung in the sky. Directly beneath it stood an ancient, gloomy castle. Its walls were covered in dark green vines, making it look as if it had been abandoned for a long time. However, the interior was magnificent and extravagant. Scarlet carpets covered every hallway, and precious gold artifacts and jewels were scattered about like common stones on a street.

Since the era of the gods, the Ventrue clan had been the leaders of all Vampires. After the gods departed, the warmongering Brujah clan seized a portion of their power. But even with their authority divided, the Ventrue's position among the Vampires remained unshakable.

Inside the magnificent but overly spacious castle, at a dining table large enough for dozens of people, only two bewitchingly beautiful, red-haired women were seated at the head and foot. The two bore a slight resemblance to each other, but the woman at the head of the table wore a stoic expression, her meticulous demeanor making her appear somewhat stern.

Samantha's back was perfectly straight. Her long red hair draped over her collarbones, a few strands resting on the arm of her chair. She listened quietly to the complaints of a handsome, short-haired Vampire standing beside the table, but her gaze remained fixed on Avira opposite her.

Avira was looking down, fiddling with the glass in her hands, appearing utterly uninterested. This caused Samantha, who knew her sister's personality very well, to furrow her brow imperceptibly.

The short-haired Vampire failed to notice that Samantha's attention was not on him and continued his indignant tirade. "Lord Leader, the God Race shows us no respect at all! They are even more detestable than the dragons in the temple."

"It's all because of those two traitors, the Lasombra and the Tzimisce! They've given the God Race confidence, making them think they can challenge the majesty of the great Vampires." The short-haired Vampire grew more agitated as he spoke. "Lord Leader, we must teach them a lesson."

Having been repeatedly tricked by the God Race, the short-haired Vampire's anger toward the dragons and the Malkavian successfully shifted onto them. He had even forgotten his original objective-the Blood Coffins-and now only wanted to quickly punish these lawless outsiders.

Samantha glanced at the short-haired Vampire. Her cold gaze successfully quelled the fire in his heart, and he consciously fell silent, lowering his head in apprehension.

Samantha moved her hand, which was resting on the table. A thick, blood-red mist enveloped the short-haired Vampire and carried him away, restoring tranquility to the castle.

The short-haired Vampire's complaints and "departure" had failed to capture even a sliver of Avira's attention. Samantha waited a moment, and seeing that Avira still had no intention of speaking, she took the initiative to ask, "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." Avira placed the glass on the table and met Samantha's gaze, saying nonchalantly, "When can I go back to my coffin to sleep?"

Samantha was silent for a moment before frowning. "Do you have nothing to say about the God Race?"

"I do," Avira chuckled lightly. "But it's definitely not what you want to hear."

Samantha didn't speak, merely gesturing with her eyes for Avira to say it.

Avira's eyes lowered slightly. After a moment, she spoke faintly, "The God Race has developed to a degree that would surprise you. Don't underestimate the other races on the Sitatul Continent."

"You think we'll lose to them?"

Avira shrugged. "It's not impossible." The God Race has already taken the Temple of Light. Who knows what other tricks that woman Cynthia has prepared.

But regardless of what she might have obtained from the Temple of Light, for her to allow her people to provoke the Vampires at a time like this, she must have already prepared for a great war with them.

And Avira knew that Cynthia never fought a battle she wasn't confident of winning.

Samantha watched her for a while before averting her gaze, her expression unreadable. Although she said nothing, her look indicated that she was beginning to take the God Race seriously.

Cynthia was still unaware that the Vampires' attention had finally focused on their "insignificant" race. After returning from the Mentos Desert with Olivia, she had been working with the witches to figure out how to break the barrier in the Earth Mother's temple. After consulting the ancient texts of the Wolf Race, the Elf Race, and the witches, and combining that knowledge with the Garcia witches' memories of the spell that broke the barrier at the Dark God's temple, Cynthia and the witches studied for days and nights until their path forward gradually became clear.

The God Race was busy storing Holy Water and helping Becky and the others familiarize themselves with Light Magic. Meanwhile, the Garcia witches they had previously detained were handed over to Betty for her to handle once they had regained their senses.

Although Betty's mind had also been swayed by the Blood Demon's influence, she had remained mostly lucid thanks to the stimulation of the Holy Water and her presence in the God Race's territory.

Of course, with Eunice by her side, it was impossible for her to lose her mind anyway.

While Cynthia and Chelsea were researching how to break the barrier, Betty was preoccupied with matters concerning Eunice and her clan, leaving her no time to help. By the time she was finally free, Cynthia and Chelsea had already found a solution. Although she hadn't been able to assist, she was still very happy to see that Cynthia had found a way so quickly.

"You and Chelsea are always so amazing." Betty adjusted her cloak and handed a bottle of Holy Water she had been holding to a weary-looking Cynthia. Her eyes were clear and bright, filled with a gentle smile. "Whenever you're around, I'm not afraid of anything."

Her complexion wasn't exactly rosy, but the haggard look from before was gone. Eunice stood behind her, toying with a small but sharp dagger, her gaze fixed firmly on Betty.

With Cynthia's power, going several days and nights without rest wouldn't normally leave her feeling so tired. But this time, she had expended a great deal of mental energy and Power of Light testing spells and formations, which was why she appeared slightly fatigued. She took the Holy Water from Betty, opened it, and took a sip before smiling softly. "If Chelsea heard you say that, she would be very happy."

Betty smiled along with her for a moment, then lowered her head slightly, looking hesitant. "Actually... I came here to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?" Cynthia clutched the bottle of Holy Water and glanced at Eunice behind Betty, frowning. "Where are you going?"

"We want to return to our territory." Betty spoke slowly, as if organizing her thoughts. "I want to find out why the Blood Demon is controlling us." And she also wanted to find a way to break that control.

So many of her people were still under the Blood Demon's control; she couldn't just abandon them.

This control was too terrifying. Betty felt that if they didn't find a way to break it soon, they might fall into an even more dreadful situation.

By then, it would be too late.

"I know the Vampires will likely invade the Sitatul Continent again, and I can't stay here to help you at a time like this." Betty's face was filled with guilt. "I'm sorry, Cynthia."

"But I have to find out the Blood Demon's purpose."

A hand gently rested on Betty's head, stroking her hair. Betty instinctively looked up and saw Cynthia watching her with a warm smile, which made her heart feel a little warmer too.

Cynthia reassuringly stroked Betty's hair before pulling her hand back. She didn't try to stop Betty, instead asking gently, "The Blood Demon is dangerous. What do you plan to do?"

"I discovered that Holy Water can help us stay lucid, so I asked Darcy for some." Betty took out a bottle of Holy Water and looked down at the liquid inside, saying softly, "Eunice and I plan to take our people back to our territory, lie low near the Blood Demon, and wait for an opportunity to investigate her purpose."

She paused, then met Cynthia's gaze, her expression brightening as she spoke with a determined tone, "And then stop her."

No matter what evil the Blood Demon planned to do by controlling the Garcia Family, she would not let her succeed.

Cynthia nodded. She didn't say much more, only reminding Betty to be careful. Then, she summoned a snow-white dove. The bird circled above their heads a few times before landing on Eunice's shoulder, much to Betty's surprise.

Eunice, who had been toying with her dagger, paused. She turned her head to glance at the dove, her brow furrowing.

Cynthia smiled at Eunice. "Betty has a way to contact me. I thought you might need one, too." Knowing Eunice's eccentric personality, Cynthia kindly offered her a reason. "For Betty's safety."

"Can't I protect Betty myself?" Eunice pouted in displeasure, but in the end, she still raised her hand and put the dove away.

Betty glanced at Eunice, then ran over and linked arms with her, smiling her thanks to Cynthia. As soon as Betty took her arm, Eunice switched the dagger to her other hand, and her expression softened considerably.

As they were speaking, the Morgan witches gathered around and began talking with the waiting Garcia witches. Although the relationship between the Garcia and Morgan families had become somewhat awkward because of the Anderson Family, in the hearts of the Morgans, the three witch families were inseparable.

When the Morgan witches learned of Betty and her clan's plan, their first reaction was to send some of their own people back with them, with the rest to join them after helping Cynthia break the barrier in the Earth Mother's temple. However, the Garcia witches refused this offer.

Two of the three witch families had already fallen into the abyss of darkness; they didn't want to drag the Morgan Family down with them. Besides, the Morgan witches weren't controlled by the Blood Demon like the Garcias, nor were their personalities as crazed as the Andersons. The Blood Demon was not foolish and couldn't be easily deceived. Having the Morgan Family with them would only increase the risk of exposure.

Betty turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on her own people and the Morgan witches. Her expression was somewhat complicated, but she quickly concealed it. "I've already said goodbye to Chelsea, but I think she's angry."

Betty sighed and said to Cynthia, "When you see her later, please tell her I'll write to her often."

After saying this, she winked at Cynthia. "I'll write to you often, too."

Cynthia nodded with a smile. "I wouldn't mind if your letters were even more frequent."

The two exchanged a few more smiling words before Betty reluctantly turned to walk toward her people. When the Garcia witches saw her and Eunice approaching, they stopped their conversation with the Morgan witches. The group stood there for a moment before several silver-haired members of the God Race approached, leading a petite young woman in a red robe.

Having been locked in a dungeon for months without seeing the sun, Camille was somewhat fearful of the light overhead. She raised an arm to shield her face while glaring sullenly at the surrounding God Race and witches. Suddenly, a silver glint flashed before her eyes. She instinctively turned her head to dodge but failed. Warm blood trickled down her chin, dripping onto her red robe. A searing heat first rose in her cheek, followed by a pain so sharp it felt like a knife was carving into her, making her cry out in agony.

The bright red blood splattered on the ground, appearing even more dazzling than the sunlight.

Camille raised a hand to cover her face, the blood staining her palm. She trembled from the pain but still lifted her head to glare viciously at the dagger's owner. The owner simply raised her chin at Camille, her red lips curling into a contemptuous smile.

She should have just killed Eunice back then!

Camille gritted her teeth in hatred, but in her peripheral vision, she saw Betty standing next to Eunice, frowning at her. She instinctively reined in her malice, covered her face, and quietly lowered her head.

Get instant access to all chapters now.

Previous Table of Contents Next