My Vampire Thralls

Chapter 26: A Lesson in Discipline

The Secretary General had granted Seraphina full access to the Hunter Association’s armory.

While the Association often seemed like a disorganized mess, their collection of specialized gear was undeniably impressive. Rows of gleaming silverware and bottled Holy Water stretched as far as the eye could see. The mechanics were simple: silver weapons coated in Holy Water could lethally poison a vampire, though the dosage required scaled with the target's rank. It felt oddly like enchanting gear in a video game.

Reading through the manual for the Holy Water, Seraphina mused, “You know, the Association really should consider infiltrating Eli Academy as school doctors.”

The Secretary General cleared his throat awkwardly. “We tried. But vampires rarely use medicine to heal; their bodies mend naturally. Besides, the last hunter we sent undercover was bitten and… turned.”

Seraphina fell silent.

Thinking back to her twin brother Silas—who had been a frail, bullied child yet still rose to the position of Third Seat—her expectations for the Hunter Association hadn't been high. But this level of incompetence was staggering. Their future looks bleak, she thought with a sigh.

She paced through the aisles, her eyes darting between the high-tech equipment. “Can I use any of these S-rank tools?”

“Yes,” the Secretary General replied. “Your clearance is top-tier. The Ten Seats usually have their own custom-forged silver weapons, so they rarely come here anyway.”

So, basically, this whole place is mine, Seraphina concluded, satisfied. “Why are there no firearms among these tools?”

The Secretary General wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. “Guns aren't very effective. Vampires move too fast; they can dodge bullets with ease.” It seemed the "modern weaponry" advantage didn't apply when facing the supernatural.

Seraphina eventually selected a sleek dagger and a pair of reinforced handcuffs, tucking several vials of Holy Water into her bag. Before leaving, she couldn't help but ask, “Do vampires really have no weakness to garlic?”

The Secretary General looked bewildered. “None at all. Some might find the smell offensive, but it has zero tactical effect.”

So Theodore just has picky taste, she realized.

She didn't run into her neighbor, Alaric, on the way out. Disappointed that she couldn't hitch a ride, she took a taxi home. However, the moment she stepped through her door, she realized she wasn't alone.

Theodore Canaster sat on her sofa, his expression terrifyingly dark. He stared at her for a long moment, his gaze shifting to the bag in her hand. Seraphina glanced at the bright morning sun outside, then back at the brooding young lord in her living room.

“…What are you doing here so early?” she asked.

Theodore let out a cold, mocking laugh. “You should ask the person who vanished the moment she woke up.”

Seraphina didn't miss a beat. “Are you worried about me?”

For a split second, Theodore’s face went blank. He pursed his lips as an uncontrollable memory from the Hunt Day resurfaced. He saw Seraphina covered in blood—that impossibly sweet, addictive scent that had carried for miles, drawing every predator in the forest toward her. He remembered the way she had looked at him one last time before collapsing.

“Why did you trust me?” Theodore asked abruptly.

“Was I not supposed to, Master Theodore?” Seraphina replied. In truth, she’d simply been too exhausted to do anything else.

He watched as she set the bag—which reeked of substances that made his skin crawl—on the table. She turned her back to him, completely defenseless, to pour a glass of water.

“Do you want my Embrace?” Theodore blurted out.

Seraphina nearly choked on her water. She swallowed hard, coughing. “Excuse me? What?”

Theodore continued, his voice low. “I would have to drain you of your blood first. Then, just as you’re on the brink of death, I’d make you drink mine. It’s agonizing at first, but the pain fades into something else.”

In vampire lore, the First Embrace was a bloody, intimate ritual, usually conducted in the sanctum of a coffin. In that cramped, dark space, the intimacy was meant to drown out the agony, forging a thick, obsessive bond between the sire and the newborn. As Theodore spoke, Seraphina noticed his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard, lost in the thought.

“I think I’d rather stay human,” Seraphina said diplomatically.

Theodore’s dark fantasy shattered. He jerked his chin toward her bedroom. Seraphina followed his gaze and saw several large bags sitting on her bed.

“What are those?” she asked, her eyes lighting up. He brought gifts?

“Items you likely won't need, seeing as you're so full of life,” Theodore snapped, his face expressionless.

To keep their "blood bags" sustainable, every vampire clan kept high-end blood-replenishing supplements. Theodore had braved the morning sun to bring them to her, only to wait from dawn until noon. He was practically vibrating with resentment.

Seraphina saw his growing irritation. Remembering that he had saved her life and clearly cared in his own twisted way, she decided to be kind. Holding her glass, she asked, “Are you leaving now? The midday sun isn't good for you. Why don't you stay until evening?”

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how they sounded. Inviting a vampire to stay and sleep?

“None of your business!” Theodore barked. He bolted for the door and vanished.

It wasn't until he was safely inside his car, shielded by a black UV-protected umbrella, that Theodore felt a pang of curiosity. Where had she been? And what was in that bag?

Seraphina didn't dwell on Theodore’s sudden departure. She planned to visit the farm over the weekend to ask her grandmother about their family history. Having slept off her injuries, she felt recharged by Monday night. She tucked her new hunter gear inside her uniform and headed out.

Night fell over Eli Academy.

Students walked the paths with normal expressions, oblivious to the horrors of Hunt Day or how many of their peers had perished in the Forbidden Forest. Seraphina walked slowly toward the classroom building. Very few vampires had seen her during the Hunt, but those who did were all high-ranking Sovereigns.

Technically, the school was no longer safe for her. But she couldn't think of any other place where she could simultaneously monitor all four major clans. Risk and opportunity were two sides of the same coin. She either had to forget about Silas forever or face the danger head-on. It’s all his fault for leaving my messages on ‘read,’ she grumbled internally.

The surroundings grew unnervingly quiet. Seraphina took a few more steps before sensing something was wrong. She leaped backward with feline agility, narrowly dodging Micah’s slender, pale hand. Before she could steady herself, however, she bumped into a firm chest.

Xavier, appearing out of thin air behind her, looked down and teased, “Oh my, that hurt.”

His eyes had returned to their warm, honeyed hue. He was back to his "sweet honey cake" persona. Despite his words, Xavier slid an arm around Seraphina’s waist, leaning down to sniff the side of her neck.

“How is the wound healing?” His breath tickled her skin as his grip tightened suggestively. “Why don't you take off the bandage? I could lick it better for you.”

Seraphina was used to Xavier’s shocking propositions by now. Recalling a trope from certain novels, she asked, “Does vampire saliva actually have healing properties?” If so, why hadn't Theodore or Adrian mentioned it?

Xavier narrowed his honey-colored eyes, smiling sweetly. “Not at all. I just want to lick you.”

Seraphina: “…”

Having failed to grab her, Micah stood elegantly in their path. The Wild Rose Prince wore a white silk shirt with a complex ruffled collar and matching pleated cuffs. The contrast between the white fabric and the black leather collar around his neck was striking. The Mark of Governance had technically expired, and he could have removed the collar, yet he chose to keep it on.

“Don’t let him do that, good girl,” Micah said, his gaze tender and lingering. “So many germs.”

“I know. Thanks,” Seraphina replied.

“If you want to show your gratitude,” Micah whispered, “come to me.”

These vampires are all so pushy, Seraphina thought.

Xavier’s grip on her waist tightened. “Let me go and take that collar off him, shall we? Otherwise, it’s going to start smelling like his disgusting scent.”

Seraphina felt a wave of exhaustion. It was like being caught between two peacocks vying for attention. She looked up at the stars, only to see a pair of large, beautiful eyes staring back.

Lilith, dressed in a frilly gown, leapt down from a tree with a dagger in hand. Her elaborate dress did nothing to hinder her lethal grace.

Micah’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. “Mixing with bad company will make you a bad girl, Seraphina.” A faint flush crept onto his pale, exquisite face. His sapphire-blue eyes locked onto hers. “Bad girls need to be punished, don’t they?”

Seraphina: “…”

Who is punishing whom? If you keep this up, I’ll just pretend to be the 'Master' and beat you to a pulp.

Xavier pulled Seraphina away just as Lilith struck. He released her with a reluctant sigh, patting her shoulder as he gently pushed her toward the building. “Sorry, darling. I have to settle a fight first.”

Seraphina didn't care if Xavier won a two-on-one fight. She bolted for the classroom. Five minutes later, she finally reached her seat.

In the row behind her, Adrian still bore unhealed scars on his arms. When he and Xavier had fought, neither had held back. However, Xavier had the backing of a clan for resources, while Adrian, a mix-blood, did not. Without enough blood to supplement his recovery, his wounds mended slowly.

“Are you alright?” Seraphina asked softly. “Can you heal on your own?”

Adrian extended his hand, showing her the faint marks. “Yes. It’s not serious.”

Seraphina watched him for a moment before asking, “Do you have any plans to join a clan?”

The golden-haired, red-eyed mix-blood tilted his head. “Both the Scepter Clan and the Crossed Swords Clan have vampires who listen to you. Which one do you want me to join?” He looked at her with unwavering loyalty. “I will follow your will, Seraphina.”