My Vampire Thralls

Chapter 16: The Silver Cross Collar

Tables and chairs were flying across the room like lethal projectiles.

To avoid being caught in the crossfire between Theodore Canaster and Micah, Seraphina pressed herself against the classroom wall, inching toward the exit. While these high-born vampires could shrug off a heavy desk to the chest with supernatural speed, a single hit for her meant months in a hospital bed—if she survived at all.

If vampires are essentially bats, she mused, crouching low and hugging her knees, does a bite or a lick mean I need a rabies shot? Or should I just skip straight to holy water?

She tried to make herself as small as possible, a dark little mushroom observing the chaos from the shadows.

Admittedly, watching two devastatingly handsome men fight was a visual feast. Their movements were a blur of predatory grace, though it was clear they hadn't yet committed to a lethal dance. Even so, Seraphina could barely track their trajectories. She felt a sudden surge of pride in her own decisiveness; she must have only succeeded in killing that vampire the other day because he had been caught completely off guard.

"Oh dear..." Micah’s voice was like velvet over glass. "Are we truly this upset?"

"Get lost," Theodore spat, his eyes burning. "Aren't the Crossed Swords Clan’s vessels enough for your petty seductions?"

Micah effortlessly sidestepped a flying chair, a serene smile playing on his lips. "But I’ve taken quite a liking to this child. Why not hand her over to me? Name your price."

"Rot in hell," Theodore replied, his face a mask of cold fury.

The diplomacy ended there. The violence resumed.

Outside, the hallways were silent. No one dared to intervene when two Sovereigns were clashing. Seraphina watched as a chair shattered a window and tumbled into the courtyard below. I hope no one was walking down there, she thought.

In the next heartbeat, the "mushroom" in the corner was swept into a firm, fragrant embrace.

Micah held her close, the scent of heavy floral blooms enveloping her senses. He tilted his head, his cheek brushing softly against hers. "Sweet girl, did they frighten you?"

Theodore froze, his next attack aborted in mid-air. The young master’s composure fractured instantly. He lunged forward, snatching Seraphina back into his own arms, his voice rising in an indignant territorial growl.

"Why didn't you push him away?!"

Seraphina rolled her eyes. "Honestly? Even if it were you, I wouldn't have the strength to push a vampire off. It’s not like I had a choice!"

Micah’s blue eyes twinkled. "Don't be so harsh. She looks terrified of you... one should never be so cruel to a lady."

Theodore bit his lip, pulling Seraphina behind him to shield her from Micah’s predatory gaze. "The examination is over. I’m taking her now."

"I’m afraid not," Micah said, his tone gentle but unyielding. "You know this isn't a small matter for us. The investigation team won't eat her... probably."

Theodore shot a quick, sharp glance at Seraphina. "Is that so? Then who was harrassing her when I walked in?"

"No wonder they say you're protective of your food," Micah chuckled.

As the "food" in question, Seraphina felt a prick of annoyance. Do they have to discuss me like a steak right in front of my face?

"The Wild Rose Clan will not stop their investigation until the Hunter who infiltrated us is found," Micah continued, his expression hardening. "A swift resolution is better for everyone, wouldn't you agree?"

Seraphina peeked out from behind Theodore’s shoulder. "But I heard the Crossed Swords Clan and the Wild Rose Clan don't get along. Why not just blame the twins?"

The two vampires paused, momentarily stunned by her blatant attempt to stir the pot.

Micah seemed to consider it for a moment. "A clever thought, but unfortunately impossible."

"Why?" Seraphina asked.

"Except for heretics," Theodore answered, "we do not kill our own kind during times of peace."

Micah’s gaze lingered on Seraphina, his eyes dark with a strange affection. "So, you’re not such a 'good girl' after all."

"Senior, please stop calling me that," she countered. "It makes you sound like an elderly relative."

Micah’s smile widened. "Would you prefer 'Papa' then? Or 'Mama'? I would treat you exquisitely either way."

Seraphina was speechless. The audacity of this man... that's just depraved!

Micah stepped forward, but Theodore stood his ground, a tense, eerie silence falling over the room. The standoff was only broken when a subordinate finally gathered the courage to knock.

"Lord Micah, Lady Lilith says the human likely saw the Hunter’s face, but she’s under a hypnotic suggestion. She hasn't talked."

Seraphina let out a silent breath of relief. Nina had held out.

"Lady Lilith is on her way back. The seal should be broken by Sunday," the messenger continued. "However, the Crossed Swords Clan has stopped cooperating. They’ve taken the human vessel to find the Hunter themselves."

Micah hummed thoughtfully. "I see."

Seraphina expected him to suggest a civilized solution—he did have the face of an angel, after all. But then the theater troupe leader spoke with a hauntingly sweet smile.

"It seems Demyan wants to declare war." His voice held a hint of genuine amusement. "Gather everyone at the academy. We’ll fight them until they hand the human over."

Right. I forgot. These vampires are all lunatics.

As he reached the door, Micah paused and looked back at Seraphina. "If you ever find my 'Papa' proposal interesting, I’ll be waiting for you at the theater."

Before Theodore could hurl another chair at him, Micah vanished. He didn't view the young Scepter heir as a threat at all.

Seraphina looked up at Theodore, whose eyes were still swimming with murderous intent. She gently patted his arm. He stiffened, his voice tight and raspy. "...If you dare go to him, I'll drain you dry myself."

"Maybe go wash your face and calm down?" she replied. Enough with the 'brooding CEO' act. We both know you're essentially a high-maintenance puppy.

Theodore was frustrated. He knew Seraphina wasn't the Hunter, but because of that silver dagger, he could easily throw her to the wolves to save himself the trouble. Yet, ever since he’d woken from his coffin the previous afternoon, he couldn't shake the memory of the dream—of her feeding him her blood. For a pureblood, such a thought should have been an insult, but it had left him dangerously... excited.

Loss of control was his greatest source of irritation. Why was he keeping his word to this human?

"So," Theodore’s voice dropped several degrees in temperature. "Do you want me to just go kill that vessel?"

Seraphina sighed. Why was 'murder' always their first solution? "I’ve already sent Adrian to track Nina. I hope he finds her before the clans start tearing each other apart."

Wait, Seraphina thought, who is Nina's master? Is it the 'Honey Cake' Xavier?

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At that moment, Xavier was facing his own headache.

The Crossed Swords Clan was essentially a collection of sociopaths. If not for Demyan’s iron-fisted rule, they would never sit peacefully in one room.

"Which club did the human girl choose?" "The records say none. What a waste..." "Check her schedule. No shared classes, though she's in Xavier’s year." "We have to wait until the Hunting Day... that's too far away."

The twin vampires, looking like dark elves, weren't even whispering. They were clearly talking about Seraphina.

Xavier’s smirk faltered. It was incredibly annoying to have other predators eyeing his prize. The twins had tried to hide the Hunter's involvement for their own amusement, and though they’d been punished when Wild Rose noticed the missing people, they were already back to their mischievous selves.

Then again, Xavier thought, leaning back, vampire life is eternal and boring. When you find a vintage that suits your palate, you don't share.

Seraphina didn't seem like a Hunter to him. She knew nothing of their world. He suspected she’d simply stumbled upon a Hunter’s weapon and put it to use.

How delightful. I should have enrolled a year later, he mused.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of heavy boots. Demyan entered, clad in a black and red uniform adorned with cold, silver accents. The room fell silent.

"Lord Demyan," one vampire ventured, "word from the Scepter Clan is that the Hunter is likely a member of the faculty."

Demyan surveyed the room, his red eyes freezing everyone in place. "Find the Hunter."

"But Lord," another grumbled, "it wasn't our people who died. Let the 'Rotten Roses' rot. They’re probably at our doorstep trying to steal our vessels anyway."

A black dagger whistled through the air, grazing the speaker's cheek before thudding into the stone wall. The room became a tomb.

Demyan, the black-haired Tyrant, stared him down with chilling lethality. "If you wish to keep your life, close your mouth."

The dagger was silver. An inch to the left, and the vampire would have turned to ash.

Only Xavier dared to laugh as Demyan walked away. "How dramatic... a true Sovereign."

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The rain began after midnight, washing away the copper tang of blood in the air. Seraphina stood by the window of an empty classroom, watching students retreat to the dorms.

Adrian vaulted through the window, dropping his hood and shaking his champagne-colored hair like a damp puppy. "I found her."

"Where?"

"The Swordsmanship Club building. She’s Xavier’s vessel. The scent of blood is thick there, but she's alive."

She really is with the Honey Cake, Seraphina thought.

"But the two clans are fighting now," Adrian added slowly. "That area is... difficult to approach."

Seraphina sighed. "Sometimes I feel like we live in different worlds." This wasn't even about the dead vampire anymore; it was an old blood feud. But if Nina broke and named her, Seraphina was dead.

She was about to send Adrian in when her homeroom teacher, Lillian, appeared.

"Seraphina," Lillian said, her voice low and urgent. "Come with me. We need to talk. Alone."

Seraphina followed her into a quiet corner.

"I am a member of the Hunter Association's 3rd Division," Lillian said, cutting straight to the point. "Which department do you belong to?"

"Huh?"

Lillian frowned. "You have a silver weapon. Wait... you’re not a Hunter?"

"I... found it? Would you believe that?" Seraphina looked away guiltily.

Lillian’s expression became incredibly complex. A girl "found" a silver dagger and managed to assassinate a pureblood? Unheard of. But there was no time.

"My people are extracting Nina tonight under the cover of the clan war," Lillian explained. "If you aren't a Hunter, you're just an innocent student caught in the middle. I’m leaving—the investigation is getting too close to the faculty."

The Association had been trying to infiltrate Eli Academy for years. Lillian was their only success, and she wasn't going to risk a gruesome death if she was caught.

"Do you want to evacuate with us?" Lillian asked.

Seraphina shook her head.

"Why? Aren't you afraid?"

"I’m looking for someone," Seraphina explained. "A boy who looks like me. He disappeared here last year."

Lillian sighed. "Then he’s likely a vessel. Seraphina, on Hunting Day, these vampires become monsters. If your brother—Silas—was a vessel, he is likely already dead."

Seraphina looked down. She still got "Read" receipts on the messages she sent to Silas. She couldn't give up yet.

Lillian handed her a small box. "Take this. If you’re determined to stay for Hunting Day, you’ll need it. And don't trust the vampires, Seraphina. Their sweet words are poison. To them, we are just 'trial and error' in their attempt to understand humanity."

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By morning, the news was a whirlwind. Lillian had been branded a "kidnapper" who fled with a student. Nina was gone. Rumor had it Micah had crushed a glass in fury, and Demyan had nearly executed his subordinates for the failure.

Seraphina, however, was safe in her classroom, clutching a thermos of tea.

She found the black and red box Lillian had left in her desk. Expecting another silver dagger or a high-tech gadget, she opened it with bated breath.

Lying on a bed of red velvet was a sleek, black leather collar with a small silver cross dangling from the front.

Seraphina’s smile froze.

"...A collar? Seriously?"