The Vampire Queen's System

The Truth

Disbelief. This is what Seth was experiencing at that moment.

All of the members had blood spikes pierced through their bodies. Chaining their flesh and preventing them from making use of any spells. These aren’t normal spikes. These are the same ones which got Zei famous among the vampires of his kind. All because of this ability to nullify the powers of every other vampire who gets struck with the attack.

“What is the meaning of this Zei? Release me at once!” Deithard commanded, his voice thick, deep and authoritative. It’s tone so unnerving that Seth could feel the room shaking because of it.

But Zei didn’t get fazed. He grinned at the uncrowned king of the vampires. Showing a look that he has never allowed to surface until that point. A mischievous and deceitful smile. As if he was a cunning fox, watching his prey fall into his trap.

“You can’t scare me Deithard. It doesn’t matter how powerful you are or how many Helsings you’ve killed on your own, when you get struck by my spikes, you become another powerless vampire.”

Everyone else began cussing and cursing. They all did their best to escape. Forcing their bodies to escape, despite the pain that came with the attempt. But all of this is to no avail. Once struck, it is nearly impossible to escape Zei’s attack.

“At this very moment, the Helsings will be closing in on us. I know that a few has been kept in reserve despite our efforts to force them all out of Citadel.” Zei walked towards Dracula’s Seed, taking it in his hand as the gem’s crimson glow colored the vampire’s face.

He then looked at his allies once again. Seth was expecting for Zei to laugh at them. He was expecting his own master to betray him. Just like how he has been betrayed all his life. But, the opposite happened at that moment. With the smile on Zei’s face turning mournful.

“I don’t have much time, nor does any of you.”

“Don’t play that card on us Zei. What on earth are you scheming you fox?” Hex asked.

“I’m scheming the same thing as all of you are.” Zei said, the expression on his face changing once again. This time, to a look that suggested that he knew of secrets that were being kept by the members.

“Scheme? What are you talking about master?” Seth asked, making Zei’s eyes finally look at him. The only time when Zei returned to the normal one that Seth knows. His kind master who only wants what is best for all the vampires.

That is why everything didn’t make sense to Seth. He knows how much Zei wants to liberate the vampires. He knows how much pain his master has suffered for the sake of this liberation. He also knows that no other vampire probably has the same amount of devotion to this cause as Zei has. That’s why the current situation just didn’t add up.

But Seth wasn’t going to be kept on the dark for long.

“Seth, you’re the only one I can trust among the vampires here. So let me tell you what should’ve happened if I didn’t act right away.” Zei looked at the other vampires. “These three, they would fight for ownership over Dracula’s Seed.”

Silence. An air of both surprise and disbelief followed Zei’s words. This being broken by Deithard’s laughter.

“HAHAHA!” The roar was as strong as his voice from earlier.

“Fight over it? Has your brain rotten when you turned undead Zei?” Deithard said. “How can we fight over the very item that would give our race hope!”

“Deithard, for so long I have been a liar. I have worked in the shadows. Served as an assassin for many. Betrayed individuals who treated me as friend, or even family. I have done…many despicable things.” Zei stared Deithard in the eyes. “That’s why I can tell when I’m in the presence of another liar.”

“You’re basing this on intuition?” Deithard asked in disbelief. “Zei, you are risking the lives of four of the most powerful vampires because your intuition tells you so?”

“And I thought I was the stupid one.” Adrian added.

The words of the other vampires made more sense to Seth. But, for some reason, his body was telling him to trust his master. Even though this is contradictory to any reasoning.

“The only stupid ones here are the three of you.” Zei said. “You thought that you could get Dracula’s Seed. You thought that by devouring this, you will become the next ruler of the vampires? Think again.”

“None of what you’re saying makes sense Zei. Just get us out of here before those Helsings reach us.” Hex said in a calm voice. “We’ll forget this short moment of insanity even came. Heck, we’d even forget that you stabbed us.”

“Yeah, just let us out of this pal. We’ll work something out while proving our innocence to you.” Adrian added.

But their words only fell on deaf ears. Zei gave them a sharp glare and, snapped his fingers. Making the spikes on Deithard, Hex, and Adrian glow. With runes appearing on the spell.

“I didn’t just place regular spikes on you. I placed runes that forces a person to say the truth.” Zei explained. “Normally it doesn’t work on vampires. But, seeing as your powers are negated at this moment…”

Zei grinned at the three. And this is all it took to make them snap.

“You ungrateful bastard!” Hex screamed.

“We placed our trust on you and this is how you repay us!” Deithard howled.

“Your whole clan will burn to the ground. I’ll make sure of it myself!” Adrian added.

Finally, the reaction given by the three matched what Zei said. Bloodlust oozed from the three vampires and, their eyes expressed the same thing. That they would kill Zei as soon as they get freed from the spikes. But this also meant one thing – that what Zei told was the truth.

This made Seth even more confused on the turn of events because, this means that his master is telling the truth. That the vampires who have accompanied them on that journey have impure motives.

“Don’t worry, you’re not the only ones who thought of harnessing all of this power. In fact, I’m still thinking of doing it myself at this very moment.” Zei admitted. “But I’m not going to do that. No. For the first time in my life, even if it’s on my dying moment, I want to do something good.”

The vampire snapped his fingers again and, this gave Seth the shock of his life. The spikes on his body all disappeared. He dropped to the ground and, his regeneration kicked in right away. Healing him of his wounds while he looked at the others.

The other vampires still had the spikes on them. Not only this but they looked to be struggling to speak. Something which, Seth knew, was caused by Zei as well. With the vampire in question already right next to him, offering Dracula’s Seed.

“Master?”

“Seth, among the four of us, you’re the only one who came here with pure intentions. You’re the only one who went to risk your life despite knowing that you won’t be getting the powers yourself. For that, I believe that you are better than the four of us.”

Seth took Dracula’s Seed from Zei’s hands. There weren’t any tricks. There wasn’t any form of deception. Zei simply handed the object to Seth without any second thought.

“Get out of here and go to the outskirts located in the northwest side. It may be difficult for you but, I’m sure you’d be able to shatter the runes I placed there.”

Seth already knows what Zei means. It means that his master will not come with him. It means that his master will stay there along with the others. It means that…he will be the sole vampire that would carry out the mission.

“No…master you can come with me.” Seth held Zei’s arm. “You’re not the same as them. You’ve already proven that with your choice.”

“I’m done kid. This immortal life of mine has been a series of sins and stains to my core.” Zei touched the top of Seth’s head. “The least you could do is allow me to have an honorable death.”

“No. I won’t allow it.” Seth had tears forming in his eyes.

“A vampire who openly shows his emotions…that’s gonna get you killed if you don’t learn to keep it in check kid.” Zei snapped his fingers again. Runes formed on the ground where Seth was.

Zei’s apprentice couldn’t get away from this. Just like all the tricks of his master, Seth was no match for the preparations that were made.

“This is a teleportation spell. It will fling you far enough from both the Citadel and from the war we’ve waged against the Citadel.”

In that moment, Zei showed another side of himself to his apprentice. Something which Seth only saw at that moment. A contrast to the usual cold and indifferent Zei. A smile. A genuine and warmhearted smile. Accompanied by the four words:

“This is farewell kid.”

Seth was immediately transported out of the room. It was quiet for a couple of seconds until, Zei made another snap of his fingers. This released the spikes that he placed on the other vampires.

“You really got one on us Zei.” Deithard said, his calm finally returning.

“You’re not even gonna try and kill me?”

Deithard chuckled. “What’s the point in that? We’re all gonna die here anyway.”

Zei felt the aura of the Helsings coming close. He felt the bloodlust that came from these humans and, he’s sure that the other vampires felt this as well.

“Tell me one thing though.” Hex added. “Are you sure that we can trust the future of the vampires to that kid?”

“Beats me. All I know is that, among us, he’s the only one who truly believes that we can resurrect Dracula.” Zei said.

“Good enough for me.” Adrian added, punching his fist to his palm.

“Well then…” Deithard released his vampiric aura. “Shall we take this last waltz to hell?”

Everyone did the same thing and, with a nervous smile on their faces, the other vampires responded:

“Gladly.”