The grand hall had been transformed into an opulent spectacle of decadence and power.

Massive chandeliers, their crystals glowing faintly with enchanted light, hung above a vast banquet table laden with food so rich it seemed otherworldly.

Every detail, from the ornate silver goblets filled with blood wine to the shimmering gold platters stacked with exotic delicacies, spoke of the vampires' wealth and arrogance.

The air was thick with tension as Luke and Jake stood along the edges of the room, part of a silent line of slaves. Their task was simple: observe and obey. They weren't alone. A dozen other slaves flanked them, their faces pale with dread. None dared to speak. The pets, ten of them, were huddled at the center of the room, trembling under the collective gaze of the vampires.

Jake's fists were clenched tightly at his sides, his knuckles white. Luke, standing next to him, felt the growing storm of anger radiating from his friend. But even Jake's usual defiance was tempered by fear as they watched the vampires begin to gather.

Valerius Duskborne, the Arch Vampire, sat at the head of the table. His presence was a black hole that seemed to draw all attention, his shadowy aura making even the boldest vampires glance away. Surrounding him were the heads of departments, including Lord Malric, who leaned back in his chair with an almost lazy smile, his dark eyes scanning the room with predatory amusement.

The other Arch Vampires, their grotesque appearances illuminated by the chandelier's soft glow, took their places with a mixture of arrogance and caution. Conversation flowed, subtle rivalries and veiled barbs exchanged under the guise of civility.

But the pets, dressed in fine silks and trembling with fear, seemed like fragile ornaments amidst the predatory elegance of the vampires..

When the conversations finally died down, Valerius stood, his deep voice cutting through the murmurs like a blade.

"My esteemed guests," he began, spreading his arms in a gesture of welcome. "Tonight, we celebrate not just power but indulgence.

It is a rare occasion when we gather, and even rarer when we feast."

The pets exchanged panicked glances. The word "feast" carried an ominous weight that made the air seem heavier. Luke could feel his heartbeat pounding in his chest, the weight of dread pressing down on him.

Valerius gestured toward the pets. "You have been chosen for a special honor. Tonight, you will serve not as mere ornaments, but as the main course."

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The room fell silent, save for the sharp intake of breath from the pets.

"You will be given ten seconds," Valerius continued, his smile widening to reveal his sharp fangs. "Ten seconds to run. After that, the hunt begins."

The pets froze, their expressions shifting from confusion to terror. Some began to weep openly, their bodies trembling. Others looked around, hoping for some escape route that didn't exist.

"Run," Valerius commanded, his voice cold and final.

For a moment, no one moved. The pets stood paralyzed, their terror rooting them to the spot. But then one bolted, and the others followed, scattering in every direction.

The vampires let them go, watching with a predator's patience. The ten seconds ticked by like an eternity, each one marked by the pets' frantic footsteps.

Then, like a storm breaking, the vampires moved.

The pets who hesitated were the first to fall.

Vampires blurred into motion with impossible speed, their forms a shadowy blur. The first pet, a young woman, didn't even have time to scream as Lord Malric appeared in front of her, his hand ripping through her chest with a sickening squelch. Blood sprayed in a fine mist, painting the air crimson.

The others met similar fates. One pet was tackled by Lady Elara Nightveil, her delicate features twisted in sadistic delight as she ripped the silk from his body, exposing flesh she quickly tore into. Another was grabbed by Kryos, who drained her blood directly from a severed limb, his face a mask of cold indifference as he tossed her lifeless body aside.

Luke and Jake watched in frozen horror, unable to look away. The slaves around them were pale and shaking, some clutching each other for support. Jake's jaw was clenched so tightly Luke thought he might shatter his own teeth.

"Monsters," Jake whispered, his voice trembling with suppressed rage.

Luke didn't respond. His stomach churned as he watched a pet who had managed to run nearly to the edge of the hall before being dragged back by one of the visiting Arch Vampires.

The vampire's grotesque, skeletal form moved with terrifying grace as he pinned the pet to the floor, pulling her skin away in strips as she screamed.

The screams didn't last long.

The vampires drank from their victims with unrestrained hunger, their fangs sinking into flesh as they consumed the blood that spilled freely from torn arteries. They didn't stop there-organs were ripped free, limbs severed, and even bones cracked open to access the marrow within.

The floor was a slick, sticky mess of blood and gore. The pets who had stayed, frozen by fear, met even more brutal ends.

Valerius himself claimed one, his shadows pinning her in place as he drained her blood slowly, savoring every drop.

Jake couldn't take it anymore. He turned away, his hands trembling as he fought the urge to scream. Luke reached out, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Don't," Luke whispered. "They'll kill you too."

The feast continued, each vampire indulging in their own savage brutality. The pets who had tried to run were hunted down methodically, their screams echoing through the hall as they were dragged back and devoured.

By the time the vampires were finished, there was nothing left of the pets but mangled, blood-soaked husks.

The slaves stood in silent horror, their faces pale and eyes wide. None dared to speak, but the weight of what they had witnessed was etched into every trembling hand and tear-streaked face.

Valerius stood once more, his face and hands clean despite the carnage around him.

His voice was calm, almost serene.

"Let this remind you," he said, his gaze sweeping across the slaves, "of your place.

You serve us, and your life is a gift we may take whenever we choose."

As the vampires began to leave the hall, their hunger sated, Luke and Jake remained frozen. The realization of their helplessness pressed down on them like a crushing weight.

Jake's fury simmered just beneath the surface, but Luke felt something else-a spark of defiance buried deep within the suffocating despair.

If they were going to survive this hell, they would have to fight.

But for now, they could only stand and watch as the vampires left, their laughter echoing through the blood-stained hall