Dahlia’s departure left a sense of disappointment in her wake. I had so many questions about the Royal vampires, and she seemed like the one person I could rely on for straight answers. As I waited in the grand main hall of the Vernara Building, I couldn’t help but admire its opulence—the intricate golden carvings decorating the high ceilings, the chandeliers casting a warm, elegant glow, and the marble floors reflecting every detail like glass.

Lost in thought, I felt a soft breeze brush past me, carrying an intense, bold scent. I glanced over my shoulder, catching sight of a man sitting at the table behind me. Dressed in a dark, luxurious tunic, his intense green irises seemed to glow with an unnatural light, and his hands glittered with an unusual number of rings—each piece of jewelry emanating with dark energy.

"You must be getting well acquainted with these, uh...people," the strange man said.

"Do you always appear unexpectedly behind people without warning? I must say that habit could land you in trouble one day."

He chuckled. "Trouble and I are old friends. But allow me to introduce myself—I’m Vantos, owner of the black market here in Adams. At your service."

He moved his hands with fluid motion, and with a snap of his fingers, a card materialized midair, drifting toward me until it landed in my hand. The card was simple, with only his name elegantly inscribed.

"Vantos? That’s quite an uncommon name."

"Indeed. I was named after the Grandmaster of the past epoch—a reincarnation of him, or so they say. But let me assure you, I'm nothing like him. Now, let’s get straight to the point, young master. I don’t have much time. I came to warn you."

"Warn me about what?"

Vantos glanced around cautiously before standing up and moving to sit at my table. His intense green eyes held a flicker of unease as he leaned in closer. "I’m sorry, young master, but you’ve arrived in Adams at an inconvenient time. Forces are moving, and I’m afraid your life is in danger."

"And you think I don’t know that? They’ve been trying to kill me since I arrived. That’s hardly news to me."

"True, but the danger is deeper than simple assassination attempts. This is the season when bloodlines clash—when the old debts and secrets are dredged up, and the most powerful forces in Adams settle scores. Your name and bloodline put you in the center of it, whether you like it or not."

Suddenly, a black scarab crawled out from the front pocket of my shirt, then took flight, landing on Vantos’s shoulder. I jumped up, startled. "What the hell?"

"My apologies. This is one of my familiars, his name is Gregory."

"How did that thing even get in my pocket?"

"Simple," Vantos said with a smirk. "I planted him there. I noticed you lost your temper for a few seconds while you fought the guards at the entrance—that’s when I slipped him in. I already knew you were of primal blood. The white hair, the red eyes... Your lineage is on the edge of extinction, you know. Only a few primal bloods remain."

He leaned back, eyes gleaming with calculated interest. "And just so you’re aware, a vial of your blood would fetch an impressive price on the black market. People would pay dearly for it."

"I'm not interested, thanks."

The scarab began to emit a series of chirps, its mandibles and wings moving as though it were communicating directly with Vantos.

"Really... is that so..." Vantos murmured, listening intently.

I stared at him, bewildered. "You understand that… thing?"

"Of course. Gregory here is quite adept at gathering information. And from what I hear, the elder has assigned you a personal task. Something to do with a vial of essence. Have you found it yet?"

Before I could answer, the atmosphere in the main hall shifted as the space filled with a growing crowd, all turning their attention toward the majestic golden podium. Arthur emerged from the elders’ room, with an ancient-looking parchment in his hands, clearly prepared to address the crowd.

Vantos leaned in close. "We’ll continue this conversation later, young master. If you ever need to find me, just use the compass hidden in the card I gave you. It’ll point you in my direction," he said, disappearing into thin air.

"Compass?" I looked down at the card but saw nothing. It was only when I tilted it toward the light that a faint compass appeared, its needle pulling constantly toward the northeast. Slipping the card back into my pocket, I watched Arthur position himself at the podium, tapping the microphone twice to draw the crowd’s attention.

"Attention, please," Arthur said, his voice echoing through the grand hall.

A hush fell over the crowd, all eyes turning toward him. Curiosity buzzed in the silence as everyone waited for the message Arthur was about to deliver.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the esteemed Scarlet clan. The Scarlet Royal Family has issued a message, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for answering the elder’s call with such promptness and dedication. For nearly two decades, Adams Town has been a place of yearning and incompleteness, as the Northern leadership remained lost and elusive for over eighteen long years."

His words resonated with the attendees as they listened intently, aware of the historical significance of this moment.

"Today, primal blood returns to us, embodying the hope to bring peace and harmony to the chaotic dissolution of the once-proud Black Lotus clan. With his presence, we envision the restoration of the clan to its former glory—a time when vampires, werewolves, warlocks, and humans coexisted in perfect harmony."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Murmurs spread through the crowd as Arthur paused, allowing his words to settle.

Arthur extended his hand gracefully, gesturing for me to ascend to the podium. His voice rang through the hall with authority, drawing every eye to me.

"Without further delay, I summon the Primal blood of the Black Lotus clan, Tobias Reinhart."

In an instant, every person in the room stared at me, as I confidently stride towards Arthur. Though momentarily intimidated by the attention, I quickly gained control of my emotions, understanding the significance of this moment to reclaim my family's place in the history of Adams Town.

"Please join me in congratulating Lord Tobias Reinhart, as the new leader of the Black Lotus clan."

Meeting Arthur at the podium, a cryptic silence fell upon the main hall. The crowd's emotions seemed to clash, and it became evident that not everyone is jubilant about the rise of a new leader in the werewolf clan. Whispers filled the room, rippling through the crowd in a surge of discontent that momentarily rooted me to the spot.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the whispers. "Werewolves attack everyone day and night! Will you put an end to this madness?" the query echoed, and numerous others in the assembly nodded in agreement.

Arthur’s expression tightened as he stepped away from the podium, disappointed. "I believe it’s best if we end this gathering, Mr. Reinhart. Arrangements will be made to transport you back to your estate, as your former vehicle has been… decommissioned."

As Arthur's words settled over the room, I felt a sudden grip on my arm. Dahlia had appeared beside me, smoothly guiding me away from the crowd without drawing unnecessary attention.

"Are you enjoying all the attention?" She asked.

"Not exactly my kind of crowd."

"Don't worry puppy, I’ll get you out of here."

She led me through a discreet back door, a path reserved for those deeply familiar with the Scarlet clan’s stronghold. As we moved along the narrow corridor, I felt her frigid hand slip gently into mine. The unexpected touch was surprisingly comforting amidst the tension of the evening.

As we approached a line of parked vehicles, I noticed two black SUVs and one that stood out from the rest—a similar vehicle in a bright red color. "We’ll be riding in the red one," Dahlia said.

Once we settled in the back seat, Dahlia handed me a messenger bag. I looked at her, confused. "I thought this was to be delivered to my house."

She nodded then smiled. "What Arthur told you earlier was for your protection. He understands this kind of business well, and the dangers that come with it. You can’t trust everyone here and you never know who's listening. I must say, vampires are not the only monsters in Adams Town."

"Thank you, Dahlia. And since we’re on the topic of business, I have to insist once more on the idea of you coming to my house to discuss things in a more relaxed atmosphere."

"You are quite persistent, aren't you?"

"I promise it will be strictly business."

Her smile remained, as she added a friendly warning, tapping the blade of her dagger. "If I accept your invitation, it will be about business."

The memory of that blade piercing my shoulder flashed in my mind—a reminder that beneath the charm, she was still a vampire, bound to her duty above all else.

"I heard you were attacked the first day you showed up in town. Yet here you are, very much alive."

"Barely. I had some help."

"From whom?"

"Mel, a hunter. She intervened when she saw a pack of werewolves roaming around the estate."

Dahlia chuckled. "I foresee a 'skirt problem' in your future."

For a moment, I remained puzzled about her comment. "What do you mean by a skirt problem?"

"It’s a term we use when someone seems attracted to multiple people of the opposite sex."

"And you are worried about that?"

"Not in the least," she said, pulling out her phone. She tapped the screen, and I immediately recognized the grainy footage Mel had taken. The video showed a white-haired beast fighting off a pack of werewolves on the estate grounds.

"Check this out, it's all over the internet," Dahlia said, handing me her phone. "If you read the comments, the outside world thinks this video is a segment of an unreleased movie."

"I have no memory of any of that."

A flicker of unease tightened in my chest, knowing I hadn't been entirely truthful. I did remember a trace of that night—the scent of Mel in the air, and the way it had stirred something human in me even in the midst of the beast's fury. That scent had held me back, somehow deterring the beast inside of me from attacking her.

"You don't remember?"

"Unfortunately, No. I woke up near the riverbank, early this morning."

I think it is pretty impressive. But you will be dead sooner than I thought." Dahlia said, turning off the video.

"Why would you think that will be the outcome?"

"Don't get me wrong, you are a very interesting young man. You have qualities no other wolf has shown. The elder granted you immediate restitution, something I've never seen before. But… your own kind may reject you, simply because you are different."

"I guess, I will need more help than I thought."

"Help won’t be enough. You’ll need a miracle to survive your own kind. The Culling is near, and many forces are aligning for it."

"The Culling?"

"The war of the four clans. In about four months, the clans will clash to determine who controls Adams Town. It’s a brutal, ruthless battle. When the war horn sounds, allies will turn into enemies, friends will become foes, and only the strongest will survive. My advice? Study the town’s past. Learn everything you can and use it to your advantage."

"I am grateful to you, Dahlia. I have no way to pay for the information you are giving me."

Dahlia smiled. "Don't worry. If anyone is going to kill you, that will be me. There is something in you, puppy, I find very... intriguing."

"I suppose I’m in good hands, then. But before you go making good on that threat, promise me I can have another one of those drinks of yours first."

"I will be honest; I was a bit hasty. I only reacted to what I saw."

"I understand, I deserved the painful wound."

I reached out and touched her hand, a bold move driven by an inexplicable urgency and curiosity. I needed more than just these occasional glimmers of insight from the vampires—I needed deeper knowledge. Each step so far had been guided by instinct, and, as I held her hand, I realized this was no different.

But just as quickly, the moment passed. She looked away, pulling her hand back. Though it wasn’t the reaction I’d hoped for, there was a sense of progress—a shift from our usual verbal sparring. For now, at least, she hadn’t reacted with her usual sharp edge or defensiveness, leaving me with the feeling that, somewhere beneath her mask, Dahlia might actually be on my side.

"You take your chances abruptly. I could kill you just by doing what you just did."

"Like you said, I will die by your hand. I understand the risks, and I'm willing to face the consequences."

"How old are you, puppy?"

"I'm 17."

"Most young ones your age are reckless and impulsive, but you...you're different. I find it hard to believe you are that young compared to me."

"I don't care how old you are. For me that's insignificant."

"I'm 89 years old, and I still appear to be 18. Vampires age at a rate of one hundred times slower than humans."

"I think you are the hottest granny I have ever seen."

Dahlia laughed.

"Should I take offense of your daring compliment, or for your audacious intentions?"

"You have my word; I will never cross any boundaries you set. Even if I find your scent irresistible."

I gently grabbed her hand again, bringing it closer to my nose, inhaling the alluring blend of her scent.

"You are quite bold, puppy. You might get what you're aiming for."