A tense silence settled over the room, underscoring the difficulty of reaching an agreement between us. Growing frustrated with the prolonged negotiations, I tapped my finger impatiently on the table, hinting at my mounting irritation. Meanwhile, Antolio and Derrick remained captivated by the swirling black liquid inside the vial. Finally, Derrick broke the silence with a question.

"You had this essence all along, young master?"

"I came across it," I said, glancing at Vantos. "It was hidden behind my mother's portrait in the gathering room."

Vantos raised a hand, as a sly smile formed on his lips. "I believe it's time for a brief pause in our little discussion. Let us drink to the possibility of future arrangements. Gentlemen, are you thirsty?"

Vantos clapped twice, summoning Lutia back into the room. "Lutia, please provide our guests with refreshments. Anything they desire will be on the house."

"As you wish, master."

Without hesitation, Antolio raised his hand. "I'll take a double of the club special," he said with a grin, glancing at me. "If it's alright with the young master for us to have a couple of drinks."

"I don't mind, go ahead."

As Lutia wrote down Antolio's order, another copy of her entered the room almost immediately, carrying a glass tray with the requested drink. She placed it in front of Antolio, giving him a mischievous smile. "Here's your drink, my love."

"Wow, that was fast," Derrick said.

With a smirk, Lutia turned towards him, her teal hair moved slightly as she tilted her head. "And what about you, sir?" she asked.

"I'll take whatever you brought Antolio. It looks like something I need to try," Derrick said.

Lutia nodded, as she jotted down the order. Seconds later, a third copy of herself entered, carrying another identical drink. She placed it in front of Derrick, then smiled. "There you go."

Derrick lifted his drink, watching the colorful arrangement of liquor inside the glass. "Alright, I admit, this place has some freaky shit."

Vantos observed the scene with quiet amusement, his attention eventually returning to me. His smile hinted at a deeper game unfolding, and I knew the brief distraction of drinks was just a way to turn the deal in his favor.

"And for the young master?" Lutia asked. "What kind of drink would he desire?"

"I'm not old enough to drink. If anything, I'll take a soda."

Vantos chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm afraid everything we serve in this club has alcohol in it, young master. There's no such thing as an underaged in Adams. We are all monsters here, aren't we? The only thing that matters is how well you handle the buzz."

I frowned, unsure if he was joking or making a point. My attention shifted to the drink Derrick had ordered—a glass filled with layers of effervescent liquor that shimmered like liquid gemstones. The layers were distinctly colored, and on top, a glowing fluorescent green substance had solidified into a crust.

Derrick tapped the fluorescent crust with a silver spoon, breaking it into smaller pieces that fell into the glass. The moment the crust hit the liquid, it began to bubble vigorously, mixing with the effervescent layers below. Within seconds, the drink turned into a vivid pink hue, almost glowing under the soft lighting of the room.

"That's very interesting," I said.

"You should try it, young master," Vantos said. "It's called the Siren's Kiss. The house specialty. Perfectly balanced—not too sweet, not too sour, with just a hint of danger. And since you're my guest, feel free to indulge. Everything here is complimentary—for you."

I'm fully aware, that in a place like this, nothing came without strings attached. Vantos's sudden warmth and generosity weren't random; they were calculated, driven by his growing interest in the vial I carried. He was willing to go to great lengths to secure it, and this drink was just another move in his game.

"All right, I'll try one."

Lutia began to write the order on her pocketbook, just to watch another server that looked just like her, enter the room. She gracefully placed the drink and a silver spoon in front of me. "Enjoy," she said.

Derrick leaned forward, grinning. "You're going to love it, young master. Go on—crack the top. That's the best part."

I picked up the silver spoon, pausing briefly as I caught Vantos's expectant gaze. He looked pleased, his eyes gleaming as if believing he'd won a small victory.

With a slight shrug, I tapped the crust with the spoon, watching as the green layer shattered effortlessly, its fragments sinking into the liquid below. The mixture bubbled and fizzed, the vibrant layers merging into the vivid pink hue I had noticed earlier. The transformation was mesmerizing, but I hesitated for a moment, contemplating the potential effects of the drink. I glanced at Antolio, who had closed his eyes, as if under the influence of something potent and unfamiliar. Finally, setting my doubts aside, I lifted the glass and drank it all in one go.

A melodious hum emerged from the empty glass, a harmonious tune that enveloped my ears. The sound soothed my restless thoughts, weaving a calmness through the noise of my mind. The drink hit hard at first, a sharp punch of alcohol giving me an immediate buzz. But then, as quickly as it had come, the sensation dissipated. Unlike Antolio and Derrick, who were visibly affected, the buzz left me entirely within seconds.

I set the glass down and leaned back. "That drink won't work on me. You might need to try something else to get me drunk."

Vantos's smile faltered, his expression changing from amusement to astonishment. He studied me for a moment, confirming what he had just witnessed. Then, without warning, he burst into laughter, the sound echoing suddenly through the room. "Young master, you are full of surprises. It seems there's more to you than I thought."

He gestured towards Antolio, who suddenly began to snore. "Unlike your companions here, your demon blood lineage shelters you from intrusive influences—alcohol included. You could empty my entire bar and walk out as sober as when you arrived."

He leaned forward, fascinated by the outcome of his little charade. "It seems I'd be better off gifting you a month's supply of the finest meats than wasting good drinks trying to get you drunk."

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Taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I finally decided to move this deal forward. "I have a deal in mind."

Vantos clasped his hands together and leaned forward. "I'm all ears," he said.

"Here's what I propose, you explain to me what's in this vial, provide me with the Monkshood potion, and in return, I'll ensure you receive a small share of whatever is inside it."

Vantos placed a hand over his mouth, feeling skeptical about the deal I just offered. "Exactly how much is a small portion?"

"Roughly about an eighth of the total amount."

"An eighth, you say," Vantos said, leaning back in his chair as his fingers drummed lightly against his lips. "Interesting. Generous, even. But not quite enough to secure my full cooperation. Make it a little more, and you've got yourself a deal."

"How much more are we talking about?"

Vantos smiled. "A quarter of the total amount."

I became hesitant to part with such a significant share. The vial's contents were still an enigma to me, and agreeing to Vantos's terms could leave me with less leverage than I'd hoped. But the opportunity to learn what Chief Harrow and the vampires were truly after—and to secure the Monkshood potion—was too valuable to pass up.

I slid the vial across the table towards him, "You have a deal."

"Very well," Vantos said with a look of satisfaction spreading across his face. "We have an agreement."

With a casual snap of his fingers, he conjured a syringe out of thin air. It appeared in his hand with a faint shimmer, as though plucked from the air itself. "I'd like to collect my share upfront if that's all right with you," Vantos said.

"By all means, Mr. Orein."

"Oh, please, drop the formalities, young master. You must understand, while you may be unaware of the contents of this vial, I, on the other hand, have a business to run—and my clients have very particular demands, especially for this essence. I hope I am not giving you the wrong impression by putting my interests first."

"Not at all."

"Excellent!" Vantos said, grabbing the vial from the table and carefully puncturing the rubber cap with the syringe, drawing up exactly a quarter of the total content of the vial. "Tobias, my good man. It's been a pleasure doing business with you."

Vantos held the syringe between his hands, and with a subtle flick of his wrist, it vanished into thin air as if it had never existed. He returned the vial to the center of the table and then settled back into his chair.

."Now, as promised, what you've got here is far more valuable than any currency, jewel, or metal. This, my dear Tobias, is the essence of a vampire elder, a substance utilized by them in their reawakening ceremonies. To gather even a single vial of this essence involves years of painstaking and agonizing extraction from an elder vampire. The process is excruciating for them, which is why its availability is so rare and its worth... immeasurable."

Derrick and Antolio placed their drinks on the table, their attention fully drawn to Vantos as he explained the vial's origins.

"This essence is not only wanted by the vampires but also highly desired by other clans. The small portion I've taken from it is enough to produce over a hundred potions. Each potion has the capability to extend a living being's lifespan by at least fifty years—sometimes more, depending on the creature's age and physiology. In rare cases, consumers of this essence inherit traits of the elder vampire. Strength, agility, heightened senses—perhaps even minor psychic abilities. But let's not forget the vampire's ability to turn their skin as hard as stone during the night. This ability makes them almost impossible to kill. The exact nature of these gifts varies, but their impact is undeniable."

Vantos rose from his chair and began to pace across the room. "However, this gift does not come without a price. The essence has side effects, some of which can be... transformative. Those who consume it often develop a heightened sensitivity to sunlight, their skin will immediately become dry and flaky under even moderate exposure. Their body's natural metabolic processes will change, favoring a raw, flesh-based diet over conventional foods. Consuming the essence in the pure state that it is right now, will likely turn the person into a vampire."

"What about if a werewolf consumes the essence?" I asked.

"The side effects could be catastrophic," he said. "For a werewolf, the consumption of this essence could very well mean death. I've already encountered the aftermath of such experiments in the northern forest. Dead bodies of vampire ghouls that had been bitten by werewolves—ghouls that didn't simply die but underwent horrifying transformations before succumbing to their fate."

"What kind of transformations?" Derrick asked, as he reached over and lightly smacked Antolio on the head, snapping him out of his daze.

"Their bodies began to mutate—becoming far more aggressive, faster, and stronger. The combination of the werewolf bite and the elder's essence created a monstrous hybrid form, uncontrollable and vicious. But the transformation is short-lived. Within hours, their bodies deteriorated and failed, unable to sustain the changes. I suspect the same fate would await a werewolf who consumed this essence. Werewolves are already a form of monster, bound by their own physical rules. Introducing this essence into their system would likely trigger an internal war, one their bodies couldn't survive."

Lutia walked in the room, with a second round of drinks. She placed them in front of us, as Vantos's expression became darker. "There's one more detail about this essence that you must know. This is more likely what the vampires were looking for years ago. I have only heard rumors, but I'm not entirely sure if they're true or not. I assumed you have met the vampire elder, am I right?"

"Correct. The elder and Chief Harrow have both requested the delivery of this vial. That's why we're here—to uncover why they want it so badly."

"Rumors around town say, that this essence it's the one stolen from the Scarlet Enclave eighteen years ago. After the last war of the clans ended, the Scarlet Enclave was built upon the ruins of a church. That church was the site of the hunters' final victory against the vampires. It was there that Elder Cyrus Bane and Kalia Scarlet, two of the most fearsome vampire leaders, fell. The hunters declared themselves victors, and in a final act of defiance, the bodies of Cyrus and Kalia were turned to stone, their forms petrified within the remains of the church. Their defeat marked the end of the war, but it didn't bring closure for the vampires. For a century now, the Scarlet Clan has been preparing for their return."

I leaned forward, my fingers tightening around the edge of the table. "Their return?"

"The statues of Cyrus and Kalia lay dormant in that church, waiting. And that essence you carry, young master—it's the key. The essence of a vampire elder is what's required to undo their petrification. Once enough of it is gathered, it can awaken them from their stone prisons and restore them to full power."

"So, the vampires want to bring them back... for the upcoming war."

"Precisely. The Scarlet Clan knows the culling is imminent. They believe that Cyrus and Kalia's leadership will tip the scales in their favor. If they succeed in resurrecting even one of them, it could spell devastation for anyone who dares to oppose them. However, I believe there's not enough essence to revive them both."

"You mean they'll have to choose who to resurrect?"

"Yes. And given the historical tension between Kalia Scarlet and the current elder, I dare to gamble that Elenore will bring back Cyrus, not Kalia. That is If the essence lands on her hands. Now, what is it going to be young master? You'll help the elder's awakening by siding with the vampires, or forge your own path on this war? The choice is yours, but remember: the moment you choose a side, you become part of the game—and a target."

"Delivering this essence is out of the question, Vantos. I have no choice in the matter. I promised Annie and her mother that I'd do everything in my power to protect them from becoming casualties in a war they had nothing to do with."

"I admire your determination to protect your servants. It's a noble goal. But you must consider the broader implications. If you deliver this essence to Elenore, you'll be strengthening the vampires' already considerable advantage in the upcoming war. And while the elder may accept your delivery with grace, there's no guarantee she won't order your assassination afterward to tie up loose ends."

"Then what do you propose I should do?"

"This essence is a powerful bargaining tool. Rather than simply delivering it to Elenore or Chief Harrow, you could use it to forge alliances—alliances that will benefit you and your clan. Choose wisely, and you might not only protect the people you care about but also emerge with enough power to influence the war's outcome. I've aligned myself with a coalition, a group of individuals from every clan in Adams Town. We are united by one goal: to abolish the culling of Adams Town forever."

"Eliminating the war once and for all? That sounds very enlightening, but let's not sugarcoat it—it would mean wiping the vampires off the map completely," Antolio said. "And let's not forget, the culling won't start until the first horn of war blares across town. Until then, if the vampires even suspect we're in possession of the essence, everyone's life is at risk—yours, mine, and the innocents we're trying to protect."