CHAPTER 187: Blood War-3

CHAPTER 187: Blood War-3

SOMEWHERE IN BERLIN...

The coven's hall pulsed with gothic elegance: wrought iron chandeliers cast dancing shadows on walls covered in ancient tapestries, while the vampires present moved amidst whispers, blood goblets, and calculating glances. It was a gathering of power wrapped in the guise of courtesy, though the air was thick with tension.

In a corner, near a large window that let in the silver light of the full moon, Selene remained apart from the crowd. Her black silk dress fell like a second skin, accentuating her commanding bearing. With a blood goblet in her hand, she observed it thoughtfully. The moon's reflections played across her face, giving her eyes an supernatural gleam. She took a small sip, letting the crimson liquid caress her palate before speaking in a whisper to herself:

"So much blood spilled, so much history written in tragedy... and we still haven't learned anything."

While Selene reflected, in the center of the hall, the coven's leader, a man of aristocratic bearing and glacial gaze named Lucian, rose from his elevated seat on a throne of black marble. His mere presence silenced the conversations. He dressed with the precision of someone who understands that every detail is a weapon in itself: a dark suit with subtle embroidery in red and gold, symbols of the vampire lineage.

"Brothers, sisters," he began, his voice resonating with a gravity that captured everyone's attention. "We live in dark times, even for our species."

He paused, letting his gaze wander over the attendees. Some nodded, others simply waited, but no one dared to interrupt.

"The existence of Michael..." he continued, emphasizing the name as if it were poison, "is an affront to everything we stand for. That abomination, that thing, is the worst insult nature could have hurled at us."

A few voices rose in murmurs of agreement, and Lucian raised a hand to silence them.

"But it's not just him. Marius, that cursed spawn, the leader of the lycans, remains a constant threat. He has challenged our dominion from the beginning, and now, with Michael by his side, they represent a danger we cannot ignore."

The hall was motionless. Lucian's words soaked into the atmosphere like the echo of a sentence already pronounced.

"Our priority now is clear. We must destroy them. Both of them. Michael, the monster who should never have existed. And Marius, our eternal enemy, who has become a stone in our path toward supremacy."

As he spoke, Selene continued to gaze at the moon. Though she didn't look away from the sky, she listened to every word carefully. Unlike the others, she didn't applaud or nod. Deep inside, something troubled her. It was a voice whispering questions she preferred not to answer.

Lucian ended his speech by raising a blood goblet.

"For our race. For our supremacy. For the extermination of our enemies."

The hall erupted in cheers, but Selene remained motionless, her fingers playing with the edge of her goblet. She glanced sideways at the leader, and her eyes gleamed with a flash of something that could be interpreted as doubt, or perhaps, defiance.

The hall was still vibrating with the vampires' cheers when a nervous-looking assistant approached Lucian, leaning in to whisper something in his ear. The coven leader frowned, his expression hardened, and with a quick gesture of his hand, he dismissed the assistant.

"Enjoy the evening. I'll return shortly," he announced in a voice that brooked no questions, leaving his goblet on the table and turning to leave the hall.

From her place by the window, Selene noticed the change in the air. Without hesitation, she left her goblet on the windowsill and followed him. Lucian walked with a quick step down a dark hallway, the torches on the walls casting irregular shadows as he advanced toward a private study. Selene caught up with him before he closed the door.

"What's happening?" she asked, her tone serene but laced with curiosity.

Lucian paused for a moment, looking at her with eyes that reflected respect and trust, something he didn't grant easily.

"A lycan movement," he finally replied, his tone low and controlled. "They're advancing on a highway through a remote forest near Berlin. It's a tactical deployment. It seems they're hunting."

Selene crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly.

"Then let's go stop them."

Lucian shook his head with a firm gesture.

"It's not that simple, Selene. You are valuable to the coven. I cannot allow you to risk your life on an operation like this."

"Valuable doesn't mean useless," she retorted in a cold tone, taking a step toward him. "Lucian, you know I'm more capable than many here. Besides, you need someone in the field who can handle this before it gets out of control."

For a moment, the coven leader looked at her in silence, weighing her words. Finally, he let out a sigh that seemed to carry centuries of weight.

"Very well," he said at last. "But don't act impulsively. I want a full report of everything you find when you return."

Selene nodded with determination.

"I will."

Lucian took one step closer, his voice taking on a more authoritative edge.

"You have 30 minutes to prepare. No more. Departure is immediate."

Selene didn't waste time responding. She turned and disappeared down the hallway, her firm footsteps echoing in the darkness. As Lucian watched her silhouette fade away, a spark of admiration briefly crossed his eyes before his expression hardened again. He knew Selene was not a simple subordinate; she was a force he could not ignore, even in times of war.

As Selene headed to her room to prepare, her mind wandered between the echoes of the present and the memories of the past. It was a habit of hers; in moments of tension, she always returned to the roots that defined her existence.