บท 15: Blood Manipulation
Damien Crimson, the enigmatic head of the illustrious Crimson Family, stared into Louis's eyes with an icy detachment that sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the grand hall. As the elders of the main family gathered around, a cacophony of diverse opinions about Louis's fate filled the air.
"He should be imprisoned," declared one elder with a stern gaze.
"We can't let him off so easily; he should be made to suffer until death relieves him," another voiced, his tone dripping with vengeance.
Yet another elder chimed in, "We should strip their family of its status and banish their branch from the Crimson Family forever."
Representatives from rival branches observed the turmoil with concealed satisfaction. Despite sharing the same crimson bloodline, competition ran deep between the branches. The resources allocated by the main family to each branch depended on their performance and contributions, and eliminating a rival branch was an enticing prospect.
Within the walls of the Crimson Family, everyone knew of Damien's deep affection for Clarisse and Elise, the sisters he'd embraced as his goddaughters. Their roots were deeply entwined with the Crimson Family's history. Damien's brother, Harold Crimson, had sacrificed his life to provide Damien with an escape from the relentless pursuit of vengeful werewolves. Harold's valiant act gave Damien a second chance at life, an act of brotherly love that left no trace of Harold's fate. Damien, the newly appointed Clan Leader, held an unshakable debt to his long-lost brother and sought to protect his brother's legacy by safeguarding Clarisse and Elise.
As the tension in the hall thickened, the sisters' fate hung in the balance, their uncle's gaze shifting between them and Louis, the source of this turmoil. Clarisse and Elise observed the unfolding drama with concern etched across their faces, for they were fully aware of the gravity of the situation.
The elder kneeling beside Louis, Craig Crimson, the branch family leader of Louis's lineage, looked on with a nervous expression. Unaware of Louis's actions prior to their summons, Craig had been complicit in arranging for Louis to accompany Clarisse and Elise, with hopes of building a strong alliance between Louis and the sisters. Louis was considered the brightest talent in their branch, and Craig aspired to elevate their lineage through this connection. Unfortunately, Louis had not only squandered the opportunity but tarnished their reputation. Craig glared at Louis with a seething hatred that was palpable.
Louis, kneeling on the ground, initially bore a look of despondency, but soon his expression transformed into one of indignation and rage. He erupted, "Why... Why am I being subjected to this punishment? I haven't done anything truly reprehensible. Yes, I fled... but..."
Before he could finish his protest, the elder beside him slapped him forcefully, sending him crashing to the floor. The room reverberated with the echoing slap, while the clan leader's chilling gaze silenced any further outbursts. However, when the elder raised his hand once more, a calm voice intervened, "That's enough, Craig." The command was from none other than Damien.
"I will give you a chance to explain yourself." Louis looked up and saw the clan leader's cold and bloodshot eyes staring at him. Louis felt his blood freeze, and his heart went cold, staring into those eyes.
Louis, still reeling from the shock of the earlier slap, gradually regained his composure as he heard the clan leader's voice. Damien's eyes, cold and as bloodshot as crimson rubies, were fixed on him. The intensity of his gaze sent a chill down Louis's spine.
After an agonizing silence, Louis mustered the courage to speak. "It was all because of that kid. I even created an opportunity to escape by using the kid's life. But they chose to protect him rather than fleeing with me." Louis pointed toward Clarisse and Elise as he made his accusation.
The members of the main clan, aware of Damien's unwavering protective nature, had a bemused expression as they witnessed Louis blaming the sisters. Damien, with his piercing eyes, locked onto Louis. Although Clarisse had shared her experiences with her uncle, she had omitted certain details to shield Zac, who was averse to the limelight.
Damien turned his gaze away from Louis and inquired with an enigmatic smile, "Louis, right? Do you understand why you kneel before me today?"
Louis replied cautiously, "It's because I abandoned them, isn't it?"
"Correct," Damien affirmed. "From the moment you chose to abandon them, irrespective of the circumstances, you were labeled a transgressor." As he concluded his words, Damien's finger pointed at Louis with precision.
Louis's face contorted in agony. While the others were oblivious to the changes within him, Craig, seated beside Louis, sensed the turbulence of blood flowing within him. It was as if a tempestuous maelstrom was ravaging his internal organs and nerves. The room bore witness to Louis's anguished cries as blood began to ooze from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. The gruesome spectacle sent a collective shiver through those present, for not a single drop of blood reached the ground. Instead, the crimson liquid hung suspended in the air, bombarding Louis's lifeless body like a barrage of lethal projectiles.
As the nightmarish cycle continued, Louis's screams slowly subsided, ultimately leaving his lifeless body sprawled on the floor. In a flash, two shadows darted forward from behind Damien and retrieved Louis's lifeless form, leaving behind an impeccably clean space.
Craig, who knelt beside Louis, was drenched in cold sweat. He had been the closest witness to the horrors unleashed upon Louis. He felt the sheer terror of the assault, each blood droplet bearing the potential to inflict a hundredfold harm. This was the power of Blood Manipulation, a power that the clan leader possessed. It was the same power that is said to be passed down from the Blood Queen to the Crimson Family's ancestor according to ancestral records.
"Craig," Damien spoke, his tone carrying a sense of finality. "While Louis's actions were a consequence of his choices, he remains a member of your branch. Given your contributions to the Crimson Family, I have chosen not to expel you from the clan. However, there must be consequences. Your branch shall be stripped of all its hard-earned achievements, relegated to the lowest rank among branch families. If you wish to rise, you must toil and contribute more to our clan."
Craig felt a sharp pang in his heart. Years of labor had been invested in elevating his branch to its status. Now, all that effort had been rendered futile. Regret gnawed at him for his role in sending Louis with the sisters, seeing it as an opportunity to secure his branch's position. Louis had represented their branch's brightest prospect, and now both Louis and the branch's status were lost. If Louis were still before him, Craig's anger would have been palpable. However, Louis was gone, and the source of Craig's anger had vanished. It was then that he remembered Louis's accusation against the brat to the clan leader, and with this, he found a new target to vent his fury upon.
"No matter what, that brat has to pay the price. "This is for both Louis and our branch clan.": Craig murmured to himself.
Seeing Craig's silence, Damien asked, his voice sending a chilling shiver down everyone's spine, "Craig, do you object?"
Startled, Craig hastily responded, "No, I accept... I accept the punishment," his words leaving his lips in a rush, afraid that his silence would be misconstrued as dissent, subjecting him to further repercussions.
With a final declaration, Damien announced, "That concludes today's proceedings. You may all depart."
Once the hall had emptied, only the two sisters and Damien remained.
"Now, tell me about this 'brat' Louis mentioned," Damien inquired, his once-serious demeanor now transformed into an inviting smile.
The sisters exchanged troubled glances, the weight of the moment bearing down on them. Damien, sensing their apprehension, reassured them, "Clarisse, this is the first time I've seen you look like this. Now, you've piqued my curiosity. I won't devour him, you know. Is he someone I should be wary of?"
Elise interrupted, "No, Zac is not like that. He's a good person."
Damien chuckled softly, remarking, "Ah, so even my little princess supports him now. His name is Zac. Did my little princess perhaps develop feelings for him?"
Elise stammered, "No... No... he's just a kid." Her cheeks flushed as she attempted to convince herself of this, her thoughts involuntarily drifting to Zac's piercing blue eyes, his lustrous black hair, and his youthful, well-defined physique.
Clarisse, standing beside her, took a deep breath and began recounting their journey from the moment they met Zac up until their return, sparing no details.
Damien absorbed the information with a thoughtful expression. "So, it appears he's within Crimson City. While there are geniuses in other races who can outmatch their peers, none have matched his appearance or youth, from what I know. Unless he hails from the Dark Tower. In that case, it wouldn't be surprising. However, he did claim to originate from an unheard-of place. If that is indeed true, it rules out the Dark Tower."
He fell into silence, deep in thought, his brow furrowed. After a moment, he continued, "We can't confirm the veracity of his claims. Even if he is truthful, there aren't many places unbeknownst to you. You may not have visited them, but you should have at least heard of them. If this isn't the case, there is but one other possibility..."
A wild notion suddenly seized Damien's mind. As one of the most influential figures in the world, he possessed access to closely guarded secrets. If his suspicion held any truth, this 'kid' was far from ordinary.
"I want to meet him," Damien declared abruptly, his demeanor shifting to one of resolute determination.
Clarisse and Elise tensed, sensing the change in Damien's expression.
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