The werewolves lay scattered across the ground, their unconscious forms lit by the eerie red glow of the sky. Palmer, his scarlet eyes still blazing with power, surveyed the scene, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"The person who sent them is quite thorough," Palmer mused, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. He knelt beside one of the unconscious werewolves, his keen senses analyzing the subtle traces of magic clinging to its fur. "A silencing spell, woven with potent dark magic. They all passed out after I asked them some questions." He stood, his gaze sweeping over the fallen pack. "No loose ends. Interesting." A flicker of concern crossed his features. "But that's not all..." He paused, his gaze shifting to Damien, a smirk playing on his lips. "Pfft, some 'monster' you turned out to be. You pretty much exhausted what fear is left in you," he chuckled. Damien, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment, mumbled, "Argh, don't laugh!" He looked down at his trembling hands, his voice filled with self-reproach. "I saw you die, and all I could think about was how pathetic I am. I was aiming to be a symbol of fear, but I went and got you killed... or so I thought. All I felt at that time was guilt for my stupid actions. I just keep putting the people I love in danger." Palmer's expression softened. "It seems you're finally starting to understand the weight of responsibility, Damien. Protecting those you care for often requires difficult choices." He paused, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "But recklessness can lead to unintended consequences." Damien sniffed, a small smile breaking through his guilt. "You always know what to say... I envy you." "I'm 865 years old," Palmer replied with a wry grin. "It's only natural that I'd know what to say..." Damien laughed, the tension easing from his shoulders. "I'll make it up to everyone. Firstly, I'll go return what they came for. My plan to become the 'symbol of fear' failed anyway," he said, a hint of resignation in his voice. "You won't need to do that," Palmer insisted. "What do you mean? They'd just keep coming for us if I don't, you know?" Damien said, confused. "They'd come after us either way," Palmer explained, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Now I'm even more confused..." "Werewolves and other factions of supernaturals have always lived in fear of vampires for centuries. A pack of them can't stand against even a lowly vampire, yet they came. There's a force strong enough to make werewolves do their bidding, someone with a greater plan..." "Like the werewolves were just a diversion? For what exactly?" Suddenly, their eyes widened in realisation. "The estate!" they exclaimed in unison. "I noticed I couldn't get in touch with Valen," Palmer said, his voice laced with concern, "but I felt his rage when he went into his domain." His eyes narrowed further. "We need to head back quickly. Grab on to me." The air around them crackled with energy as Palmer extended his domain. In a blink, they vanished from the alleyway, teleporting back to the Montgomery estate, leaving behind the unconscious werewolves and the lingering scent of fear. As Palmer and Damien stepped through the shattered remains of the estate's grand entrance, a wave of unease washed over Palmer. An invisible barrier, crackling with dark energy, clung to the air, disrupting the flow of his senses. "It's a barrier," he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the perimeter. "One that's meant to block communication between me and the others inside. Explains why I couldn't get in touch with them. They got us good." With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a surge of power, shattering the barrier. A flood of fragmented memories, chaotic and disjointed, surged into his mind – Valen's perspective of the attack, the sirens swarming the estate, Sarah's terror. Palmer's jaw clenched, his scarlet eyes flashing with a mixture of relief and anger. They rushed inside, the sight that greeted them a grim tableau. Lifeless siren bodies lay scattered across the once-pristine floors, their luminescent skin now dull and lifeless. "Damien!?" Sarah's voice, filled with panic and relief, echoed from the grand staircase. She rushed towards them, her eyes wide with concern. "Damien, are you alright?" Damien, overwhelmed by guilt and the near loss of his sister, choked back a sob. "I'm so sorry, Sarah... I'm so sorry. I didn't know it would come to this." Sarah, tears streaming down her face, embraced him tightly. "Shh, shh... It's okay, it's okay... As long as you're alright, it's okay." Damien knelt, burying his face in his sister's shoulder, his tears soaking her blouse. "I miss them so much," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "All I wanted to do was to get revenge on whoever was responsible for their death. I can't bear to think that the person who killed them is still alive... roaming freely," "It's okay, Damien, I understand," Sarah soothed, her voice trembling. "Mom and Dad would understand too... I'm sure they're happy wherever they are." She clung to him, a wave of relief washing over her. Her brother was back, and that's all that mattered. Valen emerged from the shadows, "Where is everyone?" Palmer asked, his voice laced with concern. "Most are recovering," Valen replied. "But we lost George, Victor, and Cassia." He trailed off, his gaze fixed on the fallen sirens. "I'm sure you've seen everything from my memory, as I've seen yours." He met Palmer's eyes, his expression grim. "This was definitely not an attack between factions. They mean to start a war." Damien, wiping the tears from his eyes, looked up at Palmer. "You said something about someone strong aiding the werewolves, and that returning the Orb won't change the fact that they'd keep coming after us. What did you mean by that, Palmer?" Palmer exchanged a knowing glance with Valen, then turned to Sarah and Damien, their faces etched with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. "Don't be surprised and listen," he began, his voice grave. "For the past five centuries, your family is one of the families chosen to protect one of the five orbs. The keys to unleashing a greater darkness."Related Chapters
Crimson Legacy Chapter 8:
The moonlight shown brightly at dimly lit cathedral, casting a great shadow of the church on the marble floor. Its stained glass windows casting multicolored shadows across the stone floor. A man, his face etched with age and cunning, spoke in a low, conspiratorial tone."The sirens were so carefree," he chuckled, a malicious glint in his eyes. "They didn't even notice you had infiltrated their ranks." He wore a triumphant smirk. "Now that we have both taken the shapes of people from both families, our plan proceeds without a flaw. We now have access to two of the orbs!" the man hissed, his voice a guttural growl that echoed in the mind of his counterpart lurking in the shadows of the Montgomery estate. From beneath a pile of fallen rubble, the other skinwalker emerged, its form still shifting and reforming as it absorbed the last vestiges of one of the bodyguard it had consumed. A wave of triumphant satisfaction resonated through their shared consciousness. "Hahahaha... It's time
Crimson Legacy Chapter 9:
A hush fell over the cathedral hall as the skinwalker, disguised as Edward, started walking back into the meeting room. From behind a towering marble pillar, a figure emerged, his face etched with a mixture of disgust and disdain."You guys are as disgusting as usual," the Pope spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "You make me want to puke."The skinwalker paused, a sardonic grin spreading across its stolen face. "Coming from someone like you, that's saddening. Selling out your comrades for power... You make me want to puke. I'm only doing this because I'm benefitting a great deal from it. I despise betrayers.""I hope you remember your part of the deal when the day comes," the Pope hissed, his voice laced with a venomous threat.With a dismissive wave of his hand, the skinwalker strode back towards the Elders' chamber, leaving the Pope fuming in his wake.Inside the chamber, the Elders sat in tense silence, their faces etched with worry."So, any luck reaching the kid?" Gorion gro
Crimson Legacy Chapter 10:
After what seemed like hours of conversation. The meeting ended with both sides unable to come up with conclusions to how they'd handle the situation at hand. Edward Ashworth, or rather, the creature that wore his skin, moved through the dispersing crowd, his mind awhirl with newfound knowledge. He had gleaned valuable information from the meeting, insights into the guardians' plans and vulnerabilities."Good work today, Sir Edward," his driver, Walter, greeted as he approached the waiting limousine. "Are we heading straight home, or branching to the usual place?" he asked with a warm smile, glancing at his employer through the rearview mirror.The skinwalker paused, momentarily thrown. "The usual place?" it echoed, its mind scrambling to access Edward's memories. A wave of frustration washed over it. "This is where our abilities falter," it thought, cursing its incomplete mimicry. "We have no access to the memories of the victims we absorb. What a pain.""Let's just head home," it sa
Crimson Legacy Chapter 11:
Palmer stood in the dim glow of the study. The weight of history sat heavy in the room, pressing against Damien and Sarah like an invisible force. He had been speaking for what felt like hours, unraveling the ancient past of their bloodline and the cursed artifacts—until the door creaked open.A figure staggered inside, dragging something behind him."Sorry to interrupt," Lucius muttered, his voice strained. His injured body swayed slightly, but he held his grip firm on the thing he had dragged in—an unconscious figure, its body flickering between two forms, as though the very air around it refused to accept its existence.Damien’s stomach twisted. What the hell?Lucius shoved the creature forward. It slumped onto the marble floor with a dull thud, its limbs twitching in unnatural spasms."Found him lurking in the courtyard while I was setting up my domain," Lucius said, wiping a smear of blood from his lips. "It stole Sila’s body. Passed out from fear when I caught him." He exhaled s
Crimson Legacy Chapter 12:
Palmer’s gaze was unwavering. "It was one of these guys. But of a higher rank." He said, kicking the unconscious skinwalker laying on the floorThe words hit like a brick wall. Damien felt his breath catch. What do you mean by 'not him'?Valen spoke next, his voice emotionless. "Skinwalkers can manipulate perception. They make you accept odd behaviors as normal. He was good—very good."Damien’s mind reeled. That means—"What happened to Eliot?" he whispered, his throat dry.Palmer’s answer was quiet. "Skinwalkers can only use bodies they’ve absorbed. By doing so, they rob their victims of their life."Something inside Damien cracked.He staggered back. The air in his lungs felt wrong. His vision blurred.His best friend was dead.Had been dead for months.And he never noticed.Sarah grabbed his arms, whispering reassurances he couldn’t process.Palmer’s voice cut through the fog. "As much as I'd want you to mourn your friend, we must hurry. The orbs need to be separated before they f
Crimson Legacy Chapter 13:
The night was thick with tension, the city lights blurring into streaks of white and amber against the dark. Inside the dimly lit limousine, Edward Ashworth-or the skinwalker that wore his body sat stiffly, his face pale under the flickering glow of the passing streetlights. The skinwalker's thoughts raced. "We miscalculated. We didn't expect a noble vampire there... Completely changes everything about the plan. What do I tell them?" His fists clenched on his knees, a thin sheen of sweat glistened on his brow "Are you alright, sir?" the driver, Walter, asked, stealing a glance through the rearview mirror. His voice was casual, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. The skinwalker forced a stiff smile, masking the dread brewing beneath. "Yeah, yeah... I'm fine. Just the pressure of it all getting to me." Walter didn't push further. "Alright sir," he replied, focusing back on the road, though the unease lingered in the tense silence between them.The car glided through the
Crimson Legacy Chapter 14
Back in the room, she slid it on Edward's desk. "Here, Ed, the orb. I'll go pack now." His eyes gleamed with an unsettling eagerness as he took it. Elizabeth pretended to pack, her back to him, and asked, "Hey Ed, how's Andrea? Is she improving?" He hesitated. "Y-yeah, yes she is. You should see her smiling." Elizabeth's heart sank as she bit her lips. Their daughter suffered from a neurodegenerative disease, incurable and relentless. Edward visited her at the hospital daily, never missing a day. This hesitation, lack of knowledge, confirmed her worst fears. She stood up and faced him as she drew a sword shimmering with holy aura. "Where is my Edward?" She demanded, tears and resentment brimming in her eyes. "Who the hell are you?"Meanwhile…Walter paced, his heart pounding in his chest. His instincts screamed that something was wrong—terribly wrong. Clutching his phone with trembling fingers, Walter dialed the private line reserved for contacting the Church’s Elders. The line c
Crimson Legacy Chapter 15:
The temple was a monument of forgotten horrors. Its towering stone pillars were etched with cryptic runes, faded from centuries of blood and decay. Cracks veined the cold dark walls and faint whispers seemed to seep from them, like echoes of souls long devoured . The air was thick, saturated with the metallic scent of dried blood and the faint, sickly sweetness of rot. Shadows stretched unnaturally long into the darkness. At the heart of this decaying sanctum, sat a throne--not carved from stone, but forged from the bones of countless victims, twisted together with iron and gold. Upon it's lounged a silhouette with long, dark cascaded hair like black silk, stained at the ends with fresh blood. Crimson eyes, glowing with the intricate pattern of noble lineage--the same haunting design etched into Palmer's gaze on the day of the werewolf attack -- pierced through the gloom. She was devouring the remains of a lifeless body, drained of blood, it's skin pale and shriveled like parchment
Latest Chapter
Chapter 34:
The battle at the Montgomery estate raged with an intensity that shook the heavens.Valen blurred forward, his speed defying the eye, but Elijah was faster. With a mocking grin, he snatched Valen’s face mid-air, gripping him like an insect, and slammed him into the ground with terrifying force."So confident in your speed. To me, you look like a bug trying to escape death," Elijah smirked, his fingers pressing deeper, crushing Valen’s skull into the concrete floor.Out of nowhere, Palmer struck. His leg connected with Elijah’s jaw in a devastating kick—one that could have shattered mountains. Yet, the impact only left a faint cut on Elijah’s cheek, a wound that healed before Palmer even landed."Tsk… so hard," Palmer clicked his tongue in frustration.Elijah wiped his cheek, inspecting the brief injury before flashing a sharp grin. "Stand proud, brother. At least you managed to leave a cut."With effortless strength, Elijah flung Valen at Palmer. They crashed through the estate’s foun
Chapter 33:
The voices of people could be heard cheering in a building that seemed to exist outside the world's gaze. The interior was vast, with a capacity for over a thousand people, its tiers rising high above the main floor. Every seat, from the topmost balcony to the ground level, offered a clear view of the spectacle below. It was an auction house, but not the kind that dealt in ordinary treasures. Here, notorious billionaires from across the globe gathered to bid on slaves and artifacts that defied the laws of nature.Seated in a private box on the upper floor was the owner of the auction, Leonardo Jordan. The man who had sent mercenaries after Damien after the young Montgomery raided his auction. A smug smile played on his lips as he watched the bids climb higher and higher. The artifacts on display—ethereal relics that seemed to hum with latent power—were fetching prices that would make even the wealthiest tycoons balk."My bank account is getting heavier yet again tonight," Jordan said
Chapter 32
The estate was a battlefield, its once-pristine grounds now a chaotic mess of shattered stone and swirling dust. It was easy to tell that no ordinary beasts were clashing here—this was a war between titans.Lilith let out a low whistle, her dark red eyes gleaming with amusement as she watched Valen’s display of power. “Isn’t he on par with a Noble at this point? That monster… he just keeps getting hotter,” she smirked, her voice dripping with playful admiration. “Too bad it’s Elijah he’s going against. I hope he doesn’t die—I’d love to get to know him better.”The air grew heavy, the pressure in the estate intensifying to an almost unbearable level. The source? Elijah. He emerged from the rubble, his broken hands healing with eerie speed, the bones snapping back into place with audible cracks.“Just today,I’ve been sent flying twice.” Elijah said, brushing his hair back with both hands, his voice calm but laced with menace, “ Just today, I’ve had my hands broken.” He cracked his nec
Chapter 31:
Elijah stood over Palmer’s broken form, his crimson eyes cold and unyielding. “You’re soft, Elias,” he sneered, tossing his brother’s body to the ground like a discarded puppet. “I’ve spent centuries undergoing strict training with the devil herself, surpassing every weakness, every limit, just for this moment. All while you’ve been playing house with your bonds and puppets.”Palmer coughed, blood spilling from his lips as he struggled to speak. “...oth of y..you...” His voice was barely a whisper, but Elijah crouched down to listen, his expression unreadable.“What?” Elijah asked, his tone sharp.“I waited... for the bo..th of you...” Palmer rasped, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and regret.Elijah’s jaw tightened, his scar pulsing with a faint crimson glow. “But the first thing you did after seeing me was to try to stake me. You broke our promise and created a pact with the very species that sought to annihilate us.”“But... Old man said to protect humans,” Palmer managed, h
Chapter 30
Elizabeth’s voice was calm but urgent as she ushered Sarah and Damien toward the door. “Palmer will probably need your help with whatever is happening at the estate. You both should go to him.”Sarah hesitated, her brow furrowed with worry. “But what about you? It’s not safe here. Can’t you come with us?”Elizabeth shook her head, her smile gentle but firm. “It’s fine. Those creatures won’t be coming anytime soon.” She gave them a gentle push toward the door, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Go. Hurry.”Sarah glanced back, her expression torn. “Don’t do anything rash… We’ll be right back,” she said, her voice tinged with unease.Elizabeth chuckled softly, her eyes glimmering with nostalgia. “Oh my, you remind me so much of Suzanne. Now, hurry along. I’ll be fine.” She waved them off, her figure growing smaller in the rearview mirror as the car sped away.Back at the Montgomery estate, chaos reigned.Lilith rose to her feet with languid grace, the stake impaled in her chest seem
Chapter 29:
Valen’s breath came in ragged gasps, his vision blurring as his consciousness slipped away. His body was a mess of blood and fatal injuries that refused to heal, his regenerative abilities overwhelmed by the sheer force of Elijah’s attacks. He knelt on the ground, head bowed, struggling to hold on.Elijah crouched down to Valen’s eye level, his crimson eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and disdain. “I can hear the cells in your body desperately trying to regenerate.” he said, his voice smooth and cold. "I told you I’d wipe that cocky expression off your face.”Valen didn’t respond, his strength fading with every passing second.Elijah tilted his head, studying Valen like a predator sizing up its prey. “For a puppet, you did well. It’s a waste to leave you here to rot, protecting those whose end is inevitable.” He extended a hand, his tone almost conversational. “Why not join us? Reforge your allegiance, submit to us completely, and put your abilities to better use.”Lilith, standi
Chapter 28
The air in the room grew heavy as Elizabeth finished recounting the events at the Ashworth estate. Her voice trembled as she spoke of Eddie’s suspicions about the Church and Walter’s tragic end. “Eddie always had his suspicions about the Church,” she said, her hands clutching the edge of the table. “But I dismissed it as paranoia.” She paused, tears welling in her eyes. “He was right all along.”The siblings stood frozen, the weight of her words crashing over them. Damien bit his lip, his fists clenched tightly. He tried to hold back the tears, but they spilled over anyway, streaming down his face.Elizabeth handed Damien and Sarah a tissue. “I know how it feels. The weight of thousand years old problems suddenly dropping on your shoulders,"Damien’s shoulders shook as he took the tissue, his anger and sorrow warring within him. Elizabeth turned and picked up a torch from the table. “Follow me,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.Sarah and Damien exchanged a hesitant g
Chapter 27
“He goes by ‘Palmer’ now, did you not know?” Valen said, rolling up his sleeves with a mischievous smile playing on his face. Lilith’s smirk faltered for a moment, her dark red eyes narrowing. “He’s strong,” she admitted, her voice tinged with reluctant admiration. “I can only see why you were not chosen if just one of these guys he created is this strong.” Elijah’s crimson eyes flashed with irritation, his scar pulsing a bright red. “I will never lose to a ‘wannabe’,” he snarled, his voice low and dangerous. “He can never be like us, and that will be his downfall.” Dark sigils flared beneath his feet, spreading like wildfire until they surrounded the entire estate. Crimson energy crackled in the air like lightning, thick with tension enough to bring ordinary vampires to their knees. But Valen remained unfazed, his scarlet eyes glowing with quiet defiance. “Let’s see how long you’ll last with that cocky expression,” Elijah said, his lips curling into a cold smile. Meanwhile,
Chapter 26
The air was still, heavy with an unspoken tension, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Two figures stood at the iron gate, their presence radiating an otherworldly menace. Elijah tilted his head, sunlight glinting off his crimson eyes. “No holy wards,” he mused, his voice smooth and cold. “How… quaint. Even though he’s protecting one of their own.” Beside him, Lilith smirked, her fangs catching the light. “The gods really didn’t extend their blessings to this household,” she purred, her dark red eyes gleaming with predatory delight. One of the estate guards, drawn by the strange presence outside, approached the gate. His breath hitched as he took in the figures before him. The man looked almost exactly like Palmer—black hair with streaks of silver, crimson eyes gleaming with malice with a long scar line that extended from below his left eye to his jaw. Beside him stood a woman whose aura radiated danger, her dark red eyes locked on him like a predator sizing up its pr