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Chapter 218 – The War Council
Chapter 218 – The War Council
The night air was still thick with the weight of their mission.
Darkness loomed beyond the castle cave, but inside, torches flickered, casting long shadows against the ancient stone walls.
The five of them moved swiftly through the dim corridors, their raven forms shedding away as they stepped into the heart of their stronghold.
The Central Command Room.
A vast chamber carved from the mountain itself.
At its center—
A massive stone table etched with battle maps, names, and blood-red markings.
Against the far walls—
Shelves overflowing with intelligence reports, scrolls of ancient knowledge, and relics of war.
This was where decisions of death were made.
Where empires crumbled with the stroke of a pen.
And tonight—
The names of the vampire families involved in the Sleeper Experiment would be written in blood.
The Gathering
Seraphis entered first, her footsteps echoing as she took her place at the head of the table.
Her white hair fell over her shoulders, her silver eyes sharp and unwavering.
Lilith followed, her crimson gaze burning with intensity as she leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Sena was next, silent as ever, but the way she adjusted the daggers at her hips spoke volumes.
Veylan strolled in with his usual casualness, but even he looked tense, his fingers drumming against the hilt of his twin blades.
Azrael was the last to arrive, moving like a phantom, his expression unreadable.
The doors shut behind them, sealing them in.
A moment of silence settled over the room.
Then—
Seraphis spoke.
"Tell me everything."
Lilith’s Report – House Nocturne
Lilith stepped forward, her voice low and steady.
"House Nocturne is preparing something. They spoke of the Sleeper stirring."
Seraphis narrowed her eyes.
"Meaning?"
Lilith exhaled, her fingers tightening into a fist.
"They know more than we do. They aren’t just part of the experiment. They might have been the ones who started it."
A tense silence followed.
Veylan’s smirk faded.
Sena’s expression darkened.
Azrael remained still, his gaze unreadable.
Seraphis reached for a quill and etched the name onto the table.
HOUSE NOCTURNE – ELIMINATION CONFIRMED.
One name added.
Many more to come.
Sena’s Report – House Duskbane
Sena took a slow breath, stepping up.
Her voice was quiet, but each word carried weight.
"House Duskbane is not dead."
Lilith’s head snapped toward her.
Veylan swore under his breath.
Seraphis’ fingers stilled over the quill.
"Explain."
Sena’s gaze was cold.
"They’ve been waiting. Hiding. They believe the Sleeper will bring them back to power."
Azrael spoke for the first time, his voice like ice.
"They are zealots, then. Willing to die for the Sleeper."
Sena nodded.
Seraphis carved the name into the stone.
HOUSE DUSKBANE – ELIMINATION CONFIRMED.
Two names now.
And still, more to come.
Veylan’s Report – House Morgrave
Veylan let out a breath, shaking his head.
"This one is bad."
Seraphis looked up.
Veylan’s usual confidence was missing.
"House Morgrave has a prison, Seraphis. A goddamn factory."
Silence.
Then—
"Explain."
Veylan’s expression darkened.
"They are experimenting on humans, dhampirs… even other vampires. The Sleeper Experiment is not just about the past. It’s still happening."
Lilith’s fingers dug into the stone table.
Sena’s jaw clenched.
Seraphis’ hand tightened around the quill as she carved another name.
HOUSE MORGRAVE – ELIMINATION CONFIRMED.
Three down.
And then—
Azrael stepped forward.
Azrael’s Report – House Valefor
Azrael’s presence alone sent a chill through the room.
"House Valefor is watching us."
Seraphis’ breath stilled.
"They know?"
Azrael nodded once.
"They are waiting for us to make a move. They said one thing that concerned me."
Lilith straightened.
Sena’s fingers twitched toward her daggers.
Veylan’s smirk was gone.
Seraphis met his gaze.
"What did they say?"
Azrael’s voice was quiet, but absolute.
"She is coming."
A cold silence fell over the room.
Lilith’s nails tapped against the stone.
Seraphis slowly placed the quill down.
"Who is ‘she’?"
Azrael’s expression did not change.
"I don’t know. But I do know this: House Valefor will not move until she does."
Seraphis reached for the quill again.
And carved the final name.
HOUSE VALEFOR – ELIMINATION CONFIRMED.
The Kill List
The table was now marked.
Four vampire families.
Four targets.
House Nocturne – The ones who started it all.
House Duskbane – The zealots, waiting for rebirth.
House Morgrave – The experimenters, still carrying out atrocities.
House Valefor – The watchers, waiting for ‘her.’
Seraphis looked at her team.
"We will destroy them."
Lilith smirked, eyes blazing.
"About time."
Sena simply nodded, her grip firm on her daggers.
Veylan’s grin returned, sharp and deadly.
Azrael said nothing—just watched, calculating.
The war had begun.
And the first blood would be drawn soon.