Chapter 179: 179-The looming danger
Three months ago, the Siseli family had been little more than a wealthy, respectable hunter house. Now, after a meteoric rise, they were considered one of the world’s most formidable hunter families, rivaling the Everhearts.
Soon, the two families would be joined by marriage. The marriage alliance had been set. Rayne Everheart and Daphne Siseli were getting married. A marriage that was discussed and finalized a few days back. Luriel and Laralene had gone to great lengths to secure the union and they seemed to be in a hurry.
At first, Evelyn had assumed the union was political. Hunter families had always used marriage to consolidate wealth, influence, and power.
But the Siselis possessed something far more dangerous than influence: an ancient compass crafted from the blessed essence of the blood moon.
According to the information Evelyn had gathered, the compass could locate the true heart, which was connected to the flower of fate. A force she had no idea was binding Maisa to her mates but she had learnt that it possessed enough power to alter the fate of every vampire in existence.
Evelyn had spent days verifying the rumors through trusted contacts and old connections. The more she learned, the clearer the threat became. Kill them all.
The Everhearts and Siselis were not joining forces merely to strengthen their families, no. They were preparing to hunt the true heart and use the flower of fate to end vampirism and erase all vampire’s from existence and the surface of the earth.
Evelyn didn’t know whether they meant to destroy the flower, corrupt it, or harness its power in some ancient ritual. She only knew they believed it could eradicate vampires once and for all.
If they succeeded, every vampire would be in danger and Maisa was especially vulnerable.
Her niece was no longer a human who could return home if the world turned against her. She was a vampire and, through her connection to the flower of fate as an immortal bloodthirsty being, dangerously close to the center of the hunters’ plans.
Evelyn pressed a hand against her chest. What have fate gotten yourself into, little one?
She had expected Maisa to struggle with her transformation and the world she had entered. She had not expected the Everhearts and the newly powerful Siseli family to uncover an ancient weapon at the same moment Maisa was learning to survive.
The timing felt deliberate as though someone had been waiting for the pieces to fall into place.
Evelyn’s expression hardened. She had to warn Maisa before the hunters found the true heart. Her niece needed to understand the flower’s significance, learn how to protect it, and prepare for the danger closing around her.
If the vampires didn’t know what was coming, Evelyn might have to warn them herself. Whatever she felt about them, she couldn’t stand by while an entire species was destroyed. Still, the thought of placing her trust in them made her uneasy.
They might protect Maisa or decide that sacrificing her was the safest way to preserve themselves and if the hunters discovered that Maisa was an Everheart by blood, they would never forgive her for becoming one of the creatures they despised.
Rayne might be her brother’s son, but family ties would not guarantee Maisa’s safety. The Everhearts had always placed their mission above personal attachments. If they believed Maisa threatened their plans, they might kill her themselves.
That possibility hurt more than Evelyn wanted to admit. She had spent years believing the Everhearts could be trusted to protect their own. Now she had to consider that they might be the very people Maisa needed protection from.
Evelyn had to reach her first. She had to make Maisa understand that the world beyond the academy was changing, and that the danger was moving toward her faster than she could imagine.
---
The door opened causing Evelyn to immediately straightened.
The vampire who had left to inform the princess returned, her expression difficult to read.
"The princess is occupied at the moment," she said. "You’ll have to wait."
Evelyn’s heart sank. "For how long?" she didn’t mean to sound rushed but time wasn’t on her side and she couldn’t force herself to pretend otherwise.
"That depends."
On what, she wanted to ask. On the princess’s schedule? On whether a human feeder was worth her time? On how many more minutes Evelyn could afford to lose before the hunters made their next move?
Instead, she lowered her gaze like an obedient and submissive feeder. "Of course, I understand."
She moved to a seat near the wall, keeping the feeder pass safely in her hand. She couldn’t afford to attract attention by becoming impatient.
Since she had already entered the tower under an identity that could invite questions, and she didn’t know how much the vampires here understood about the Loven name. So she waited but waiting was becoming unbearable.
Every passing minute brought the hunters closer to their plans. Every moment she spent sitting in this elegant room was another moment Maisa remained ignorant of the danger gathering around her.
Evelyn looked toward the closed door. ’Please, Maisa. Wherever you are, please be safe.’
She had crossed the border because she believed the message could change everything.
Now she could only hope she would reach her niece before it was too late because the turning tides were no longer a distant warning. They had already begun.
The vampire turned to the one reading. "Volunteer hours are nearly over. Let’s head out."
"Alright," she returned the book to the table and together, they walked out leaving Evelyn alone in the main room.
Evelyn was tempted to wander around until she met the princess herself and communicated her warning.
"How long do I have to wait here," she grew more and more anxious.
She didn’t have to wait long as Varitreya and Addessa entered in the next moment. The princess was restless and extremely annoyed.
"The audacity!"
"Calm down your highness," Addessa pulled a seat for her and helped her be seated before grabbing a blackblood blood bag and handed it to her. "Don’t stress yourself over this. We can figure it out."
"Figure what out?" Varitreya slammed the bag onto the table in anger. "It’s all that Maisa’s fault. She’s the reason we are in this mess."
On hearing her niece’s name, Evelyn shot to her feet. Her movement attracted Varitreya and Addessa’s gaze.
The princess gave her a look from head to toe and then her eyes focused on the feeder pass on Evelyn’s neck. She frowned.
"Is the school hell bent on insulting me now that the palace is doing the same?" She asked. "It’s bad enough my tower is open to other bloods to live in and other students can volunteer to gain access now but... they are also sending me a human feeder? Are they insane?!"
Varitreya was close to exploding. Addessa went on to massage her tense shoulders. "Calm down, Vari."
"When that vampire came to call me that a human feeder was here for me, I actually thought he was playing a game with his friends and they dared him to say that. But now? It turns out the blood archives truly sent me a feeder. How dare they?" Her aura exploded in the room.
Evelyn trembled and shivered deeply at her roaring voice. She swallowed and took a step back. ’This is whiteblood aura. It’s truly intimidating.’