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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/vehino on 2024-10-31 19:00:59+00:00.

First Previous Royal Road

Chapter theme: Labrinth - Kill For Your Love (Official Video) - YouTube

Chapter 40.

Vindicator.

We took our time approaching the Velas estate, gradually building up our anticipation for the rampage we’d soon unleash. Along the way, I told Rachel everything I learned earlier from Anikka, which in turn enraged her and made her eager for the upcoming confrontation.

“All the manipulation, and cowardice, I just can’t stand it,” she said vehemently. “Hiding behind money and influence and throwing away lives. Who could stand to be around such people? That’s why I told Cross I couldn’t join the Valkyries.”

“Oh, is that what she wanted to discuss with you?” I asked.

“Yeeeah,” Rachel said sourly. “I mean it was flattering, right? An elite group of all-female fighters renowned throughout the nation. It sounds great! But having to do so in the service of this pathetic society of backstabbing snakes? I just can’t. Working for the establishment holds no appeal.”

“Did Cross take your answer well?” I wondered.

“She thinks she can still win me over,” Rachel said. “I might have to mesmerize her into backing off.”

“Working in general is for lesser beings, anyway. I’m disappointed she thought she could make a coworker of you. We, the night’s nobility, have no need to toil,” I said haughtily.

“That is so snobby,” she snickered.

“It’s only snobbery if you’re rude about it,” I corrected her.

__

Once we arrived at the Velas estate, the two of us were quick to let loose our shared displeasure with how Anikka had been treated. At this point I feel there was no need to go into an overly descriptive recounting of the response of the security forces that pitted themselves against us, nor the many, many instances that followed in which we maimed and murdered the lot of them without mercy.

While I realize that I haven’t been that sparing in such details before, this time around was a little different due to our raised ire. Today, Rachel and I were especially…unpleasant in our method of dispensing with those doomed, brave souls.

It was a real scene, all right.

The scene of a massacre.

There was a time that I feared taking the lives of other hunters due to the system rules forbidding conflict between our kind. After all, killing them could eventually get us labeled by the system with the dreaded title of [Player Killer], which would leave us unable to live in civilized lands and would have placed a permanent bounty on our heads as an incentive for others to kill us.

That was before I realized that our [True Vampirism] trait essentially negated such a dire outcome. When Rachel and I were in our human forms, the penalties could apply only then. But when we acted as vampires, the system regarded us as monsters. Why would monsters be penalized for acting according to their nature?

It was pretty much a license to kill. Thank goodness Rachel and I were such thoughtful and responsible people who would never even consider abusing such a massively unfair advantage.

“Kyler!” Rachel laughed. “Did you see me rip that one in half? Oh, wow, look at him! He’s trying to crawl away! That’s so gross! I’m going to step on his head.”

Yep. Just a couple of good-natured people out to have a little fun.

It was a shame that Thalia and Patrick weren’t here to share in the fate of their men. Those two were the ones I wanted most of all. I wish I’d thought to confirm their presence before beginning our attack, but it was too late now.

Oh, well. We’d just have to save that particular gratification for a future date.

Once we finished with their outside forces, we smashed our way inside the main house where the elite among them awaited us. After our introductions were made, each side spoke a few monologues and delivered a few thinly veiled threats before squaring up to fight; you know, the usual routine that happens when colorful warriors and deadly monsters decide to clash.

I found it all rather rote, personally speaking, having endured such rituals many times before, but Rachel was bright-eyed with enchantment for the proceedings, having never thrown down with these sorts of characters before. Since it was all still new to her, I refrained from giving any derogatory commentary, not wishing to stymie her enjoyment. In fact, I let her take them all on by herself, while I sought out the master of the estate.

He was the one I truly had business with.

In a way, every misfortune I’d suffered this year all came back to him. Whatever his reasons, he’d been an absolute thorn in my side. And now he was going to pay for it.

How sad that he was so unreceptive to my overtures of friendship when I finally tracked him down.

“Greetings, my lord. Allow me to give you my warmest regards,” I said to him in a jovial manner. “Are you as happy to meet me as I am to finally meet you?”

“And who the hell are you supposed to be?” asked Lord Velas with a ferocious looking scowl.

“Oh, come now, my identity shouldn’t be a surprise to you,” I said as I stepped closer so he could see me. “Not to the master of the great Velas family. Not to the man with his fingers on the scale and his nose in everyone’s business. Of course you know me!”

“Kyler Evans?” he asked in surprise before scoffing at the name. “I knew you recently came scurrying back into the city, but I had no idea you’d be so foolish as to—”

“No,” I said, raising a hand to silence him.

“No?” he asked with a puzzled expression.

“I didn’t scurry back anywhere,” I informed him. “Vermin scurry. Insects scurry. I came into town in a limo. Get it right.”

“I’m sorry, are you completely mental? What the fuck are you doing in my home?” Lord Velas asked angrily.

“Claiming it,” I explained. “Everything here will now be mine, by right of conquest. Your remaining men, your resources, the clothes on your back, the money you’ve saved, I’m taking everything from you*.* Would you like to try disputing my claim?”

“I’d very much like to see you try!” he yelled. “You can’t just steal everything from me and expect to get away with it, you insolent cur! The entire nobility of all three cities will rise against you!”

“There’s no need to take that tone, sir. Men of our ilk shouldn’t argue,” I said. “Despite our many differences, you and I have much in common. Like you, I was a terrible father that failed my children miserably.”

“What insane drivel are you spouting?” Velas said with a sneer.

“Only the truth,” I sighed. “You must know that a father who fails at his duty will eventually make enemies of his own children. You’re lucky that only one of your daughters turned on you.”

Lord Velas glared at me for a moment before saying, “Anikka,” spitting the word out as though it were a curse.

“Correct,” I said with a nod. “Your daughter and I recently reconnected. She feverishly affirmed her passionate devotion to me and begged for my protection from you. As a gentleman, how could I resist?”

“That ungrateful little bitch,” he swore. “How many times must she defy me?”

“Just this once was enough,” I said. “I swear I tried to be logical about this! But who could resist someone as beautiful as your girl? My head said no, but my heart said kill you and plow her in your bed.”

“COME AT ME, THEN!” Lord Velas shouted as red electrical energy enveloped his body and exploded outward, destroying everything around him in a shower of surging sparks and eradicating light. “You presume to challenge me? You want to take what’s mine? Come forth you little bastard and I’ll bury you like just every other fool who dared to face me!”

“Your electrical light effects aren’t going to save you, sir,” I said as I walked toward him. “This isn’t a duel, this is banditry. I’m taking everything that you value. The only thing I won’t do is let you die quickly. That’s the price you’ll pay for laying a finger on Kyler Evans.”

“You shouldn’t have gotten involved with my daughter,” he said remorselessly.

“Then you shouldn’t have stood in her way,” I replied. “Clipped wings can never soar.”

“She is MINE! My property to do whatever I want with!” Velas ranted. “As worthless as she was, the little whore should have been grateful that I found a good use for her! But instead, she defied me! And over what? A misfire like you? A goddamned porter? The jest went too far! A lesson needed to be taught!”

“She said my brother and Thalia were hurting her. Do you understand the implications contained in that sentence? How could you let that happen?” I asked him.

“What business is it of mine how your brother enjoys his cut of meat?” Lord Velas sneered.

In the blink of an eye, I was across the room, standing before him. Lord Velas only had time to blink once and flinch, before my fist punched through his chest all the way up to my elbow. When I removed it with a wet plopping sound, he dropped to his knees with a newly placed sucking wound at the center of his torso.

“Why did you make me do that? I was going to play with you a bit first,” I asked him.

Bloody saliva dribbled down his chin as he stared at me with a dazed expression. “Dally ges bru-bles-guuu?” he babbled incoherently before he began weeping when his adrenalin faded, and the pain kicked in…

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