CHAPTER 214: LIORA’S RITUAL

Getting the materials for the ritual was one thing, and finding the other vampire participant was another.

It was only more difficult when it came to finding one that was extremely powerful—which was near impossible, since no one strong enough would risk their life on a ritual they didn’t need.

Liora had offered huge sums of money and still no one came forward. The few that did were much weaker than the vampire guards she had already hired.

This continued for a while until Liora’s impatience finally won. She called two of her vampire guards to her and offered them a proposition.

"Do you want to sleep with me?" she asked, satisfied that they were good looking enough—with bulging muscles—that they would have to suffice.

Since she couldn’t find one very strong vampire, she figured doing it with two of them would more than make up for the gap.

The two men, short black hair, clad in black uniforms with red eyes, looked at her in astonishment. Then they looked at each other, clearly realizing she was talking to both of them and not just one.

"If you don’t want to, then I can find someone else..." she told them, already prepared to explain the ritual—though she had placed other guards outside with orders to kill them if they said no. She would not risk word of this ritual leaking.

I have more than enough money, so that’s not a problem! she thought, about to offer them payment when both remained silent. At last, one of them finally spoke.

"Vampire rituals are extinct. They don’t work. The ones that can be found are all fake," the guard on the right assured with utter confidence in his tone.

The one on the left nodded, adding in a completely serious voice, "The rituals are nothing more than attempts to rip people off their money. Moreover, you’re human and—"

But Liora was too annoyed to let him finish. She had no interest in whatever excuse they wanted to give.

"Think of it more like I’m doing this for fun," she snapped, rising from the bed she had been sitting on.

"If this doesn’t work, then the sex will be worth it." She was satisfied to see their eyes glide over her body—an appreciative glance from head to toe—that told her they were definitely willing to go ahead with what she had prepared.

Grabbing a coat to drape over the nearly transparent gown she had worn for the occasion, she stepped out, gesturing for them to follow her. She led them to the room above her own, which she had personally transformed into the haven for the ritual.

The bed was prepared. The symbols on the ground had been carefully drawn to ensure nothing went wrong.

She was afraid, but she did not dare show it. Instead, she gave strict orders to the guards she stationed in front of the door, warning them not to allow anyone—regardless of who they were—into the room until she stepped out.

The guards bowed in understanding. Liora entered with the two chosen guards following behind. She had no interest in their names. She didn’t want to know them—not when they might not survive the ritual.

Slowly, she grabbed a small knife and inscribed symbols onto their wrists and hers, the act making the vampires relax slightly, especially when they saw she also cut her own skin.

"Strip," she ordered, continuing to draw symbols on them and herself. She focused more on her own body, ensuring every mark was perfect, even as she wondered why Zyren had always drawn so many more upon himself. The thought delighted her—the amount of power she would receive in return.

I should kill them the second the ritual is over! she thought, disgusted by the idea of being bonded to a vampire in any way.

She worked quickly and soon was done with the strange symbols she barely understood. Relieved, she inspected them, satisfied to see that everything appeared in order.

Dropping the knife, she turned to the three cups she had prepared. Picking up two, she handed them to the guards, then lifted her own—careful not to make a single mistake.

The last thing she wanted was to indirectly give one of them an outrageous ability, leaving herself powerless and bound.

Liora acted brave, even confident, but deep down she was terrified. She wasn’t even sure she was a heat-blood, as Aira had once pointed out and explained, since she had only felt that strange heat once, never again.

Regardless, she pushed forward, focused solely on the ability she was bound to gain. Heart pounding in her chest, she swallowed the contents of her cup as the two guards did the same.

Their calm expressions showed how little they believed the ritual to be real. To them, the cuts would heal easily, since they were vampires—unlike Liora, who wasn’t.

The first guard finished his drink, dropping the empty cup onto the ground.

"Shall we begin?" he asked, unable to hide the perverse gleam in his eyes, his bulge betraying his intent.

The second guard was no different. He dropped his cup, sending Liora an impatient look, his mouth opening to reveal fangs that sent a shiver through her.

She had offered sex and money, but she knew—deep down—that beyond that, they were stronger than her, and there was nothing stopping them from taking more than she had offered.

Her powerlessness enraged her. She gritted her teeth, slowly removing her coat, then boldly walking forward, dropping it to the ground.

She didn’t stop there. Sliding the arm of her slippery gown down, she let it fall until she stood completely naked. Moving toward the bed, she felt them close in from both sides, their pants already sliding off.

"We should start," she told them.

The very moment the words left her lips, one of them shoved her onto the bed, jerking her legs open without care.

It was clear they would unleash their desires on her in any form they wished, with no concern for her well-being.

And for that night, Liora was willing to endure it.