Layla loved her siblings deeply, especially her brothers. She admired them more than anyone else, but their overprotectiveness made her life unbearable. They had scared off—or worse, outright killed—any boy who dared to get close to her. She glared at them now, frustration bubbling over.
"I'm going to—you two—!" she sputtered before letting out a scream of pure frustration.
Her brothers always pushed her to the brink of madness, and this time was no different. She tried to follow after them, determined to stop whatever "lesson" they had planned, but Elijah glanced back at her.
His normally icy blue eyes glowed faintly with a purple hue for a split second before returning to their usual color. The sight left Layla frozen in shock.
"Calm down," Elijah said firmly. "And stay right here. We just want to test him a bit."
Layla's mouth opened to argue, but before she could form the words, the two brothers turned and continued walking, dragging the poor boy with them toward a secluded area, one free from any cameras or prying eyes.
Her heart pounded as she stood there, stunned. She had never seen Elijah's eyes do that before. Maybe it was just an effect of using compulsion, she thought, trying to rationalize the strange phenomenon. She couldn't use compulsion yet, but Elijah and Bella, their third older sister, wielded it regularly. Her other siblings rarely used it, even though they could.
Layla shook her head and sighed. She would have to ask her parents about it later at dinner, of course, right after airing out her many frustrations about her incredibly annoying brothers.
In the secluded area they had found, Lloyd began the questioning with a stern glare. "What do you intend to do with my sister?"
The boy remained silent, trembling under Lloyd's gaze.
Elijah sighed, stepping forward with his usual nonchalant grin. "Lloyd, you're too soft." Without hesitation, Elijah grabbed the boy's head, his grip firm enough to make the boy wince in pain. Elijah locked eyes with him and spoke in a low, commanding voice. "Now, tell me. What do you truly wish to do with her?"
The boy's mouth moved involuntarily, as though compelled. "I wish to make love to her body… and use her for her money."
Elijah's grin widened, his tone dripping with mockery. "Oh? Tell me more. Do you love her?"
The boy's forced confession continued. "No, I asked her out as a dare, and she accepted."
Elijah released the boy's head with a laugh. "My, my. Our little sister is truly naive. Well, Lloyd, it seems we've found another one that needs disposing of."
Lloyd's face darkened, his anger impossible to hide. Unlike Elijah, who masked his malice behind a grin, Lloyd's fury was written plainly on his face, his eyes glowing red with rage.
The boy, now panicked, turned his desperate gaze to Elijah, mistakenly believing he was the weaker of the two. With a sudden burst of courage, he launched an attack at Elijah.
Elijah caught the boy's attack effortlessly, his expression growing serious. "Oh my, why do they always go for me first? Do I truly look that pathetic?"
Before the boy could respond, Elijah tightened his grip, crushing the boy's fist. The sickening sound of bone snapping filled the air before Elijah ripped the boy's arm clean off. Blood sprayed everywhere, and the boy let out an ear-piercing scream.
Elijah's demeanor turned chilling as he looked at the blood covering his clothes. "Well, Lloyd, that's one for me. Your turn. Let's take our time with this one. What he said cannot be ignored, and the audacity of him to get blood on me is unforgivable."
Lloyd stepped forward, his expression colder than ever. The boy, now trembling and soaked in his own fear and blood, tried to crawl away, but it was futile.
The brothers took their time, meting out punishment with merciless precision until the boy was no more. When they were done, they walked out of the secluded area, their clothes stained with blood. Elijah casually licked some off his fingers, his expression unreadable.
Though such a sight would terrify most, it barely raised eyebrows on campus. Bloodied clothes were a common occurrence due to the frequent duels among students.
As they returned to Layla, her eyes widened in fury as she pieced together what had happened.
"You two—! Hmph! I'm definitely telling Mom about this! You can't keep doing this!" she shouted, storming off.
Elijah chuckled. "Ooh, good luck with that. Lloyd, she seems quite angry this time. Good thing I don't live at home anymore."
Lloyd frowned but couldn't hide his agreement. "She needs to learn how to pick better men."
Elijah smirked. "Is there truly a man worthy of our little sister, though?"
For the first time, Lloyd allowed himself a faint smile. "You know there's no man worthy of her."
They walked in silence for a moment before Lloyd broke it. "When are you coming home? Is it really that bad to take your place as the heir?" His voice was low, almost hesitant.
Elijah sighed. "You already know the answer to that. How about this: you become the heir, and I'll be your right-hand man?"
Lloyd stopped walking, shocked by the suggestion. "You know that's not going to happen. It has to be you. Your talent far surpasses mine, and I'd rather support you."
Elijah shrugged, his grin fading. "We'll see."
Lloyd, momentarily caught off guard, tilted his head and replied, "We'll see." Was Elijah actually considering his suggestion? For the first time in a while, Lloyd found himself wondering if his brother might be maturing. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched Elijah walk away. Could it be? He made his way home, feeling unusually light-hearted.
When he arrived at the grand Velmont mansion, his mother stood before him, clearly startled by the shift in his mood. "What happened to you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "And why are you smiling? That's… unusual."
Lloyd shrugged, a smirk playing on his face. "Had a run-in with someone today," he said nonchalantly, making his way up the sweeping staircase to his room in their sprawling estate.
Meanwhile, Elijah arrived at home, only to be met by Selene, who had been waiting. Her eyes narrowed as she took in his bloodstained appearance. "Where have you been, and why are you covered in blood?" she demanded.
"Well," Elijah began, his tone casual, "you said Layla told you not to tell me something, so I went to find Lloyd, and we handled it."
Selene huffed, crossing her arms. "When will you two stop treating her like a baby?" she asked, exasperated.
Elijah flashed a grin, his usual nonchalance not quite hiding the playful glint in his eyes. "Hmm, maybe when she turns 7,000 years old… or we die, whichever comes first," he joked, shrugging with a shrug that made Selene roll her eyes.
She sighed heavily, the weight of their overprotectiveness clearly getting to her. "You two are going to drive her away if you keep this up. She'll start hating you."
Elijah chuckled under his breath, unfazed. "She'll never hate us. She knows we love her more than anything."
Selene didn't respond but could only shake her head. "We'll see about that."
He waved her off as he resumed climbing the stairs. "She'd never. Layla knows we love her more than anyone else ever could. Dinner ready soon?
"Almost," Selene muttered, watching him disappear upstairs. She sighed, muttering under her breath, "Maybe I'll just poison it this time."
Elijah muttered from the bathroom, "I heard that. Also, you're one to talk about being overprotective." Selene frowned, her voice floating up from downstairs. "Hmph, it's different. I give you much more freedom than you give her. Her boyfriends never last through the talking stage, while you've had plenty of flings."
Elijah stopped talking. She was right in a sense, but his flings had ended for far less reason than his sister's boyfriends. In fact, he felt a bit bad for them; he seduced them, and they merely paid the price.
At the Velmont estate, the dining room stretched long, with high ceilings that reflected the family's wealth and status. A massive chandelier, crafted from crystal, hung above the table, casting a soft glow on the room. The walls were adorned with elegant paintings, framed in gold, and the polished wood floors gleamed under the dim light. The grand table sat in the center, made of dark mahogany with intricate carvings that told stories of the Velmont legacy.
The head of the table, Lucien Velmont, sat with his back straight, his long black hair neatly tied in a bun. His sharp, handsome facial features complemented his red eyes, and his all-black expensive suit exuded authority. His gaze held power, and he was the center of attention at this dinner. His wife, Mireille, sat on the opposite end of the table. Her long white hair cascaded down her back, and her alluring blue dress shimmered in the low light. Her soft, gentle eyes were warm as she glanced at her husband.
As food was served, Lucien raised his goblet, savoring the wine. "Mireille, where are the children?" he asked, his voice deep and commanding.
Mireille smiled softly and responded, "They should be coming down soon, Lucien dear."
Her husband took another sip of wine, a pleased expression forming. "Oh, this is good," he murmured. Then, he called for the family butler to get him a new drink. The butler, a loyal servant who had sworn allegiance to the family, had been turned into a vampire by Lucien so he could serve the Velmonts for eternity.
Mireille chuckled at how quickly Lucien's mood had shifted, watching him enjoy his wine.
Cassandra, their eldest daughter, came down first and sat at the table. "Hello, Mother, Father," she greeted them. Lucien immediately asked, "So, how was Elijah today? Did you notice any changes?"
Mireille sighed internally, as she knew this question came up every day. Lucien loved Elijah dearly, but his pride was overwhelming, and it caused constant tension between father and son. The two of them had become locked in an endless cycle of petty arguments and silent stares whenever they met.
Cassandra answered with her usual response, "No, he turned in his test and got the answers right, I guess." She shrugged, deciding to tell only half the truth.
Lucien's face brightened, clearly misinterpreting the situation. "Did you hear that, honey? He's thinking about coming home!" Both Mireille and Cassandra exchanged a glance, sighing inwardly. That wasn't even remotely what she said.
Next to arrive was Bella, the second-oldest daughter. Her striking white hair contrasted with her father's red eyes. She appeared tired as she sat down to eat, her responsibilities as the headmaster at the academy weighing on her.
Lloyd, feeling unusually lighthearted after his encounter earlier, came down next. Lucien, noticing the change in his son's demeanor, asked, "Did something good happen today?"
Lloyd gave a small, nonchalant answer, "Something like that."
Their fourth daughter, Elara, entered excitedly. "Lloyd, where did you go? When I came back, the students told me you left somewhere with someone!" Elara, a teacher at the academy for Lloyd's class, shared Selene's overprotective tendencies. Like her, she was often seen doting on Lloyd, though with a gentler touch.
She sat beside him at the table, trying to feed him, clearly concerned.
Finally, Layla entered the room, clearly upset. She didn't take her usual seat next to Lloyd but instead huffed and sat next to Bella. Her parents, noticing her behavior, exchanged knowing looks.
Mireille, ever the attentive mother, asked, "Layla, what's wrong today? Has Lloyd done something again?"
"Mother, I'm begging you, can you please tell Lloyd and Elijah to stop killing off my boyfriends? They treat me like I'm a baby," Layla pleaded, her voice tinged with frustration.
Lucien shot Lloyd a secret glance under the table, silently giving him a thumbs up. Lloyd smiled back, clearly amused. Mireille, however, didn't miss a beat, her eyes narrowing with a teasing smile. "Oh, is that why you're in such a good mood, Lloyd? You got to spend some time with your older brother," she teased.
Lloyd blushed slightly, embarrassed, and quickly focused on his plate. But Lucien couldn't resist asking, "How did you two kill him? And did Elijah seem any different today?"
Lloyd glanced up at his father and shook his head. "We talked a bit, but he's still the same for the most part. Of course, Elijah compelled him into telling us his intentions. After that, we found out his plans with our baby sister, and we had to dispose of him. Elijah got the first point by ripping his arm off."
Layla groaned, visibly frustrated. "I hate you two," she muttered, rubbing her temples.
As if remembering something, she suddenly looked up. "Oh, Father, when you compel people, do your eyes turn a special color?"
Everyone at the table turned to look at her, confused. "What do you mean?" Lucien asked, genuinely surprised.
"Well, when Elijah walked over with Lloyd to take away my boyfriend, I tried to follow them, but Elijah looked back, and his eyes turned purple."
Lucien's face lit up, a mixture of interest and surprise flickering across his features. Cassandra's expression immediately dropped, her thoughts racing. "Oh no, that idiot," she thought to herself.
"Purple eyes?" Lucien muttered. He seemed to be considering the idea. "That's new… did you hear that, honey? Elijah is special. Maybe he has awakened his true talent. Something in him must have changed." His eyes flicked toward his wife, Mireille, who nodded quietly, her mind whirring with thoughts.
The rest of the table remained silent, processing the idea of Elijah changing—purple eyes? No vampire had ever had purple eyes before.
Lucien continued, his voice low and serious. "Purple eyes… sounds familiar," he muttered to himself. Then, a sudden realization dawned on him. His face darkened. "Elijah has awakened something only one vampire has ever had before." His words hung heavily in the air.
The others looked confused, except for Cassandra, who immediately knew where this conversation was headed.
Lucien turned toward his eldest daughter. "Are you sure you didn't notice any other changes? What about his ring, maybe?" he asked, his tone pressing.
Cassandra's face faltered for a moment before she quickly masked her emotions. "Looked normal to me. Both pieces were there," she replied, trying to downplay her father's suspicions.
Lucien's sharp eyes caught the brief hesitation. He knew his daughter well and was too quick-witted to be fooled. "Hmm… so you're hiding something for him. Did he ask you to? Cassandra, he turned someone, didn't he? Or maybe he found something he wanted?"
Cassandra frowned, feeling the weight of her father's gaze. He was too perceptive for his own good. "Father, I suggest you not concern yourself with this matter. You didn't see the look in his eyes… He threatened me, and apparently Selene, too."
Bella chuckled slightly, breaking the tension. "Oh, he broke Lesson number 1. Maybe you two pushed him too far."
Lucien's smile was sinister. "Oh, then that means there's something he cares about." His voice was cold but satisfied. "Well, tell me… what exactly was the threat he made?"
Cassandra stiffened, her resolve shaking. Lucien's command was unyielding, and with a deep sigh, she finally gave in to his compulsion. "He said if I were to kill her, he would… he would kill me, then you, then Mother, and anyone else who dares to get in the way of what he wanted."
The room fell silent as the weight of Elijah's words settled over the family. No one spoke at first. Lucien's usual confidence faltered for the briefest moment, his brow furrowing. Elijah, the playful and mischievous son, had never made such a threat before.
Lucien smiled darkly. "Then I just have to kill her, and he would take his rightful place," he said, the gleam in his eyes showing no fear of the consequences.
Cassandra's voice was firm, almost pleading. "Father, don't try it. I think Elijah is really serious this time. He'll end the Velmonts if you try that. There's something he likes about this girl. I haven't figured it out yet, but the look in his eyes… It was scary."
Lucien's smile faltered slightly at Cassandra's words, his mind turning over the possibilities. This was a new side of Elijah, one he didn't fully understand yet. The room was heavy with the unspoken tension, and Lucien knew this was far from over.
Layla looked nervously at her father, her voice trembling slightly. "Father, does Elijah really have to… kill you to become the heir? Can't you just retire?"
Lucien's gaze shifted toward her, his face stern. "If he doesn't kill me, then that means he isn't taking it seriously," he answered coldly, his tone final.
Everyone at the table frowned at his words. They all knew their father's mentality well—he believed that forcing Elijah to kill him was a way to push his son into taking his role as the Velmont family head seriously. But they all also knew that killing him wasn't a true requirement. After all, their grandfather, the old head of the family, was still alive, traveling the world with their grandmother, and rarely returning home. If their grandfather ever found out what Lucien was trying to make Elijah do, he would probably kill their father himself.
The heavy tension in the room hung for a moment before Bella sighed in frustration, glaring at Lloyd. "Can you and Elijah stop killing people? You two are giving me a headache. Just yesterday, four students died, and now another one today," she complained, rubbing her neck in exhaustion.
Cassandra's eyes narrowed as she processed the information. "Four died yesterday? Who killed them?" she asked, her voice cold. When no one responded immediately, she turned her gaze to Lloyd.
Lloyd shot her a glance, his face unreadable. "That was definitely Elijah. I didn't do it."
Lucien nodded slowly, as if considering the possibility. "Maybe it was for this girl he's taken a fancy to," he mused, his voice tinged with curiosity. The idea of his son being motivated by something—someone—else was not lost on him. It would explain a lot about Elijah's unusual behavior recently.
The room fell into a tense silence again, each family member processing the unspoken implications of their conversation.