**Time**: Medieval European Calendar · Black Forest Moon · Fourteenth Day, after sunset
**Location**: Perimeter of Silvermoon Citadel's Dungeon → Forest Path in the Black Forest → Border of Samantha's Domain
**Characters**: Catherine (disguised), Cole, Remaining Blood Hunters of the Karl Faction, Victoria, Two Former Subordinates of Catherine
The stone walls of Silvermoon Citadel glinted with a cold, unyielding sheen, like a slumbering behemoth. Catherine pulled her dark gray hood low, shadowing most of her face, leaving only her taut jawline exposed. She wore the coarse uniform of a low-ranking vampire messenger, a counterfeit Karl Faction crest pinned to her waist—an identity token Samantha had prepared in advance, enough to fool the perimeter guards.
She crept along the shadows of the citadel's outer wall, her fingertips unconsciously brushing the silver needles hidden in her sleeve. Her purple eyes, peeking through the gap in her hood, locked firmly on the dungeon's direction. At the main entrance, two blood hunters leaned on their spears, chatting lazily as if all were well—no trace of panic at a prisoner's escape. This unnatural calm sent an莫名 chill to Catherine's heart.
She did not dare approach the main gate, but circled toward the west side of the citadel—the direction of the dungeon's secondary ventilation shaft, her backup route from her previous infiltration. Just as she rounded a stone wall corner, a stench of crushed stone and charred runes hit her nose. Catherine froze abruptly, her pupils constricting:
A section of the dungeon's side wall had collapsed completely!
The pile of fallen stones reached half a man's height, their surfaces still glowing with faint golden embers—the residual power of Li Haoran's sacred blood, nothing like the dark magic of Karl she remembered. More eerily, the rune stones at the collapse site bore deep, jagged scratches, as if pried open by some sharp tool, their edges stained with fresh blue blood—not Li Haoran's human blood, but vampire blood.
"He really escaped..." A flicker of joy surged in Catherine's chest, only to be replaced by deeper confusion. Even if Li Haoran broke free from his cage, he should not have been able to cause such a massive wall collapse, let alone leave behind vampire blue blood—had he encountered other helpers when he escaped? Or was this an illusion deliberately set by Karl?
Just as she bent down to touch the golden glow, a soft footstep echoed from behind, accompanied by the crisp clink of metal shoe buckles, cutting through her thoughts like a knife.
"Lady Catherine, I knew I'd find you here."
Catherine spun around, silver needles sliding silently into her palm. When she saw it was Cole, Samantha's deputy, she relaxed her killing intent slightly, but the wariness in her purple eyes did not fade. Cole still wore his black robe, his hood pulled low, but the faint shadow in the depths of his eyes was darker than when they had met before.
"Lady Samantha was uneasy about you acting alone," Cole bowed respectfully, his tone deferential yet laced with an unyielding firmness. "Though the dungeon perimeter seems calm, Karl's spies are everywhere. I've come to accompany you, to arrange your route properly and avoid any mishaps."
Catherine stared into his eyes, trying to find a flaw in those cold, emotionless orbs. She remembered Samantha's order: scout the dungeon first, then wait for backup—there had been no mention of sending Cole. But here, deep in enemy territory, she dared not question him directly. She put away the silver needles without a trace. "Samantha is indeed thorough. You've come just in time—I was just wondering about this collapse on the dungeon's side. It looks like it happened recently."
Cole followed her gaze to the collapse, a flicker of oddity crossing his eyes before he regained his composure. "I noticed it on my way here. I've already sent scouts to investigate, and they report that Mr. Li Haoran has indeed escaped. It's said that a rune riot erupted in the dungeon as he fled, shaking the wall to rubble."
"Where did he go?" Catherine pressed, her heart pounding at the confirmation.
"The scouts only saw him heading deep into the Black Forest—his exact direction is unknown." Cole spoke slowly, his tone deliberately hesitant. "The Black Forest is treacherous, and Karl's pursuers are still searching. Alone, he's in grave danger. In my opinion, he might flee to Dawn Harbor. There are many neutral vampire clans there; they might shelter him temporarily."
Catherine frowned. She knew Li Haoran too well. Though Dawn Harbor had neutral forces, Karl's influence had long seeped into every corner—Li Haoran would never take such a risk. Moreover, he knew Samantha's secret stronghold, and understood that only by joining forces with her could he resist Karl's hunt—he would surely go to Samantha.
"No." Catherine retorted firmly. "Dawn Harbor is a trap, no matter how safe it seems. Haoran knows Samantha's domain is his only safe haven—he must be heading toward her. We return to Samantha's domain at once. We might catch up to him on the way."
Cole's face changed slightly, as if he had not expected Catherine to be so certain. He hesitated for a moment before nodding. "You're right—I was careless. Let us depart at once, to reunite with Lady Samantha at the domain as soon as possible."
The two hurried along the forest path of the Black Forest. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The forest was so quiet that only their footsteps and the rustle of wind through the trees could be heard. Catherine deliberately slowed her pace, keeping half a step behind Cole, a faint purple glow lingering at her fingertips—she could not shake the feeling that Cole's words and actions were strange, especially his attempt to lead her toward Dawn Harbor, which felt like a delay.
Suddenly, a flurry of movement erupted from the bushes ahead. Five black figures darted out, blocking their path—remaining blood hunters of the Karl Faction, each wielding a glinting silver weapon, their eyes fierce with malice.
"Capture Catherine and this traitor! Lord Karl has ordered—dead or alive!" The lead blood hunter roared, swinging his sword at Catherine.
Catherine was ready. She dodged sideways, sending two purple energy darts from her palm, which struck the blood hunter's knees with a dull thud. He crumpled to the ground, screaming. Cole moved too, his black robe fluttering as a black short blade materialized out of thin air, slicing straight for another blood hunter's throat—his movements were crisp, even carrying the sharp, ruthless flair unique to Karl's assassination squads.
Catherine's doubts deepened. Cole's fighting style was nothing like a guard from Samantha's caravans; he moved more like a death warrior who had spent years carrying out assassinations for Karl.
"Watch your back!" Catherine warned, sending a purple shockwave that sent two blood hunters closing in on Cole flying backward.
Cole spun around, finishing off the enemy in front of him, then turned to Catherine, a complex glint in his eyes. "Thank you, Lady Catherine. These remnants are relentless."
The battle ended quickly. The five blood hunters were either dead or fled. Catherine stared at Cole's short blade, stained with blue blood, and suddenly asked: "Your weapon—is it a Shadow Dagger, exclusive to the Karl Faction? The guards of Samantha's caravans always use ordinary iron weapons, rarely ones enchanted with dark magic."
Cole froze for a moment, then put away the blade nonchalantly. "You flatter me, my lady. I seized this from a defeated Karl Faction blood hunter. It fits my hand, so I've kept it."
The explanation sounded plausible, but it sent Catherine's wariness soaring. She did not press further, but quickened her pace silently—she had to reach Samantha's domain as soon as possible. On one hand, to confirm Li Haoran's safety; on the other, to uncover Cole's true identity.
When the two finally reached the border of Samantha's domain, a camp came into view in the distance. Outside the camp, several vampire warriors in matching leather armor patrolled. Leading them was a cold-faced female warrior, wielding a slender silver sword—it was Victoria, as rumored.
To Catherine's delight, beside Victoria stood two of her former subordinates—men who had served her before she was exiled from her clan!
"Lady Catherine!" The two former subordinates spotted her first, rushing over excitedly. "You're finally here! Mr. Li Haoran arrived half an hour ago. He said you'd come—we've been waiting for you!"
The weight in Catherine's chest lifted. She hurried toward the camp. Li Haoran stood in the center, talking to Samantha. When he saw Catherine, his face lit up with joy, and he strode over. "Catherine! You're safe! I thought..."
"I'm fine." Catherine cut him off, her gaze drifting past him to Cole, and the subtle glance Cole exchanged with Samantha.
Samantha stepped forward, her usual smile playing on her lips—soft, alluring, and laced with hidden intent. "I'm so glad you're back safe, Lady Catherine. Cole has told me about your ordeal on the way; it's a good thing he accompanied you. Now that Mr. Li Haoran is safe too, the core of our rebellion is finally complete."
Catherine looked at the people around her, her heart churning with turmoil. Cole's oddities, Samantha's deliberate evasions, the faint scent of unfamiliar figures lingering around the camp—everything hinted that Samantha's domain was not as safe as it seemed.
At that moment, Victoria stepped forward, dropping to one knee, her voice steady and resolute. "Lady Catherine, I am Victoria. My clan was destroyed by Karl, and now I have formed a rebellion, sworn to overthrow his rule. Your former subordinates have joined us too—we are ready to follow you and Mr. Li Haoran, to fight for freedom for all oppressed vampires!"
Looking into Victoria's determined eyes, and the hopeful gazes of her former subordinates, Catherine took a deep breath. She knew a greater storm was coming. Li Haoran's escape was only the beginning—Cole's suspicious motives, Samantha's ambiguous loyalties, Karl's inevitable counterattack, and the rebellion they were about to build... All the threads tangled together, making this struggle more complex and perilous than ever.
The wind in the camp suddenly picked up, billowing everyone's robes. The outline of the Black Forest loomed eerily in the twilight. Catherine squeezed Li Haoran's hand, the warmth of his palm strengthening her resolve—no matter how many conspiracies and traps lay ahead, she would stand beside Li Haoran, until Karl's dark rule was toppled, and a truly equal new order was born.