12 Chess.

Victoria walked out of the church, sat down in her car. She took a deep breath and said to the driver, "Home."

The driver started the car and drove back to the Vlad Mansion. During the drive, Victoria was immersed in thoughts. She had no idea about how she would find out what she seeks. It was unknown when the car entered the family mansion. Suddenly her eyes fell on a person who might know the answers to her questions.

She did not wait for an extra second her mind was filled with thoughts. She said to the driver, "Stop."

The driver was a puppet in a way. He was charmed that way, as long as he is inside the car, he would follow all and any commands. Well, the car stopped in the middle of the driveway. Victoria opened the door and stepped out on her own. She closed the car door behind her and walked forward to the person who might provide her with answers.

At this moment, Aran was sitting in the garden. He held a glass of red wine in his hand as he sat on a chair. He would sigh every once in a while. Suddenly he heard a voice behind him, "Why do you sigh?"

He jumped up from the chair and a dagger appeared in his hands. No one in the mansion has ever approached him in their own right mind, thus he was not expecting anyone to come to him and even talk. He turned around and his surprise turned into shock. In front of him stood, the goddess he wanted to have in his grasp.

He smiled as he asked, "Vici, what a pleasant surprise. What wind blew you over?" his tone being as over-friendly as possible.

Victoria frowned and said, "Don't act all chummy with me, snake. I will flay your skin." her cold voice sent shivers down Arans spine.

He corrected himself, "Miss Vlad, why do you seek me?"

The Vlad princess did not want to have any intersections with him but she asked, "Why do you sigh?"

Aran sighed, shook his head, raised the wine glass, and took a sip from it. He licked his lips as he said, "My men. Those people who were killed by Bones today. They were all hand-picked and were the best of the best. I will have to find new talents."

He spoke as if he was very attached to those people. He was just being lazy. To Aran, everyone was a thing of his use. That was how he was trained by Oleksiy Vlad. A dagger in the sleeve that can stab people when needed and not get caught.

Victoria paid his act no heed. She asked, without changing her face, "Who was that guy? Also, how dare you leave me alone there, you bastard." her voice became colder.

Aran shivered and he said, "You calm down, Victoria. I am scared of you, but I am more scared of Bones the hunter. I had no choice but to leave you. You have no idea how scary he is."

Victoria raised her eyebrow, and said amusingly, "Oh, really? Tell me about it then."

Aran sucked in a deep breath and said, "I met him 120 years ago. At that time he already had this nickname. His story begins when he was 15. His mother bought him to this city. I have heard that once Vika Smith was visiting the church of Justice to ask for some help. You know, how the justice tribunal helps poor vampires and humans alike. So they helped Vika with a job and Bones with education."

He noticed that Victoria was gazing at him with a deadpan expression, he thought she was not interested in it. He asked, "Should I continue?"

Victoria sighed, "Here I thought you were good at your trade. Cannot even tell a story properly? What sort of snake in the shadow are you?"

Aran ground his teeth, but then said, "I continue then. Our father met Vika at one of the church's gatherings. Her beauty was enough to get a lustful vampire hooked. So he began pursuing her. Vika Smith, however, had her own virtue. She did not want any man to be near her. So Oleksiy Vlad came up with a plan. He poisoned young Bones Smith with silver dust. The boy was burning from inside when he finished school and reached home. Vika took him to the church. The tribunal told her that the one who can give her the antidote was the Vlad household."

Victoria asked, "Oh, how did you know all this?"

Aran spoke, "It is all acquired knowledge." his voice revealed a trace of pride in it. The blood princess shot him down ruthlessly.

"Hmmm, I see, mere hearsay. You dare to read me something with no proofs? I admire your guts." her voice was cold. But this time Aran smiled.

He said, "Everything comes at a cost. If you want to deal with me. You will have to pay." this guy was manipulating her from the start. He knew it early on that Victoria, an emotional girl was trying to act cold in front of him deliberately. He leaked a little but did not tell her everything.

VIctoria knew that this person was not easy to deal with. His actions did not surprise her. She asked, "What do you want?" with indifference in her voice.

Aran smirked. He asked, "So why do you want to know about that Half-breed?" his killing intent was all over the place as soon as he said the words 'half-breed'.

Victoria turned her eyes red as she revealed an intent to kill as well, "This bastard, came to my company claiming it to be his. When I went to the tribunal, I found that his information comes at a cost. The cost is the ashes of my father. Humph, filth, how dare he? I want to kill him." her hatred was obvious and this made Aran smile even more brightly.