The Payment

The extent of Leon's thrall was deep into their minds, an influence so strong that none of the people in the room could even resist.

Vampires gain the ability to thrall humans once they have reached a certain maturity period which would have taken decades. In most cases, they can thrall a single human at a time while stronger vampires can do a few humans, or else their thrall might fail.

Leon had everyone under his thrall, dozens of hunters all frozen by a single order... he couldn't resist the shiver that went down his spine.

His footsteps echoed on the stone floor as he walked in Percival's direction, the older man's eyes wide with fear and shock. There was a lack of emotions inside of him, it felt like his sense of sympathy was dull, forgotten.

Leon circled the older man, like a predator playing with its prey. He smelled of fear and disdain, just like everyone else in this room. He could taste their emotions on his tongue; Leon could imagine how their blood would feel in his throat.

"You tried really, really hard, commander," Leon ran a finger through his hair, blood coating each strand like a thick layer of film.

"It wasn't enough." He sneered, voice dripping with cruel satisfaction. Leon could see the desperation in the man's eyes, trying to break free from his thrall.

It was futile. Leon reveled in the idea that he held so much power over this man, that just a mere flick of his wrist would mean Percival's immediate demise.

"I'm going to have to kill you, commander."

There was chilling finality in Leon's voice, and in one brutal motion, Leon's fingers closed around Percival's neck. His grip was tight, and he could feel the rapid pounding of the older man's heartbeat beneath his fingertips.

His sharp nails tore through Percival's neck, and a sickening sound of tearing flesh echoed in the room. A soft gurgling sound emitted from Percival's mouth as Leon fed on the blood pouring down the man's neck.

Something flickered in Leon's mind, like a distant memory. Leon knew what it was—Percival's memory flowed through him. He felt as if he was being pulled into the depths of Percival's consciousness.

"...No one should know." The echoing voice sounded disorienting, but Leon could recognize it as Percival's.

"This must be done, for the better good of humanity."

There were glimpses of moments long gone, fragments of memories that showed the true darkness behind the commander's mind. A human so consumed by his own greed and thirst for power.

Leon would have understood if they only wanted to kill him and him alone.

But Viktoria? The kindest and brightest person in his life. The person he did everything for.

Everything was for her.

Now that she's gone. Nothing was holding him back anymore.

No more promises to keep nor wishes to be fulfilled.

It was just him.

Resentment flowed through his veins like a raging river as his attention returned to the human. His mind swirled with disjointed memories. Percival was so blinded by his own conviction.

One who believed that all his actions were necessary, even if it was ruthless. It was a stark contrast to the image of the compassionate and kind-hearted humans Leon thought he knew so well.

Viktoria's death lingered in the back of his mind like a painful ache. It left him untethered, a creature consumed by resentment.

These humans had shattered all the wishes he had made, the promises he hoped to fulfill; they had torn it all apart and stepped on it.

Leon pulled back in a dizzied state, watching Percival's life slipping away with each passing second. A cruel thought formed inside Leon's mind as he looked back at Percival's memory. "Don't you worry, commander. I'll return what you did to me in tenfolds," he sneered.

Leon released Percival's dying form, letting it crumple to the floor. It was a merciless death for someone who had condemned Leon to a gruesome fate.

...and the one who had planned Viktoria's demise.

Blood flowed down his chin, the crimson evidence of his vengeance as his eyes turned to all the other people inside the room.

They had witnessed the death of their commander and they knew what would follow next. As Leon licked his lips, he prepared himself for a night of self-indulgence.

It wasn't until he felt a sudden shift in the room, a familiar presence that made Leon's stomach drop. A warmth ran down his spine, a sensation that he couldn't even begin to describe.

His eyes immediately turned to the sudden intruder, a thick aura of power surrounding the emerging figure.

"It's you! It's you!" A honeyed voice was what Leon did not expect. It was clear that the intruder was a vampire, a much stronger one.

Leon locked eyes with a familiar younger girl, dressed in an intricate black ruffled dress with a ribbon adorning her pigtailed hair.

The only thing that differentiated her from other vampires was her pure white hair and eyes.

His mind clicked at her appearance. "You were that girl," he breathed out.

"Mhm~ You're right, mister!" the girl winked at him as she skipped over to Leon, not even minding the surrounding bloodshed. "Seemed like I arrived a little too late," she pouted, her eyes scanning the room.

She offered her hand to Leon, a warm smile on her soft features. "Should we go now?" she asked. "After all, we can't stay here for too long."

Leon blinked at her words.

"Oh, my bad. You weren't done," she shrugged, and in one flick of her wrist, all the remaining living hunters dropped to the floor like flies.

Their heads were severed so cleanly from their shoulders.

Leon wanted to retaliate—how dare she interrupt his meal—but he was able to gain an inkling of humanity, he mentally scolded himself for how barbaric that sounded.

The girl grinned at him, eyes glinting with sheer insanity "Now you are~"