Chapter 39

Axel's POV

The sun barely filtered through the dense canopy of trees surrounding the Blackwood mansion, casting long, ominous shadows on the gravel path leading to the main entrance. Inside however, the mansion buzzed with a tension so thick it felt as though the walls themselves were straining to contain it. Tonight marked the blood moon, a sacred and critical event for our family. But instead of focusing on the preparations for the ritual, we were dealing with a crisis.

A servant had come to fetch me with a pale, trembling face, barely able to speak as he relayed Eleanor's summons. I knew better than to keep her waiting, especially when she was in a foul mood. As I descended the grand staircase, I could already feel the fury radiating from the drawing room.

Eleanor and Victor stood in the center of the room, their postures rigid, their faces dark with anger. Eren was already there, leaning against the fireplace, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He glanced at me as I entered, his expression grim.

"They're gone," Eleanor said sharply, wasting no time with pleasantries.

I raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "Who?"

"Sarah's aunts," Victor growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble. "The sacrifices. The chamber is empty."

The words hung in the air, heavy with implication. I kept my expression neutral, carefully masking the flicker of surprise I felt.

"How is that possible?" I asked, stepping further into the room.

Eleanor's eyes narrowed. "That's what we intend to find out. We went to the chamber this morning to prepare the sacrifices for tonight's ritual. But when we opened the doors, the room was empty. The chains were broken, the prisoners gone."

"No guards are posted in front of the chamber," I pointed out calmly. "It would be easy for anyone familiar with the mansion's layout to slip in and out without being noticed."

"Precisely why we must determine who is responsible," Eleanor snapped. Her voice was sharp, each word cutting through the tension like a blade. "Someone freed them. This was no accident." She paused, her piercing gaze sweeping over Eren and me. "Have either of you seen Sarah near the east wing? Or noticed her behaving oddly?"

Eren was the first to respond, his voice steady and measured. "No. She's been keeping to herself lately, staying mostly in her rooms or the library. I haven't seen her near the east wing."

"And you, Axel?" Eleanor pressed.

I shook my head. "Nothing unusual. Sarah isn't the type to wander aimlessly, and if she knew about the chamber, she would've acted long before now." I paused, considering my next words carefully. "Besides, if she had freed her aunts, wouldn't she have fled? If she knew the truth about us, she wouldn't risk staying here a moment longer."

Eleanor's gaze remained fixed on me, her eyes cold and calculating. "Unless she's playing a longer game," she said quietly. "Biding her time, waiting for the right moment to strike."

Victor crossed his arms, his expression grim. "It's possible. If Sarah helped her aunts escape, she could be planning something bigger. We can't underestimate her."

I sighed, allowing a note of exasperation to creep into my voice. "With all due respect, if Sarah knew the extent of our secrets, she wouldn't be plotting. She'd be gone. People don't stick around when they discover monsters in their midst."

Eleanor began to pace, her movements sharp and precise. "Convenient timing, wouldn't you say? The blood moon rises tonight, and the very sacrifices we've kept for years vanish without a trace. Sarah may not have fled, but that doesn't mean she's innocent."

Victor nodded in agreement. "She could've provided them with the means to escape and stayed behind to avoid suspicion. If that's the case, she's more cunning than we gave her credit for."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of their accusations hanging heavily in the air.

Eren finally broke the silence. "Do we have any leads? Any sign of where they might have gone?"

Eleanor shook her head, her expression dark. "No. We've searched the immediate area, but there's no trace of them. They could be anywhere by now."

"If they're still on the estate, we'll find them," Victor said, his voice cold and determined. "If they've escaped, we'll have to prepare for the consequences."

Eleanor's lips pressed into a thin line. "The demon demands blood. If we fail to provide the sacrifices tonight, the pact will be broken. The consequences will be catastrophic."

I decided to offer an alternative theory. "What if they escaped on their own? After years in confinement, they might have lost enough weight for the chains to loosen. Desperation makes people resourceful. They could have seized an opportunity to flee."

Eleanor scoffed, her disdain evident. "Two frail women, after years of captivity, suddenly find the strength and opportunity to escape? It's highly unlikely."

Victor, however, seemed to consider the possibility. "It's not impossible. If they've been planning this for a while, they could've found weaknesses in the chamber or waited for a lapse in security."

Eleanor crossed her arms, her expression still skeptical. "Even if that's true, it doesn't absolve Sarah. We cannot ignore the possibility that she was involved."

Eren's voice was firm. "What's the plan, then?"

Eleanor's eyes blazed with determination. "We search every inch of the estate. If they're still here, we'll find them before nightfall. If not…" Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "We'll need to find replacements. The ritual must proceed, no matter the cost."

Victor's tone was equally grave. "We cannot afford to fail. The blood moon is our only chance to renew the pact. Without it, we lose everything."

The conversation ended with a heavy silence, each of us consumed by our own thoughts. As I left the room, my mind raced. Sarah had made her move days ago, and the family was only now beginning to realize it. The pieces were in motion, and tonight, under the light of the blood moon, everything would come to a head.

The weight of what was to come settled heavily on my shoulders. Tonight would be a turning point, not just for Sarah, but for all of us. The blood moon would rise, and with it, the true test of our loyalty, strength, and survival would begin.

The question is who will we replace for the sacrifice?