30: The Method to Create a Thrall

Finding himself unable to quickly overpower Yulisa, Wactor shouted in desperation:

"Oh, Almighty Master! Your servant is in trouble! Please grant me your infinite power, that I may serve at your side as a loyal servant to your greatness!"

Before Yulisa could fully process his words, a soft sigh echoed from the hallway.

"Wactor, you really are a foolish man," came a calm voice.

Light footsteps followed, and moments later, a young boy stepped into Yulisa's room.

The sight stunned Yulisa. The newcomer was short, with a youthful, tender face, looking several years younger than her.

Wactor Heckler, despite his flaws, was still the current head of the Heckler family—a man of influence in high society and one who often dealt with dangerous underworld figures. Yet here he was, bowing to a mere boy.

Yulisa thought, This boy must either have an extraordinary background or possess something far more unusual.

Which is it? she wondered. Her gut told her it was the latter.

Perhaps this boy wasn't human at all. After all, how could a child, barely in his early teens, walk into the middle of a gunfight without even flinching?

A memory flashed in her mind, something her elders had once told her, and suddenly it all made sense.

"A vampire!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with fury. "Wactor! You stole the Heckler family's status and wealth, and now you're trading it all for immortality? You filthy, despicable wretch!"

Wactor chuckled coldly. "As a child, everything I ate, played with, or wore—I took it all. When I grew up, my degrees, women, wealth—I stole those too. Only by seizing what isn't mine can I survive. This is no different."

Nolan Von Draugr, the young boy, nodded thoughtfully. "No wonder Felicia said you're the perfect thrall. Your nature resembles that of a vampire—utterly wicked.

"Typically, Muggles who become thralls fail to suppress their vampiric instincts and end up as mindless beasts. We often recommend such thralls turn into animals to endure their harsh transformations." He glanced at the white snake coiled on his wrist and added, "But you? You need no adjustment, for you're already an evil Muggle by nature."

Panting through her pain, Yulisa asked, "What family do you belong to, vampire?"

"Von Draugr," he replied.

"The ones from England? Of the Secret Order?" Her familiarity with vampires was evident. "Wactor may have offered you something, but I can offer more. Unlike that vile man, I would make a better thrall. Kill him, and I will swear loyalty to you!"

"I don't bargain with Muggles," Nolan said, his displeasure clear. "However, I also dislike male thralls. I'll give you a chance to prove yourself—show me that you're better than him."

Wactor panicked. "No! My lord, we had an agreement! You can't go back on it!"

Nolan's crimson gaze fell on him, full of disdain. "As you can see, I can. Wactor Heckler, put down your gun. If you point it at me again, I swear, death will come for you immediately."

One look into those glowing red eyes, and Wactor's hands trembled as he lowered his weapon.

Nolan kicked open a weapons rack in Yulisa's room and pulled out two pistols. "Here's a fair game," he announced, addressing both of them. "As members of the Heckler family, I'm sure you'll appreciate it."

He unloaded both guns, disassembled them into components, and placed the parts on the table.

Then, he positioned Wactor on one side and Yulisa on the other. Turning to the injured girl, he said softly, "Don't waste time. I doubt your bodyguards will arrive, and I dislike being interrupted."

"So do I," Yulisa said, nodding grimly. She placed her hands on the components, her sharp eyes never leaving Wactor.

Wactor's face turned pale. Unlike his stepdaughter, he lacked her deep knowledge of firearms. He knew he would lose to her in a contest of assembly speed. But when his gaze landed on the makeshift bandages around Yulisa's wounded arm, he felt a surge of confidence.

How could I lose to a woman with a bullet in her arm? he thought.

Nolan nodded. The life-or-death showdown had begun.

Yulisa moved with expertise, her hands trembling as she ignored the pain coursing through her wounded arm, carefully selecting and assembling the firearm components. Despite her skill, Wactor's speed outpaced her, and her face darkened as she realized she was losing ground.

"You're done for! You're done for!" Wactor chanted with mounting confidence, rapidly piecing together his weapon. As he slid the magazine into place and flipped off the safety, his triumphant laughter filled the room.

"Haha! The winner is—"

"It's me," Yulisa interrupted coldly, producing a concealed handgun from behind her back and pulling the trigger.

The gunshot echoed in the room. Wactor's eyes widened in shock as the bullet shattered his skull. He crumpled to the floor, his lifeless body sprawled out, his expression frozen in disbelief.

Nolan nodded approvingly. "Not bad, Yulisa Heckler."

"Not bad?" she repeated, her voice hollow. Then, with a bitter smile, she added, "I've been handling guns since I was three. I've assembled every model HK produces hundreds of times. And yet, I still lost to that man in a contest of speed and precision. I even broke the rules to survive."

Nolan scoffed, shaking his head. "Why should anyone feel bound by rules when their life is at stake? I assure you, your decision was the correct one. Vampires always act in their own interest. This is a promising start—we can work from here."

Without warning, he stepped closer. Yulisa's eyes widened in alarm as he grabbed her, ignoring her struggles. With a swift motion, he tore her clothing away at the shoulder, revealing her pale, porcelain-like skin.

Before she could protest further, Nolan opened his mouth, baring his sharp fangs, and sank them into her flesh.

A startled cry escaped Yulisa's lips as she felt a strange sensation, the warmth of her blood mingling with Nolan's. Her body convulsed uncontrollably as the transformation began. Her skin grew colder, her breathing shallower. Her teeth lengthened into fine, sharp points, and her vibrant green eyes began to glow faintly in the dark.

The process lasted about half an hour. As it drew to an end, a faint blush returned to Yulisa's pallid face. Her voice weakened to a barely audible whisper, and she found herself experiencing an unexpected, disturbing sensation—a mix of pain and pleasure during the exchange of blood.

When it was over, Nolan leaned back, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

"So, this is the First Embrace of a vampire," Yulisa murmured. She could feel the profound change in her being. She was no longer human. Her strength had grown exponentially, but some human characteristics—like her warm body temperature—were already fading.

"The First Embrace is a poetic term," Nolan said coldly. "But among us, it's more commonly known as… an infection."

He crouched down, gently cupping Yulisa's face in his hands. He brushed aside her long hair, examining her features intently before nodding in satisfaction. "You'll do well. As a Death Kin, your appearance meets my standards."

"Death Kin?" Yulisa asked, her voice trembling. "I thought I was to be your thrall."

"In the Von Draugr family, thralls are referred to as Death Kin, Yulisa," Nolan explained softly. Straightening, he walked toward the door. Before stepping out, he turned back to her.

"In two days, you will experience a powerful bloodlust. Before that happens, a vampire named Baron Dura will visit you. He'll provide you with enough blood jelly to suppress your cravings. If you prefer feeding on Muggle blood, he'll make the necessary arrangements for you."

With that, Nolan Von Draugr vanished into the night, leaving Yulisa to grapple with her newfound existence.

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