Crimson Legacy

Chapter 6:

Valen lay sprawled on the ballroom floor, blood pooling around him. The siren, its victory short-lived, seized Sarah by the neck, its grip tightening like a vise.

"I sense the presence of the relic in this building. They both have awakened." it hissed, its voice laced with triumph, "but it's too faint for me to pinpoint its exact location." Its glowing eyes bored into Sarah's. "Your face says you know nothing about it, but you'll do well to show us around the estate. Its whereabouts could save your life."

"I don't know what you're talking about..." Sarah gasped, struggling to breathe.

"I just said that," the siren sneered. "Just take us where your brother carries out his activities. I should be able to find it easily."

"My brother is secretive, I don't know where he—"

Before Sarah could finish her sentence, the siren slammed her against the wall with bone-jarring force. A crater formed around her, and she crumpled to the floor, blood trickling from her lips.

"Think twice before answering me again," the siren snarled, pressing its clawed hand against her throat. "If you're waiting for help to come, you can give up. The whole estate has been wiped out—"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that."

A voice, cold and resonant, cut through the tension. The air crackled with an oppressive weight, the temperature plummeting as a wave of power swept through the room. The siren, its grip tightening on Sarah, slowly turned to face the source of the chilling aura.

Valen stood amidst the carnage, the arrow that had pierced his heart clutched in his hand. His eyes, now blazing with a crimson fire, were marked with the same intricate crest as Palmer's, pulsing with an otherworldly light.

The siren's expression widened in terror as he recognized the distinct pattern of the crest in Valen's eyes. "He's a noble..." the siren breathed, its voice a mixture of disbelief and fear. "He's a noble vampire? They never said anything about dealing with a noble vampire!" It looked around frantically, its eyes widening in horror as it saw its fallen comrades. Beside them were guards that were thought dead, eyes also glistening with the same pattern.

Realizing its predicament, the siren attempted a desperate gambit. "Try anything stupid," it hissed, tightening its grip on Sarah, "and off with her head—"

"Your pride will be the end of you," Valen said, his voice a chilling whisper.

In a blur of motion, too fast for the siren to even register, both of its hands were severed at the wrists. Blood spurted from the stumps, splattering across the pristine floor. The siren screamed in agony.

Valen, already with Sarah in his hands, gently placed her in a nearby chaise lounge. Then, he turned back to the siren, his eyes burning with cold fury. He seized the creature by its head, his grip unrelenting.

"I'll be asking you some questions and you'll answer me accurately, understood?" he growled, his voice laced with a deadly calm.

Valen's grip tightened on the siren's head, forcing its gaze to meet his own. He focused his will, attempting to pierce through the creature's mental defenses and extract the information he needed. But as he delved into the siren's mind, he encountered an unexpected barrier, a wall of resistance that pulsed with holy energy. The siren's eyes widened in panic, its body trembling as it fought against Valen's intrusion.

"That confirms my suspicions," Valen muttered, a grim smile playing on his lips. "The holy church, working with the supernatural. Laced your minds with barriers to avoid leaking information. They're quite skilled to be able to create one this strong. Not bad."

The siren, paralyzed by fear and the oppressive aura emanating from Valen, could only whimper. Its severed arms weren't regenerating, the cells seemingly aware of the imminent threat and refusing to cooperate.

"I have no use for you then," Valen said, his voice devoid of emotion.

With a swift, brutal motion, he ripped the siren's head from its body. The creature's lifeless eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, its reign of terror brought to an abrupt and gruesome end.