NOVEL NEXT Chapter 183: Emberly's Response!
The air in Emberly Obsidian's study was still thick with tension from the assassination attempt just days before. The cold, frosty remnants of her magic still clung to the room like a thin veil, the reminders of that deadly encounter evident in the sharp chill that never quite dissipated.
She sat at her desk, calmly reviewing documents, her golden eyes focused, yet somewhere deep within, the storm of recent events brewed.
And she missed the presence of her son...
Suddenly, a shadow shifted in the corner of the room, breaking the stillness.
Song crept forward, his presence as silent as death. Even though Song was always around, moving through the shadows of her estate, this time felt different—urgent.
"Mistress," Song whispered, his voice a low, reverent hum as he materialized from the darkness.
Emberly glanced up, her icy demeanor unwavering despite the growing tension. "Speak, Song."
He stepped closer, his figure looming in the dim light of the room. "We've just received a report… Silas is organizing a rebellion against Obsidian businesses in the Vampire Empire."
Emberly's expression did not falter. Her sharp gaze remained locked on Song, though the weight of his words hung between them like a thick fog.
Discover hidden content at empire
The phantoms, spread across every corner of the mortal realm, kept a constant watch, their network extensive and far-reaching. They reported directly to Song or Mira, depending on the situation.
It was no wonder Emberly could weave through anything in the mortal realm bringing her family, although small now to the top 1% almost on the same level with royal families.
Anyway, Emberly had made one thing clear—under no circumstances was Pyris to be informed of Silas' movements.
Mira, always protective of Pyris, had made sure that their young lord remained oblivious to the growing storm back home. Even the attack on Obsidian Tech, which had been the subject of countless news articles and online chatter, had been kept from him.
Since Pyris didn't keep so much on the ongoings in the internet while handling the delicate matters in the Sunstone Empire, it was easy to keep things from him, at least for now.
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"On what basis?" Emberly asked, her voice calm, cold, and deliberate.
There was no panic, no outward sign of the fury building beneath the surface. If anything, her demeanor became even more controlled.
Song hesitated for a fraction of a second. "He's using Vorath."
A stillness settled in the room. Emberly didn't need further explanation.
The moment Vorath's name was mentioned, the gravity of the situation became crystal clear. Vorath was not just any vampire—he was Dracula's uncle, the oldest living vampire, and a name that sent chills down the spine of even the most powerful vampires.
Mentioning Vorath stirred not only fear but paranoia. Vampires were sensitive to any news involving him, and Silas was playing that card perfectly.
Emberly's hands tightened ever so slightly around the edges of her desk, her mind racing.
She knew the Vampire Empire had always not been delicate power balance between Dracula and the various noble houses as Dracula had always kept them at bay no matter rebellious they were.
But Vorath, who had spent centuries opposing Dracula's rule, remained a figure of legendary power—a wild card that could tip the scales of vampire politics with just the mention of his name.
"Silas, you clever, reckless fool," Emberly whispered to herself, her voice like ice cracking. She knew what this meant.
Silas wasn't merely attacking the Obsidian businesses; he was stirring chaos. He had planted the seeds of distrust in the Vampire Empire, and worse, he had used Vorath's influence to do it.
To this point Emberly realized something, Silas's plan ran deeper than his obsession with destroying her family, he wanted to control everything and with her family out of out of picture, he will be the sovereign of technology.
Emberly leaned back in her chair, her fingers tracing the air with slow, deliberate movements.
Frost began to form, little crystals of ice swirling in the cold breeze she summoned.
Her mind worked through the implications. If the vampire nobles believed even for a moment that the Obsidians were working with Vorath, their entire business foothold in the Vampire Empire would be in jeopardy.
Silas was leveraging fear, and fear was the sharpest weapon in vampire politics.
"Song," Emberly said, her voice calm, but there was a glint of steel in her eyes. "We cannot allow this rebellion to grow unchecked. Silas is gambling with the Vampire Empire's future, and he's using our family as his bargaining chip."
Song stepped forward, his dark eyes gleaming with intensity. "Mistress, the Vampire Council has been flooded with whispers of Vorath's supposed alliance with your house. The lesser nobles are gathering support to vote on expelling Obsidian businesses from the empire."
Emberly's eyes darkened as she processed the information.
Expulsion from the Vampire Empire would cripple their business ties, and worse, it would embolden Silas and those working with him. Their entire foothold in the Vampire Empire was vital not only for trade but for influence across multiple empires.
Losing it would be disastrous.
"And Silas is behind this," Emberly murmured to herself, though she already knew the answer.
This rebellion was a carefully crafted maneuver, one that had been planned and executed with precision. Silas was playing with fire, and he had no intention of stopping until he burned the entire empire down.
"What is our next move, Mistress?" Song asked, his voice steady but filled with an edge of concern. He knew how delicate the situation had become.
Emberly closed her eyes for a moment, centering herself. Then, when she opened them, there was a dangerous calm in her gaze. "We will not allow Silas to dictate the future of this empire, nor will we allow him to paint us as Vorath's allies. We will fight fire with ice."
Her gaze shifted to Song, her tone cool but sharp. "I want phantoms monitoring every vampire noble connected to Silas. I want to know who is backing him, who is planning to vote against us in the Vampire Council. Ensure that their darkest secrets are at our disposal when the time comes."
This was to wait for Pyris' return, as the leader of their businesses, he will have to make a decision of his own, if they didn't suit her, she will then present him with her idea.
Song bowed, his dark figure barely shifting in the dim light. "Consider it done."
"And as for Silas…" Emberly's voice lowered, cold as frost. "He is playing a dangerous game, and one he has no hope of winning. We will cripple his rebellion, not just through politics, but through his alliances. I will not tolerate this insult any longer."
Pyris better have a better idea lest she will go berserk with Silas and that would completely cripple their relationship with the Dracula.
As Song melted back into the shadows to carry out her orders, Emberly remained at her desk, her mind calculating the next moves. Silas was using Vorath as a boogeyman, the specter of an ancient vampire rebellion to sway public opinion.
But Emberly knew how to counter such tactics.
Her fingers traced along the edge of her desk once more, ice forming at her touch. "You may think you have the upper hand, Silas," she murmured, her eyes glinting dangerously. "But you've underestimated me."
With a flick of her wrist, the frost around her melted away as she stood, her elegant gown trailing behind her like a shadow. The game was on, and Emberly Obsidian would not lose.
*****
Volath??? Rings a bell?