Crimson System of Vampire Prince

Under the shadows, two crimson eyes glowed dimly; its predatory gaze was directed toward the bed. On it, a maid in her forties slept comfortably tucked under her blanket.

As her chest heaved, Kate walked near her with light steps. Her pupils dilated, her vision turned red, and her heart thrummed. She clenched her fists, nails pierced her palm, and pain calmed her mind. She took a breath and leaned over her exposed neck. With every breath, she could hear her carotid pulse loud and clear. She closed the gap, and her fangs touched the warm, tender skin.

Squelch!

Blood trickled into her mouth, and a groan escaped from the maid's mouth. But she didn't wake up. Kate took her first sip; the sweet, warm, iron-rich liquid felt intoxicating. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she felt ecstasy that couldn't be found anywhere in the world.

"Gulp!"

She took another sip, and it felt sweeter than the first. Her whole body shook in pleasure.

"Ahhh," a muffled moan escaped from her mouth, her senses overwhelmed, and her body stiffened.

"Ugh," the maid groaned again, her eyes fluttered a little. Kate came back to her senses and jerked back. Her eyes widened as she realized she had lost herself. She hid in the shadows and stared at the maid, who was still sleeping peacefully. She didn't wait a moment longer; she stepped near her like a shadow and leaned forward.

SLURP!

She licked her neck and hid under the shadows. Her eyes peered at the maid's neck. The puncture wounds healed, leaving no scars.

Ding!

[The bite for a drink!]

[D-rank skill]

[Description: A skill to take only two sips, without affecting the prey. The wound will heal back after the lick, and the energy of the moon can't be transferred.]

[Warning: Take only two sips and lick afterward. Do not drink more.]

Kate's tense body relaxed, and she smiled. She bolted out of the cleaners' quarters and entered the castle. As she walked in dimly lit corridors, several thoughts swirled in her mind. 'So, I got Divine help. I think I got lucky in this sense.'

A few hours earlier, in the black faction, Victor woke up from his sleep. He yawned and got out of bed. He glanced at Luke's bed, who was sleeping peacefully. He stood up and stepped out of his dorm room. The cold air touched his pale skin, and the smell of dirt and stones wafted against his nose.

He glanced on both sides of the corridor, and both paths led somewhere. The one on his right side ended up in the main Hall. On the other hand, on the left, it led deeper inside the castle.

The black faction dorm was in the basement, the blue faction on the middle floors, and the Golden faction was on the higher floors. This division has been like this for thousands of years. The castle was divided into different parts where followers of every God lived. But most strange was that there was no Altar in the castle, none was found even after thousands of years.

Victor turned to his left and walked under dim eternal torches burning high up on the walls. The corridor was split into two stairs. One leading further down and another stair on his left lead to the next floor.

He observed the two stairs; the one on his right felt darker and worn out. He stepped on it and descended. There were no torches on the walls. It felt colder with every step, and his breath came out foggy. He could see everything clearly, the smooth walls on either side and the withered stairs. In the silent stairway, only his boots sounded.

Click-click.

He stepped off the stairs in the dimly lit, maze-like hall. The walls were built in a maze format with torches burning on them. They were like rat tunnels. On his right side were piles of junk, broken chairs, tables, and discarded waste. The air was humid, filled with the smell of burning oil and filth.

He entered one of the tunnels and walked ahead. He examined the walls closely. They appeared different from the castles and pale white; their wet surface shimmered under the fire.

The path ended in three similar tunnels, two leading right and left. He kept on the straight one and reached a dead end. He touched the wall in front of him, and it felt dry. "A dry wall." He muttered. He felt around it and whispered with wide eyes, "It is different."

He backed away and observed it wholly. The wall looked different. Its stones were smooth, and there was something unique about it. He could sense it. He touched around the pale bricks one by one.

Click!

One slipped inside, and he backed away, but nothing happened. A smile tugged on his lips, and he started again from the top.

Click!

Another brick was pressed inside. He smiled and continued moving downward. One after the other, the clicking sound echoed in a silent tunnel.

Before he could reach the last one, a rumbling sound reverberated. He stepped back, and there was a circle formed on the wall from the depressed bricks.

Dust fell from the wall, and it started sliding inside the floor.

RUMBLE!

All of the wall slid inside the floor.

Swoosh!

A gust of wind passed by him, his dark hair flew back, and he closed his eyes from the dust. As he opened his eyes, a dark hall appeared before him. His eyes widened, and after a moment, a smile stretched on his face. He raised his foot and moved ahead.

As Victor's foot landed on the threshold of it—"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

One after another torch lit up. A yellow warm light spread around the dusty hall, filled with several bookshelves on the far end.

RUMBLE!

The wall rose and slammed the door he came from. Victor's eyebrows furrowed. He stood up in a small room, with dust dust-covered, cushioned sofa and a chair placed in one corner, and the remaining space was filled with bookshelves.

"Cough, Cough!" he stepped forward and touched the cushioned sofas. They felt smooth, with a dark brown color made of leather; the only con was that they were covered in dust.

Right before them was a fireplace, similarly layered with dust. A small figurine stood on its upper border. He walked toward it and cleared the dust with his hand. As the dust cleared, a figurine of a girl with wings opened wide appeared.

Its eyes were etched with meticulous details. With eyebrows, eyelashes, and pupils. Every minor detail made to feel real. Its wings were made of feathers with every small feather etched with a small pattern that couldn't be seen with the naked eye.

Not only that her face, the features, the lips, and even her teeth feel more lifelike. 'It feels like a real creature has been turned into stone.' He shook his head at the ridiculous thought.

"That can't be, how could a creature like her exist in the world in the first place?" He muttered and removed his hand.

"Where is she staring?" He muttered as he followed her gaze, It feels like she was staring at the sofa, but it wasn't. He followed her eyes across the room and stopped near the wall.

He examined the wall and found a little hole, the size of a finger. He looked back at her and then at the hole, 'Yes, her eyes are frozen at this hole.' He inserted his finger in the hole and suddenly.