Alexander Corvinus gazed at the young man before him—his eyes sharp, yet veiled with the weariness borne only by those who had carried the weight of age and history for too long.
"So, it seems you know everything… Mr. Reuel."
He observed Reuel in silence. In the presence of this young man, he felt as if he no longer had any secrets left to hide.
Reuel merely shrugged—calm and unshaken.
"I know enough. But your sons—both of them—are unstable variables. You still want to let them roam free?"
Alexander fell silent, slightly helpless. He knew Reuel wasn't exaggerating. His sons truly were a threat. But what choice did he have?
He let out a long sigh, and in his gaze shimmered a bitter glint—a kind of inner wound borne only by those who had lived too long.
"He's still my son… Do you expect me to kill my own flesh and blood?" His voice was low, heavy with pain. His eyes drifted far, piercing through time and memory. "We still have reason. Even beasts hesitate to kill their own offspring. Sometimes, they're more humane than we are."
Reuel didn't reply. But his next words came out cold and final.
"If Marcus is free, he will release William. And you know exactly what that means."
In his heart, Reuel was already prepared to deal with whatever chaos Alexander's two sons might unleash.
Alexander remained silent. He didn't need to answer—because he knew Reuel was right.
Suddenly, a woman's voice came from the device on Reuel's wrist. Red Queen's voice—clear, but laced with concern.
"Brother, it's urgent. I just received the data—Selene was attacked by vampires. She's injured."
Reuel reacted instantly. He stood tall. The psionic aura around his body intensified, emitting a subtle pressure in the air. His eyes flared gold—bright like twin miniature suns.
"What?! Red Queen, dispatch the rescue team now! Deploy Medivac, Ghost units, and Terran Marines from the battlecruiser in orbit—execute immediately!"
"Understood, Brother."
Alexander raised an eyebrow. His expression hardened.
"What's going on? Who was attacked?"
He looked at Reuel, who had suddenly stood and begun speaking—to no one, it seemed—or more precisely, issuing commands with grave urgency.
Reuel tapped the screen on his wrist device. A holographic projection emerged from the advanced watch he wore.
"A friend of mine is in danger. Red Queen, display the satellite footage for Lord Alexander Corvinus."
"Yes, Brother," Red Queen replied swiftly.
The holographic image lit up in the air. In the middle of a dimly lit street, soaked by rain, a woman dressed in black was fiercely battling a group of vampires. Gunfire and physical blows exchanged rapidly. Her movements were fast, efficient, and lethal. But the wound on her shoulder and the blood around her showed she was seriously hurt. Even so, she did not retreat. She stood her ground. Resolute.
Alexander narrowed his eyes, analyzing every detail of the projection.
"A vampire… She's your friend?" he asked flatly, watching the vampires tear into each other like wild beasts.
Reuel offered a faint smile. Just the barest movement of his lips—but his gaze remained sharp, like that of a soldier who never sleeps.
"Yes. That woman is my wife—or at least, not officially. But that's only a matter of time." He didn't take his eyes off Selene in the hologram. Even wounded, she still shone. Beautiful. Strong. Unshakable.
---
Elsewhere, Selene was still on the run.
Vampiric figures emerged from every direction. Her chances of escaping were dwindling fast. But it wasn't death that weighed on her mind—it was the truth.
She was being hunted… just for daring to dig into her own past.
Seeing the growing number of vampires, Selene realized she might not last much longer. But it wasn't the thought of dying that shook her—it was the bitter truth she had just uncovered.
So Reuel was right all along… My parents were murdered. And Viktor had been lying to me for centuries.
Selene let out a bitter laugh inside her mind.
All this time I fought for him. Killed for him. Supported the very man responsible for my family's death… And now, he wants me gone.
Ha… How ironic. I became a tool for my own enemy. Carrying out massacres in the name of a lie I upheld for hundreds of years.
The thought suffocated her. Doubt gnawed at every ounce of belief she once held. She looked around—vampires were closing in, tightening the circle.
Her hand gripped her pistol. She pulled the trigger.
Click. Empty. Not a single bullet left.
The vampires began to move forward, intent on finishing her.
One of them shouted, his voice piercing the night.
"Selene! Surrender! Kraven wants you as his woman! He's willing to forget the past—even help you get revenge!"
"Dream on! I'd rather die! All of you slaughtered my family!" Selene spat back, rage burning in her voice.
Then came a cold, uncompromising command from their leader.
"Move in. Kill her."
Several vampires leapt toward Selene—
—but a deep mechanical roar suddenly tore through the silence of night.
"WOOOOOSH—WHIRRRR—RRRAAAAAA!"
A modified Banshee screamed across the sky. Its frame gleamed under the moonlight before unleashing a barrage of precision bombs directly onto the clusters of vampires.
Boom! Boom!! BOOM!!!
Explosions rocked the street. Some vampires were torn apart instantly, their bodies erupting into chunks. But a few survived—mutants, older and tougher.
The Banshee pilot saw it on the radar and wheeled back around.
Without hesitation, the pilot activated the main weapons: Twin-Linked Heavy Bolters—normally mounted only on Valkyrie dropships. But thanks to Tech-Priest modifications, they were now rigged onto the wings of this starfighter.
A rain of high-caliber bullets shredded the night. Metal roared. Blood exploded. Walls crumbled. Debris flew. Vampires who tried to take cover behind stone and steel were obliterated without mercy.
In seconds, the enemy formation collapsed. Most of them were dead. The few who remained panicked, either fleeing or charging Selene in desperation.
Meanwhile, a Medivac descended steadily, landing not far from Selene's position. The side hatch hissed open, revealing a squad of Terran Marines in gleaming blue armor. Among them stood one figure that stood out—a Ghost Operative, slim, armed with a pristine white rifle, radiating a cold, lethal aura.
The marines spread out quickly, securing the perimeter with military precision.
The squad commander—a Marine officer bearing a mark of honor on the left side of his chestplate—stepped forward toward Selene. His voice was firm as he issued quick orders to his troops.
"Secure the perimeter. No gaps."
The Marines moved immediately, forming a mobile barricade around the area, while sporadic gunfire and explosions echoed in the distance. Though vampires were known for their speed and resilience, Terran weaponry—designed to handle horrors like the Zerg—was far deadlier. The vampires didn't stand a chance.
"Tak! Tak! Tak!"
Gunshots rang out, sharp and precise. Every bullet found its mark.
The officer approached Selene, who was still sitting among the rubble, her body coated in dust and shallow cuts. He spoke loud and clear, but not unkindly.
"Are you Miss Selene? We were dispatched under direct order from the Lord Emperor to evacuate and protect you."
Selene looked at him wordlessly. Her eyes were wide, stunned, disbelieving. Her body barely responded. A nearby Marine reacted immediately, assuming she was critically wounded.
"Medic! Over here! She needs medical attention!"
Selene turned her gaze toward them, her breathing beginning to steady. Her eyes fell on the emblem clearly displayed on their armor—a double-headed eagle—the exact same symbol she'd once seen on Reuel's shirt.
"…Reuel… He sent you?" she whispered, barely audible. Her voice trembled, and for the first time in what felt like forever, tears welled in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.
She hadn't expected this—not when she had already given up, already resigned herself to die alone. And yet it was Reuel who had sent these strangers. Even if they looked strange, clad in bulky blue metallic armor with weapons she didn't recognize… none of it mattered.
What mattered was: they came. And Reuel was still alive.
"Medic!" the officer barked. "Now!"
Several female Medics in white armor sprinted toward her. Red crosses lit up on their chest plates. Without many words, they assessed Selene quickly, then carefully lifted her onto a portable stretcher and carried her toward the Medivac.
They didn't administer treatment immediately. Their bio-scanners blinked in confusion, flashing unfamiliar data. Selene wasn't human—and the Imperium of Man had little to no medical records on vampire physiology.
As the stretcher was lifted into the Medivac cabin, Selene asked softly, her eyes sharp despite her condition:
"Where is Reuel now?"
She looked around at the unfamiliar interior—lined with lightweight steel, cluttered with monitors and medical instruments. Outside, the Banshee still hovered low, protecting the evacuation zone. The Terran Marines maintained a tight defensive formation, efficiently neutralizing the last of the vampires.
One of the Medics answered politely without turning:
"Apologies, Miss Selene. We're not authorized to disclose that information. You'll need to ask a senior officer directly."
Selene gave a small nod. She understood. Protocol. And she could wait… as long as Reuel was still alive.
A few seconds later, the Marine officer boarded the Medivac and reported directly to her.
"Miss Selene. Our lord is currently engaged in high-level negotiations. The moment he learned you were in danger, he issued a priority-one rescue order. We're taking you to a secure location—the facility is equipped with the best medical and security systems the Imperium can offer."
"All we can offer here is emergency care," he added, checking data on a holo-pad strapped to his wrist.
Selene slowly turned to face him.
"Is… Reuel in danger?"
The officer met her gaze and answered with calm certainty:
"No. For now, the situation is under control. You'll see him soon."
---
Reuel and Alexander Corvinus observed the entire scene through a holographic display projected by the Red Queen—streamed live from the device mounted on Reuel's wrist.
Through high-resolution satellite imagery, Reuel watched as Selene was being treated by the medical team. But the moment one of the medics began to remove her clothing to access her wounds, Reuel immediately ordered the Red Queen to disable the feed.
Alexander glanced sideways, his voice calm but contemplative.
"Lord Reuel, are you not concerned the nations of this world will grow suspicious? Aircraft of that caliber… are clearly not of this Earth."
He was referring, of course, to the Medivac and the Banshee—orbital strikecraft that had descended with thunder from the night sky.
"Technology like that could spark global panic. The major powers won't stay quiet."
Reuel responded steadily, his tone carrying an unmistakable finality.
"What they can't detect… will never be recorded. And even if something does leak online, Red Queen will erase it within seconds."
He smirked.
"And if they still insist on meddling? I'll deploy my entire fleet and conquer their nations… overnight."
His confidence wasn't baseless. In Earth's orbit, his battlecruiser housed troops that knew no mercy, obeyed no human law, and were unbound by the limits of terrestrial technology.
Reuel then turned to Alexander, his voice taking on a more serious tone.
"Lord Corvinus, I may soon need your blood. If there's anything you wish in return, name it. I won't refuse."
Alexander narrowed his eyes, his voice cold but not without understanding.
"Your goal… is for the vampire woman."
"You intend to use my blood… for her?"
Reuel gave a slow nod.
"Yes. Is there any other way for her to walk in the sunlight again without your blood, Lord Corvinus?"
A quiet chuckle escaped Alexander.
"Haha… Lord Reuel, if my blood can help you marry the woman you love, take it. Take even more—so long as you promise me one thing."
Reuel looked at him with respect.
"Of course. Name your condition. I am not a man who forgets debts, nor do I reject a fair bargain."
Alexander's expression softened for a moment, then darkened just seconds later.
"If one day I call upon you for aid… you must bring your full strength to bear. Even if it means waging war against the entire world."
Reuel narrowed his eyes, trying to decipher the meaning behind the condition.
"This is about your sons, isn't it? You still choose to let them roam free?"
Alexander exhaled heavily.
"Don't worry. I won't burden you with irrational family matters. William… he's already lost his humanity. If Marcus frees him, let them go together. But if Marcus fails to control him, then I'll be the one to imprison William again… with my own hands."
He paused. His tone grew darker, as if the shadows of the future had begun to creep into his thoughts.
"I've also just learned… certain high-ranking officials across the world are beginning to suspect the existence of vampires and lycans. Not fully, but the time will come. When they act, I ask only one thing: give the descendants of my children—both vampire and lycan—a chance to survive the onslaught. Don't let them be wiped out overnight."
What Alexander Corvinus didn't know, however, was this: after his departure from the human world, everything turned into a nightmare for the nightkin. Fear united the nations, and their answer was singular—extermination.
A global genocide—one that nearly wiped the vampire and lycan races off the face of the Earth.
"I'll be staying here for about a month," said Reuel after a moment of thought. "During that time, my entire army is under your command."
"That's more than enough… for our partnership," Alexander replied, extending his hand.
"For our partnership," Reuel echoed, gripping the hand firmly.
Almost at the same moment, the doors to the meeting chamber opened. A medical team pushed in a gurney carrying Selene, still badly injured. Two Terran Marines in blue armor followed closely behind, maintaining formation.
"Lord Emperor, we've brought Miss Selene as per your orders," reported one of the medics.
"Good. Thank you."
Reuel gestured with a wave of his hand, signaling them to leave the room. The medics and guards quickly withdrew, leaving Reuel and Alexander standing alone at Selene's bedside.
Reuel stepped closer, gazing down at her pale face, which still radiated strength. He leaned down, his voice soft but clear.
"Tsk tsk tsk… I looked away for just a moment, and it felt like I lost something irreplaceable. Not because I have a death wish like you accused me of in the car back then… but because I love you too damn much."
A warm smile crossed his lips. Not a political smile, nor a diplomatic one. But the smile of a man who was hiding nothing.
"Y-you… shameless bastard…" Selene whispered faintly. Her voice was weak, nearly inaudible. But her tone was still sharp, just like always.
"Hey... don't talk too much. You'll die if you keep pushing your body," Reuel replied, gently brushing her hair back. "So promise me... from today on, you'll be my wife. And I'll give you everything."
Selene stared at him, eyes burning even though her body lay limp.
"I'm not marrying you. Even if I die… bastard."
But her face flushed. And Reuel knew exactly what that meant—her heartbeat had become irregular. Not from her wounds, but from something deeper. He could hear it, with his enhanced hearing: the flustered thrum that even someone as strong as Selene couldn't hide.
On the other side, Alexander Corvinus chuckled softly, then sighed.
"Lord Reuel, looks like I'll have to pay the down payment ahead of schedule."
He turned toward Selene and saw the lingering strength in her eyes. He knew—there was no time left. His blood had to be given now.
"Indeed, Lord Corvinus," Reuel replied, turning to face him. "But rest assured. I'm not just all talk. As payment, I'll replace every unit and piece of equipment under your command with the finest elite gear I possess."
He continued, his voice calm, even though Selene's blood still stained his body.
"I'll also grant you four Apache attack helicopters—armed with the latest weapon systems and state-of-the-art navigation tech."
To Reuel, these were but small pieces from his collection. He stored them in a warp vault—a personal dimension forged from psionik energy. In the scope of his near-limitless power, even the most advanced military hardware was mere playthings.
"If you'd like, I can prepare a carrier and a few additional warships to guard them," Reuel added flatly, as if offering afternoon tea.
Alexander raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly.
"Lord Reuel, you truly are... sincere." He glanced at Selene, then turned back with a small smile. "Very well, I'll save your wife first."
Then, looking Selene directly in the eye, his tone shifted to something more playful.
"Ma'am, your husband's paying quite a premium to save you."