Chapter 58: The Deal

As the four individuals unknowingly touched the doorknob, the closer they got, the less control Yuri had over his body's cravings. He teleported over and unlocked the door, swiftly hiding in the darkness.

Another person tried the doorknob, and then a joyful voice exclaimed, "Look! It's open!"

The four of them sneaked into the dark villa like thieves. A cautious female voice asked, "Is anyone here?"

"Who's there?" Yuri's voice echoed from the basement. The four individuals screamed and ran out in fear, panting heavily. The timid girl even patted her chest in a state of shock.

"That was exhilarating," one of the guys said, sounding somewhat excited.

...

When Emily returned in the evening, she brought back a menacing-looking man covered in blue tattoos from head to toe. However, even from a distance, she could smell the strong scent of blood permeating the house. She quickly rushed back with the man and saw the villa in disarray, with four lifeless bodies strewn about.

Those were four young faces, all staring in terror, their necks marked with two puncture wounds. Their eyes bulged, unable to close in death.

Emily felt nauseous but managed to suppress the urge to vomit.

"Yuri!" Emily shouted, but there was only silence in response.

Emily searched the entire villa, turning it upside down, but couldn't find any trace of Yuri. The scent of blood roses in the house was faint. A sense of desolation overwhelmed her, as if the place had been abandoned. She slumped down on the floor in despair.

"Little girl, did you call me over just to admire the corpses?" The man approached Emily with a wicked grin, and she caught a whiff of lust in the air.

"Get lost!" Emily glared at him fiercely, her eyes turning somewhat red. The man was taken aback, surprised that after so many years of experience in the realm of passion, he was being intimidated by a young girl for the first time.

Emily stood up abruptly, locking eyes with the man, her gaze burning like fire. "Do not leave the villa until I return," she said, then turned and ran out. After a few steps, seemingly unsure of her own hypnotic abilities, she went back, found a rope, securely tied up the man, and threw him into a storage room. She locked the door before finally feeling at ease to leave.

...

Alexander's Lair

Emily walked boldly into the lair, head held high and chest puffed out. She encountered no obstacles along the way and arrived in front of Alexander. "Which do you think is more important, killing me or Benjamin?"

Alexander smirked, giving Emily an assessing look from head to toe. "They are both important!"

"Cut the crap. Will you agree to trade Benjamin for my life?" Emily raised her head, exuding an air of nobility and cold elegance.

Alexander's smile turned mocking. "You came to me alone like this, do you still have the qualifications to negotiate?"

"If I resist, your men won't fare any better!" Emily scoffed at Alexander's confidence.

Alexander narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized Emily. Her insolence made him feel displeased, but if Emily were to truly lose control and go berserk, he would lose a significant number of his brothers. Even if he managed to capture her in the end, the cost would outweigh the benefits. However, if he could capture her and release Benjamin, that fool would willingly walk right into their hands.

Emily weighed her options and nodded. She turned to one of the vampires and ordered, "Bring Benjamin over!"

Benjamin was weak and bound with a silver rope. When he was dragged over, he stumbled and fell at Emily's feet. He looked up at her with great effort, his eyes widening in surprise, and then he desperately tried to break free, but his efforts were in vain. "Emily! What are you doing here?"

Emily didn't look at him, keeping her gaze fixed on Alexander. "I will surrender only when I'm sure he has gone far away!"

Alexander waved his hand, and a vampire with thick gloves began to untie Benjamin. Benjamin immediately felt his strength returning, but after days without blood, he was still very weak. He managed to grab hold of Emily's ankle weakly. "You must leave quickly!"

Emily shook off Benjamin's grip and furrowed her brow, then turned to Alexander. "Send him away!"

Alexander sneered, "You have quite a lot of demands!" Nonetheless, he sent two vampires to support Benjamin and escort him outside.

Benjamin was practically thrown out, and as soon as the vampires had done their duty, they turned back to report. Benjamin was struggling to get up when he suddenly heard Emily's astonished voice. "Benjamin! What are you doing here?"

Benjamin looked up in surprise, seeing Emily looking even more shocked than himself. His eyes filled with confusion. "Weren't you the one who came to get me out?"

"Me? I just arrived here..." Emily's words trailed off, and she immediately thought of Yuri. It must have been him, using illusions to make Alexander think he was her!

Realization dawned on Benjamin's face. "Could it be Yuri?"

"There's no other possibility left!" Emily's heart ached, and her voice trembled slightly.

"But... why did he... save me?" Benjamin found it hard to believe. He and Yuri had always been at loggerheads, and he couldn't fathom why Yuri would use himself as a bargaining chip to get him out.

Emily's heart tightened. Was it just to prevent her from taking risks? But how could he be so daft? No matter who was captured by Alexander, she would always try to save them!

"Let's not talk about that right now. You're too weak. Let me take you back," Emily said, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. She helped Benjamin up, spread her wings, and flew him back to the villa.

The man was still inside the villa, but he couldn't keep his mouth shut, constantly muttering and cursing. He couldn't understand why he managed to break free from the ropes and unlock the storage room door, but couldn't seem to leave the villa. Every time he tried to step out, it was as if he was being repelled and thrown back.

"Bloody hell! What kind of sorcery is this?" The man cursed and grumbled, continuously attempting to step out with his foot, only to be thrown back each time. Suddenly, he heard a fluttering sound from the sky. He looked up and was instantly petrified, watching Emily soaring with her wings spread in the night sky. He stammered, "Goddess... Goddess... descending to Earth..." and swallowed nervously.

Emily landed on the ground with the weakened Benjamin. The man hadn't quite figured out what was happening when he suddenly saw Benjamin, who was previously feeble and helpless, pounce at him like a feigned corpse. He then felt a searing pain at his neck, his body growing colder and gradually losing consciousness until his heart stopped beating.

Benjamin drained the man's last drop of blood, regaining much of his strength. He noticed there were still four corpses in the house. He shook his head and muttered to himself, "Such a waste." He walked over to one of the male bodies and bit open two holes on the other side of the neck.

After sucking the blood dry, he slowly got up, wiped his mouth, and said, "A bit stale, but still good. Did you bring them here?"