Chapter 18: Birth Of A New Fallen

Elizabeth released the black dome after we spoke. She gently floated back to her seat and sat down. The other Vampire Lords didn't seem too bothered by what had just happened. I looked at Elizabeth, waiting for her to announce my sentence.

"Silver, for killing a fellow Vampire, although in self-defense, you shall be imprisoned for one year at Scarlet Detention Center," she said in a gentle tone.

"Are there any who disagree?" she asked, looking around at the other Vampire Lords.

Everyone, except Vlad, looked satisfied with the conclusion.

"I think we should increase the imprisonment to two years," he said after standing up and directing his gaze toward me.

I couldn't even make a remark. I could only look at him with confusion. Why does he want me locked up for longer?

"For what reason, Vlad?" Elizabeth asked, maintaining her calm demeanor.

"Is the life of a Vampire so cheap? We lost a Vampire with a bright future, and the one who killed him gets just a year of punishment!" he yelled, trying to persuade everyone.

"If he had not killed Kent, both he and Emily would be dead," Elizabeth replied.

What Vlad just said made absolutely no sense. I could see why Jacks had called him a moron earlier.

"Was anyone present? How can we be sure he wasn't the one who started the attack?" Vlad said, his voice deep and loud, trying to pin the blame on me.

"Vlad, calm down. One year is enough punishment for a child fighting for his life," Elizabeth said gently.

"Elizabeth! Why do you take his side?" Vlad yelled, slamming his hands on the table.

"Vlad, I will decide what happens to a student at my academy," Elizabeth said calmly, not even trying to argue with him.

"Yes… but still… I—"

"Vlad! Did you not hear what Elizabeth said?" Theodore interjected in a menacing tone.

"Tsk," Vlad clicked his tongue before glaring at me with disdain and sitting back down, his expression annoyed.

What did I even do to make him hate me this much? The other Vampire Lords were looking at Vlad with anger, some even with disgust.

"Silver, do you have anything to say?" Elizabeth asked.

"Can I please make a request?" I asked politely.

"Yes," she answered.

"I would like to get some things from my dorm room," I asked calmly.

"No, but you may ask someone to go in your stead," Elizabeth replied kindly as she stood up. "Silver, you may leave. Just tell the guard who you will send to retrieve your belongings," she added.

I nodded and followed the woman with glasses. I could still feel Vlad's gaze on me as I exited the room. The Vampire Lords all stayed behind, seemingly having more to discuss. The lady with the glasses stayed behind shutting the door behind me.

The guard was still waiting for me outside, standing next to the door like a statue. He moved toward me, grabbing the chain with an emotionless face, and dragged me back to the white room. We went back down the stairs, which were built like a spiral, making them seem longer than they were.

Cling.

Clang.

What's that noise? It sounds like someone else, wearing the same heavy cuffs I was, coming up the stairs. The sound grew closer by the second.

Another guard passed us, pulling a Vampire by a chain. I glanced over to see who it was—a Vampire with black hair covering his eyes, wearing glasses.

It was Crazy Chris. But what was he doing here? Did he also commit a crime?

"Move!" the guard ordered loudly.

I hadn't realized I had stopped moving. I was intensely staring at Crazy Chris. The air around him felt different from when we first met. He seemed calm and composed.

We arrived at the bottom of the stairs. My arms were beginning to feel heavy. My stamina wasn't great to begin with, and now that my magion was restricted, I felt the full weight of my weak body. Nonetheless, I kept moving, following behind the guard until we arrived at my room.

He unlocked the cuffs, and my strength began to recover.

"Get in!" he ordered.

"Wait, I was told I could ask someone to get my things from my dorm room," I said, rubbing my wrists. "Tell Emily Bloodsworth to get a book, a vial, and a necklace from the desk beside my bed," I added.

"Fine. Get in," the guard said coldly.

I went inside, and he immediately shut the door, locking it.

I walked to the bed and fell face-first onto it, lying on my stomach.

"I guess I'll sleep. No! Now's not the time to be sleeping—I need to make my decision!" I said, turning over to face the white ceiling.

Should I join Magia, or should I not? What would I even gain from joining?

Let's see… If I join Magia, I'll have a chance to become a noble if I make a new discovery. By becoming a noble, I'd be able to join high society and their gatherings. I could even meet the royal families.

I might find out more about my mother's death. Maybe I could even figure out why two of my magical elements are locked.

But… their entrance exam is extremely difficult—far more so than Scarlet Academy's—and it's just one test.

The only reason I don't want to join is that focusing on magion research will stagnate my evolution into a Vampire Lord.

By becoming a Vampire Lord, I'll become much stronger and will automatically be made a noble.

What should I do? I should probably wait a little longer before making my decision.

This decision will influence my entire future and the path I'll take.

Mother… what would you have told me if you were here?

I turned to my side, closed my eyes, and curled up, preparing for the last sleep I'd have during my imprisonment.

***

(Crazy Chris's POV)

"Hey… where are you taking me?" I asked softly, my voice listless.

"Quiet!" the guard ordered, looking back at me with disdain.

It's that look again. Why do people keep looking at me with disgust? They don't even know I'm just acting crazy. It was fun at first, but now it's just bothersome.

"Walk faster, Crazy! Ugh, why did I even get assigned to someone like you?" the guard said, pulling the chain forward.

Should I just give up? This whole act has become so boring.

"Guard, look over there… someone escaped," I said, without a shred of enthusiasm.

"What? Where?" the guard exclaimed, stopping and looking around.

This was my chance. I lunged toward him, my teeth retracting as I bit into his neck. I could feel my teeth sink into his flesh.

"Argh!" he yelled, his voice echoing in the hallway as he tried to hit me off.

But I summoned my Bloodless Weapon—a dagger—and stabbed him in the back. He screamed in agony, falling forward to the ground. He clawed at the floor, trying to crawl away from me, until I pushed the dagger deeper, piercing his heart. His body stopped moving.

I continued sucking his blood. It was warm… and more delicious than I had expected.

After a while, I finished drinking. I stood up, my body feeling hot. I felt a rush of exhilaration. A circle appeared on my hand, leaving behind a burning sensation.

"So… I've become a Fallen. Not that I'm surprised—it was my intention after all. I hope this is more exciting than acting crazy," I said, wiping the blood from my lips.