Chapter 2: Thorns of the White Rose

Elena's Perspective

In the morning light, the iron gates of the Dracula Manor were like a cage. Elena gripped her black umbrella tightly, her knuckles turning white, and the surface of the umbrella was scorched by the morning sun, giving off a burnt smell. In the courtyard, three small bodies covered with white cloth were kneeling, and their tiny outlines were particularly eye - catching. They were werewolf cubs, their throats torn open by sharp teeth, but the fatal wound was the unique blood - poison burn mark of vampires.

"The envoy of the Silver Claw Alliance will arrive in ten minutes." Victor applied an ice pack to the back of her hand, which was burned by the sunlight, and his voice was extremely low. "The patrol team claims that... when you left the church last night, the tips of your claws were stained with the fur of the cubs."

The handle of the umbrella creaked under the unbearable weight. Elena kicked aside the white cloth, picked up a wisp of silver - gray fur with her fingertips, and a hint of discordant pine - resin fragrance passed her nose. It was the smell of the fur - care agent that Selena often used. She sneered, and the fur burned into blue flames in her palm. "Prepare two ice coffins and fill them with the eternal - frozen roses from the North Alps."

"Are you going to show weakness to the werewolves?"

"No." She took off her sunglasses, and the scarlet pupils reflected the bite marks on the corpses' necks. "I'm going to tell Lupin that a true hunter never uses real bait in a trap."

Cain's Perspective

The werewolves in the conference hall were anxiously sharpening their claws. Cain bent down to carefully examine the corpses of the cubs in the holographic projection. The fluorescent - green blood - poison at the edges of the wounds was clearly forged. The blood - poison of the Dracula family should be dark red. His fingertips unconsciously rubbed the back of his neck, where there were still blood marks scratched by Elena's struggle last night.

"The prophecy is true." Witch Maggie's withered hand pressed on the altar rubbing, and the crystal ball showed the scene of Cain and Elena's blood blending. "The curse of the Blood Moon Marriage exterminated the Nightborne three hundred years ago. I never expected..."

"Nightborne?"

"The hybrids of vampires and werewolves, regarded as monsters that defile the bloodlines." A strange light flashed in Maggie's single eye. "But it is said that their hearts can simultaneously activate the sacred objects of both races, for example..."

Suddenly, the altar trembled, and the Blood Moon Stone that disappeared last night rose from the crack. There was a wisp of swimming silver thread in the core of the crystal, which was exactly Cain's blood. When he tried to touch it, the stone suddenly burst into red light, and the werewolf totem burned a scar on the back of his hand.

Selena rushed in suddenly, with the morning dew still on the tips of her hair. "The people of Dracula sent coffins to provoke us! They also killed our cubs!"

Cain silently put on his silver claws, his Adam's apple rolling as he swallowed some emotion. "Take two teams of people and go to Crescent Bridge."

Elena's Perspective

Lane Winters stood under the crystal chandelier, and his white suit was like an out - of - place light. He was performing magic tricks for the children in the orphanage. When the coin passed through the boy's ear, it caused bursts of exclamations. When the sound of Elena's high - heeled shoes rang out, he turned around and smiled. The cross necklace slipped out from his collar, but the end was upside - down.

"Elena, you look like an oil painting that has been splashed with holy water." Lane pushed the mint tea in front of her, and the ice cubes tinkled. "Do you need me to provide you with the last confession?"

Elena waved away the servants and pressed a dagger against his throat. "When did demon hunters change their profession to become charlatans?"

Lane let the blade cut his skin, and the blood that flowed out was a strange pale - gold color. "My Lord needs lost lambs, such as that trembling werewolf - hybrid girl under the bridge... Ah, you really don't know." He licked off the blood beads and chuckled. "The cubs that died last night were all pure - blooded, but there was a half - human, half - wolf little thing that escaped. Now all the demon hunters in the city are looking for her."

Suddenly, an emergency communication popped up on the holographic screen. Victor's face was distorted by fear. "Miss, the werewolves are gathering on Crescent Bridge...滋滋... They've brought sun - burning bombs!"

Climax Scene: The Stand - off on Crescent Bridge

Elena's black umbrella cast a long and thin shadow on the bridge deck. Twelve sun - burning bombs were suspended in front of the werewolf formation. This kind of ultraviolet weapon was enough to turn vampires into ashes. Cain stood on the armored vehicle roof, and the red light of the Blood Moon Stone in his hand echoed the tip of the umbrella from afar.

"Hand over the murderer." His voice was colder than a firearm.

Elena threw out a memory extractor, and the holographic image exploded in the air. It was a complete record of the church basement last night. The scenes of Selena forging the wounds, her sneaking into the nursery to cut the fur of the cubs, and her sprinkling pine - resin powder on Elena's cloak were all presented as ironclad evidence.

The werewolf pack erupted in chaos. Selena let out a furious roar and pounced towards Elena, but was caught by Cain's silver chain around her throat. In the chaos, the sobs of a child came from under the bridge. A hybrid girl with wolf ears on her head was sobbing while holding her broken leg, and the demon hunter chasing after her had already loaded the crossbow.

Elena and Cain moved at the same time. The vampire turned into a black mist and carried away the girl, and the werewolf's sharp claws tore apart the crossbow bolts. When Elena was bandaging the girl, Cain suddenly grabbed her wrist. The memories of the shared - sense from last night surged again. This time, she saw herself lying in Cain's arms, with white hair like snow, and a silver claw belonging to him stuck in her chest.

"The prophecy is starting to come true." He murmured.

Chapter End Hook

Lane overlooked all this from the top of the bridge tower and dipped the upside - down cross into the red wine. "Initiate Plan B." He said to the earpiece. "Let our little Nightborne friend 'accidentally' discover that basement... Yes, the one filled with Elena's mother's photos."

And the hybrid girl tightly grasped the corner of Elena's clothes. Her pupils suddenly flashed a red light like that of the Blood Moon Stone. "Sister, I've seen you... in the mirror my mother left behind."

Next Chapter:

When Cain discovers the Dracula family crest on the hybrid girl's collar, and when Lane "accidentally" leads Elena to her mother's abandoned laboratory - "The blood flowing in your body is dirtier than the curse." The vampire prince crushed the wine glass. "Now, kneel down and beg me to cover up this secret for you."