"3 gatherings in one month, since when did Krobridge become so lively?" The 8th seat commented as he leaned back lazily on his stone chair.
The dark underground hall was lit up with torches once again as the Dukes gathered to discuss.
Their expressions varied as they waited for an explanation of why a meeting was called so abruptly.
The 1st seat sighed. "I had no idea the order would be disrupted so easily. Since when did gatherings take place without prior notice?... Is this how things should be done!"
He spoke in a relatively calm tone but that was only because he didn’t want to make a scene if it so happened that the person that called the meeting was Damian.
Speaking of Damian, he hadn’t arrived yet with the hall entrance left wide open for his arrival.
With the 3rd seat accompanying him, it was understandable that Horace wasn’t available as well so the others waited patiently.
It wasn’t until an hour later that Damian waltzed in with an annoyed expression. "Who the fuck called for a gathering?... I am not in a good mood so answer wrongly and I swear I will have your head."
Horace walked behind him with his head down, a subtle smile on his face.
The 1st seat met Damian’s furious gaze as he asked. "You didn’t call this meeting?"
"Why would I call for it?... Do you think I like you old geezers’ faces that much?... Don’t flatter yourself." Damian spat coldly.
"... I see." The 1st seat muttered before glancing at the other members of the council. "So who called this meeting?"
Silence reigned for a few seconds before a meek voice was heard.
The entire council quickly zeroed in on the one that spoke before making it out to be the 11th Duke.
Having a young body that was comparable to that of a toddler, he stood out with his small stature and boyish features.
Momentarily flustered by the attention sent his way, the 11th seat gulped audibly before he slowly spoke up. "... I called this meeting for a very important matter."
"Hmm." The 1st seat furrowed his brows as he was well aware of the 11th and what he was capable of.
A trickster at heart and annoying one at that, the 11th had never seemed so confused in the time he had known him, making him believe that something was wrong.
Unfortunately, Damian didn’t see things in a similar light as he activated the Bloodstone and unleashed his full authority on the 11th.
A pained cry echoed in the hall as the 11th was slammed into the ground.
"You freaking toddler!... You dare call a meeting without my permission!?... Do you think I don’t dare to kill you?" Damian bellowed.
His encounter with Crow Mask had left more of a mark than he wished it did.
Even now, he still held onto the parchment that Crow Mask had given him.
The 11th barely crawled back up before he fell to his knees. "Please Monarch, this is a serious matter."
"..." Damian glared at the tiny bastard and after taking a few deep breaths, moved over to the stone table and took his seat.
First inspecting the expressions of everyone present, Damian returned his attention to the 11th. "Speak. I’m listening."
"Thank you, Monarch." The 11th quickly bowed in thanks before glancing toward one of the armored knights in the hall.
"Please bring him in."
The armored knight nodded in agreement before they left the hall and after a few minutes returned with a battered Finnick in their grasp.
Tossing him to the ground just beside the 11th, the latter pulled Finnick till he was on his knees before he spoke up.
"Tell them what you told me."
"Do it!" The 11th bellowed in faint annoyance.
Finnick gritted his teeth before resting his eyes upon the council who currently has their attention on him.
Letting out a sigh, Finnick remarked. "... The Dark Lord is risen!"
The entire hall fell into deafening silence as even the armored knights flinched at the unexpected announcement.
Varied expressions were plastered on the faces of the council members as they looked amongst themselves.
Damian’s expression contorted at the absurd statement as he questioned the 11th while completely ignoring Finnick. "Is this the important piece of news you wanted to give us?"
"You have to believe in me, everyone." Finnick suddenly said, cutting off his Duke and drawing attention to himself yet again.
The 11th felt the urge to rip him apart at that moment seeing as how trouble was currently at his doorstep but couldn’t bring himself to do so.
If Finnick was right about the Dark Lord and he was chosen as that great being’s subordinate, then... Would he be alright for harming him?
The 11th didn’t dare to think any further than that.
Meanwhile, Finnick continued without fear. "I saw him with my eyes. A power that treads both Light and Darkness, an authority that far surpasses anything we could have ever witnessed. The Dark Lord has risen, my lord and he is currently in the 11th Extension."
No one dared to speak as the implications of what Finnick was saying were clear enough for them to understand.
However, laughter soon echoed in the hall, jolting the council from their thoughts.
Damian was the origin as he laughed aloud to his heart’s content.
Only when he was done did he speak up. "Have you old fools become so senile that you would believe the words of any vampire that walks in here?... Do you believe that a being spoken about in the myths of our race is real?... How can you all be so stupid?"
"Monarch!" The 1st seat suddenly spoke up, catching Damian off guard.
"The Dark Lord is not a piece of fiction created to tell the younger generation... They are real and as it is written in the prophecy, they are the ones to lead the Creatures of the Night to glory once again." The 1st seat calmly explained.
"What are you trying to say, 1st?"
Taking a deep breath, the 1st seat, sensing the bloodlust in Damian’s eyes, calmly replied. "... On the off chance that what this young Vampire says is true... we cannot take the situation lightly."