My Anti-hero Fairy System-Chapter 79. Poisoned Blood

The vampires froze mid-bite, their heads snapping toward her in unison.

"What do you want, bitch?" Wilhelmina sneered. "We can’t suck you, and now you don’t want us to devour her? Are you insane?"

Joana nudged her. "Why did you say that?"

At that moment, Cara realized she might be exposing herself to these bloodthirsty vampires. But she had already spoken, there was no turning back now.

"Joana, keep your human pet in check," Thaddeus barked.

Cara took a deep breath. "Don’t suck her blood. She has poisoned it, specifically for you."

The vampires hesitated, their grips loosening. That was all the woman needed.

In a blur, she launched herself at Cara, knocking her to the ground and dragging her across the massive sitting room with terrifying speed. Cara barely had time to react before the woman’s hands clamped around her throat.

"You nasty traitor," she spat, her grip tightening. "Siding with vampires? You’re dead, bitch."

Cara gasped for air, her vision spotting. The woman was unnaturally fast, likely due to whatever toxin was in her system.

Joana and the vampires reacted instantly. Snarling, Joana rushed forward, but the woman’s grip remained firm, fingers digging into Cara’s neck, drawing blood.

Through the suffocating pressure, Cara caught fragments of the woman’s thoughts.

He was murdered. My husband was fucking murdered. They drained him dry and tossed him away like trash. I will make them pay.

This wasn’t about her, this woman was out for revenge.

Joana wrenched the woman off Cara and tossed her into the waiting arms of the other vampires. They pinned her down, fangs bared, ready to tear her apart.

Joana bit his thumb to heal the injuries on Cara’s neck, before the vampires could get a whiff of her blood.

Still gasping, Cara staggered to her feet, her hand clutching her bruised throat. "Wait, don’t kill her. I need to ask her some questions."

Joana raised a brow, amused. "Kitten, that bitch just strangled the shit out of you, and you’re only interested in getting information?" She chuckled. "You really are a journalist through and through."

Thaddeus and Edwina tightened their grips on the woman, preparing to rip her apart.

Joana rolled her eyes and snapped, "Don’t kill her. My kitten wants to ask her some questions."

"What’s the point?" Wilhelmina scoffed.

Cara glared at her. "I need to know what’s in her blood and how she got it, you dumb bitch."

Wilhelmina hissed and stepped toward her, eyes flashing red. "Watch your mouth, virgin girl."

Thaddeus grabbed her arm before she could strike. "Not now," he muttered.

Joana shot Cara a look, a silent warning, but Cara ignored her. She turned her attention to the restrained woman.

"What’s in your blood?" she demanded.

The woman stayed silent. But Cara didn’t need her to speak.

The moment she asked the question, the woman’s mind flashed to the answer.

Cara saw it all.

She had exactly what she needed.

But she couldn’t reveal that. Not without exposing what she was. The vampires were already suspicious of her. She couldn’t let them put the pieces together.

"Joana," Cara said, keeping her expression neutral. "I need you to enchant her to answer my questions."

Joana glanced at her, understanding flickering in her eyes. She was playing along, protecting Cara’s secret.

With a smirk, Joana leaned in and whispered a spell, her voice a melodic hum.

The woman’s resistance crumbled in an instant. Her pupils dilated, and she spoke in a dull monotone.

"I was injected with a new disease that can kill vampires in a matter of hours or days. It’s called the Type V virus."

Joana’s expression darkened. "Have you used it? How many have you killed?"

The woman didn’t hesitate. "Yes. Fifteen vampires."

Cara’s stomach twisted.

"Where were you injected?" Joana asked.

"At the underground laboratory in Hemridge Labs."

Cara’s breath hitched.

The lab.

The test results from that sample Darren refused to show her. The secrecy. It was all adding up. She already pieced together that Darren’s boss was the mastermind, but she never thought that the tainted vampire blood she deduced from Darren’s was a virus.

Rudy and Darren’s boss had created a virus. A weapon. Something that would kill vampires if they so much as tasted infected blood.

Things had just gotten interesting.

[You can say that again. This is going to be fun.]

Joana turned to the vampires and commanded, "Take this woman out of my house. Return her to wherever you found her and deal with her there."

The vampires moved to obey, but Wilhelmina suddenly paused, spinning on her heel. "Is no one going to ask how this mannerless bitch knew the woman’s blood was poisoned?"

The room fell into silence. Slowly, every vampire turned their attention to Cara, murmuring amongst themselves.

"Yeah... that is weird."

Joana opened her mouth to intervene, but before she could, Cara cut in smoothly. "That’s a valid question. So, I’m going to introduce myself."

Joana’s breath hitched.

Her pulse quickened.

Shit.

Was Cara about to expose herself? If she revealed the truth, that she was a fairy, it could get her killed.

But Cara’s expression remained steady, her confidence unwavering.

"I’m Cara Bolton, a journalist for the Hemridge Globe," she said, her voice carrying across the room. "Last month, I was researching an underground lab suspected of conducting illegal experiments. I saw this woman going in and out of that facility multiple times." She let the words sink in before adding, "According to conspiracy theorists online, those experiments were designed to eliminate supernaturals."

The vampires stiffened.

"So when I yelled for you not to drink her blood," Cara continued, "I didn’t know for sure that it was poisoned. It was just a hunch."

A lie. A flawless, effortless lie.

And they believed it.

Joana watched in silent amazement as the vampires exchanged glances, nodding in reluctant agreement. Even she had to admit, it was damn convincing.

Thaddeus stepped forward first. "Thank you for saving our lives, Cara. I owe you one."

Edwina gave a begrudging nod, while Wilhelmina, still somewhat suspicious, muttered her thanks.

Then, from across the room, the restrained woman suddenly thrashed against her captors, her eyes blazing with fury.

"You traitorous bitch!" she screamed. "You’re going to die for siding with these vile creatures!"

Before she could say anything more, the vampires knocked her unconscious. Without another word, they gathered the remaining humans they had brought and swiftly exited the mansion.

The moment they were gone, Joana turned to Cara, an amused smirk playing at her lips.

"Kitten, you are so fucking good at lying," she drawled, shaking her head. "For a second, I almost believed you myself." She let out a low chuckle. "And those vampires? They didn’t even catch it. That’s impressive, considering we’re all natural lie detectors. How the hell do you do it?"

Cara smiled, her confidence unwavering. "I root my lies in the truth," she said simply. "I am a journalist, that’s true. I was investigating an illegal lab, that’s partly true."

Joana’s eyes gleamed with something close to admiration. "Huh. You learn something new every day," she murmured, sinking into her armchair.

But Cara’s expression sobered.

"I need to tell you something," she said, her tone shifting. "And I don’t want you to react impulsively."

Joana’s relaxed posture stiffened slightly. "What is it?"

Cara held her gaze. "Promise me you won’t react impulsively."

Their eyes locked, tension stretching between them like a taut wire.

Finally, Joana exhaled. "Fine. I promise."

Cara didn’t blink. "Rudy has a hand in this new virus."

Joana didn’t react at first.

Silence settled between them, heavy and foreboding.

Then, in a quiet, measured voice, Joana said, "I’m definitely going to kill your stepfather."

She leaned back in her chair, her tone eerily calm.

"It’s just a matter of when."

—---

—---

Later that night, Joana pulled up in front of the mayor’s mansion. Cara could tell she was itching to storm inside and tear Rudy to shreds, but she kept her composure. Instead, she turned to Cara and said, "Keep me updated on everything you find out about this virus, as well as the Temp-V trade. I’ll do my own digging, and we’ll compare notes."

"You got it," Cara said. Then, with a sheepish smile, she added, "And I promise to call you next time before showing up at your house."

Joana smirked. "You better. It’s for your safety, kitten. You’re too precious to me."

Cara felt a warmth creep up her cheeks. She knew exactly what Joana meant, and it made her blush. Clearing her throat, she teased, "Okay, goodbye. And take care of your slave for me."

Joana winked. "Oh, I definitely will, kitten."

With that, she drove off into the night.

Cara stood there for a moment, watching the taillights fade, before turning toward the gate. She pressed the button for the intercom, waiting for Max’s usual response.

Silence.

Frowning, she pressed it again. Still nothing.

She knew Max had to be there—there was no way he hadn’t heard the buzzer.

She pressed it a third time, her frustration mounting.

Finally, his voice crackled through the speaker. "Sorry, Cara. Rudy ordered me not to let you in tonight. I don’t know why."