My Blood Legacy: Bloodlines-Chapter 45: Getting ready

Victor stood before the mirror, slowly adjusting his shirt collar while observing his reflection with a neutral, almost bored expression, as if it were just another irritating formality in the middle of a routine he preferred to fill with combat, blood, and constant evolution. Behind him, Carmilla moved naturally, her delicate hands gently tugging at the fabric of his coat to better align his shoulders, smoothing any invisible imperfection with almost obsessive precision, while Scarlett remained leaning against the wall, arms crossed, silently observing everything with those attentive red eyes that missed not a single detail.

The atmosphere was calm, but there was a slight tension in the air, almost imperceptible, like a thin line about to break, and it came from them, not from him, which in itself said a lot, considering the kind of situation Victor was about to voluntarily get himself into. Carmilla finished adjusting the collar and took a half-step back, tilting her head slightly to analyze the result with a critical eye, as if she were evaluating a work of art that wasn’t quite finished.

"There... now it’s acceptable," she murmured, running a hand through her hair immediately afterward, clearly trying to disguise how much attention she was paying to every detail of his appearance.

Scarlett let out a small, almost inaudible "tch," looking away for a second before looking back at Victor, as if trying to maintain that disinterested posture that simply didn’t match the way her tail moved slowly behind her, betraying the opposite.

Carmilla crossed her arms then, assuming a more serious posture, and looked directly at Victor.

"We’ll keep an eye on you from a distance," she said, her tone now firmer, more objective, abandoning any trace of previous lightness. "At least that way we guarantee nothing external happens."

Victor raised an eyebrow slightly, still looking at his reflection.

"’Nothing external’?" he repeated, as if he found the choice of words interesting.

Carmilla nodded, keeping her gaze fixed on him.

"These visits... depending on who receives you, can become problematic very quickly," she continued, walking slowly to his side, her heels making a soft sound against the floor. "Even if the person is weaker, it doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous. Politics is dirtier than any battlefield."

Scarlett uncrossed her arms at that moment and took a few steps forward, stopping on the other side of Victor, her gaze still carrying an almost arrogant confidence, but now with a slight undertone of concern that she clearly didn’t like to show.

"If we notice any sign of attack... anything suspicious..." Carmilla continued, narrowing her eyes slightly. "We will reveal ourselves immediately and intervene."

"Even if it complicates the situation," Scarlett finished, her voice low but firm, like someone who had already made that decision before the conversation even began. "It doesn’t matter who’s involved."

Victor was silent for a few seconds, absorbing it all as he finally looked away from the mirror and faced the two of them directly.

Scarlett maintained her gaze, holding the exchange without hesitation, but her tail moved faster for a moment, betraying what she was trying to hide.

"I know you can handle this," she continued, her tone now a little more controlled, as if she were choosing her words more carefully. "But... we need some guarantee that you won’t die."

The silence that followed was short but heavy.

Victor blinked slowly.

And then... he laughed.

It wasn’t a loud laugh, nor an exaggerated one.

It was low.

Almost amused.

The kind of laugh someone makes when they find it all... cute.

The two of them immediately reacted. Scarlett frowned.

Carmilla narrowed her eyes.

"What is it?" Carmilla asked, clearly suspicious.

Victor brought his hand to his chin, tilting his head slightly as he observed the two as if analyzing something very simple.

"You two are terrible at this," he finally said, still with that slight smile on his face.

"Terrible at what?" Scarlett retorted immediately, her defensive tone instantly rising.

Victor took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

"If you want to say you love me," he continued naturally, as if pointing out something obvious. "Just say it."

Silence.

Complete.

Immediate.

Scarlett froze.

Carmilla blinked once... twice.

"You don’t need to invent elaborate excuses to protect me," Victor finished, crossing his arms now, his gaze calm but slightly provocative. "All this here..." he made a vague gesture between the three of them. "It’s quite obvious."

For a second... neither of them responded.

Scarlett was the first to react.

"O-obviously we’re serious!" she retorted, immediately looking away, as if it were more important than her own life. "This has nothing to do with—"

"It has everything to do with it," Victor interrupted, without losing his calm tone.

Carmilla brought her hand to her face, partially hiding her expression, but the tips of her ears were already slightly red.

"You... really choose the worst moments to say these things," she murmured, clearly uncomfortable.

"Worst?" Victor tilted his head. "I thought it was perfect."

Scarlett took a step back, crossing her arms tightly again, as if that would regain some kind of control she had clearly lost.

"You’re unbearable," she grumbled, but her tail continued to twitch behind her, completely betraying her true state.

Victor just smiled.

He didn’t insist.

He didn’t need to.

The bond between them already spoke louder than any words could at that moment, and they both knew it as well as he did.

Carmilla took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure, and then looked at him again, now with a more controlled expression.

"Just... don’t die," she said, more directly this time, abandoning any attempt at beating around the bush.

Scarlett nodded slightly, still not looking directly at him.

"Yeah," she murmured. "That would be... inconvenient."

Victor let out a small laugh again, this time softer.

"I’ll try," he replied.

Time passed almost imperceptibly after the conversation, as if the atmosphere itself had decided to slow down just to stretch out that moment before the inevitable departure. Victor remained leaning against the window for a while, watching the sky slowly darken, the orange tones of dusk being swallowed by a deep blue that would soon give way to complete night. Behind him, the room still carried the presence of the two, even in silence, as if the bond between them were something physical, filling every space with a constant feeling of warmth and vigilance.

Carmilla had stepped away to organize small details that, in practice, made no difference whatsoever, but served as a distraction for her restless mind, while Scarlett feigned disinterest by remaining seated with one leg crossed over the other, her fingers tapping lightly on the arm of the sofa in an irregular rhythm that betrayed exactly the opposite of what she wanted to demonstrate. Neither of them spoke much at that moment, but the silence was not empty; it was heavy, dense, full of unspoken things that neither of them seemed willing to put into words.

Victor perceived this without needing to look directly, and for a moment, he almost reconsidered leaving at that moment, not out of fear or doubt, but simply because that kind of atmosphere was too rare to be ignored. Still, he knew it wasn’t optional, not this time, and that alone made everything more irritating than it should be.

The minutes continued to tick by, and the light in the room gradually dimmed until only the artificial light remained, creating soft shadows on the walls and highlighting the outlines of the furniture and figures within the space. At some point, Carmilla finally stopped what she was doing and approached again, her eyes passing over Victor once more as if confirming that he was still there, whole, present.

Scarlett looked away towards the window, but her tail moved once more, slowly, almost lazily, as if marking the remaining time until his departure. It was strange, even for her, to feel it so clearly, so directly, without the possibility of ignoring or completely masking it.

When the clock finally struck six, the sound was discreet, but enough to break the silent equilibrium that had formed. Victor let out a small sigh, almost imperceptible, and then moved, stepping away from the window and walking towards the door with firm steps, without hesitation, like someone who had already accepted what needed to be done.

Neither of them tried to stop him. Carmilla simply crossed her arms again, watching him approach the exit with a watchful gaze, while Scarlett remained where she was, but now looking directly at him, making no attempt to hide the intensity in her red eyes.

Victor paused for a brief second before the door, his hand already on the doorknob, and turned his head slightly, casting one last glance at the two women. He said nothing, he didn’t need to, but the small smile that appeared at the corner of his mouth was enough.

Then he opened the door.

The hallway outside was silent, as always, illuminated by soft lamps that created a continuous line of light along the path. The air was cooler outside, more neutral, lacking the intense presence that the room carried.

As soon as he took his first step outside, the door closed behind him with a low sound.

And he followed.

Victor’s footsteps echoed in a controlled manner down the hallway as he advanced towards the exit of the residential wing, his relaxed posture contrasting with the importance of the situation. Even knowing exactly the kind of encounter that awaited him, he didn’t seem particularly worried, which in itself said a lot about the kind of person he was.

He didn’t have to walk far.

Before he even reached the end of the hallway, a figure emerged from one of the sides, moving with an almost silent elegance. It was a vampire dressed as a butler, wearing impeccable clothes, erect posture, neutral expression, and attentive eyes.

He stopped a few steps from Victor and bowed slightly in respect.

"Mr. Victor," he said in a controlled voice, without excessive emotion. "The carriage is ready. If you’ll allow me, I’ll drive you."

Victor simply nodded slightly, without stopping walking.

"Of course," he replied simply.

The butler turned immediately, taking the lead, guiding the way with precise steps, without haste, but also without wasting time. Victor followed close behind, maintaining his usual carefree posture, his hands now in his pockets as his eyes casually scanned the surroundings.

They crossed the main corridors, passed through less busy areas and eventually reached the south exit of the facility, where night had completely taken over the sky. The air was colder outside, and the darkness was broken only by a few lights strategically positioned along the way.

The carriage was there.

Large, elegant, with refined details that clearly indicated that this was no ordinary transport. The horses remained motionless, like living statues, and the driver waited in silence, showing no impatience.

The steward stopped beside the carriage door and opened it with a fluid movement.

"Have a good trip," he said, inclining his head slightly once more.

Victor climbed in without replying, entering the comfortable interior of the vehicle and settling into the seat naturally, as if this were just another routine part of his day.

The door closed immediately afterward.

And the carriage began to move.

For a few seconds, Victor simply stood there, silent, feeling the gentle sway of the carriage as it slowly left the confines of the training wing behind. Then, almost instinctively, he turned his face toward the window.

The darkness outside was profound, but his eyes adjusted easily, allowing him to see beyond the obvious.

And then he saw.

Two subtle movements in the darkness.

Two figures.

Red and white.

For a brief moment, the shapes of the two were still visible before they completely dissolved, transforming into small masses of bats that dispersed into the night air, disappearing into the darkness with an almost elegant fluidity.

They were following.

At a distance.

In their own way.

Victor watched this for a few seconds, his gaze following the last trace of movement before everything disappeared completely.

And then he smiled.

A small smile.

Almost imperceptible.

But genuine.

"So cute..." he murmured softly, leaning back in his seat immediately afterward.

The carriage continued moving along the road, taking him further and further away, towards something he knew very well wouldn’t be simple.