Chapter 2

The entry to the dungeon was marked by a spectacular pair of stone doors that stood next to the large door of the library. A small, decaying room may be located behind a pair of granite doors that opened onto a corridor. The ground was covered with a coating of dead insects, puddles of water, and rat droppings, among other things. The sound emanating from below ground was disturbing enough, and the strange, musky fragrance of dried blood further contributed to the eerie atmosphere of the location.

Caden Lockwood and Sasha Kensington walked farther into the dungeon, where Sebastian Kensington had elected to sleep for more than a hundred years. Caden Lockwood and Sasha Kensington were the first to enter the deepest area of the dungeon. The people who lived in the house were all taken aback when they learned that their mysterious leader had finally chosen to face the public after many years of lurking in the background. When Sebastian Kensington was accused of being responsible for the Great War, it was said that he went in hiding after that.

He was somewhat to fault, after all, since it was his wife who instigated the conflict. He was in a condition of shock. Despite the devastation, the members of their clan, Carpe Noctem, did not desert any of their members, whether it was Sebastian Kensington or someone else in the group. They came together as a group and climbed to glory once again! They were dispersed around the globe, but Caden Lockwood was well aware that as soon as the word about Sebastian would reach their ears, they would swarm into Stonewick and take up residence in his town.

It was too hazardous for him to take as Mayor of Stonewick. Even though Sebastian’s people had been surviving by drinking animal blood, Sebastian himself never had an ounce of animal blood throughout the years of his existence. He was used to drinking human blood, and it was something he was used to doing before he decided to isolate himself from the rest of the world!

“Do you believe there is a unique reason why he has chosen this particular moment to wake up?” He questioned Sasha while turning on the lights to better look at the shattered and disfigured remnants left behind by the passage of time. According to the old photographs shot by his forefathers, the house has seen a significant transformation throughout the years. If there was one part of the estate that has remained undisturbed, it was the underground...which happened to be where Sebastian Kensington was resting.

“We’re also perplexed at the moment, Mr Lockwood, but he may be had enough sleep,” she said in response to his question.

The answer given by Sasha Kensington made Caden Lockwood want to hit her on the back of the head for being so stupid, while at the same time making him wonder how on earth the woman had risen to become Carpe Noctem’s current clan chief. “He might have simply slept forever,” Caden mumbled in a barely audible voice, but Sasha could hear him and stopped Caden’s path with her arm. Her eyes became crimson as she glared at him, but he responded with a snort. He was not afraid of their type, even though he was simply a regular human being.

The fact that Caden Lockwood did nothing except snort at Sasha was enough to make her grumble. Through the years they have spent working together to keep Stonewick calm, she has concluded that only Caden Lockwood was not afraid of her and her friends. But the past mayors were different, and she wondered where he had gotten the guts to be so daring in the first place.

“In front of you, there is only one path to take.” They were walking side by side towards Sebastian Kensington’s sleeping quarters when she told him of the tortuous trail they were on. “Its tortuous track leads you past tombs that have been destroyed and pillaged,” she said.

The quest proceeded as they plunged even further into the depths of the dungeon’s darkness. They continued through a few more corridors, most of which were similar to the ones they had just been through. Then, there was a massive metal door that blocked the path. Intricate carvings could be seen all over the place, apparently unaffected by the passage of time or the elements of the environment.

Caden Lockwood became aware of the faint sound of footsteps following him after taking another step forward. He attempted to warn Sasha Kensington, but the lady seemed utterly unaware of her surroundings. Then he turned around and saw Sebastian Kensington in front of him, and he screamed out loud in astonishment! Well, he was startled!

“My lord,” he greeted the man, who looked just like the portrait he had in his office. His silver, long hair was combed back, revealing a gaunt yet charming face behind his beautiful locks. It was excellent, even though his green eyes were dull at the time. The fact that Sebastian Kensington had silver hair and green eyes was a distinguishing feature that set him apart from the other guys he had met. He was gorgeous, and his aura was quite intense! It’s no surprise that so many legends about the aforementioned vampire were glorified!

“My beloved sister, if he’s my meal for today, I’d rather bask in the sunshine and die,” Sebastian said. Even though Sebastian’s velvety and well-modulated voice resonated throughout the dungeon, the other man was not scared at all.

Caden Lockwood moaned in response to the insult he had gotten from an old vampire, but as he scowled at him, the vampire quickly averted his gaze from him. When he gazed at him, his eyes were scary, and he worried that if he didn’t look away, the eccentric vampire would take his life, and no one would ever know. Nonetheless, he should not quail in the face of his people’s suffering. “My lord, my name is Caden Lockwood, and I am the present Mayor of this town,” he introduced himself, but the guy just sneered and walked away without saying anything.

In an attempt to conceal his discomfort at the hands of Sebastian Kensington, he just followed him till they arrived at a casket made entirely of gold! His pupils dilated as he fixed his gaze on the golden casket, and when he glanced up, he saw that the Kensington siblings were also staring at him!

“You can take it home with you if you like,” Sebastian announced.

When the vampire challenged Caden to carry the coffin home, Caden’s nostrils responded! As if he could pull anything like that in broad daylight! It was possible that he would have killed him with his bare hand had he known what he was about to do to an immortal. The problem was that he couldn’t think of a fitting phrase to characterize his hubris!

“What brought you to your senses now, my lord?” He attempted to question him, hoping that the bastard would refrain from insulting him more.

“Did you want me to sleep forever?” Sebastian roared at Caden Lockwood.

“No! Of course not, my lord!” It took him no time to react to Sebastian’s question since his eyes had instantly become frightening.

With his first query, Sebastian said, “I’m thirsty,” and as Caden Lockwood blinked his eyes shut in perplexity, Sebastian chuckled at the obtuse guy. Then he went on to say, “I suppose it’s only normal to grow thirsty after sleeping for many years,” he said further.

“Is that all there is to it? Did you have a specific cause for waking up now?” Caden pressed Sebastian for further information.

“Hmmm, such as sleeping beauty? Please accept my apologies for disappointing you, Lockwood, but this was not the case. My sister, Sasha, has informed me of the events that occurred while I was sleeping, and I want to express my gratitude for allowing them to coexist with you. However,” Because his throat had suddenly become dry, Sebastian took time to swallow some of his salivae, but when he looked at Caden Lockwood, the guy seemed to be ready to hear more from him. “However, I can’t stand by and let them continue to subsist on animal blood, Lockwood. Yes, they would be able to live, but it would be damaging to their health in the long run,” he stated.

After hearing the man’s explanation, Caden Lockwood was left completely stunned. “Do you not see yourself as being selfish at this point, my lord? If you have any intention of hurting my people, do it over my dead body!” He made his declaration with confidence.

“Granted,” Sebastian murmured, and with a twist of his head, he signaled to Sasha that the man’s life was in her hands to take. Yes, of course, that was a joke! Sasha had just terrified the guy, but the bastard was a different breed! He wasn’t even trembling with fright! “You have a lot of courage, Lockwood. Are you doing this for the benefit of your people?” As a leader, he praised Lockwood’s courage, but he would not make any concessions regarding his diet.

“Yes, and I was certain that we could come up with something that would be more advantageous to our respective races. For your knowledge, we are the ones that go out hunting for the food that your guys eat. Surely, there is sufficient justification to get an agreement?” Caden Lockwood insisted that each of them make concessions for the welfare of their respective communities.

“I appreciate your allowing them to coexist. However, feeding on animal blood is not a healthy practice, as I previously said.” Insisting on his point, Sebastian saw that Lockwood trembled as he raised his voice to a louder volume. So he was afraid, and he was trying to keep it a secret from him! Brilliant!