"We don't cooperate with humans," the second silhouette said.
There was little malice in its voice... just pure arrogance.
"Haven't we been cooperating all along?" Annan asked, feigning surprise. "Humans provide the blood Vampires live on, and I can awaken the Scarlet Queen."
The second silhouette fell silent for a moment. Annan had a point, and it suddenly found him much more agreeable.
"How will you do it?"
Annan kept his gaze fixed on the place where the malice was strongest. "Since certain Councilors may try to stop me, I'd prefer to keep it secret."
"Let a lowly human enter the Forbidden Grounds? Have you gone mad, or have we..." A sneer finally came from the darkness.
Annan was about to retort when the Crimson Princess spoke first, her voice cold. "Have you forgotten I'm here?"
"My niece Lena, you should never have returned." The darkness that had remained silent for so long finally lit up, revealing Grand Duke Borodia's silhouette.
He was a middle-aged man with skin as pale as though he had spent centuries submerged in water. His eyes glinted red.
"Should I have stayed away and let you devour the Stuart Family whole, erase us from existence, then turn your claws on the other families until the Vampire Clan withered from endless infighting?"
"You're so cool," Annan whispered.
Delight flickered across the Crimson Princess's face. She squeezed Annan's hand in reply.
"Everything you've said is speculation. But you have brought a human into the Council and defiled this land of our Progenitor."
The Crimson Princess opened her mouth, unsure how to answer...
"I'm disappointed."
Annan suddenly spoke, his disappointment undisguised. "I grew up admiring the great love between the Goddess of Love and a human. I was willing to overcome prejudice with the Crimson Princess and come