A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 94: Endorsement

Gabriel’s claws dug deeper into his arm, the urge to kill slowly getting the better of him. He came here looking for an army, but what did he get instead? His wife was getting married to a scarred Althenian by her emotionless brother, and he just stood there doing nothing!

He felt the last straw of self restraint he had crumbling into nothingness and if no one could stop him, this hall would be painted red soon. How comes no one wanted him? Not in his own kingdom, not in the human realm.

And there, in the throne hall of Mysthaven, Gabriel Sinclair made up his mind. If he wanted anything, he had to take it no matter the consequences. He had been a spectator long enough to get humiliated by a mere human!

But before he could do anything, the shadow of Charles appeared behind Andrian, a dagger in his hand. With two swift steps, he plunged the blade into Andrian’s guts, the once prideful king whimpering in pain.

"That was for my father," he whispered in his ear before pulling out the blade. Blood formed quickly around the wound before Andrian fell to his knees holding his bleeding guts with his hand.

The knights seized Charles quickly before he could plunge another dagger into his back.

"Rian!?" Elena called, quickly running to her brother’s side. She inspected the wound, a gasp leaving her lips. Gabriel just stood there, overwhelmed by how fast the events had turned.

"Fetch the physician!" Elena yelled as she held Andrian’s falling head before he could hit the ground. A knight gathered him in his hands and headed for his room with Elena trailing behind him. Gabriel had never seen her so scared, not even when she nearly freezed to death.

"What now?" He heard someone ask from the side. He turned to see Vathin staring at the exiting group. The guests had started dispersing now.

"We stay," Gabriel said. He heard a low grunt from Vathin but he knew he’d stay. "I have to kill someone."

"Who?" Vathin asked only to spot Gabriel walking out of the hall. He followed him to a hallway that led to the dungeons.

Crawny arms of underfed criminals were dangling on this part of the dungeon. Malnutritioned would be an understatement of their status right now. Some were vampires, tortured until what was left of them was nothing but skin. What was the greatest but painful way to kill a vampire if not keeping them thirsty and hungry. The humans knew this well, a trick they’d been using for centuries to torture the bloodsuckers.

But Gabriel was not here for nearly dying vampires. From the cell at the corner, prince Charles was holding the bars as if they were his only hope. A knight sat on the corner, his eyes fixated on the approaching duo. He stood up when they were close enough, his hand rested on the hilt of his sword.

"You’re not allowed in here," he stated the obvious. When Gabriel couldn’t stop in his tracks, the knight drew his sword and pressed it on Gabriel’s chest. Their eyes met, the courage he had turning into nothingness in Gabriel’s intimidating gaze.

Vathin rolled his eyes. He walked past Gabriel and grabbed the knight by the neck. His eyes turned a shade darker settling into those of the Knight’s. They locked, turning all black like the abyss until he let go of the knight but panting heavily.

"Open the cellar," he pointed, trying to catch his breath. As if tied to his will, the knight opened the cellar without question, a frightened Charles cowering to a corner.

Gabriel stepped inside, his eyes narrowed with the intent to kill.

"Please spare me," he begged, holding his hands out defensively.

"Don’t they have anything else to say when they’re almost dying?" Vathin asked, scoffing at how pathetic the humans were.

Gabriel grabbed him by the neck, lifting him off the ground with one hand. The human was weightless! His eyes turned redder, the life slowly slipping out of him. He kicked his legs in Gabriel’s grip as if that would stop him from dying.

"This is boring," Vathin admitted. "I mean they’re better ways to kill a person," he added, shrugging his shoulders. "If it was me, I’d be holding a beating heart in my hand."

And turning to the knight, "isn’t it picturesque?" The nodded heavily like a little girl.

"I wanted to kill you when I was coming down here. But then I thought, what will I gain if I killed you?"

"Nothing!" Charles choked out the word.

"And I remembered your father had ships, the vampires greatest nightmare. And now that he’s dead, you’ll be the new Lord of Althenia."

"Oh, come on!" Vathin said, his hands dropping in disappointment.

"Mother!" Gabriel reminded her the station she held. She might derive pleasure in killing people but pressuring him to kill. She was putting negative thoughts in his mind yet the ones already there didn’t need company.

He let go of the Caucasian, the prince dropping on the dirt with his butt. "In exchange for your life, you’ll give up your ships and army to ruler of Mysthaven."

Charles rubbed his neck before giving Gabriel a hard glare. "That’ll be making Andrian more powerful."

"I know," he replied with a smirk. Left with no other choice, Charles nodded bitterly.

"If anyone asks you what happened here, tell them you saw... Nothing." The knight nodded in affirmation after locking the cellar.

’If I may,’ Vathin said telepathically to catch Gabriel’s attention. The two halted in the hallway, Gabriel giving him a hard glare.

"Why would you want to endorse the Althenian fleet to Andrian, after what he has done to you?" He asked.

"I didn’t," Gabriel replied, resuming his walk. Vathin trotted to catch up with him. "I’m not a fool to give him an army."

"I felt his heartbeat moments after he was stabbed. He’s not going to make it out alive. With him dead..." He left Vathin standing to connect the dots.

"Elena’s going to be the ruler of Mysthaven," Vathin whispered in realization. ’Clever bastard!’