S.P.E.C.T.O.R

Chapter 576: Alaric and Lavana Nosferatu

“I would apologise on behalf of my daughter, but unfortunately, your daughter lied to you,” Asema replied before sighing and saying, “Though it does seem that I failed to raise Renne well.”

“What? Lied to me?” Levana asked.

“I’m afraid so,” Asema nodded before continuing, “I believe the real reason Amalia split from the others involves the serious matter I wanted to discuss.”

“Then stop beating around the bush,” Alaric said in an annoyed tone.

Asema frowned at Alaric before saying, “I just concluded a meeting with the progenitor and it was they who told me about the serious matter.”

“Well, if it comes from the progenitor,” Alaric replied as his annoyed tone vanished instantly.

“Do both of you recall the incident around eighteen years ago where Rowena’s granddaughter, Stacey, claimed to have been attacked on the night of the festival of blood?” Asema asked.

“You mean the story that quarter-brood trash made up to try and get some attention?” Alaric asked while frowning.

“Yes, that, well, turns out she didn’t make it up and was indeed attacked and left for dead,” Asema replied.

“What!” Alaric asked in shock.

“For real?” Levana asked in surprise before asking, “But what happened to all her injuries then?” 

“That I don’t know,” Asema replied before explaining, “The progenitor used his blood pool to show me exactly what happened eighteen years ago, up until Stacey was stabbed in the back. How she managed to survive and why she has no injuries, the progenitor did not show me.”

“Stabbed in the back,” Levana repeated as she covered her mouth with her hands before lowering them and saying softly, “That poor girl, and we all accused her of making the whole thing up. She must hate us.”

“I wonder why the progenitor didn’t show you how she survived,” Alaric wondered in shock before realising something and asking with shock, “Are you saying our daughters were involved?”

“Oh, progenitor no,”  Levana replied as she once again covered her mouth with her hands.

“Some more than others,” Asema replied as he ran his hand down his face before forcing himself to say, “Renne was the one who stabbed Stacey.”

“WHAT!” Both Alaric and Levana shouted simultaneously before Levana asked, “Renne attempted to kill Stacey? But why?”

“Jealousy. Turns out she was jealous over the amount of attention Rowena gave Stacey back then and wanted her out of the way,” Asema replied.

“I’ve always thought she’s had an unhealthy obsession with Rowena, but I never even considered she could go this far,” Levana replied.

“Then what about Merle and Tierney? How were they involved in this?” Alaric asked urgently.

“Yes, yes and my Amalia?” Levana asked hurriedly.

“Merle and Tierney acted as lookouts for Renne while she did the deed,” Asema answered.

“Oh, progenitor,” Alaric replied as he held his head with his hands before saying, “Those stupid girls.”

“As for Amalia,” Alaric began while Levana waited nervously, “Her only crime was covering up the whole thing.”

Levana blinked in surprise before asking, “What?” 

“Amalia refused to partake in Rennes plan to get rid of Stacey and that is ultimately why she split from the group. However, she also never revealed the other girls' actions,” Asema explained.

Levana sighed in relief before saying angrily, “While I’m glad she was sensible enough to refuse partaking, I’m still angry that she covered it up.”

“She did it to prevent the other three from turning on her,” Asema began in a voice filled with disappointment. “It seems I failed to notice how vindictive Renne could be. Amalia, however, knows too well and so she threatened Renne that if she ever did anything to her or her family, she would reveal Renne’s scheme.”

“I see,” Levana said with a proud smile before adding, “While I’m still angry she didn’t reveal this to me, I’m proud of her for going so far to protect us.”

“Well, bully for you,” Alaric retorted sarcastically before asking, “While your daughters' only crime is covering this whole mess up, my daughters were actively involved. How am I supposed to act as the progenitor's assistant now?”

“Perhaps you also should have raised your daughters better instead of staying by the progenitors' side the entire time,” Levana replied icily.

“It’s my honour to serve as the progenitor's assistant,” Alaric retorted.

“But not at the expense of not being part of your loved ones' lives,” Levana snapped before turning to Asema and asking, “What sort of punishment are they looking at for this?”

“That’s where it gets complicated,” Asema sighed.

“What do you mean?” Levana asked before saying, “As the family head, you have the right to punish them as you deem fit; however, don’t think I will let you get away with it if you go light on Renne’s punishment.”

“I would indeed normally be the one to determine their punishment,” Asema replied while ignoring Levana’s threat, before he added, “Unfortunately, the actions of those four have garnered the wrath of a powerful enemy.”

“Powerful enemy?” Alaric repeated before asking, “Who?”

“Stacey’s boyfriend,” Asmea replied.

“Stacey’s boyfriend?” Alaric repeated again before scoffing and saying, “Why should we, the Nosferatu family, fear one man?”

“Boyfriend… boyfriend…” Levana muttered to herself as if trying to remember something before she finally did and said in surprise, “Isn’t Stacey’s boyfriend the same man who is now dating Diva Lorelie?”

“That’s correct,” Asema replied before looking at Alaric and saying, “If you bothered to pay attention to anything that didn’t involve the progenitor, you would have realised that.”

“Whatever,” Alaric replied dismissively.

“Forgive my ignorance, but while he put on an impressive performance in the UMB Cup opening ceremony, I don’t see how this young man is capable of you classifying him as a powerful enemy,” Lavana stated in confusion.

“According to the progenitor, Stacey’s boyfriend wields planetary annihilation weapons,” Asema answered, causing the other two to gasp in shock.

“How in the progenitors' name did that quarter-brood trash hook up with someone who has planetary annihilation weapons?” Alaric asked with a frown before smirking and saying, “She’s probably just his piece on the side for when Diva Lorelie is busy.”

“Talk about disgusting,” Lavana replied as she shot Alaric a disgusted look before adding, “You have always looked down on those who are not pure brood. Why the progenitor even keeps you as his assistant and why your wife ever chose to marry a disgusting ingrate like you is beyond me.”

“Now, now, Lavana, calm down,” Asema said while making a calming gesture.

“You're hardly any better, Asema. If your daughter hadn’t picked up your bias towards pure brood, she never would have attacked Stacey,” Lavana snapped.

“You're blowing this way out of proportion, Lavana. If the progenitor really didn’t approve of our attitude towards non-pure brood, then they would step in and stop it,” Alaric retorted.

“Would they?” Lavana replied before adding, “We all know that the progenitor takes a hands-off approach as they believe it is the best way for us to grow and mature. They are unlike Lord Omniel, who actively leads their race.”

“I can’t deny that I would also prefer it if the progenitor would take more of an active role in leading us brood,” Asema said with a sigh.

“The progenitor led us for many millennia, I personally believe they deserve a rest,” Alaric replied.

“You only believe that because you're the progenitor's assistant and therefore get to interact with them more than any of the rest of us. If you lost that position, you would soon change your tune,” Lavana retorted.

“Perhaps we should get back onto the topic of our children,” Asema suggested.

“Indeed,” Lavana replied while glaring at Alaric before turning to Asema and asking, “You mentioned that our daughters have garnered the wrath of Stacey’s boyfriend. What exactly did you mean by that?”

Asmea sighed before saying, “He apparently demands the heads of Renne, Merle and Tierney for their actions in attempting to kill Stacey.”

“WHAT!” Alaric shouted angrily before asking in rage, “He can’t seriously expect us to kill our own daughters?”

“According to the progenitor, Stacey’s boyfriend will come for Renne and the others if our family doesn’t deal with this ourselves,” Asmea answered.

“Damn quarter-brood trash,” Alaric cursed before hissing, “Even after she is gone, she still causes the family trouble.”

“Precisely because your daughters caused this mess. If either of you had taken care to raise them better, this whole situation might have been avoided,” Lavana snapped angrily before asking, “Why didn’t you mention Amalia?”

“The progenitor never mentioned him wanting her head along with the others,” Asmea replied before adding, “It seems her deciding not to partake saved her the death penalty. However, I doubt she will be let off without any punishment; she did cover this up after all.” 

“So what do we do about this? You can’t seriously be suggesting we kill them?” Alaric asked.

“Of course I’m not,” Asmea replied before swallowing and adding, “Although the progenitor hinted at that being the best course of action.”

“What?” Alaric asked in shock before adding, “The progenitor said that?”

“Not in so many words, “Asmea replied before sighing as he said, “What he actually said was, I would suggest you consider carefully before siding with your daughter.”

“Well, it seems you two have a difficult decision to make,” Lavana remarked before she stood up.

“The discussion isn’t over. Where are you going?” Alaric asked.

“To contact Amalia and warn her of what is to come,” Lavana replied simply before leaving the room.

“Damn her,” Alaric cursed.

“I can’t really blame her,” Asmea said with a sigh.