Just as Yul said, he had arranged a time and date for me to meet those allied forces of the Bloodfang. It took him two weeks and for those past two weeks, I kept acting, as usual, to avoid garnering unwanted attention.

"They're waiting," Yul said as he gazed back up at me, while I stared at the narrow stairs leading to an underground meeting place just right inside the gambling place.

My eyes narrowed, trying to see anything further than the lamp in Yul's hand could reach, but nothing. I shifted my gaze to him and nodded, following his lead. There would be no fun if I could guess how deep and far this dark path was.

"Had they always known about me?" I asked to break the deafening silence between us.

"I don't know, but since Hell brought a human with him, it was possible they had been watching you from the very beginning," Yul explained, hinting at how little interaction he had with these people I was about to meet. "Although I am an observer in the palace, reporting to them is not my duty."

"I see." I nodded in understanding.

What I had realized for the past two weeks, each piece the Bloodfang left in their little scheme acted individually. Each had their own roles to fulfill… including me.

"Even though we're on the same side, don't trust them so much, sis," Yul warned in a deep voice, almost like a whisper.

I gazed at his back but said nothing. Yul was a child from our clan who had taken the spot of the dead twin of Cassara. Thanks to the mentally unstable Carmilla, one among many mistresses of the late king, Cassara's mother, and the help of another Bloodfang member for Yul to resemble her, no one had questioned Yul's birthright.

"Do you abhor our clan for putting you in the enemy's den?" I asked after a prolonged silence.

Yul didn't answer immediately. "Unlike you, I'm a pawn. My survival or death in the palace will not make a huge impact on our clan's plans."

"If you see me as your master, you better stop thinking like that, Yul," I urged calmly. "You better value your life just as much you value mine because… you're the only one I have right now."

Silence enveloped the two of us as the path we're taking seemed to have no end. Still, I couldn't feel anyone's presence.

"About Hell," I snapped my eyes upon Yul's remarks. "What are your plans about him? It'll be more strange if he isn't scheming something and we might need to confront him."

"What do you think, Yul? You owe him for protecting you."

"If he doesn't harm you, I don't think I will fight him head-on," Yul answered, as honest as he could be. "However, my blood and I chose you, so whatever decision you will make, I will follow it. No questions asked."

His answer made the corner of my lips curled into a subtle smile. "Remember those words, Yul. And don't ever forget you are not just my pawn… you're my only family."

Yul glanced back at me, but all he had seen was the sharpness of my eyes as my smile vanished.

'You might question your decision, Yul. I hope you can trust me until the end… I hope Sam can too.' I whispered internally, and soon the door of hell came to our sight.

It didn't take us that long to stand in front of the unguarded door. This private underground meeting room was unguarded, which only means the people inside were filled with different and powerful types of vampires.

Yul looked back at me, and our eyes instantly met. "I only met a few of them, so I didn't know who else is inside."

"It doesn't matter whether or not you know them. Don't worry about me." I stared back at Yul for a moment before he nodded and knocked on the door once.

After Yul knocked on the door, he waited for a good ten seconds before pushing the door open. As soon as he did, we intruded into the brightly lit room, which was surprisingly cozy inside. The first thing I noticed was the bookshelves on the wall — they were tons of them.

"We've arrived," Yul announced in a low tone as he placed the lamp on the nearest stand. When Yul did, my eyes immediately landed on the people scattered inside; most, I mean, everyone was male and I'm the only female inside.

For a moment, they remained silent with their eyes fixed on me, studying me from head to toe. I did the same and scanned every face and etched them in my head.

"So, the ninth prince isn't lying when he said that the Duchess of Grimsbanne is the person who we had been eager to meet!" A nobleman approached me with a sly smirk on his lip. "I am Baron Mortas Martin. It's a pleasure to finally meet the last descendant of the Bloodfang."

Mortas Martin offered his hand as he bowed down a little, but I didn't give him my hand. Instead, I stared at him for a long time until he chuckled awkwardly and withdrew his hand.

"Baron Martin, I am not the only descendant of the Bloodfang. Yul is my blood brother, please don't forget that." My eyes glinted, and my tone was frigid. I noticed the slight irritation in his false smile as he nodded.

"My apologies." He beckoned a neck bow politely.

"Apology accepted… just this once." I smiled when Mortas' jaw tightened.

There was a moment of silence in the room as I gradually felt their change in impression on me. I already felt their disappointment from their gaze they set their eyes on me, so I had to indirectly tell them I wouldn't be their marionette.

"Alright, everyone. Since the Duchess had arrived, shall we start this… seance?" One man with a distinct platinum hair color clapped his hand, breaking the stifling silence, and caught our attention. He had this bright smile on his face as he gazed around before setting his pair of golden eyes on me.

'This man's aura… is no joke.' I smiled as I felt him pulling an aura on me, but pretended not to feel it.

"That would be better," I agreed with a nod, and my response seemed to please him as I noticed his eyes glinting in amusement.

"No wonder…" He murmured, but I couldn't hear the rest of his murmuring as everyone took a seat.