Bite Me Forever

CHAPTER 25: Viktor's Refusal

After some time, a subtle door knock caused my eyes to open. Viktor was up already. His pose was fixed as his eyes stared into the distance.

"What is it?" I mumbled.

The door cracked open before we could answer. Baba greeted us at the other side with a wink and told Viktor to come with her. I followed behind them. Once we arrived inside her room, she sat at a small wooden desk. Raoul stood there behind her. He was dressed in black trousers and an open-necked shirt, while she wore an elegant, flowing ivory gown that draped down to her ankles. They had a serious, down-to-business demeanour that intrigued me. Viktor was curious as well and glared at them.

"What is this about?" He asked.

Baba cleared her throat and slowly began to speak.

"Viktor, Raoul and I have been working in the shadows for a long time to depose Queen Naran," she said in a deep and sombre voice. "The only reason why she couldn't banish me this time is because I've kept some friends in the Vampire Council who are also secretly plotting against her. We've managed to keep our plans hidden until now and, fortunately, I have more allies that she can fathom."

My heart was pounding as Baba spoke; while Viktor's brows furrowed and his shoulders tensed as he listened.

Baba continued speaking with an air of seriousness around her. "By shutting down my Club, she has managed to end my operations base. You did ask me if there was something you could do for me... I need you... We need you, Viktor, to fight alongside us!"

"Stop!," he snapped suddenly. "I'm not interested. It'll only bring pain and sorrow, and I'm not going to be a part of it! You know why I left in the first place!"

Baba was not fazed by his outburst. She calmly replied, "Yes I do, and I would like you to find peace in this new life you are seeking... But you're fooling yourself if you think Naran would leave you alone. Do you want to escape your past? What you did? This is your chance!"

The conversation grew heated. Baba persisted and Raoul stepped forward and argued that they needed Viktor's help if they wanted to succeed, while Viktor shook his head in disbelief and only got angrier.

"I've said no! I'm not getting involved in your scheming. The days of old are gone, I'm a married man now, I have to take care of my family. I can't risk everything in some ludicrous endeavour that might get us all killed. I'm afraid I can't help you!"

He tried to turn around and leave, right as his words came to an end, but Baba wouldn't have it. She launched at him, grabbing his shoulder.

"Do you know how much we've all sacrificed, how much we've struggled? She's deranged... You've seen it with your own two eyes" the woman growled. "Naran has executed thirty two vampires this year alone... for treason. How can you just stand aside and watch while she tears apart our world?"

Regardless of her wailing, Viktor was unimpressed. He scoffed, jolting her off.

"It's not my business!"

I looked at Viktor with puzzled eyes, especially after he mentioned 'his family'; a sense of pride and utter love engulfed my chest, turning each breath to fire. Yet, part of me still couldn't believe that he cared so much about me... it sounded too good to be true.

I watched nervously as Raoul stepped forward, his arms outstretched in a calming gesture. Viktor was seething, his anger barely contained.

"Viktor, calm down," Raoul said firmly, his voice echoing in the empty room.

Viktor glared at Raoul, but his anger seemed to dissipate slightly. "You're not going to convince me," he growled.

"Do you remember the Great Vampire Rebellion?" Raoul asked, his eyes locked with Viktor's.