Red Fang II

Chapter 13 (M/G Arc): A Welcome Reunion

We last read Chapter 12, in which Mavis and co. get into yet another severe disagreement following the destruction of the Nuka Bistro and Chef Cedric's subsequent outburst; the argument results in Lily and Theo's indefinite expulsion from the party, while Mavis and Garson officially prepare to start tracking down the Bloodstone, starting with the trail of oxygenated blood originating at the Bloodstone Focus which its thief, Virulis, had unwittingly left behind.

Meanwhile, Lord Balfort Ladair, Lady Amber Ladair, Agnes, and Agnes's steward are hard at work; Amber and Agnes's steward have tasked themselves with looking after the visage-stripped vampires while Balfort and Agnes work tirelessly to try and find a solution that doesn't involve the Bloodstone's magic. In the process, Agnes suggests that Balfort's long-lost younger brother Prince Boripedes---whom the vampire lord banished from the Vermillion Enclave centuries ago---may have a hand in the Bloodstone's theft, especially since Balfort tricked Boripedes into attempting to steal the Bloodstone in the past.....which was what led to Boripedes being exiled in the first place. However, Balfort soon pushes this notion out of his head, even after Agnes suggests that Mavis may run into Boripedes during her investigation into the Bloodstone's disappearance. Balfort then wheels Agnes out of his bedroom and takes her to their workspace to hopefully continue their progress on a cure.

Agnes's steward, having temporarily traded shifts with Balfort, questions Amber as to why he and the royal family have not yet succumbed to the lack of the Bloodstone's magic and still look different from each other. Amber initially proposes that the royal blood protects them, but the steward counters that he was just a random vampire hired by Balfort one day to be Agnes's caretaker, taking that possibility out. Amber then voices her belief that they'll find out eventually, while Agnes's steward comforts Amber regarding her daughter's objective to find the Bloodstone. Amber, gazing forlornly at a daytime sky, makes her fears known to the steward, wondering aloud whether or not they have as much time as they think they do.

This time, Virulis informs Prince Boripedes about the former's meeting with Chef Cedric, while Mavis suits up for her investigation and meets back up with her husband, Garson. However, when following Virulis's blood trail, they find a most unexpected face at the other end of it.....

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-Prince Boripedes's Island, Romanian Coast-

"And that issssss how Chef Cedric'sssss ressssstaurant went up in flamesssss, my Prince," Virulis reported firmly as Prince Boripedes sat in a reclined black sofa with a large vertical cylindrical tank---with black lining and a glass center tinted red on the inner portions---sitting right next to him. Inside the tank was the Bloodstone itself, and a pair of two tubes ran the length from the reddened glass in the middle to a strange, red-colored cuff tightly wrapped around the Prince's right upper arm. "But the deal hasssss been made.....he hassss agreed to ssssspread my virussssss......"

"Perfect," the Prince said contentedly. "His establishment shall be back up within the week. Did you give him the Omega Vector X samples which I gave you? Those red tablets?"

"Of courssssse, my masssssster. Once the Nuka Bissssstro isssss back up and running, the OVX virus ssssshall be the latessssst ingredient added to Chef Cedric's repertoire." The strange blood creature then tilted its "head".....or at least, the portion of the body that stood in for its "head". "Massssster.....how exactly doesssss thisssss buy into your plan?"

Prince Boripedes chuckled. "Why don't you start off that answer for me?"

"I believe I fail to underssssstand......"