Sword of Vengeance (Bjorn and Zyro #2)[COMPLETED]

13: Dominion

Vanong moved through the dimly lit hallways of the temporary coven in Mandaluyong, his footsteps echoing softly against the cold stone floor.

He had escaped his humiliating defeat at the hands of Bjorn and his allies, and the sting of failure burned deep within him. His rage simmered beneath the surface, ready to erupt at any moment.

The temporary coven was a shadow of the true Sanctum, but it would serve its purpose. Vampires of all ranks gathered in the grand chamber, their eyes glowing with anticipation as Vanong approached the raised dais. They knew something had gone wrong, but none dared question their elder. The air was thick with tension, but there was also a tangible hunger—hunger for revenge, for power, for blood.

Luke stood at the edge of the dais, his usual confident demeanor tempered by the tension in the room. He had seen Vanong angry before, but never like this. The elder vampire's presence was darker, more intense, as if his very essence had been tainted by the events of the past hours.

Vanong mounted the platform, his piercing gaze sweeping over his followers. "We have suffered a setback," he began, his voice low and menacing, resonating with the authority of centuries. "But make no mistake—we will achieve our plans."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink into the crowd. Every vampire in the room was hanging on his every word, their devotion to him evident in the silence that followed.

"I have fought alongside the greatest of our kind. I have witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the battles that defined entire generations. And now, we stand at the precipice of something greater." His voice grew louder, more impassioned. "The Ghost Alpha may think he is a threat, but he is nothing but a pawn in a much larger game."

Luke listened intently, his eyes flickering with a mixture of awe and ambition. Vanong had always been the unshakable leader, the one who commanded absolute loyalty. This speech was no different. The vampires in the room began to stir, their bloodlust rising as Vanong's words ignited a fire within them.

"The werewolves will fall," Vanong continued, his voice rising to a crescendo. "The Ghost Alpha and his pathetic friends will crumble under the weight of their own foolishness. And the vampires will reign supreme once again. I have seen to it. We will purge those who stand in our way—whether they are wolves or even our own kind!"

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, but Vanong wasn't done yet.

"They thought they could stop me," he snarled, his fangs flashing. "They thought they could humiliate me, but they know nothing of my true power!" He raised his arms, his eyes gleaming with malevolent energy. "We will take back what is ours, and no one—no one—will stand in our way!"

The room erupted into cheers, the fervor in their voices matching the fire in Vanong's eyes.

"All Hail Vanong!" one vampire shouted, and soon the entire room joined in, their voices blending into a deafening chant.

"All Hail Vanong! All Hail Vanong!" they roared, their devotion to their leader overwhelming. The sound reverberated off the walls, a dark anthem that promised bloodshed and chaos.

Luke, standing beside Vanong, allowed himself a smile. This was the beginning of something massive, something that would change the balance of power in the supernatural world. And he intended to be at the heart of it all.

Vanong turned to face the crowd, his eyes blazing with triumph. He had lost the battle at the port, but he would win the war. He had sown the seeds of vengeance and soon they would bloom into a storm that would consume everything in its path.

As the chant continued, Vanong smiled, his gaze fixed on the horizon of his ambitions. "Let them come," he whispered to himself, the fire of hatred burning in his chest. "Let them all come. They will know the true meaning of fear when they stand before me."

The vampires roared louder, their voices echoing through the night.

"All Hail Vanong!"