Bloodlines Legacy Arc 1 Eternal Night

Chapter 17: Unraveling Threads

The grand conference room of Eternal Corps Paris headquarters shimmered with an air of authority and control. It was here, amidst towering glass windows that overlooked the city, that the five leaders of the vampire world gathered for their annual meeting. This year, however, the usual discussions of business and power were marked by the heavy shadow of the global pandemic.

Cedric Blackthorne sat at the head of the long table, his cold eyes scanning the room. To his right was Alistair Monclair, leader of the Paris branch, and to his left, Saraphina Eldredge from Romania. Ivan Molchalin and Aiko Yamamoto rounded out the gathering. The leaders' faces were impassive as they settled into their chairs, prepared to discuss the future of their kind.

"The world is changing," Cedric began, his voice calm and commanding. "The pandemic has disrupted human life, but it's also given us opportunities. Our branches must continue to adapt. EternalCorp remains the backbone of our world, and we must ensure that it stays that way."

There were nods of agreement around the table as Cedric continued. "The pharmaceutical division in New York is working overtime on synthetic blood production to maintain stability. Humans need a sense of normalcy, and we cannot afford any cracks in our operation."

Alistair cleared his throat, leaning forward slightly. "Perhaps it's time we reconsider synthetic blood altogether."

The room fell silent, all eyes turning toward him.

"We've relied on synthetic blood for decades," Alistair continued, his tone measured. "But the human population has grown exponentially. Perhaps it's time we return to the old ways—human farming. We could eliminate the need for synthetics altogether and reclaim what's rightfully ours."

A tense silence followed his suggestion.

Cedric's eyes narrowed, a flash of irritation crossing his face. "Human farming," he repeated, his voice dangerously low. "You're suggesting we revert back to the ways of barbarism, to turn humans into livestock?"

Alistair's confidence faltered, but he pressed on. "It would be efficient. With the world in chaos, no one would notice."

Cedric slammed his hand down on the table, the sound echoing through the room. "Talk like that, Alistair, will end with you being banished, just like the 6th leader. Or have you forgotten how that ended?"

The mention of the 6th leader cast a dark pall over the room. Alistair quickly averted his gaze, his once-bold stance crumbling under Cedric's icy glare. The other leaders exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared speak.

"That path led to ruin," Cedric continued, his voice sharp. "And I won't see us dragged back into the darkness. We are vampires, yes, but we have evolved beyond such primitive behavior."

Alistair's shoulders slumped, his voice barely above a whisper. "Of course, Cedric. I... misspoke."

Cedric's gaze lingered on Alistair for a moment longer before he turned to the rest of the group. "Let's return to the business at hand."

The meeting resumed, though the tension in the room remained palpable. Saraphina spoke next, outlining her plans for a new social media platform that would allow them to manipulate the flow of information and control human perception more efficiently. Ivan detailed his branch's ongoing work on developing cutting-edge weapons for global militaries, while Aiko explained how her Osaka branch continued to shape world news, ensuring that critical information was suppressed or amplified as needed.

As the leaders discussed their business plans, the doors to the conference room suddenly burst open. The Cleaners stormed in, their faces set in grim determination. Sergei led the charge, followed by Violet, Sora, Hugo, and Lucian.

The leaders turned, surprised by the sudden intrusion.

"What is the meaning of this?" Cedric demanded, his tone sharp.

Sergei stepped forward, his voice cold and authoritative. "We have come to present evidence of Ivan's involvement in the recent murders. The deaths that threaten to expose our world to humans."

Ivan's expression remained impassive, but there was a glint of something dangerous in his eyes. "Murders?" he repeated, feigning ignorance.

Sergei continued, his voice rising with each word. "Humans have been drained of their blood, left as lifeless husks. We have witnesses—humans who saw you with the victims."

A murmur spread through the room. Alistair, Saraphina, and Aiko exchanged uneasy glances, while Cedric remained silent, his eyes fixed on Ivan.

"You accuse me of breaking the most sacred law?" Ivan's voice was calm, but his knuckles whitened as he gripped the armrest of his chair.

"We have more than enough evidence," Sora added. "And you've been seen making frequent trips to New York recently—too many for it to be a coincidence."

Ivan scoffed. "I am a leader of the Molchalin family. My movements are my own business. You have nothing."

"We have witnesses!" Sergei repeated, his eyes flashing with anger.

Violet stood behind the group, her mind racing. She hadn't wanted it to come to this, but there was no turning back now. The tension in the room had reached a breaking point, and the Cleaners had set the stage for a confrontation that could shatter the vampire world.

Cedric finally broke his silence, his voice cool and measured. "Enough. Ivan, you are being called to answer for your actions. This meeting is no longer about business. We will address these accusations immediately."

Ivan's gaze swept the room, and for the briefest moment, something dark and dangerous flickered in his eyes. But he remained silent.