Warlock Ch 137. Power-hungry Warlock
Cassius studied him carefully, his sharp eyes probing. "What do you expect to find, Damian? What if it turns out it was your fault? That you killed her husband for no reason? That you were just so power-hungry, bloodlusted warlock who didn't care about the consequences?"
Damian swallowed hard, Cassius's words pressing down on him. For a long mont, he didn't speak. Then he shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted. His voice steadied as he t Cassius's gaze. "But I know . You know . I might be tricky, reckless, cunning—whatever you want to call it. But I'm not the type to do things without a reason. I want to know why."
Cassius held his gaze for a beat longer before letting out a low sigh. "Fair enough. We'll et her. But—" He flicked his fingers sharply, and before Damian could protest, his voice was gone.
[Spell Activated: Silence]
[You have been silenced. Speech and vocal incantations are disabled until the spell is lifted.]
Damian glared at him, mouthing a silent 'Seriously?' as he pointed furiously at his throat.
Cassius smirked, his calm deanor returning. "I'll do the talking. You still need to pretend to be my apprentice, and your mouth has a way of ruining perfectly good plans."
Damian crossed his arms, his glare burning into Cassius. Still, he nodded reluctantly.
The two of them made their way to the living room. Cassius waved a hand, activating an intricate barrier spell that shimred faintly across the walls before fading into invisibility.
[Barrier Activated: Enhanced Anti-Magic Field]
[Prevents hostile magic and surveillance within the enclosed area.]
"Extra protection," Cassius said calmly, more to himself than to Damian. "No more surprises."
A shadow servant glided into the room. "Your guest has arrived," it intoned in a voice like wind rustling through dead leaves.
Monts later, the doors opened, and Victoria stepped inside. Damian imdiately felt the air shift—cooler, heavier, as if her very presence demanded attention. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, swept over the room before landing on Cassius.
"Hello again," she said smoothly, her voice a perfect blend of charm and authority. "I see you've been keeping busy, Cassius."
Cassius inclined his head slightly, his expression neutral. "Victoria. Always a pleasure."
Her lips curved into a faint, teasing smile. "Is it? I seem to recall you weren't too pleased the last ti I visited."
Cassius's gaze sharpened. "I seem to recall a couple of little spies you left behind. Care to explain?"
"Ah," she said lightly, waving a hand as though dismissing the accusation. "An accident, I assure you. Curious little creatures have a way of wandering off, don't they?"
Cassius crossed his arms. "No more tricks."
Victoria chuckled softly, her laughter carrying a musical edge. "Oh, I wouldn't dare. Besides, you've already activated your barrier spells, haven't you? Thorough as ever, Cassius."
She turned her gaze to Damian, her piercing eyes studying him intently. Damian straightened instinctively, his jaw tightening under her scrutiny.
"There's sothing… off about your apprentice today," she said, her tone laced with amusent. "He seems unusually quiet."
Cassius didn't miss a beat. "I punished him."
"Hmm," Victoria mused, her lips twitching as if suppressing a smile. "A sha. He has such an interesting presence. I was hoping for a conversation."
Damian glared at her, his hands twitching as if he were seconds away from breaking sothing. Cassius shot him a warning glance, as if to say 'Don't you dare.'
Victoria glided to one of the chairs and sat down gracefully, her movents deliberate and commanding. "Let's skip the formalities, shall we? I didn't co here to trade pleasantries. I need your help, Cassius."
Cassius arched an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "My help? That's unexpected."
She leaned back, crossing her legs elegantly. "There's a rogue vampire faction threatening my power. They've grown bold—too bold. Normally, I'd handle such matters myself, but their leader is… problematic."
"And why should I care?" Cassius asked bluntly.
Victoria's smile didn't falter. "Because if this faction succeeds, they won't stop with . They'll destabilize the entire magical hierarchy. That includes your precious little sanctuaries."
Cassius considered her words carefully, his eyes narrowing. "And you expect to clean up your ss?"
"Hardly," she said, her tone cool but not unkind. "I expect you to assist . You, of all people, know the value of maintaining balance. Besides—" Her gaze flicked to Damian again, lingering this ti. "You have an apprentice eager to prove himself, don't you?"
Damian bristled, his fists clenching at his sides.
Cassius held up a hand to forestall any outburst. "I don't make decisions lightly, Victoria. If you want my help, you'll need to be more forthcoming. Who is this leader, and why are they such a problem?"
Victoria's smile faded slightly, her expression turning serious. "He calls himself Varak Bloodshade. Once a loyal general under my command, but he's beco... ambitious. He's rallied disillusioned vampires and other rogue factions to his side, promising them power and freedom from traditional rules. He's dangerous not just because of his strength, but because he knows my tactics."
"And why does this concern ?" Cassius asked, his voice cold.
"Because he also knows yours," Victoria said quietly. "He's studied both of us. He's planning sothing bigger than a simple coup, and I can't risk him succeeding."
Damian's mind raced, even as he fud silently. A rogue vampire faction? A power-hungry leader with insider knowledge? This wasn't just a political skirmish—it sounded like a prelude to war. And if Victoria was desperate enough to ask for help, the situation had to be dire.
Cassius leaned back in his chair, his gaze calculating. "You expect to send my apprentice into a conflict that could expose him to the magical world's most dangerous elents?"
Victoria's gaze hardened. "I expect you to recognize the stakes, Cassius. This isn't just my problem—it's ours. Help deal with Varak, and I'll owe you."
Cassius's eyes flicked to Damian, who stared back defiantly. Silence hung in the room, heavy and charged, before Cassius finally spoke. "We'll consider it."
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