"What’s that supposed to mean?" Asked the Noblewoman.

The other Nobles echoed her concern. It seemed to them like the words of the dead Nobles were already proving true as Leonce was now about to turn his Militants on them all.

Caius saw the Hellsingers grip their swords even tighter, nearing the point of unsheathing them to not just defend him and Alexia but also themselves from meeting the fate of the Six and their allies.

Looking over, Caius saw the Leopold Guards also getting ready. But there was an edge to their preparations because, of course, they actually met the requirements to become Leonce’s targets. So did the Hellsingers, actually, even if they didn’t know it.

"Young Lord," Olivia whispered to Caius with a protective flavor in her tone,

"Stay close to me."

Caius frowned but said nothing. If they were going to be attacked, there might no longer be a need for secrecy so maybe he should reach out to the Leopold Coven. He had been practicing telepathic connections with his vampire subjects and now might be the best moment to see how well he could do it.

Of course, the Leopold Territory was far away from Capital City where he was, so there was no way the Vampires there could get here in time to help. But, if he got through, he could get them to reach out to an ’Ophiuchus’ base in Capital City and at least a hundred Mercenaries could be sent this way.

Whether he could manage the telepathy or not though, the major concern here was whether it was time to do away with any attempts at secrecy.

And to that, he thought; No.

’I— we can’t be rash,’ he thought.

Yes, there was a chance that they would need the reinforcements but also a chance they wouldn’t, and calling Vampires or Mercenaries over for a false alarm would just ruin things in irreparable ways.

Caius wasn’t the only one thinking about Reinforcements. Other Nobles had taken out communication devices to contact their home. So far though, they were still trying to be stealthy about it and had not thrown themselves into complete states of pandemonium.

"You can all relax," Leonce said in a dry voice like he couldn’t care less whether or not they did relax,

"There will be no more executions today. However, you have seen what can become of you if you are found wanting. You have seen what can become of you if you aid the very Monsters this Task Force was created to rid..."

"My family is not aiding any vampires," a Noble said, "I can assure you of that."

"Your assurance means nothing to me," Leonce said coldly,

"Every Noble house in the Capital will be subject to stringent investigations and you are to make yourself available for questions whenever we deem it necessary. That is the only support I care to get from you all.

I have it on good authority that there are still various Noble Families housing Vampires and plotting their decadent way to power.

I know those families are represented here today and I say to you..."

Leonce Duval’s eyes roamed the Hall, locking eyes with one noble after the other and Caius could have sworn he looked at him longer than anyone else. And when the eyes moved away from him, they seemed to fall on Lyanna and stayed there as Leonce finished his address;

"... I’m coming for you."

•••

The Function ended.

What started with merriment ended in the most dour manner possible. When the Task Force Militants finally stepped away from the exits, there was almost a stampede due to the hurry with which thousands of Nobles and their Security details trooped out of the Hall.

Goodbyes were scarce as many seemed more concerned with getting as far away from the Hall as possible. Caius could tell the vast majority weren’t driven by guilt but rather self-preservation. Someone who could slaughter thousands for six vampires was clearly a demented nut-job.

Even now, it was a wonder what the fate of the families of those who allied with the representatives of the six families would be. There was a silent consensus that they would likely suffer the same fate as the six families: total extermination.

Lyanna left with her guards very quickly and without a word to Caius. There was much to discuss, of course, but it would have to wait until they were far away from here and... safe.

Caius did get to exchange words with Elenor Lavigne though. Mostly because, despite all that had happened, the Noblewoman didn’t seem able to just leave. Even then, for a few minutes that she stood in front of Caius, she just stared off into space.

Caius didn’t force her to speak quickly. He just waited until she was ready.

"That was some ending, wasn’t it?" Elenor eventually said it was clear she had tried to sound light but her voice had failed her.

"That’s an understatement," Caius said with a nod and a little smile,

"I guess, now I know what it’s like to be hosted by a Maniac."

Elenor raised her head then and stared into his eyes with a strange look that made Caius ask,

"What?"

"It’s just... Is he really a maniac?"

"He just killed thousands," Caius pointed out.

"A bunch of them were probably vampires," Elenor said.

"You don’t believe that," Caius told her.

"I— I don’t know what I believe. But I know what I saw... in my little Anna’s eyes. The fear, the horror... I know how that hasn’t left her even after weeks.

It’s never going to leave her. All because a Vampire found her to be a tasty snack," Elenor said with her lower lip trembling ever so slightly.

"Elenor—" Caius started.

"How many more of them have I spoken to and not known?" Elenor demanded.

"The vampire that went after your daughter... it wasn’t someone you knew," Caius pointed out.

"But it easily could have been. That’s the point. I could have eaten with one, drank with one, laughed with one, all the while it was thirsting for my blood..." Elenor said.

Caius found a sad irony in the fact that her words were speaking of her current reality even though she was saying it like a possibility...

Still, he noticed something.

"You’re sounding a lot like Leonce Duval," Caius said.

"Or maybe Leonce is sounding like me. Or, more likely, we are both saying something that’s common sense and we just happen to sound alike.

Those monsters have no sympathy for us so why should we have any for them?" Elenor asked with her eyes smoldering.

"Again, I must remind you that all those who died today were humans. So far, the six vampires that ’implicated’ them and started all this are still alive," Caius pointed out.

"But not for long, I’m sure. And who cares that some humans died..."

"Thousands, not some," Caius corrected.

"Who fucking cares? As long as any of those monsters die in the process, I say it’s a worthy sacrifice," Elenor said firmly.

Caius paused and regarded her. When he first started to speak to her tonight, he never would have thought she was capable of such cold words.

He considered the fact that he didn’t actually know her well and she could always have been like this. However, when he saw the slight shiver as she spoke, and saw how adamantly she was setting her jaw, he knew the truth;

She was scared.

Not for herself but for her daughter.

Caius suddenly had a realization;

As much as many today didn’t like what Leonce did, it wouldn’t take much for them to start to understand him. It won’t take long for them to surrender themselves to his scrutiny just to feel safe. It won’t take long for them to surrender their freedoms just to ensure the terrible Vampires won’t leap out at them during some quiet walk in the night.

And try as he might, Caius could not find it in himself to blame them.

After all, people do crazy, stupid, and even cruel things when they’re scared.