Chapter 15: Prison Castle

“No!!!”

Raymond let out a piercing scream, his face contorting into an extreme mix of pain and disbelief.

He staggered forward, trying to catch the dark red crystal fragments that fell from between Carola’s fingers, but his movement froze halfway.

Only his arms remained stretched out uselessly, trembling violently.

Yet he did not dare take another step forward.

Lucien’s face was filled with shock and lingering fear.

He had no doubt that if he had said one more unnecessary word just now, or attempted any improper action, his fate would have been no better than that heart.

And this was the famous castle prison.

Who knew how many methods of punishment existed here that could make a vampire wish for death.

Just thinking about it made Lucien break out in a cold sweat.

‘Damn it. If I had known, I never would have agreed to Raymond’s deal. Fortunately…’

Lucien quickly adjusted his mindset and began to appreciate this impromptu performance where violent aesthetics reached their peak.

For the Toreador clan, all beauty and art were intoxicating.

Naturally, he was no exception.

Raphael’s purple eyes brightened slightly, as if he were seeing something, but soon his expression turned to horror, and a large amount of blood flowed from his eyes.

“Hmph.”

Carola glanced at Raphael without the slightest trace of mercy.

Daring to窥 into her future—he truly did not know the meaning of life or death.

The Malkavian clan excelled at prophecy and peering into the future, but because of this, they were also extremely prone to madness.

You never knew what you might see in the future.

Gulp.

Phyllis hid behind the back of a chair and swallowed nervously.

‘So before this, Carola was just playing house with me?’

At this moment, Phyllis only regretted not having any detection-type skills. Otherwise, she could have clearly seen the gap between herself and Carola.

But would that gap have been so great that it shattered her resolve?

From then on, would she willingly become Carola’s…

While Phyllis was fantasizing about her possible branching storyline, Carola had already walked up to Raymond in the hall.

The tip of her boot was almost touching Raymond’s trembling fingers.

“Using that pitiful bit of official business from the Ventrue clan as a fig leaf, you dared come to me and ask for something?” Carola’s hand directly pierced into Raymond’s chest and pulled out his heart.

“Uh…”

Raymond did not die. For vampires, the heart was not a vital point.

But losing it would greatly weaken one’s strength.

“Then I’ll use your heart to replace the collectible I just damaged.”

Carola took out a vial of potion and dripped it onto Raymond’s heart.

The heart immediately began to crystallize.

After the crystallization was complete, Carola placed the heart into her spatial bracelet.

Her gaze swept over the unusually excited Lucien and Raphael, who was silently wiping blood away, before finally landing on Raymond, who was clutching his chest.

Carola returned to her main seat.

“Is there anything else?” Carola asked.

“My Lady, since the prisoner has been delivered, our mission is complete. We shall take our leave.”

Raphael had already wiped the blood from his eyes. His purple pupils were now tinged with red, and the relaxed composure from before was gone. All he wanted now was to leave.

“Then get lost.”

Carola waved her hand as if shooing away flies.

Raphael felt as if he had been granted amnesty. He immediately turned around and hurried toward the door, almost fleeing.

Lucien glanced at the remaining ashes on the ground and the utterly dejected Raymond, let out a soft chuckle, and left gracefully as well.

Only, when he reached the doorway, he stumbled.

Then, under everyone’s gaze, he elegantly climbed back up and left in a slightly embarrassed manner.

Raymond remained kneeling on the ground for a long time before struggling to stand. His steps were unsteady, his back hunched, as if he had aged several hundred years in an instant. Still, he staggered out of the hall in the end.

Until the very last moment, he did not dare turn back to look at Carola even once.

Bang!

The heavy doors of the castle closed once more, sealing off the outside disturbances.

Only the vampire prisoners, Carola, and Phyllis remained in the hall.

Carola silently stared at the doors, as if steadying some emotion within herself.

Phyllis stepped out from behind the main seat and walked up to Carola.

The icy, murderous expression on Carola’s face quickly melted away, replaced by the expression Phyllis was more familiar with.

“Did I scare you, little kitty?”

Carola reached out a hand toward Phyllis.

“Meow… a little…”

Phyllis was honestly pulled into Carola’s embrace and held tightly.

“You…” Carola seemed about to say something, but when she raised her head and saw the remaining vampire prisoners, she clicked her tongue.

Carola released Phyllis.

It was better to deal with these vampire prisoners first.

“Mm… would you like to go down to the basement with me and take a look?”

Carola asked Phyllis.

“C-can I? Meow~”

Phyllis blinked.

When Carola had previously said she could not go to the basement, Phyllis’s rebellious streak had immediately flared up.

Just like the Forbidden Forest in Harry Potter that students were not allowed to enter—the more forbidden it was, the more one wanted to go.

Dark, damp stone steps stretched downward endlessly, with no sight of what lay below—only pitch-black darkness.

It was as if the staircase led straight into the mouth of a monster.

The air here was thick with the smell of mold, rust, and a hint of decay.

The vampire prisoners walked ahead. Phyllis followed behind, holding Carola’s hand, step by step.

Though she appeared relaxed on the surface, every muscle in her body was already tense.

Soon, they reached the end of the staircase.

The space before them suddenly opened up, yet felt even more oppressive.

“This place is so creepy. Meow~”

Phyllis looked at the thick iron chains on the walls and the stains everywhere that looked very much like dried blood.

‘Is this basement of yours really normal?’

“Creepy?” Carola chuckled softly and squeezed Phyllis’s hand. “This is its true appearance. The place you stay in is merely where I live. Do you know what this castle is called?”

“It’s called… what?” Phyllis’s curiosity was piqued.

“Crimson Dungeon.” Carola revealed the answer.

“Meow… so this castle really is a prison…” Phyllis sucked in several sharp breaths, unable to calm her emotions.

If she were locked up here by Carola…

“Don’t worry. I won’t lock you in here. The residents here are all vampire criminals. For certain reasons, they cannot simply be destroyed, so they are sent here for me to keep properly. Once these prisoners enter, they will never leave for the rest of their lives.”

Carola spread her arms, displaying her collection to Phyllis.

Cell after cell stretched endlessly.

By the faint firelight, Phyllis could barely make out vague silhouettes inside the cells.

Twisted, curled up, or rigidly upright…

In addition, whispers, moans, and suppressed manic laughter echoed endlessly through the space.

For these prisoners, their long lives only subjected them to even more torment.

Driving their minds toward collapse.

Life imprisonment.

Phyllis finally understood the meaning of this prison.