(Author’s POV)
"What is all this? They have already locked the leader of the Blood Lunar Clan and questioned us, so why are they still holding all of us captive in this disgusting heat? Arghhhh~ .... my skin is ready to melt," someone from the crowd complained, but their voice remained hushed with caution.
"Heyyy~ ... don’t speak like that. What if they hear you? You will be the next to get dragged away by them. Those vicious guys from the keepers’ unit will throw you straight into the dungeon. You already know how ruthless they are with their punishment methods," another person replied, his eyes darting carefully.
"But, at this rate, the sweltering heat is going to kill all of us. Why are we even getting such disgraceful treatment? We weren’t the ones who attacked his majesty. We have no involvement whatsoever. It was that moron Shaun Hart’s doing. We all saw it with our own eyes; that lunatic did it. We aren’t the criminals but him, so why are we suffering here?" the first one grumbled in pure frustration.
Standing in the direct sunlight of the blazing afternoon on a solstice day was no joke. All the vampire clan leaders who were present were barely holding on. Their skin had started to shift from pale white to angry red. Some of the lower-ranking leaders were even experiencing severe rashes and burns on their epidermis. Their skin was breaking out. And inside, the torrid atmosphere reacted dangerously with their chilled blood, causing it to boil as it was nearly surpassing their critical thermal limits.
All in all, it was fatal for them.
"So what if we have no involvement? Can’t you see~ ... even the high and mighty Elder Catherine Richards and all the other council elders are detained with us, so who are we, the clan leaders, to oppose? Honestly, I am annoyed too, but let’s not make a fuss and attract any kind of attention. Just endure it until further notice," the other one said, his tone totally defeated. He knew full well it was better to follow Jacob’s orders than to defy them. Anyone who has dared even to challenge the king has never fared well. So, he willingly surrendered, though his insides were burning as if someone had poured acid into his mouth.
"I DEMAND TO SEE HIS MAJESTY IN PERSON," Brian roared in agitation as he held an umbrella over Catherine’s head.
"Elder Tape, the vampire king, is busy handling the aftermath of the incident. You can tell us, we will relay your message to him," a guard from the unit spoke, his tone flat and detached.
"HOW DARE YOU? SHOWING ME ATTITUDE? Have you forgotten who I am? Should I remind you of my position? I am Brian Tape, the council elder. And you, just a low life bison, dare to look down on me. Do you have a death wish?"
"Elder Tape, the king has given an imperious directive. No one is allowed to leave the garden. You have to stay here," he replied, his tone remained even.
His nonchalant answer fueled something inside Brian. Even though he, too, was struggling because of the intense broiling, he lunged to strike the bison, but the brawny guard sidestepped him with ease.
Brian ended up face down on the grass bed, which scraped his palms and elbows, fresh blood oozing out of them. Everyone witnessing the scene gasped in horror, their eyes ready to pop out of their sockets. There were a few from the opposite faction who dared to let out a chuckle or two. Only the guards from the keepers’ unit remained expressionless.
This utter humiliation, in front of the clan leaders, set Brian off even more. Rage consumed him entirely as he was ready to throw hands, but a few words from Catherine were enough to stop him: "TAPE, STOP IT."
Brian gritted his teeth but didn’t utter anything further.


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