Chapter 2
Chase took a step back, feeling a chill run down his spine as he stared into Olivia's blood-red eyes, which looked almost predatory.
Wasshe a vampire?
There had always been rumors about the Thomas family having connections to vampires, but he had always thought they were just stories Hayden told to amuse him.
Chase, being pretty perceptive, stared at Olivia for a moment before cautiously asking, "Are you saying Great-Grandpa's long life is because of a blood pact with you?"
Olivia responded softly, lifting her skirt slightly as she started down the stairs, "You're not the head of the family yet, nor are you my blood servant. It's too early to discuss this. Let's check on Christopher first."
Chase didn't press further and led Olivia downstairs to a hospital room. Inside, Christopher's mother, Cleo Taylor, was keeping vigil over her son, who lay on the bed barely breathing.
Seeing Chase, hope sparked in Cleo's eyes. She asked, "How is Mr. Thomas?"
Chase replied, "Great-Grandpa is doing better. He asked me to bring..."
Chase glanced at Olivia, unsure how to introduce her.
Olivia spoke up, "I'm his Great Aunt."
Chase continued, "This is his Great Aunt." Noticing Cleo's puzzled look, he added, "She may look young, but she's been around a long time."
Cleo didn't ask further questions.
Chase introduced Olivia, "Great Aunt, this is a descendant of the fifth branch of the Taylor family. Christopher is the one in trouble."
He couldn't bring himself to mention that Christopher was an illegitimate child in front of Cleo.
Olivia nodded and approached the bed. Christopher had been in a coma for three months, his body emaciated but his features still handsome, though a faint blood-red aura lingered around his forehead.
The blood pact within Olivia stirred slightly, but it was very faint. Her eyes flashed red briefly, and she frowned, a cold expression settling on her face.
Before she was awakened, she had indeed felt her Blood Energy depleting.
For a vampire, blood is sustenance. Even if Hayden hadn't awakened her, she would have risen eventually.
Olivia placed a finger on Christopher's forehead, pressing against the Blood Energy, and then probed into his body. She quickly discovered that Christopher's blood was dangerously low, and half of his soul was missing.
She withdrew her hand and told Chase, "I need to find the missing part of his soul. Prepare another set of the items Hayden used for the Evocation."
"We still have those items," Cleo said, opening a cabinet and taking them out one by one.
Although Olivia looked young, Cleo had no choice but to trust her since Hayden had personally invited her. Olivia was now Christopher's last hope.
Olivia nodded, placing a talisman on Christopher's forehead and lighting three sticks of incense with a mere touch of her finger.
Cleo was astonished. The people they had previously hired couldn't do this, not even Hayden.
Chase was equally surprised, but remembering that Olivia had said Hayden learned his skills from her, he felt reassured.
But could a vampire catch ghosts?
Chase racked his brain, only able to think of vampires as blood-drinkers.
Olivia paid no attention to these thoughts. She held the incense and chanted, "By the laws of heaven and earth, find the soul, heed my command, return!"
As her words fell, the closed room began to stir with wind. Cleo watched Christopher anxiously, hoping for a miracle.
The Yin Energy Wind blew across Christopher's face, causing his hair to flutter and his eyelashes to tremble. A red light flashed across his neck.
Olivia observed the returning souls, counting them. Although Christopher's body was protected by a soul, his own soul was still missing a part.
She closed her eyes, channeling her Natural Energy into the incense, following the rising smoke. She quickly located the missing part of Christopher's soul, trapped in a place filled with Blood Energy and very weak.
Olivia opened her eyes, placed the remaining incense in a basin, and looked at Cleo, saying calmly, "The last part of his soul is trapped in your family's Bloody Magic Array. I need to go there. Keep the incense burning; if it goes out, the souls we've summoned back will escape again."
She then nudged Chase, "You come with me. It's too far to walk, and I can't ride in a car without getting sick. Think of something."
Chase hurriedly made arrangements, and soon after they left the hospital, a driver brought a covered tricycle.
Olivia was speechless.
She gave Chase a cool glance.
Chase thoughtfully held up an umbrella for her, "Vampires are afraid of the sun. Be careful, Great Aunt."
Olivia looked up at the shaded sunlight, slowly extending her hand. The sunlight streamed through her fingers, her pale skin almost translucent but showing no discomfort.
Her voice was cold, "Other vampires might fear the sun, but I don't."
Chase quickly put away the umbrella and arranged for a motorcycle.
He put on his helmet and, after Olivia got on, reminded her, "Great Aunt, please hold on to me."
Olivia replied, "Just drive."
As the motorcycle sped away, Chase felt as if he had an ice block behind him. Though their bodies didn't touch, he felt a chill.
They arrived at a villa complex and stopped in front of a four-story mansion.
Olivia jumped off the bike, looking up at the villa with Blood Energy surging skyward.
The vivid red Bloody Magic Array was invisible to ordinary people. Olivia adjusted her skirt and took a cross from her wrist, handing it to Chase before striding inside.
The villa had been unoccupied since the Blood Energy was discovered, and it was eerily quiet. Olivia quickly identified the location of the Bloody Magic Array.
She bit her fingertip, marking seven spots in the villa with her blood, then stood in the center of the living room, forming hand seals and chanting, "By the laws of heaven and earth, in the name of order, dispel the darkness, break the array."
As her words fell, the blood marks emitted golden light, absorbing the Blood Energy.
Chase couldn't see any of this, only feeling the Yin Energy Wind in the villa, the curtains fluttering, and wind chimes ringing, though he felt no wind.
He looked at the cross in his hand, feeling its warmth. Was it because of this cross?
Before he could think further, Olivia had finished. The villa no longer felt oppressive. He asked, "Is the magic array broken?"
"Yes, the Blood Energy is gone." Olivia wiped away her blood and took back the cross from Chase, putting it back on her wrist.
Olivia said, "Inform the Taylor family. This villa was built with items that attract Blood Energy, forming a Seven Dark Energy Formation. This wasn't a coincidence."
Chase nodded and made a call. Cleo soon arrived, bowing gratefully to Olivia, and said, "Thank you so much. Christopher has woken up. I will repay your kindness with all my heart."