CHAPTER 214: CHAPTER 214

At that moment, Raymond’s eyes darkened further, his expression now calm—but not the kind of calm that brings peace. It was the calm before something catastrophic. The kind of stillness that comes right before the storm unleashes its fury.

He turned fully to Benjamin, stepping closer again, but this time without violence. His voice was low, controlled, but laced with raw authority. "Tell me everything about Cecilia."

Benjamin straightened instinctively, his body tense, every nerve alert.

"I want details," Raymond continued coldly. "Not guesses. Not vague observations. I want to know where she’s been going. Who she talks to. What her routines are. What she’s said about Valentina—every single word. I want to know if she ever disappears without a trace. I want to know if she ever lies about her whereabouts, if she meets with anyone in secret. If she’s been watching Valentina more than usual. Everything."

He paused, his voice dropping even lower. "Especially everything connected to what’s been happening to Valentina."

Benjamin stood frozen for a moment, his thoughts racing, his mouth dry. The weight of Raymond’s words sat heavily on his shoulders.

This wasn’t a request.

It was a command.

Raymond wasn’t just asking questions—he was building a case. A case that could lead to blood. And Benjamin knew—he knew—that if he didn’t give Raymond what he needed, things were going to get worse. A lot worse.

Because Cecilia couldn’t just betray Raymond in this kind of manner and expect that nothing would happen.

It was not even possible.

So, at that moment, Benjamin knew—deeply knew—that the man standing before him was no longer just Raymond, the calm, calculated protector and leader he’d always respected. No. Raymond now was something else entirely. Something far more dangerous. He was like a predator—one that had tasted betrayal and would now tear through anything and anyone that stood between him and the truth.

He would pounce on anyone. Anything that didn’t align with his instincts or his version of justice. And right now, that made Benjamin nervous. Very nervous.

He swallowed hard, trying to steady the weight pounding in his chest. He couldn’t afford to falter. Not now. One wrong word, one moment of hesitation—and Raymond might turn that rage on him.

But even in the storm of fear, Benjamin also understood something else.

Loyalty.

It was the only thing he could offer now—the only thing that might keep the situation from unraveling entirely.

So, despite the sweat forming on his brow, despite the tension crawling through his spine, Benjamin stood straighter and nodded firmly.

"No problem, Master," he said, his voice low but filled with conviction. "I’ll get you everything you need. Every bit of information—on Cecilia, on Rebecca, on anyone tied to this. I don’t care where they hide or who they’re with. I’ll bring the truth to you."

He paused, lowering his head once more. "I’m loyal to you, and to Lady Valentina. And I swear, I’ll find out what’s going on."

Raymond didn’t respond right away. He just stared, his eyes unreadable, his body motionless—like a coiled blade waiting to strike. It was clear he heard the words. But whether he trusted them... that was another matter entirely.

Benjamin took a quiet breath and slowly turned, heading toward the exit.

He knew what was at stake.

If things didn’t go as planned—if this truth wasn’t brought to light quickly—all hell was going to break loose.

And as he stepped out of the chamber, his heart pounded harder than ever before. Not from fear of failure—but from fear of what would become of them if they failed.

However, Raymond was still very, very unsure of what he was going to do.

Because, for one, Raymond knew—deeply knew—that very, very soon, he wouldn’t be able to stay on his feet much longer. The Red Moon was approaching, and with it, the sacred funeral sleep that came once in a cycle. It was unavoidable. Not a ritual, not a ceremony—a necessity. His body would collapse. His strength would fade. And when it did, he would be unconscious for an entire day. Vulnerable. Defenseless. And right now, with everything happening—that terrified him more than anything else.

Everything had been set perfectly fine. His plans, his timing, the way he orchestrated protection around Valentina, the people he kept close... all of it.

But now, it was collapsing—fast.

Like a crumbling wall in a storm.

So the question twisted in his chest like a blade—how was he going to navigate his way around all of this? How was he supposed to leave the world for even one night, let alone a whole day, knowing that Valentina was missing, that betrayal was blooming within his house, and that enemies might already be in position?

That was the same reason he had to get to Valentina.

Not just to find her.

But to protect her.

Because if anything happened while he was under—that sleep would become a curse. A chain. A prison.

And so, with his thoughts scattered, his blood running cold despite the rage in his chest, Raymond stood in the middle of his chamber, uncertain. Worried. Terrified in a way he didn’t want to admit.

And now—

Scene shifts.

We leave the house of fury and turn to something far more unsettling.

Valentina sat quietly, her eyes narrowed as she glanced out the tinted window of the car.

She and Cecilia had just arrived... somewhere. A place Valentina didn’t recognize. A place that felt off. The roads had grown narrower. The trees denser. The city sounds long gone.

She had lost track of time. The trip had gone far longer than she expected. She never knew it was going to be this far. Not once did Cecilia mention they were heading this deep outside the city.

And now?

Now her phone wasn’t even working.

She checked the screen again. No bars. No signal. Just a loading icon that spun uselessly at the top corner.

She looked over at Cecilia, who was unusually quiet. Focused. Calm.

Too calm.

Valentina’s heart beat a little faster.

She didn’t understand why they had come all the way out here. She didn’t even know where here was.

And for some reason, her phone connection was not quite working. And she was kind of worried because she didn’t understand why they would go this far.

She never knew it was going to be this far.

She would have told Raymond about it. She really would have. But they had gone so far, far beyond where she thought they were headed. And before she even realized it, her phone had lost all connection. No bars. No data. No GPS. Nothing.

At first, she hadn’t thought much of it—after all, she was with Cecilia. And not just anyone—Cecilia, Raymond’s mother, the woman everyone in the inner circle respected and feared in equal measure. Valentina had always known her as the soft-spoken, seemingly elderly woman who offered calm wisdom in the quiet corners of the estate. A woman who always carried herself with elegance and age.

But over time, Valentina had come to understand the truth: Cecilia was no old woman. Not in the human sense. She, like Raymond, was a vampire. Timeless. Powerful. And definitely not to be underestimated.

Still, despite her nature, Valentina had always felt safe with her. Always trusted her. Until now.

Now... she was starting to question things.

As the car came to a slow halt near a dense woodland area, Valentina looked out the window, confused. The area was too remote, the air far too quiet, and the sky looked heavier here. There was something eerie about it all.

She turned to Cecilia, trying to keep her voice light but failing to mask her unease.

"Mother..." she said softly, the title slipping from her lips with a touch of instinct and habit. "I... I wasn’t expecting us to come this far."

Cecilia glanced at her, offering a small, calm smile. "It’s necessary, dear. Just for today."

Valentina looked back toward the trees, then at her phone again. Still no signal.

"But there’s no connection here," she said, trying not to sound accusing. "Like, nothing at all. Not even enough to send a text. Raymond’s going to be... furious. He’ll be worried sick."

She sighed and leaned back in her seat, frustration and guilt swirling inside her chest.

"I should’ve told him," she muttered. "I should’ve told him we were leaving. Where we were going. He’s probably looking for me now, pacing the house, maybe even going crazy. I know how he is. He... he worries when I disappear without saying anything. And after everything that’s happened lately..."

Her voice trailed off, her mind flashing back to the conversation she and Raymond had only a few days ago—when he begged her to be more careful, to stay close, to always let him know where she was going.

She had brushed it off then. Thought maybe he was being a little too overprotective.

But now?

She felt the weight of that moment pressing against her chest.

"I feel like I ignored everything he said the other day," she added quietly, guilt tightening her voice. "And that’s not something I want to keep doing. I know how he gets when he’s angry... and how protective he can be."

She paused, her brows furrowed.

"We should’ve told him, Mother. We really should have."