Chapter 7: Undercurrents
3984words
Elena's hand gently caressed Alexander's face as their eyes met. The red and golden energies merged, creating a beautiful purple light—a harmonious coexistence of two ancient bloodline powers, extremely rare.
Elena's lips approached Alexander's ear, and finally, they embraced. Their energies completely fused, the light intensifying to form a powerful field filled with harmony and strength.
Alexander suddenly awoke from the dream, his forehead covered in sweat. Golden light flickered in his eyes, seemingly resisting some influence—the conflict between the ancient bloodline within him and the power of the dream.
"Merely a dream, yet it left me restless." Alexander said self-mockingly, his finger lightly touching his forehead, the golden light gradually diminishing, indicating he was regaining control of his energy.
Alexander got up to pour water, the morning stars just appearing outside the window. The starlight seemed to resonate with his golden energy, forming subtle ripples, a manifestation of the interaction between ancient bloodline and natural forces.
At dawn, Alexander had just finished interrogating a prisoner, who had restraining runes on his body, these runes could suppress abilities and force the truth to be told. Alexander turned to see Elena standing at the doorway, her arrival unexpected to him.
"Who let you in?" Alexander asked coldly, golden light flickering in his eyes, revealing his vigilance.
Elena didn't answer, carefully looking around. She sensed ancient runes carved all over the walls, faintly glowing, these runes formed a complex array that could suppress the prisoner's abilities while preventing external interference.
"Get out, you don't belong here." Alexander commanded, waving his hand to release a force of expulsion, attempting to push Elena away.
"This time Elena survived thanks to Lord Alexander, but whoever poisoned me certainly won't let me off so easily. Could you please help me, my lord? I beg you." Elena pleaded, a faint red light flashing in her eyes, her voice carrying a subtle enchantment, trying to influence Alexander's decision.
"Countless people beg for my help. Why do you think you should be the exception?" Alexander retorted, resisting the enchantment, the golden light in his eyes intensifying, showing that his energy was fighting against Elena's influence.
Elena slowly approached Alexander, faint red energy beginning to gather around her, forming a peculiar field that attempted to resonate with Alexander's golden energy.
"I can be your pawn, help you overthrow my father." Elena approached with graceful steps and whispered enticingly, "Lord Alexander, when you performed bloodletting on me last time, wasn't this what you wanted?" Her red light resonated with Alexander's golden light, forming a faint purple glow.
"Wouldn't it be a shame to let you fall into Isabella's hands?" Elena thought to herself, concentrating more intense red energy in her hands, attempting to strengthen her bewitching effect.
Alexander suddenly pushed Elena away, his hands flickering with golden energy, dispersing her red energy and breaking the resonance between the two energies.
"I've changed my mind. Everyone in the world fears me, abandons me, hates me, longing to nail me to a silver stake and burn me to ashes. You, a noble lady from a prestigious family, dare to associate yourself with me?" Alexander said coldly, the golden light in his eyes intensifying, releasing a powerful intimidating presence.
Alexander stood up to leave, the runes on his cloak began to glow, ready to activate the teleportation ability, this was a special technique of the Black Hawk Guards, allowing rapid movement under specific conditions.
"Miss Elena, please go back, this Black Hawk Tower is filthy, don't come again." Alexander turned to leave, his cloak forming a golden trail behind him.
Seeing Elena still sitting on the ground, the wound on her palm began to glow again, resonating with the runes on the floor.
"Why aren't you getting up?" Alexander stopped in his tracks and turned to ask.
"My legs are weak, I can't get up." Elena answered, a cunning red light flashing in her eyes, revealing her true intentions.
Alexander hesitated without moving, golden light flickered in his eyes, as if struggling against some force, it was his ancient bloodline interacting with Elena's blood power.
"Hmm. Not even willing to help me up, could it be that you're afraid of me?" Elena taunted.
Alexander had no choice but to step forward and help Elena up. The moment they touched, red and gold energy briefly merged, forming a beautiful purple light—a harmonious coexistence of two ancient bloodline powers, just like the scene reappearing from a dream.
At the entrance of Black Hawk Tower, Elena's maid waited anxiously, holding a detector that flickered inconsistently, indicating it was sensing the surrounding energy fluctuations.
"Miss, you've been in there for so long, I was worried sick. Did he do anything to you? This person is not someone we can afford to offend, please stay away from him in the future." The maid said worriedly, as the detector sensed the energy fluctuations within Elena's body, showing that her energy was in flux.
Elena looked back at Alexander, her eyes flashing with determined red light, indicating she had made her decision.
"Alexander, I dare. I, Elena, dare to be associated with Lord Alexander." Elena said firmly, her voice carrying an aura of pressure that made the surrounding air slightly distort.
Elena approached Alexander, carefully examining his face. The red light in her eyes resonated with his golden light, forming a peculiar resonance, revealing the special connection between them.
"Actually, looking closely, you're not that scary after all." Elena smiled, gathering a faint red energy in her hand that resonated with Alexander's golden energy.
Elena gently traced the scar above Alexander's eyebrow. Her fingertips flickered with a faint red light, as if sensing the essence of the scar, a kind of ancient "blood sensing" ability that could understand another's past through touch.
"It would look nice without this scar above the eyebrow." Elena said softly, as the red light interacted with the energy in the scar, forming a faint purple glow.
"Miss Elena, you can barely take care of yourself, you should worry about your own situation first." Alexander warned, golden light flashing in his eyes as he tried to break this resonance.
"I have an ointment that works very well on scars, I'll bring it to you next time." Elena said, taking out a small bottle from her bosom. The liquid in the bottle flickered with a faint red light - it was a special ointment infused with the power of her own bloodline.
Elena left in her carriage, while Alexander watched her with a complex expression, gently stroking his scar. Weak red energy remained on the scar, forming a peculiar purple light as it merged with his golden energy, indicating that the two powers were fusing together.
The scene transitions to a flashback. Alexander's mother caresses the young Alexander, with faint golden light flickering between her fingers, a sign of their family's ancient bloodline.
"Your father said he would come to marry me once he got his family's approval, but he still abandoned us both. Your features look so much like his." Alexander's mother said sadly, the golden light flowing toward Alexander, seemingly transmitting some kind of power or memory.
The scene changes, teenage Alexander with a bleeding forehead, holding a small knife as he walks indoors. His blood appears unnaturally golden, with energy fluctuations around the wound - he had cut himself, trying to alter his appearance.
"Mother, please stop crying, I don't look like that man anymore." Teenage Alexander said firmly, golden light flickering in his eyes, showing his determination.
Elena sat alone by the window as the voice of the magic book floated in the air. Outside, an unusually large blood-red moon appeared and disappeared, casting eerie red light into the room, forming unnatural shadows.
"You've provoked Alexander, and when he learns the truth, he will only despise you more. The power of the ancient bloodline will rebound against you for your reckless desires," the magic book warned, its voice carrying a threat.
"Oh, so what happens next in the plot?" Elena asked mockingly, red energy gathering in her hand, showing her displeasure.
Golden text formed of blood appeared in the air, flowing slowly, foretelling the direction of fate. Elena looked at the text with disgust, clearly disliking the plot arranged by the Book of Fate.
"What if I don't follow this?" Elena challenged, her finger touching the text. The text transformed, revealing more details, showing the consequences if she did not follow her destiny.
"The last time you fell into the river was the consequence of defying my divine will. The power of the ancient bloodline will consume you for your disobedience," the magic book warned, its voice carrying a threat.
"That's really mean," Elena sneered, red light flashing in her eyes, showing her determination would not waver because of threats.
In the courtyard of Wester Castle, Elena saw Isabella being held captive by several people in the distance from the attic. The captors possessed concealment powers, but Elena's red energy could sense their presence, a special ability from the ancient bloodline within her.
Elena smiled and greeted Isabella, gathering a faint red energy in her hand, preparing to observe how the situation would develop.
"Elena is jealous of Isabella and kidnaps her, intending to destroy her purity—this couldn't be another setup for a hero's rescue scenario, could it?" Elena mocked internally, her eyes flashing red, indicating she had seen through the arrangements of the Book of Fate.
"Half right. The people of light have holy protection, while the children of shadow are consumed by darkness. The power of ancient bloodlines will guide you to your destined end," the magic book responded, with a hint of smugness in its voice.
Elena suddenly realized something was wrong and turned to flee, but a hand covered her mouth and nose, glowing with powerful suppression runes that could temporarily seal her abilities. She immediately lost consciousness.
In the Black Hawk Guard office, the deputy reported the situation to Alexander, holding a crystal displaying intelligence information—the standard tool used by the Black Hawk Guard for collecting intelligence.
"We've identified the assassin who killed the Countess last time. It's the assassin Blood Blade, who has appeared in the Rose Garden. He used an ancient blood technique that can control the trajectory of arrows," the deputy reported. The crystal displayed the image of Blood Blade, a mysterious figure dressed in black with his face hidden in shadows.
"Bring him to me alive, or bring me his corpse," Alexander ordered coldly, golden light flashing in his eyes, showing his determination.
"Understood," the deputy responded as the crystal's light extinguished, indicating the end of the report.
Alexander fell into memories, recalling the painful scene when Elena witnessed her mother's murder. Red light glowed in her eyes, resonating with her mother's blood, as if at that moment, some ancient power began to awaken.
Night fell, and the rose garden was brightly lit. Elena woke up lying on a bed dressed in a dancer's costume, surrounded by guests. There were faint runes on her clothes, seemingly meant to control her—a low-level "Puppetry Art" that could temporarily control the target's movements.
She tried to move but found herself powerless. The red energy within her body was suppressed by some force, preventing it from taking effect, which put her in an extremely dangerous situation.
"This is bad, I can't use any strength at all," Elena thought in panic, attempting to gather energy, but failed as the suppressive force was too powerful.
The madam waved her hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. Between her fingers flickered a weak controlling force, a low-level ability that could influence others' emotions, commonly used in entertainment establishments.
"Quiet, gentlemen, this is the new girl, Rose. A beauty beyond compare, delicate and soft." The madam announced, her control power fluctuating, influencing the guests' emotions, making them more excited.
Golden text appeared in the air, made of blood, flowing slowly, foretelling what was about to happen:
【William stands up for Isabella, Elena gets her just deserts, Rose Garden loses virginity】
The scene shifts to the high platform, where William and Isabella are seated. Isabella is surrounded by a soft white light, showing that her elven bloodline is active.
"Your Highness, I cannot bear to see my sister insulted like this. Please spare her." Isabella pleaded, the white light extending toward William, attempting to influence his decision.
"She was the one who wanted to harm you first. If I hadn't been secretly vigilant, it might have been you up there now." William said coldly, the charm on his wrist flickering, showing his determination.
"But..." Isabella hesitated, white light flickering faintly, revealing her uncertainty.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." William reassured, the charm's light growing stronger, displaying his resolve.
The guests below began bidding. The air was filled with energy fluctuations of desire, one of humanity's most primal emotions, capable of forming specific fields.
"I bid twenty gold coins!"
"This one also 20 gold coins, 30 gold coins,"
"80 gold coins, 90 gold coins, 100 gold coins."
The guests bid enthusiastically, each person speaking with faint energy fluctuations, showing their emotions were rising.
Alexander and his assistant appeared at the entrance of the rose garden. Golden light flickered in Alexander's eyes, sensing the energy fluctuations inside the room, especially Elena's red energy, which though suppressed, was still present.
"Confirmed the Blood Blade is hidden in the rose garden. His blood magic traces are very obvious." The deputy reported, holding a crystal that displayed traces of blood magic - a special energy fluctuation that only specific tools could detect.
"Search, but don't alert him." Alexander ordered, gathering golden energy in his hand, preparing for possible danger.
The madam continued organizing the auction, her power of control fluctuating more intensely, affecting the guests' emotions and making them more generous.
"Does anyone else want to raise?" the madam asked, her voice carrying a subtle enchantment.
"I bid 120 gold coins," a guest called out, the gold coins in his hand flickering with faint energy light, a characteristic of high-level coins containing special markings.
"I've got my eye on this one. I bid 130 gold coins," another guest followed, his coins glowing more brightly, indicating a higher amount.
"That gentleman, 130 gold coins, anyone else? Any higher offers?" The madam continued to drive up the price, her control power fluctuating more intensely.
Alexander noticed Elena on the stage and was shocked. Golden light flared in his eyes as he sensed the suppressed red energy within Elena, as well as her dangerous situation.
"How can it be her?" Alexander thought in surprise, the golden light flickering in his eyes, revealing his emotional turmoil.
"That gentleman, 150 gold coins, 150 gold coins." The madam continued calling prices, her power of control affecting the guests' judgment.
Alexander recognized Elena and walked toward her, but suddenly stopped, as if controlled by some force. Golden and red light alternated in his eyes, as if he was fighting against some power - the power of the Book of Fate, attempting to control his actions.
"Power bestowed by the gods should only be used in their service. If used for selfish desires, it becomes a source of corruption. These presumptuous thoughts that violate ancient doctrines, let me cut them off. The ancient power of bloodline will rebound upon you for your arrogance." The voice of the magical book resonated in Alexander's mind, carrying a threat.
Elena noticed Alexander's unusual state and grew tense. She tried to concentrate her energy, but remained suppressed, unable to utilize her power.
"This is bad, the Book of Fate is causing trouble," Elena thought in panic, her eyes flickering with a faint red light as she attempted to break through the suppression.
"Lord Alexander, I see you've taken an interest in her, but you know the rules—she goes to the highest bidder," the brothel madam said fawningly, her control powers fluctuating as she tried to influence Alexander's decision.
"I'm not interested in her," Alexander said coldly, turning to leave, his eyes alternating between flashes of gold and red light, indicating his struggle against the power of the Book of Fate.
Elena, thinking quickly in her panic, rolled over and hid under the bed. A small bottle tumbled out from her embrace and stopped at Alexander's feet. The liquid in the bottle flickered with a faint red light—it was the scar ointment she had mentioned earlier, containing her bloodline power.
Alexander saw the ointment and recalled his earlier conversation with Elena. The red energy in the ointment resonated with the golden light in his eyes, forming a faint purple glow, representing the harmonious coexistence of two ancient bloodline powers.
In a flashback, Elena said softly: "You would look quite handsome without that scar above your eyebrow. I have an ointment that works very well on scars; I'll bring it for you next time." The liquid in the small bottle in her hand flickered with a red light, resonating with Alexander's golden energy.
The Book of Fate continued to influence Alexander, his eyes flashing alternately with golden and red light, until he finally turned and left with his deputy to continue carrying out their mission. The power of the Book of Fate temporarily overcame his will, preventing him from rescuing Elena.
Elena watched Alexander's departing figure in despair, the red light in her eyes nearly extinguished, indicating her hope was fading.
"Bring her up," the madam ordered, the waves of control power intensifying, causing the servants to immediately execute the command.
Elena was carried back onto the stage, and the auction continued. Her body was completely bound by the control power, unable to resist, forced to helplessly watch as her fate was decided by others.
Isabella turned to William, her white light becoming softer, indicating a change in her emotions.
"Your Highness, I cannot bear to see my sister bullied like this. Please save her." Isabella pleaded, white light extending toward William, influencing his decision.
"No matter the cost. Buy her freedom for me." William commanded, giving money to his servants, the amulet's light flickering, showing his determination.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Isabella said gratefully, the white light merging with the amulet's glow, forming a harmonious field.
"Little silly one, come have a meal with me." William said tenderly, the amulet's light growing stronger, revealing his emotions.
William and Isabella left, leaving the subordinates to handle the affairs. Behind them remained a faint energy trail, white and blue intertwining, forming a harmonious pattern.
The auction continued intensely, the energy waves of desire in the air growing stronger, forming a suffocating field.
"I bid 160 gold coins. Any more? I bid 170 gold coins, 200 gold coins!" The customers enthusiastically called out their bids, the energy glow on the gold coins grew stronger, showing the amount continuously rising.
"200 gold coins now." The madam announced with satisfaction, her control power fluctuating, influencing the customers' emotions.
"Take my badge to our family's bank, exchange as much as you want." A noble customer said, displaying his badge which flickered with aristocratic markings, revealing his status and wealth.
"Thank you, my lord." The madam said obsequiously, shifting her control power toward Elena, preparing to hand her over to the winning customer.
The winning customer stepped forward to take Elena away, his hands flickering with desire energy, a low-level emotional force typically generated naturally by intense desire.
"Come along." The customer said, reaching out to touch Elena, preparing to take her away.
Suddenly, Alexander rushed out from the crowd and kicked the guest flying. His eyes blazed with golden light, and powerful energy surrounded his body, showing that he had broken free from the control of the Book of Fate.
"Get out of my way." Alexander commanded coldly, his voice carrying an intimidating pressure that made everyone around involuntarily step back.
Alexander looked at Elena, falling into memories, recalling a girl who gave him food when he was little, and the birthmark on Elena's shoulder that resembled the girl's. The birthmark flickered with faint red energy, resonating with his golden energy, forming purple light that revealed the special connection between them.
"Alexander, save me, save me Alexander." Elena pleaded weakly, her eyes flickering with faint red light, trying to break through the binding force of control.
The assistant rushed over, holding a crystal that flashed with warning light, indicating an emergency situation.
"Sir, Blood Blade has escaped again. His blood magic traces have disappeared." The deputy reported urgently, the blood magic traces in the crystal had vanished, indicating the target had escaped.
"You go first, I..." Alexander hesitated, golden and red lights alternating in his eyes, showing he was making a difficult decision.
Before Alexander could finish speaking, his expression suddenly became pained, as if struggling against some invisible force. The golden and red lights in his eyes flickered intensely, indicating that the power of the Book of Fate was battling against his will.
"I wield the silver pen of the Book of Fate, while you are merely puppets on paper. Puppet people, do you dare defy fate? The ancient power of blood will backfire for your delusions." The voice of the magic book echoed in Alexander's mind, carrying a threat.
Alexander flipped over a guest who was close to Elena, with Elena's cries for help echoing in his ears. Golden energy flickered in his hands, dispelling the power of desire from the guest's body, protecting Elena.
"Alexander, save me, save me Alexander." Elena pleaded again, with a faint red glow flickering in her eyes, trying to resonate with Alexander's golden energy.
"One who is heartless has developed feelings, which must be removed. The ancient power of bloodline will backfire because of your reckless thoughts." The voice of the magic book sounded again, this time stronger, almost overwhelming Alexander's will.
Alexander's expression gradually became cold, as if all emotions had been drained from him. The golden light in his eyes completely suppressed the red light, indicating that the power of the Book of Fate had temporarily triumphed over his will.
"Pursue!" Alexander commanded coldly, his voice carrying powerful pressure that made his deputy take immediate action.
Alexander turned and left, pursuing the assassin Blood Blade. A golden trail remained behind him, displaying his determination and power.
Elena watched desperately as Alexander departed, while the guests gradually surrounded her. The red light in her eyes had almost extinguished, and the energy within her was completely suppressed, making her unable to resist.
"There's no escape." The guest said smugly, gathering the power of desire in his hands, preparing to control Elena.
"Let me tell you, I am Elena, the legitimate daughter of Count Wester. If you value your life, get lost." Elena threatened, attempting to gather energy, but failed as the suppressive force was too powerful.
"If you're the Count's daughter, then I'm a prince." The guest mocked, as the fluctuations of desire power intensified, forming a suffocating field.
The guests approached with laughter, forcing Elena to retreat to the corner of the wall. The waves of desire in the air grew stronger, forming a dangerous field that threatened Elena's safety.
Split screen: On one side, Alexander executing his pursuit mission, his eyes blazing with golden light as he tracked the blood magic traces of the Blood Blade; on the other side, Elena about to be molested by the guests, the red light in her eyes nearly extinguished, showing her despair.
"Accept your fate, Elena, you must make way for Isabella. The ancient power of bloodline will consume you for your disobedience." The voice of the magic book echoed in Elena's mind with a hint of smugness.
Elena closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks.
