Chapter 122: The Trial of Kraven
Before heading upstairs, William turned to one of Amelia's personal guards.
"Arrange rooms for the eight of them. Make sure they're fed."
"Yes, my lord."
Being blatantly ignored by Amelia, Viktor was burning with anger—but he had no legitimate grounds to punish her. All he could do was swallow his fury in silence.
The gathering in the great hall dissolved on a sour note.
---
Over the following days, William sought out Kahn of the Death Dealers—the man responsible for developing silver-powder ammunition.
After commissioning a batch of bullets in various calibers, William uploaded them into the Armory Shop alongside the UV rounds.
Soon enough, the cash seized from the bank was converted entirely into rows upon rows of UV ammunition and silver-powder bullets.
As for firearms themselves, to save money, William simply had Amelia handle the procurement.
When everything was finally in place—
Judgment Day arrived.
---
The councils of the three clans convened to decide the final fate of Selene and Kraven.
It was the night of a full moon.
The moon hung high in the sky, pale and unblinking.
Inside the council chamber, all three clans' ruling councils were present, every seat filled.
There was no alternative.
The ancient cycle—where the three Elders ruled in rotation—had been broken.
Such a disruption could not be judged by a single clan alone.
To redefine the cycle, all three councils had to reach a consensus.
This decision involved far more than simple punishment.
It meant power balances.
Inter-clan maneuvering.
Hidden calculations layered atop centuries of rivalry.
Naturally, with Marcus still in slumber, the twelve councilors of his clan were notably subdued.
For one thing, they had traveled from Western Europe.
For another, without their Elder awake, their influence was limited at best.
In truth, this grand council was largely a power struggle between Amelia and Viktor.
---
At the center of the chamber stood a massive stone throne.
Seated upon it—
Was Viktor.
Arrayed around him were the twelve councilors loyal to his faction.
The trial had begun.
Although Kraven had betrayed Amelia, only eleven councilors were present on Viktor's side.
As for Amelia's faction, everyone was in attendance.
There was even one extra person, standing calmly at her side—
William.
"This is a solemn council of the vampire race," Viktor said coldly. "Amelia, don't you think that unrelated outsiders should return this chamber to those responsible for governing our kind—our elders and councilors?"
As he spoke, Viktor's gaze was locked firmly on William.
He was only a step away from demanding William's credentials outright.
"There are no outsiders here, Viktor," Amelia replied without hesitation, her tone sharp with sarcasm. "Unless you're still half-asleep and haven't fully woken from your coffin."
"Hmph."
Faced with Amelia's mockery, Viktor had no immediate rebuttal.
William remained standing, not seated among the councilors. As long as he didn't speak, Viktor technically had no grounds to challenge him.
Left with no choice, Viktor barked, his voice heavy with suppressed frustration:
"Bring Selene and Kraven forward!"
---
The grand doors of the chamber swung open.
Several Death Dealers marched in, escorting Selene and Kraven.
Both had their hands and necks bound in heavy chains—restraints strong enough that even a vampire could not break free.
They were dragged to the center of the hall and locked into iron anchors embedded in the floor.
Once secured, the Death Dealers withdrew.
Kraven's already pale face had gone utterly bloodless.
Selene, by contrast, remained composed.
She believed—truly—that she had acted in the clan's best interest. As long as the elders understood her intent, she trusted she would not be punished.
She had already learned from Kahn and the other Death Dealers about Kraven's collusion with the Lycans in the attempt on Amelia's life.
---
"Kraven," Viktor said slowly, his voice heavy with disappointment.
"I regarded you as my right hand. My most trusted agent.
Why did you do this?
Why betray your own kind?
Why conspire with those filthy beasts?"
There was genuine pain in Viktor's eyes. For centuries, Kraven had served him well.
Perhaps realizing that death was inevitable, Kraven finally abandoned all restraint.
"Viktor," he snarled, staring straight at him,
"Did you ever truly see me as your right hand?
Or was I just the one who cleaned up your filthy secrets—"
Before he could finish—
Viktor vanished from his throne.
Smack!
A brutal slap cut Kraven off mid-sentence.
"Enough!" Viktor roared.
"You commit treason of the highest order, yet dare slander an Elder before the council?
Council! Deliver your verdict!"
Viktor would never allow Kraven to continue.
No matter how dirty his own hands were, as the most powerful Elder of the vampire race, he had to preserve the illusion of purity.
---
The Presiding Judge stepped forward, unfurling a parchment inscribed with Kraven's crimes.
Everyone understood what Viktor's outburst truly meant.
The youngest among them was still seven or eight centuries old.
They were all ancient predators—maintaining the appearance of order, nothing more.
Vampires were no less beasts than Lycans.
The difference was that Lycan blood bred rage—
while vampire blood bred cold cruelty.
"Kraven," the judge declared,
"Chief Councilor of the Viktor Clan. Acting Regent.
Charged with colluding with the Lycan race and conspiring to assassinate Elder Amelia.
The council hereby sentences Kraven to death."
"I agree," the judge said first.
All eyes turned to Viktor.
"I agree."
"I agree."
"I agree."
One after another, the votes were cast.
Even Amelia raised her voice in agreement.
"The verdict stands," the judge announced.
"Death Dealers! Escort Kraven to the execution chamber!"
A side door opened.
Two Death Dealers entered, seized Kraven's chains, and dragged him toward the chamber of execution.
Sunrise was still four to five hours away.
Which meant Kraven would have plenty of time to contemplate his fate.
---
"I curse you, Viktor! I curse you!" Kraven screamed as he was hauled away.
"Selene! Do you know the truth?!
Viktor was never your savior—
he was the one who slaughtered your entire family!"
Smack!
To silence him, Viktor struck again—this time dislocating Kraven's jaw entirely.
"You useless fool," Viktor said coldly.
"Is impotent rage all you have left?"
His gaze burned with murderous intent.
But Kraven had already been sentenced.
Killing him now would violate the council's laws.
And Viktor—devout worshiper of ancient rules—would never do that.
After a long breath, he returned to his throne and sat down.
---
William watched the entire spectacle with quiet amusement.
Nothing beat watching drama unfold live.
But Selene—
Selene was staring at Viktor with disbelief, her world cracking apart.
She turned slowly toward William.
"…My lord," she whispered, her voice trembling,
"Is what he said… true?"