Page 64 of How to Stake a Vampire

“That’s who the perpetrator is?!” Titania asked, aghast.

It seemed Ludvik’s reputation preceded him.

“Yes,” Barney said flatly. “As a few of you know, my great-nephew is a four-hundred-year-old vampire with a history of attempting to overthrow vampire courts in Europe. He’s specially obsessed with purifying vampire bloodlines.”

“We received a blood purity manifesto,” Gregory confirmed.

Constantia removed the letter from her bag and passed it to Daria.

Portia and Titania leaned over to read it.

Wendall narrowed his eyes at Barney. “You want us to believe it’s a complete coincidence that this great-nephew of yours is here, causing havoc in Amberford?”

“If you’re implying he followed me here, you would be wrong,” Barney said coldly. “I had long presumed Ludvik dead. There is no love lost between us. That he ended up in the sametown as me after all these centuries is a twist of fate even I didn’t see coming.”

“What does this Ludvik guy want?” Finnic grunted.

“To make this town his ultimate experiment.”

Confusion washed across the faces of the Alliance members.

Barney sighed. “He’s targeting vampire aristocracy so he can collect their blood and use an ancient ritual to absorb their powers. This would theoretically make him the first of a new pureblood vampire race. One powerful enough to do what he’s always wanted: eliminate vampires of common blood and rule over other supernatural communities.”

Finnic scowled. “So a new Vampire Lord? Like the good old days?”

Barney nodded grimly. “Exactly.”

The room erupted.

“Impossible!” Oscar scoffed.

“That’s just a myth,” Wendall protested.

Cornelius frowned heavily. “Rituals with that kind of power were destroyed centuries ago.”

“I agree,” Melody said tightly. There was a hard glint in the fae witch’s eyes.

“They’re right,” Portia keened, her hair unraveling in her agitation.

Daria and Titania exchanged a troubled look.

“Enough!” Gregory’s voice cut through the noise like a blade. The vampire’s eyes were crimson with fury. “If Barnabas and Samuel believe the threat is real, then we must treat it as such!”

“Thank you, Gregory,” Barney said quietly as the echoes died down.

“Don’t thank me yet,” Gregory replied coldly. He shot a look at Virgil, his expression growing conflicted. “You said my son was targeted because of his blood. What did you mean by that?”

“Ludvik must have found out Virgil is from one of the purest vampire lineages in New England.” Barney hesitated. “But it wasn’t just for that reason. He could probably tell how powerful Virgil was from his scent.”

Constantia and Gregory stared at Barney like he’d lost his mind.

Virgil glowered accusingly at the older vampire. “I’m pretty sure I asked you not to reveal that.”

“This matter is too important not to have all our cards on the table,” Barney retorted.

“Barney is right, Virgil,” Samuel said.

“Powerful?” Constantia repeated. “My son?”