Tales of the Endless Empire
Chapter 202: How to transport a vampire

"How do we even get her onboard? She could use those damn blood skills the moment she wakes up." Josh muttered as the scout vessel approached. They still had not found a reliable way to keep the vampire subdued. Even with her arms and legs severed, she did not stay unconscious for long.

The regenerative power of the Sanguine Thorn was too potent, and even in her current state, she was still a threat. Jack rubbed his chin in thought. "What if we just pinch her nose and cover her mouth? No air, no problem, right?"

Josh shook his head. "That is not how it works after the integration. We need something that keeps her down for a few minutes without killing her."

"I still have those enchanted chains," Kargul chimed in. "The ones Thalion used to capture Vorlok. The smiths reinforced them, so they are even stronger now."

For a moment, it sounded like a solid plan, until Josh scowled. "That is a terrible idea. What if she lashes out and wrecks the entire ship? More undead are crawling out of the woodwork, and it is a miracle we have not run into more vampires already."

"We are out of time," Thalion cut in. His voice was calm, but there was an urgency behind it. "The chains are our best bet."

Josh’s eyes widened. "You cannot be serious." Kargul only laughed.

A few minutes later, the scout vessel was airborne, gliding back toward the base. Suspended beneath it, wrapped in thick, enchanted chains, was the vampiress. Her severed limbs were useless, and her tattered wings twitched in fury.

She screeched and thrashed, but the bindings held firm. The magic-infused steel disrupted her regeneration, and even the Sanguine Thorn was not strong enough to break her free. She had tried to launch blood-thorn attacks at the ship, but Evelyn had been prepared, raising barriers every time.

And so, this was where they ended up, dragging a furious vampire fifty feet below the ship like some grotesque, struggling marionette. Kargul doubled over with laughter. "This is hilarious. Can you imagine what the other vampires will think when they see her like this?"

Evelyn smirked. "We should take an extra lap over the base. Let the people enjoy the show."

"I WILL END YOU ALL!" the vampiress shrieked from below. She hurled blood spears at the watching humans, but they had been expecting it. Shields flared to life, mana barriers absorbed the attacks, and the crowd only jeered in response.

Thalion, ever the pragmatist, waved off the idea. "No extra rounds. She could still kill people with those thorns, and I do not have time to waste." He had more pressing concerns.

This opportunity was too good to pass up. A high-ranking vampire, powerful blood magic, and most importantly, those eyes. If he played this right, he could claim them for himself.

He had no idea when the undead assault on his base would begin, but he was willing to take the risk. His fighters could hold the line without him. And if he was lucky, this whole mess might even get rid of Jim, who would undoubtedly throw himself into the thick of battle.

With his luck, Jim would not die, but a man could dream. The ship finally reached the base. Messages were sent out, warning civilians to stay away from the tower due to the wild vampire they had in tow.

The streets were mostly empty, except for the people who had climbed onto rooftops, laughing at the sight of the vampiress dangling beneath the ship. "I SWEAR, I WILL KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!" she screeched like a banshee, her rage palpable.

"Alright, that is enough. Good luck with her, Thalion!" Kargul grinned, and with a casual motion, he released the chain.

Thalion’s heart lurched. "WHAT ARE YOU—" The chain slipped free from the mast.

He lunged for it, but it was already over the railing. "Are you insane?! If she dies on impact, this will all be for nothing!" he shouted in frustration. If she was killed from the fall, he would not be able to take her eyes or extract any information.

Kargul just waved him off. "Ah, she will be fine. Right?" A heartbeat later, there was a thunderous THUD.

Then silence. The screaming had stopped.

Thalion wasted no time. He dissolved into mist and reappeared beside the vampiress. She was still alive but barely. Just to be sure, he poured a healing potion down her throat.

As he watched her throat convulse, forcing the liquid down, a stray thought crossed his mind. Was "dying" even the right word for vampires? They were technically already dead.

A voice pulled him from his musings. "Why did you call me here?" Amalia asked, shifting uncomfortably near the entrance of his tower. Her expression was wary, her arms crossed in obvious discomfort.

Thalion turned to her with a wide smile, effortlessly hoisting the unconscious vampire onto his shoulder. "Amalia, perfect timing. Follow me, we have business to attend to."

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He did not lead her to his hidden underground lab. Instead, he brought her into a chamber within the tower. The walls were lined with dark wood, the air thick with the scent of old parchment and burning incense. A single candle flickered on a nearby desk, casting long shadows.

Amalia hesitated, her eyes flicking between Thalion and the chained vampire. "Alright, what do you want from me? And why the hell did you bring this thing here?" Her voice was tight, barely masking her unease.

Thalion’s expression turned cold. "You will use your magic on her. She will tell us everything—about the undead, their plans, their strongest warriors, and the locations of the catacombs." There was no room for discussion in his tone.

Amalia stiffened. "You cannot be serious. How am I supposed to seduce an undead?" she demanded, her voice laced with disbelief.

Thalion smirked, but the mirth never reached his eyes. "Try whatever worked on Jim."

Her face twisted in disgust. "You want me to sleep with a vampire?" she screeched.

"If that is what it takes, yes." His voice remained emotionless, his gaze unwavering.

Amalia swallowed hard. She glanced at the unconscious vampire, then back at Thalion. The weight of his command pressed down on her. With a resigned sigh, she began to undress, cursing under her breath.

Thalion sat back in a chair, watching intently. This had nothing to do with pleasure—he was more interested in the process. How much power would it take to break the will of a vampire of this caliber?

Amalia reached out, pressing her fingers to the vampire’s forehead. The vampiress jolted awake, her crimson eyes burning with fury. Amalia leaned in, whispering into her ear, her voice a soft, hypnotic lull. At the same time, a surge of energy pulsed through her fingertips, flooding the vampire’s body.

The effect was immediate. The vampiress screamed, her body thrashing violently despite her missing limbs. Her back arched, muscles straining against the chains as she fought against Amalia’s influence.

But Amalia did not relent. She kept whispering, soothing words laced with power. Slowly, the vampire’s spasms weakened, her breathing ragged.

"Now, tell me," Amalia murmured, her lips barely an inch from the vampire’s ear. "What are your plans for the tutorial? How many powerful undead are in the fifth stage?"

The vampire’s body tensed again. Her eyes rolled back, and her entire form quivered under the strain.

"Who are your elite fighters? Where are the catacombs?" Amalia pressed further.

For a moment, the vampire said nothing. Then, she let out a guttural growl. "You cannot dominate me," she snarled, voice hoarse yet defiant. "You cannot seduce me. You are just a bloodbag."

Amalia’s lips curled into a slow, taunting smile. "We will see about that," she cooed, accepting the challenge.

What followed was deeply unsettling. The vampire, now reduced to a monstrous husk of rage, lay helpless as Amalia continued her mental assault. She whispered, caressed, and even pressed gentle kisses onto the vampire’s forehead as if soothing a frightened child.

Yet the resistance remained. No matter how much power Amalia poured into her magic, the vampire held on, her will refusing to break.

Thalion, uninterested in watching every second of their struggle, turned his attention to his messages. Reports from Maike flooded his interface—undead sightings, some dangerously close to the base. Even stronger entities had been spotted.

The preparations were complete. The jungle side of the base had been cleared for a hundred meters, removing any potential cover for the vampires. It would not be long before the attack began.

Hours passed. Finally, Amalia staggered to her feet, drenched in sweat. Her face was pale, her hands trembling as she fumbled to put her clothes back on.

She looked down, her expression grim. "She is too strong," she admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "I cannot make her submit."

For a moment, silence filled the room. Amalia’s failure meant her usefulness had just plummeted. She knew it. A flicker of fear crossed her face—was this where Thalion would dispose of her?

To her relief, he merely sighed. "Fine. Leave. Support the defenders. I want your people on the walls. No one is sitting this war out."

Amalia bowed quickly and all but fled the room.

Thalion exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting back to the vampire. He had not gained any information, which was disappointing. But it also confirmed one thing.

Someone with a soul this powerful must have extraordinary abilities and particularly, extraordinary eyes.

And they were his for the taking.