Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Arms Dealer’s Girl
Vampire families in Germany are predominantly from the Dark Sect. This faction of vampires is notorious for being insular and highly dangerous, rarely accepting Muggles into their ranks. After arriving in England, however, Wactor Heckler met Felicia, a member of the Von Draugr family, which was firmly rooted in the Mystic Sect. Unlike the Dark Sect, the Mystic Sect avoided unnecessary conflicts and was far more lenient toward outsiders. This gave Wactor hope, and he began focusing his ambitions on joining the Von Draugr family, desperate to shed his mortal identity before his body succumbed to the ravages of aging.
Nolan cast a peculiar glance at Wactor. He hadn't anticipated that Felicia would select a Muggle as his next dead kin. As a male vampire, Nolan shared the common reluctance of his kind—he greatly disliked feeding on other males.
"Felicia," Nolan asked, his tone skeptical, "are you serious about this?"
Felicia nodded with her signature charming smile, her sharp fangs peeking out. She even clenched her small fists, exuding a determined energy. "Of course I am! Out of everyone I could find, Wactor Heckler is the best choice!"
Nolan nodded slowly. While he wasn't fond of drinking the blood of men, he was even less inclined to argue with Felicia. "Wactor Heckler," he began solemnly, "tonight, I, Nolan Von Draugr, will guide you across the boundary between life and death. You will receive my blood, become part of the Von Draugr family, and officially join the direct bloodline as my second dead kin."
Wactor breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, almighty progenitor, I thank you for your mercy and your blessing!"
Nolan continued, his voice calm but commanding, "Once you become my dead kin, all your Muggle-world assets and reputation will belong to the Von Draugr family. Forget the glory of the Heckler family—you will no longer belong to the living world but will instead ascend as a noble being of the night."
Lowering his head, Wactor replied reverently, "As you wish, my lord."
"Wactor Heckler," Nolan asked, "does the Heckler family have any other heirs?"
Wactor hesitated for a moment before answering cautiously, "I have a daughter—she is my direct heir. Should I face a natural death, she would inherit everything from the Heckler family."
"A daughter…" Nolan muttered, frowning slightly.
The Von Draugr family had always relished amassing wealth and influence in the Muggle world. For thousands of years, this practice had been a cornerstone of their legacy. Felicia's decision to select Heckler as Nolan's dead kin was motivated by this very principle—she wanted her brother to have his own financial assets in the Muggle world. However, the presence of another family heir complicated matters.
Nolan didn't deliberate for long. In a soft but resolute voice, he said, "Kill her."
"My… my lord…"
"This is my first command as your liege. Eliminate the Heckler family's heir."
Wactor faltered for a moment, his inner conflict evident. Finally, he steeled himself and replied, "If that is your will… so be it."
Yulisa Heckler's sleep was anything but restful tonight.
Throughout the night, she woke up four times, haunted by relentless nightmares that seemed to grip her tightly. The sixteen-year-old girl was so unnerved that she couldn't bring herself to turn off the lights, relying on their glow to lull her back to sleep. Even then, her small hand never left her beloved HKP7 pistol.
Unfortunately, her slumber was interrupted yet again. Fortunately, this time, waking up saved her life.
"Who's there?!" Yulisa screamed, her voice tinged with hysteria. One hand gripped her pistol tightly, while the other furiously tousled her chestnut-brown hair. She yelled once more, louder this time: "Who the hell is there?!"
Wactor Heckler emerged from behind the door. "Calm down, my dear daughter. It's me."
"So, it's you…" Yulisa's guard did not drop in the slightest. Her tone was laced with disdain as she addressed the man she called her father in name only. "Sneaking into a girl's room in the dead of night? Wactor Heckler, I've always known you were no good. Even when you sweet-talked your way into marrying my mother and changed your surname, it never hid the fact that you're a scumbag. I've told you countless times—you're nothing but a worm at the bottom of society's ladder. No amount of gilding from my family name will change that! Now, it seems you've finally dropped your pretenses, haven't you?"
Wactor's face twitched as veins bulged on his forehead, her words striking a nerve. His past was a painful subject—he was illegitimate and nameless until he married that widow and adopted her surname.
Like a cat, Yulisa climbed down from her bed, her HKP7 pistol aimed squarely at Wactor's forehead. Her delicate, Germanic-featured face darkened in the dim light as she ordered, "Raise your hands, Wactor Heckler, though I refuse to acknowledge you as a true bearer of that name. I know you're holding something—reveal your filthy desires, your ugly greed. I know I've become an obstacle for you!"
Wactor took a deep breath. "Fine, fine, Miss Heckler. You're always right."
He raised his hands, revealing a G3 assault rifle.
In truth, Wactor had always preferred the widow's daughter, Yulisa, over the widow herself. However, the girl was far too perceptive. It had taken her just six months to see through his true nature. To Wactor, Yulisa was like a mirror, reflecting every one of his ugly desires, leaving no place for them to hide.
"Ah, Miss Heckler," Wactor began, his voice calm but calculated, "unhappiness stems from yearning for things one shouldn't possess. I'm guilty of this, but perhaps you are too."
As he spoke, he began subtly shifting the angle of his rifle.
"Scum!" Yulisa shouted furiously.
The HKP7 roared, and a bullet tore into Wactor's shoulder, sending a spray of blood into the air.
Wactor reacted quickly, kicking over a desk to use as cover and firing the G3 in retaliation.
The assault rifle's suppressive firepower was overwhelming, forcing Yulisa into a defensive position. Her HKP7 semi-automatic pistol couldn't deal a decisive blow in such a short time, giving Wactor an opening. Two bullets struck her, and blood splattered as she rolled across the floor, narrowly diving into the corner of a wardrobe for cover.
"I originally planned to strangle you in your sleep… my dear daughter, just like I strangled your pathetic mother."
"I've always known you killed her! You won't shake me!" Yulisa spat through gritted teeth. Tearing strips from her nightgown, she hastily bandaged her wounds. Fury burned in her voice as she added, "Wactor, you're trash! How could the German people produce someone as vile as you?!"
"Damn it all," Wactor muttered, his anxiety growing. He understood all too well that the Heckler family's power was only nominally in his hands. No one truly obeyed him. If anyone found out he had attacked the family's eldest daughter, those military fanatics would have him strapped to a rocket and launched into space to become cosmic debris!
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