My Vampire Harem Will Dominate Everything - Chapter 133

A Fork In The Path
Ezra stepped into the quiet embrace of his home, his mind still buzzing with the day’s work. The soft glow of the evening light filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the living room.

As he removed his coat, he heard the murmur of voices coming from the adjacent room. What’s going on? The ladies shouldn’t be up yet. He checked the time on his wristwatch. Why are they up early? Curious, he moved towards the source of the sound.

Gen, Olivia and Red were seated around the coffee table. The sight of the three of them together was unusual enough, but the intensity of their expressions heightened his curiosity.

Gen’s usually bored face held a hint of anticipation, while Olivia’s calm demeanor was tinged with excitement. Red, typically aloof, seemed almost… pleased.

“What’s going on?” Ezra asked, stepping fully into the room. He eyed the women, confused. “Is there some kind of good news I’m not aware of?”

“In a way, yes.” Olivia stood up and approached him, holding a small, ornate envelope. “We received an invitation,” she said, handing it to him.

“To what?” Ezra took the envelope in confusion, his eyes scanning the elegant script. His eyes widened as he processed the sigil on it. A simple black tree. It was a sigil he recognized and his mind quickly arrived at the obvious conclusion.

“The City Lord’s annual ball?” He read aloud, surprise coloring his tone. “How did we manage this?”

“Courtesy of Red,” Gen interjected, her voice carrying a mix of gratitude and respect. “She pulled some strings and got us an invite.”

Ezra raised an eyebrow at Gen. When did she become cordial with Red? His gaze shifted to Red, who gave a modest nod. “It wasn’t easy, but I have my connections.” Red said simply.

Taking a seat at the table, Ezra carefully opened the envelope and examined the invitation.

He’d been told of the City Lord’s annual ball. It was renowned among the vampire covens of the city, a prestigious event that many sought to attend. It was more than just a social gathering. It was a rare opportunity to forge alliances and build influence within the complex hierarchy of their world.

Olivia settled next to him, her face impassive but her eyes gleaming with excitement. Her eyes had become more expressive since her ascension days ago.

“This is more than just an invitation, Ezra.” She said. “This ball is crucial for us. It’s a chance to make connections, gain allies, and position ourselves strategically among the vampire covens. Which are things we need against the Silent Hand.”

Ezra nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of the situation. “Since we’re going to the ball,” there was no way they won’t be attending, “this means that we have to make a decision now about our allegiance.” He said, his voice thoughtful.

“Exactly,” Olivia confirmed. “We need to decide where we stand with Griffin before we attend. Attending this ball gives us the opportunity to either solidify our loyalty to him or to seek out other potential allies. We have to decide whether we continue to follow Griffin or if we chart our own course.”

Ezra leaned back, contemplating the weight of their choice. Griffin was powerful and influential and with his recent move on Southside assets, his power would keep growing. His mind went to the offer from the Arbiter. Abandon Griffin and an ally would be sent.

He knew that breaking away from Griffin could offer them more freedom and free them from his debt, but it also came with significant risks. He needed to think this through. Making the wrong move would have dire consequences.

Gen spoke up, her tone measured. “Griffin’s rule has kept us secure. He is the reason Count Solomon hasn’t retaliated for the death of Malachi. However, his ambitions are growing darker. We’ve all felt it. The way he muscled in on Southside was… troubling.”

Red nodded in agreement. “I think the answer to your questions are obvious. This ball could be the perfect opportunity to find like-minded allies, those who are also disillusioned with their count’s leadership. Which is exactly what the Silent Hand are.”

Silence fill the room.

“Come on,” Red shrugged. “Don’t tell me you guys haven’t thought about it. If you leave Griffin, you will be on the same side as the Silent Hand. This could be an opportunity to turn an enemy into an ally.”

“The problem with that,” Ezra sighed, “is the fact that we can’t publically declare that we’ve abandoned Griffin if there’s no count to protect us, so Silent Hand has no reason to believe us.

He turned his gaze to Olivia, seeking her insight. “What do you think our chances are if we decide to break away?”

Olivia’s expression turned serious. “It’s a gamble, no doubt. But if we play our cards right, we could align ourselves with powerful covens who are eager for change. The key will be in how we present ourselves and what alliances we can forge. Griffin doesn’t have to know.”

Silence settled over the room as they each pondered the implications of their decision. Ezra’s mind raced, weighing the potential benefits against the dangers. He knew that attending the ball would be their best chance to gauge the political climate and see where they might fit into the broader scheme.

“We need a plan,” Ezra said finally, breaking the silence. “If we’re going to use this ball to explore our options, we need to be prepared. We need to know who to approach, what to offer, and how to protect ourselves.”

Gen nodded, her tactical mind already working. “I’ll start gathering information on the key players who will be attending. We need to know their histories, their alliances, and their potential motives.”

Red leaned forward, her eyes sharp. “I can help with that. My contacts will be useful in getting the inside scoop on who might be open to new alliances and who we should avoid.”

Olivia smiled slightly, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “And I’ll work on our presentation. We need to project strength and unity, showing that we’re a formidable force in our own right.”

Ezra felt a surge of determination. “Then it’s settled. We’ll use the City Lord’s ball to explore our options and make an informed decision about our future. But we go in united, no matter what.”

The three women nodded in agreement, their expressions reflecting a shared resolve. The invitation to the City Lord’s ball had opened a door to new possibilities, and they were ready to step through it.