"Take a look for yourself," Celeste said as she pulled out her communicator and activated the selfie camera while pointing it at Rowena.
A holographic screen appeared above the communicator, allowing Rowena to see that her normally blood-red hair had turned whiter than before.
Rowena gaped in shock at her image before saying, "What in the Progenitors' name?"
"I take it this is unexpected?" Celeste asked curiously.
"Damn straight this is unexpected, nothing I read said anything about pureblood affecting a true Brood's hair colour," Rowena replied.
"But doesn't his blood affect Stacey's hair? That's what you told Uncle Vlad."
"I figured that was because his pureblood was somehow making her more Brood and less Terran. I, on the other hand, am already full Brood," Rowena replied before looking at Adam again while wondering how this was possible and what other secrets his miraculous blood was hiding.
Adam looked down at the now peacefully sleeping Stacey before he forced himself to turn away as he walked towards Rowena and Celeste.
[StealthAssassin9 (Earth): Bro just totally left his girl there. I think you just got dumped.]
[Phoenixempress (Fenix Nest): You really are a fucking idiot. He can't be seen by her; he needs to meet her for the first time eighteen years from then. Didn't you see how he had to force himself to look away? I hope all the men on your planet aren't as fucking dumb as you.]
[StealthAssassin9 (Earth): …]
[All the male Earthlings in chat: …]
[Superhearofangirl (Earth): Oh shit.]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): You see, even the empress of another race is calling you dumb, you should just stop talking in the chat as you're making our race look bad, ya fucking douche-bag.]
[StealthAssassin9 (Earth): …]
"We should go," Adam said as he walked past the two women without stopping, causing them to share a look before they followed after him.
"Are you ok?" Celeste asked.
"No, I'm fucking pissed. If that Renne bitch were here right now, I don't think I could stop myself from killing her."
[OracleRomy (Elysium): Oh, oh, that's a flag again, right?]
[AlamoMatador4thewin (Earth): Totally a flag.]
[Whostolemyduck (Earth): You're getting pretty good at this, Oracle Andromeda.]
"You know Stacey's still lying unconscious there, right?" Celeste noted.
"Of course I know that, but I have to walk away, or I might change the future. Also, I can't look back as I might lose my resolve and go back to her side until she wakes up," Adam replied.
[OrangeeyedStace (Felinia 7): Babe. 🥰]
"So what now?" Celeste asked curiously.
"Now I have a word with Vlad," Adam said in a dangerous tone that made the two women look at each other.
[Prestigious3horns (Vinox 2): Oh shit.]
[Superior4horns (Vinox 3): Wait, do they have a confrontation or something? I don't remember ever reading about the Brood Progenitor getting into a confrontation with someone during any of the festivals of blood.]
[Lizziethetruepower (Palaxia): Lady Celeste?]
[Whitehorn (Darah 5): You're going to have to wait and see. 😋]
[LadyErkath (Deverinian Prime): Oh, come on. At least tell us something.]
[Whitehorn (Darah 5): Hmmmm, ok, I will say this. Adam does something I have never seen anyone do in his confrontation with Uncle Vlad.]
Universal Year 3247
Revi sat alone in her throne room while sitting on her throne as she watched Adam's stream on the large holographic screen before her, since she had dismissed everyone once she had received the notification that his stream had started.
"I guess it's time to enact that deal I made eighteen years ago," Revi muttered to herself before accessing her uniband and calling a specific contact.
"Empress Revi, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Vlad asked after a holographic screen appeared, showing him sitting on his own throne surrounded by blood.
"Even now, I can't get over how disturbed your throne makes me feel when I see it," Revi remarked as she looked at the throne surrounded by blood.
"We each have our seats of power. Mine just happens to be surrounded by blood, as it allows me the ability to watch over my children," Vlad replied.
"So I take it you know who attempted to kill Stacey back then?" Revi asked in surprise.
"Ah, so today is the day, is it?" Vlad replied with a small smile before answering, "Yes, I know that Renne was foolish enough to attack Stacey back then, though I only found out after it happened, since I was attending the festival of blood as Rowena had advised me to do."
"And you did nothing since?" Revi asked with a frown.
"You, as well as I, know that we can not show favouritism to our children, or subjects in your case. I promised long ago that I would not get involved with the internal affairs of my children unless it threatened the lives of many of them."
"Even murder?" Revi asked.
"Attempted murder," Vlad replied before continuing, "Renne tried and failed to kill Stacey."
"Thanks to Diva Rowena's actions and Adam's blood."
"Indeed. Still, one life is not enough for me to break my word of not interfering."
"You know Adam wont see it that way, from what I see, he's out for blood," Revi replied as she shot a glance at that stream, which showed Adam, Rowena and Celeste leaving the park.
"So he told me back then. I must say it was quite the novel experience how he talked so openly to me and not politely like most people his age. At that time, he acted more like my fellow Progenitors do when they interact with me," Vlad said while smiling as he reminisced about his confrontation with Adam.
"He's on his way to confront you as we speak," Revi declared.
"So the deed has been done and you called to keep your end of our agreement by informing me once Adam and Rowena had witnessed the attack on Stacey."
"Correct, now keep your end of the deal."
"Very well. I will instruct the Brood council to follow the Phoenix races' example of building friendlier ties with the Terran race," Vlad stated before adding, "I must commend you on your foresight to see so far ahead, Empress Revi. Did you know that they would go through such an attack and that even the Solarian Princess would reach out to build closer ties with them?"
"I did not. I simply wanted to repay those who showed my goddaughter such kindness," Revi replied.
"The White Dragon Tephe," Vlad replied and tapped the arm of his throne with a finger before saying, "You know I'm surprised."
"About what?" Revi asked curiously.
"That you haven't done as the Dragons and Catonians have done and banned the Bounty Hunter Guild from operating within the Ashes Galaxy, they did injure your goddaughter after all," Vlad stated.
"You're correct," Revi replied before continuing, "But as I'm sure you're aware, there really isn't any point in me doing such a thing. The bounty hunter guild already has no presence in the Ashes Galaxy."
"That's true. After your race was nearly made extinct by the Herpolisk race, you became very particular about who you would allow entry to. You not only leave the Ashes Galaxy's jumpgate sealed, meaning no ship can use it unless you allow them to, but you even have your fleet patrol the borders of your own solar system, which houses the jumpgate, far more stringently than other races in case anyone tries to sneak in."
"One of the reasons that bastard races fleet was able to reach Fenix Nest back then was because of a non-Herpolisk traitor who was on the planet, who helped them by sabotaging our defence systems. We learnt from that mistake and allow very few to visit our solar system and even fewer may visit Fenix Nest."
"Understandable," Vlad replied while nodding.
"Is there anything else you wish to discuss, Brood Brogenitor? If not, I would like to go back to watching the stream since Adam is about to confront you," Revi asked.
"You were the one who called me, remember," Vlad replied with a chuckle.
"Only to make good on our deal from eighteen years ago," Revi replied before adding, "Though I fail to understand why you would want to know when exactly the attack happened."
"I have my reasons," Vlad replied before saying, "I will let you return to the stream." After which, he ended the call.
"What's he up to?" Revi wondered aloud before returning her attention to the stream.
After ending the call with Revi, Vlad pressed a button on his throne before saying, "Contact Asema Nosferatu and inform him that I have something urgent to discuss with him."
Universal Year 3229
"So, where will we find Vlad?" Adam asked.
"The Progenitor resides within the temple of blood; however, that place will be packed right now since the festival is still going on," Rowena replied.
"And?" Adam asked.
"You're not seriously considering barging into the temple of blood, are you?" Celeste asked in surprise before adding, "That place is sacred grounds to the Brood; they won't stand for it."
Adam was about to reply when a voice from above them asked, "Might I ask why you're so determined to speak with me that you would even barge into my own home?"
As the three looked up, they saw Vlad floating down from the sky with wings that were far bigger than the ones Rowena had.
As he floated down towards the three, Vlad noticed the change in colour of Rowena's hair and couldn't help arch an eyebrow before asking, "Rowena, what happened to your hair?"
Adam was still curious about that himself, so although he wanted to have words with Vlad, he decided to listen to Rowena's answer first.
[Lizziethetruepower (Palaxia): Whoa, the Brood Progenitor is back, but why do we still not have sound?]
[Healthylifebysniffingdrugs (Deverinian 7): I'm also curious about that.]
[Superior4horns (Vinox 3): You're curious about something other than drugs?]
[Healthylifebysniffingdrugs (Deverinian 7): I just used the last of them that I had, so now I need to wait for my supplier to arrive with more.]
[Justiceistruth (Earth): Fuck, dude. How many did you take?]
[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): Has anyone else noticed that the stream hasn't shown Diva Rowena since just after the sound went out?]
[LadyErkath (Deverinian Prime): I did, I'm starting to grow curious as to why.]
"Progenitor," Rowena replied in surprise before asking, "I thought you would still be at the temple."