"You…" Carlisle hesitated.
Just then Esme stepped forward.
"Do you know him?" She asked in confusion.
Carlisle curled his lips.
"I don't know him… I've just heard of him."
"Back when I was a part of the Volturi… I heard rumors, but I thought he was dead."
Carlisle looked at Viktor with narrowed eyes.
"You are Viktor Predator of the Crimson Hunt… right?"
Viktor smiled.
"I am… or I was, now I just serve my master, but I am curious… how did you recognize me?"
If he was alive, Carlisle believed his palms would be sweating and his heart racing.
"It was mandatory for everyone in the Volturi to memorize your portrait."
Viktor's eyes brows shot up.
"Oh, really? I didn't know that…"
Cessian and Gregor rolled their eyes imperceptibly.
He definitely knew that, he's just enjoying his moment of showing off in front of the master.
Everyone present was curious, just who was this to warrant such a reaction from Carlisle?
Jasper stepped forward and whispered in Carlisle's ear.
"Who is he? Can we take them?"
Carlisle looked over, his face grim.
"Even without James and Victoria… we would be lucky if a few of us made it out alive."
Rosalie heard this and felt that it was unbelievable.
"Tsk, you're overreacting, how amazing can he be? He's still a vampire."
Carlisle pursed his lips.
"Debatable."
The Cullens all had disbelieving expressions on their faces.
Viktor saw this and felt dissatisfied in his heart, but he showed nothing on his face.
You're making me lose face in front of the master.
He stepped forward.
"Why don't you share what you know with the rest of the class: Who am I?"
Hearing this Silas felt lucky, I am a genius, I just fucking knew it.
I knew he would pull a stupid move like this, good that I distanced myself from it.
Carlisle hesitated, but under the eager gazes of the Cullens, and James who had just made his way back, he succumbed.
Sigh.
"Many years ago there was a coven or militant faction, they were extreme, they were insatiable, they believed themselves righteous."
Carlisle took a deep breath.
"They burnt towns in pursuit of their ideals…"
"The Crescent Hunt swore to turn the night red and salt the earth where vampires walked."
Cessian and Gregor who were watching felt bored, this old horror story again.
Ella was confused.
"And he was a part of it?"
Carlisle nodded.
"Yes, and more than that."
"He was highly valued because of his strong strength, and unwavering belief in their ideology."
Edward crossed his arms.
"So what happened? We've never heard of them, so they can't exist anymore, right?"
Carlisle sighed.
"You're right, the Volturi deemed them disruptors of the world order and wanted them dead."
"They gathered vampires from all over the world… then cornered them."
This time it was Victoria's turn to be confused.
"If they were for the vampires… then why would they team up against them?"
Carlisle glanced at her but still decided to answer.
"Because of their ideology."
"They didn't care about territory, so they hunted in other covens' territory, provoking their wrath."
"If you weren't with them, you were against them… without exception, all these covens were destroyed."
Alice, who had subconsciously moved closer to Silas, voiced her concerns.
"But if the Volturi led an extermination with other vampires… then how is he still alive?" She asked and pointed at Viktor.
He glanced at her quickly then to Silas, but no one noticed because he returned his focus to Carlisle.
"Nobody knows, he broke off from the others and when the reinforcements arrived he was gone, and the encirclement was dead."
"Something that is known is that for nearly a century after that night, any Volturi who strayed beyond their fortress risked never returning."
"Then it just stopped… most claimed he was dead, others swore that it was impossible."
Viktor clapped his hands with a smile.
"You got it mostly right, I'm not quite that awesome, but I won't correct you."
Silas smacked his lips.
I can never associate with him again… I'll have to get another retainer.
Carlisle locked eyes with Viktor.
"Now… what brings you here, Viktor?"
Viktor's smile faded and he pointed towards James.
"Him. I want him."
James was confused. Me? Why me?
I haven't pissed off some ancient vampire, right?
Carlisle followed the direction of Viktor's finger and his gaze landed on James.
Carlisle grew increasingly confused.
"If you want him… then why attack us?"
Viktor was taken aback.
"We haven't attacked you, and we don't want anything to do with you, you've just misunderstood."
Huh?
The Cullen's all felt that it was incredible, their brains itched in bewilderment.
So… we all just overreacted?
Then they turned their focus towards Alice, their gazes clearly questioning.
Alice shrank her neck.
She saw wrong… it wasn't her fault the visions were misleading.
So… she felt that it was better to be safe than sorry.
Silas rubbed her back and whispered.
"Calm down, no one's blaming you."
Alice nodded.
Carlisle, no matter how unbelievable chose to believe it, after all, the alternative wasn't good.
"So… we can leave?" He asked Viktor hesitantly.
Viktor looked at Cessian and Gregor, and they nodded.
"Sure, no problem."
James and Victoria now seemed to finally understand what was happening, it all felt so surreal before.
They watched as Cessian and Gregor appeared behind them, cutting off their escape.
Victor walked to the front.
Now they were effectively encircled.
"Hey… we can discuss this." James said, trying to look harmless and innocent.
He was a self proclaimed hunter and a bit crazy, but he wasn't suicidal.
Viktor raised his hand, stopping Cessian and Gregor.
"Oh? What do you want to discuss?"
James breathed a sigh of relief, Victoria beside him also felt lucky, maybe they could make it out alive.
"We… we don't know how we offended you, but we can make up for it."
Viktor nodded.
"That sounds good, what did you have in mind?"
James looked them over.
"You want to hunt someone down? I'm your man."
Viktor rubbed his chin.
"Sounds good, but we don't need that."
James cursed.
The Cullens who still hadn't left watched this and felt unreal.
It might not be obvious for James and Victoria, but… aren't Viktor just messing with them?
James was racking his brains, he didn't have anything.
Just then his gaze turned to Victoria. Yes… that might work.
"Anything else?" Viktor asked.
James nodded.
"How about… Victoria, I'll give her to you."
Victoria's head snapped towards him.
"What!?"
James glared at her.
"Shut up!"
He then turned back towards Viktor.
"What do you say?"
Viktor felt bored.
"She's not my type, I like more mature women… like her." He said and pointed towards Esme.
James looked over and felt incredulous.
No… even if you think that, you can't just say it.
She's clearly married, alright!?
...
That's it for this week!
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Mwah~
CHAPTER END.