Chapter 492: Gouge Out Your Eyes

Cassius sighed as he looked at the trio who had finally calmed down.

"No matter what happens..." He said softly. "...don’t attack. Let whatever happens, happen."

Julie, Skadi, and Aisha exchanged tense glances, but before any of them could question him, Cassius took a step forward, then another.

The vampire woman immediately reacted.

Her claws came out, her red eyes flared with vengeful light, and her lips parted to reveal gleaming fangs.

A faint hiss escaped her throat as she crouched slightly, every inch of her body ready to spring.

Seeing that, Julie instinctively raised her sword, Skadi withdrew her claws, and even Aisha’s wand began to glow faintly with prepared magic.

But before any of them could move, Cassius raised a hand towards the vampire.

"Calm down." He said in a reassuring manner like he wanted nothing but peace. "Calm down, don’t attack. This is a misunderstanding."

The vampire blinked in visible confusion, her stance faltering slightly. Even the three behind Cassius froze, unsure whether to laugh or panic at how casually he was speaking to someone who could kill them in an instant.

Cassius smiled faintly.

"I mean it. It’s all a misunderstanding, nothing more. There’s no reason for us to fight."

Julie blinked. "Cassius—what are you doing?" She hissed under her breath.

He ignored her and continued, taking another step closer but keeping his hands where the vampire could see them.

"I think we got off on the wrong foot." He said calmly. "You probably think we’re part of this cult. That we’re the ones responsible for this mess—the ones who trapped these children here."

The woman’s eyes flickered. She didn’t move, but her expression shifted ever so slightly.

Cassius nodded to himself.

"It’s natural to assume that. You woke up, surrounded by strangers, children in cages, dark tunnels, blood everywhere. Of course you’d think we’re the enemy."

"But I promise you..." He pressed a hand to his chest, bowing his head slightly in sincerity. "It’s not what it looks like. We’re not your enemies. In fact, we’re the ones trying to stop the cult and save these children. That’s our mission."

Aisha bit her lip, watching the vampire carefully. She wasn’t sure if Cassius’s words were getting through.

But to her surprise, the woman didn’t attack. Her fangs lowered slightly.

Cassius continued, his tone gentle but earnest.

"The reason those children are out of their cages right now—it’s because of us. We broke them free. If you look behind you, you’ll see the tunnel we dug to lead them to safety."

The vampire’s gaze flicked backward briefly, toward the hole glowing faintly with light.

"Even if you don’t believe me..." Cassius said. "...you can believe the people standing behind me." He gestured to Julie, Skadi, and Aisha. "They’re not just anyone. They’re the leaders of the Holy Guard."

"I’m sure even you’ve heard of them—their reputation, their strength, the battles they’ve fought."

A faint flicker crossed the vampire’s crimson eyes, though it was impossible to tell whether it was recognition or contempt.

Cassius smiled faintly. "And if that’s not enough, you can ask the children."

He looked over her shoulder.

"Hey, kids..." He called gently. "...can you tell this lady who we are?"

There was hesitation for a moment, then one of the children nervously spoke up.

"They’re...They’re the Holy Guard." He said timidly. "They came to save us."

Another chimed in, louder this time. "They’re our heroes! They helped us!"

"Yeah, please don’t attack them!"

Cassius smiled softly and spread his arms.

"See? Adults might lie, but children don’t, atleast not in a place like this."

He lowered his hand and said firmly.

"And my name is Cassius Vindictus Holyfield, the third Young Master of the Holyfield estate and I swear on my name and blood, this is all a misunderstanding. We’re on the same side."

For a long moment, silence filled the corridor.

Julie, Skadi, and Aisha began to relax slightly, realizing that maybe, just maybe, Cassius’s insane plan was actually working.

But then the vampire moved.

Her expression turned cold again, her crimson eyes narrowing sharply. When she finally spoke, her voice was smooth and beautiful, but carried a freezing, venomous edge.

"You say children don’t lie." She said quietly. "And I’ll grant you that much."

Cassius tilted his head. "Then—"

"But..." She interrupted, her tone turning icy. "It’s also far too easy to trick children. To make them believe that their captors are their saviors. To twist their minds with words until they no longer know who the true villains are."

The room went dead silent, as her eyes began to glow brighter, deep scarlet, burning with restrained fury.

"And you tell me to trust you. To believe you. To believe them." She gestured disdainfully toward Julie and the others. "And yet you..." Her voice hardened, trembling with buried rage. "...you reek of nobility."

"You’re one of them. The same kind who murdered my people. Who hunted us to extinction. Who gouged out our eyes and burned our bodies—all because of lies born from greed."

Cassius’s smile faded.

"How..." She said through clenched teeth. "...am I supposed to trust someone as filthy and rotten as you?"

The air grew heavy, suffocating. The trio behind Cassius instantly tensed again, ready to act.

But Cassius just exhaled, his shoulders sinking slightly.

"You’re right." He said simply.

That response stunned everyone—even the vampire blinked, confused.

"What you said makes sense." Cassius continued, his voice calm and steady. "You have no reason to trust me—or any of us. After what the nobles did to your kind, I wouldn’t either. And as for them..." He gestured back toward the Holy Guard trio. "They follow my orders. If you can’t trust me, then you can’t trust them either. That’s fair."

He took one slow step forward, raising his hands again, palms open.

"So..." He said quietly. "Tell me. What can I do to make you believe me? What will it take for you to see that we’re not your enemies? If it means stopping the suffering of those children, if it means preventing a bloody fight, then I’ll do anything."

The vampire froze for a moment, her crimson eyes flickering with a strange mix of confusion and disbelief.

For as long as she had lived, she had only known humans as liars, deceivers, and killers—and nobles most of all.

Yet the man standing before her, despite his confident bearing and noble scent, looked her straight in the eyes with such disarming sincerity that for a heartbeat, she felt something she hadn’t in years: doubt.

It wasn’t his words, nor his solemn tone—it was the look in his eyes.

Those crimson irises, so much like her own, glowed not with deceit but with calm conviction.

She had seen countless faces, faces of soldiers, executioners, and false saints. But she knew the language of eyes better than anyone.

And this man’s eyes were...genuine.

For a brief moment, she faltered. Could he really be telling the truth?

But then, reality hit her. He wasn’t just anyone—he was a noble.

And not just any noble, but one of the most powerful nobles. A Holyfield.

And even though the Holyfield family didn’t exist back then, they were still nobles who led the crusades which annihilated her race. The same people that burned her kin alive and gouged out their eyes to display as trophies.

The flicker of trust vanished. Her expression hardened.

’How dare he look at me with those same eyes? ’

’How dare he speak of trust?’

Her hands curled and she almost lunged right then and there, ready to tear him apart for the insult of pretending to understand her pain.

But then she paused.

If he truly meant his words, she could break him with them.

So, calmly, almost too calmly, she straightened her posture and asked, "Do you really mean that?"

Cassius blinked, his voice steady. "Of course. Anything you ask, and it will be done."

Her expression did not change. "Anything?"

"Anything." He repeated without hesitation.

Then, in that same cold, regal tone, she said, "Then do one thing for me."

The air went still.

"Take your fingers..." She said quietly. "...and push them into your eye sockets. Gouge out your eyes for me."

"I want both of your eyes in your hands right now."

The words struck the air like lightning.

Aisha froze, her mouth falling open in shock. Skadi’s fur bristled as she blinked in confusion. Julie wondered if she was hearing things.

But the vampire didn’t flinch.

"This is what your kind did to mine centuries ago." She said coldly. "You claim to be different? Then show me. If you truly mean what you say, then prove it."

"Tear them out—just like your ancestors did to every vampire they captured. If you want my trust, give me that."

The silence that followed was deafening. Until—

"What the hell?!" Aisha shouted, stepping forward. "There’s no way Cassius can do that! That’s insane!"

Skadi’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yeah, without Master’s eyes, what’s he gonna do?! He’ll be blind! He won’t even be able to see my cute face anymore! That’s way too cruel!"

She puffed up, her tail swishing angrily as she added,

"If you want something, you can have some of my fur instead! It’s soft! You’ll like it!"

The vampire blinked slowly at her, utterly unamused. "...Are you an idiot?"

Julie sighed, exasperated.

"Please, Skadi, stop talking."

Then she turned her sharp gaze toward the vampire.

"You’re out of your mind. That’s not a reasonable request, and you know it. There’s no way in hell we’re letting him do something like that."

The vampire didn’t waver.

"You asked what I wanted. That’s what I want. Either he gives me his eyes..." She said, her tone cutting like frost. "...or we fight."

The tension in the room coiled tighter. Skadi lowered her stance, claws twitching; Aisha’s took a step back; Julie lifted her sword slightly, ready to block.

But before anyone could move, Cassius’s voice cut through the air, calm but laced with something dangerous.

"Fine." He said simply.

The three women turned toward him in disbelief.

"Cassius, what—?!" Aisha began, but the words died in her throat.

Cassius stepped forward, his expression unreadable.

"If it’s my eyes you want..." He said quietly. "...then I’ll give them to you."

For a second, even the vampire seemed caught off guard.

"You’re mocking me." She said sharply, narrowing her gaze. "You think I’ll fall for—"

But her words froze when Cassius raised his hands.

"No." He said softly. "You asked. I agreed."

He took a slow breath, muttering under his breath.

"Though I would’ve preferred spoons—it’s easier with spoons."

The three women looked horrified.

"Cassius, don’t you dare—!" Julie barked, taking a step forward.

"Children." Cassius said suddenly, his voice firm. "Look away."

The children obeyed instantly, covering their faces in fear and confusion.

And then, before anyone could stop him, Cassius pushed his fingers into his own eyes.

A horrible sound filled the room—the wet squelch of flesh and pressure, followed by the sharp intake of breath as pain shot through him.

Aisha covered her mouth with both hands, trembling. Skadi whimpered, tail going on between her legs. Even Julie, who had seen battlefields drenched in gore, felt her stomach twist.

The vampire also stared, frozen in disbelief.

"You wanted my eyes, right?" He said hoarsely. "Then take them."

With one swift, sickening motion, he pulled.

The first eye came free, a slick crimson orb dangling from his fingers by a thin, bloody cord. He tore it loose, his body shuddering violently from the agony.

The vampire—despite her years of battle-hardened resolve—flinched, wincing at the grotesque sight. Her fangs clenched, her breath catching as she watched him repeat the act.

Cassius reached again, digging his other fingers into the remaining socket. This time, the motion was slower.

A strangled noise escaped him, but he didn’t stop until the second eye came free, blood dripping from both hands and the vampire stood frozen in absolute horror.

Meanwhile, Cassius—his empty sockets now hollow, bleeding rivers down his face—raised both hands, his eyes resting in his palms.

"How about now?" He asked quietly, voice steady as ever as if he hadn’t just blinded himself. "Do you believe me now...Miss Vampire?"