Hero of Darkness

In front of the main entrance door of the mansion where two rows of servants dressed in black and white along with the two different ques of armored guards placed opposite to each other, stood a man in the middle. 

Dressed in a combination of dark blue aristocratic longcoat and with the high grade and costly black pants and boots, Kahn welcomed the guests for this small gathering between acquaintances. 

His and Szayel's relationship as friends was already out in the open so there was no need for secret meetings anymore. 

But after seeing the new addition, namely Vivian who was also one of the people who wanted him dead, Kahn was taken aback. 

Because although he saw how Vivian burned the traitors, he knew that her punishment was inevitable even if she was the clan leader's daughter. Because as per his knowledge from Szayel, their clan put the rules and doctrine of the clan above lineage & everything else. 

"Tell me, what is she doing here?" asked Kahn in a stern tone, trying to hide his anger as he clenched his fists tightly. 

"Ah.. About that.. Let's talk inside. It's not something we can talk about in public." spoke Szayel as the merry and pleasant welcome witnessed by hundreds of onlookers, the servants and soldiers from both sides wasn't exactly a good place to reveal clan secrets. 

Kahn nodded in response and calmed his mind. 

The soldiers who came as security for Szayel were escorted by his own as the soldiers also had food and entertainment waiting for them on a side of this grand property. 

After giving them a small tour of the main areas of the new mansion, they stood in the main hall of the mansion. 

This room was filled with luxurious furniture, dozens of intrinsically decorated ornaments, statues and artistic paintings. Every inch of the hall expressed wealth and prestige. 

Szayel sat on a luxurious and comfortable sofa and Kahn sat on the opposite end along with Albestros. 

The grandmaster blacksmith's expression was no different than Kahn's when he saw Vivian. 

He was also present there that day and already knew how she was one of the people who wanted the ruin of their company and also kill both him & Kahn. 

For some reason, Vivian didn't sit on the sofa and stood behind Szayel, acting like a complete and aloof stranger. She didn't even look at Kahn or Albestros straight in the eyes. 

"Before you ask too many questions, allow me to clear out the confusion. She has gone through a core-binding ritual with me." said Szayel. 

"What?!!" exclaimed Albestros with eyes full of shock and bewilderment. 

Kahn was confused so he asked with a curious expression on his face, "What's this core-binding ritual?".

"You don't know about it yet? Well… not many know about this ritual anyway. Her core has been bound to Szayel. She is now unable to kill him or herself and forced to follow every single command of the one she's bound to." replied Albestros with a complicated and thoughtful countenance. 

Kahn was surprised by this revelation and asked in a curious tone. 

"Doesn't that mean she's basically Szayel's slave now?" 

"Not exactly. Because slaves at least have their own emotions and in case the master dies, they will still live on. 

But as for her case… if Szayel dies, she dies as well. And as the years pass, little by little, her consciousness will be taken over by the core binding magic. In a decade or so, she will have no free will of her own or possess any sentience. She will be an emotionless puppet, only living for the sake of serving the master. Her life will have no meaning left to it.

Her fate is worse than death." elaborated the old grandmaster blacksmith. 

He was also an Artificer so he knew how these binding rituals worked. It was the same method he used on the Drakos Armor & Lucifer when he made them for Kahn. But doing it on inanimate objects was one thing but to perform this Core binding ritual using archaic formations and subjecting a sentient being with the pain of that procedure.. 

Albestros could imagine the amount of trauma & torture to the body and soul Vivian went through during the ritual. 

Kahn on the other hand looked at Vivian again, only now did he notice a small teardrop gathering over her eyelids. 

But instead of feeling sad towards the fate of this vampire heiress, Kahn let out a wide grin instead. He looked at Szayel and gave him an understanding gaze. 

"Stand still, do not resist or retort." commanded Szayel. 

Kahn then stood up and walked close to Vivian as he pulled up the sleeve of his longcoat. 

He stood right in front of Vivian and took a deep breath.

SLAP!!! 

SLAP!! 

SLAP!! 

Multiple loud crisps of slaps filled the entire hall, even the servants who stood near the borders of the walls were shocked. 

Vivian's cheeks were turned red and visible fingermarks on them. Kahn hadn't held back in the slightest bit when he slapped her. 

"You know.. The only reason you're still alive is because you're the daughter of the clan leader. Otherwise, I would've killed you so quickly.. that you wouldn't even realize how you died! 

It was one thing if you wanted me dead.. But you and your people came after innocents around me. And hundreds of families were destroyed. 

Although I compensated them with a hefty amount.. It's still not enough. 

You're nothing but a trash who looks down upon the lives of everyone because you feel entitled about your birth and species. 

People like you should be put behind cells to rot till your death." said Kahn angrily. 

"Kid.. That's enough." spoke the old grandmaster. 

Hitting a woman or someone whose fate was already sealed didn't sit right with him because of his moral code. 

But instead of listening to Albestros, Kahn's face turned sinister instead. He let out a devious grin as he inspected Vivian's body from head to toe. 

That look alone sent shivers down Vivian's spine but she couldn't speak or run away because of the command. 

Kahn then bit his lips and spoke in an evil tone. 

"Oh, this is not even the beginning. Now, let's begin the real fun."