My Vampire Harem Will Dominate Everything

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Michelangelo appeared in the quiet garden with a muffled flash of light. A half second later, Lisa was beside him.

He stood there for a moment, gazing up at the mansion. He'd always disapproved of the current system of City Lords. Kings in their cities with little to no oversight.

Even the Council elders had each other to keep themselves in check but City Lords were different. Arbiters and Peacekeepers were officially under the authority of the Council but everybody knew that was in name only.

The City Lords commanded all, including the Arbiter and Peacekeepers.

He'd always lobbied for a diarchy to be implemented but he'd always been shut down. All because introducing two rulers in a city would make the games the elders played with each other less fun.

And that was the reason why he wanted the Council seat to have a fixed term. The old tend to care too much about tradition. It had earned him a reputation at the Ark but he didn't care. He was here to do his job.

His moment of introspection was broken by Lisa, who grinned as she looked around, hands clasped behind her back.

"Well, isn't this place just dripping with overcompensation?" She drawled in amusement. "Big mansion, big ball, big egos. They're practically screaming for something to go horribly wrong."

He glanced at her. Even if the world was coming to an end, he knew she'd never stop speaking. In fact, after the world ended, he was sure her voice would still echo in the silence before fading away. But that didn't stop him from trying.

"Quiet, Lisa. Focus."

"Be like that. Kill my fun." She sighed dramatically, the best he was going to get at this point in time, but fell into step behind him as they began walking towards the ball.

As they walked, his footsteps were silent but Lisa's heels clicked against the pavement as if she wanted to use it to announce her presence.

He waited for a second and suppressed a sigh as she spoke.

"So, what's the plan?" She asked, her voice light. "We walk in, give a stern talking to Harlow and everyone magically behaves themselves? Or are we going to see some fireworks?"

He said nothing, keeping his eyes fixed ahead of him. Lisa might be very chatty but that didn't mean she was spouting nonsense.

She knew him well enough to know that while he might not reply, he was listening.

As they approached the entrance, the lights suddenly flickered, then went out entirely, plunging the estate into darkness. They could hear the guests murmuring from where they were.

"Well, that's ominous." Lisa remarked, unfazed.

In the next second, the guests were being escorted out.

Michelangelo's jaw tightened. "Stay close."

They walked up the stairs, weaving through the growing tide of guests being ushered out by guards.

The annoyance on display by the guests was understandable. They were important people and didn't enjoy being treated like they're in a place where they shouldn't be. Or at least that's how they felt before being informed that there was a security breach by the guards.

Michelangelo ignored them as he walked up, the crowd parting unconsciously and Lisa trailing behind him.

"Do you think the killer's still here?" She asked. "Or maybe it's someone else entirely and what we saw was an illusion? So many secrets in one place." She squealed. "It's practically a soap opera."

Michelangelo stepped up to the ballroom doors and as a guard stepped up to bar his way, he stopped the guy in his tracks with a look, not breaking stride.

The guard scrambled back and Michelangelo stepped in with Lisa. As the doors were closed behind them, a black zone descended, sealing the ballroom from the outside world.

The moment they stepped inside, the Dominion Aura hit like a physical wall. It was as if the shadows in the room had shadows and the darkness was waiting with an open maw to devour anyone who moved out of line.

But they were sixth ring vampires and shrugged off the Aura with ease.

Standing at the center of the room was James Harlow, City Lord of Faewall. On his face was an expression of smug satisfaction. It was the face of a man who believed that he'd already won.

Opposite him were two people on all fours, trying to overcome the Dominion Aura. Ezra Matten knelt protectively in front of his partner for the evening.

"Goodbye, Matten." James raised his hand, his Aura coalescing into a spear of force that crackled with energy.

Ezra stared at James with an expression of fury while his partner looked frozen, fear flashing across her face.

"Enough." Michelangelo's voice cut through the air as he stepped forward.

The Authority of an Attendant from the Ark wasn't just spoken, it was felt.

It was the same Dominion Aura as James' but there was a clear difference.

The weight of the Aura pressed down on everyone in the room, stopping even James in his tracks. His Aura dissipated like smoke in the wind and he turned toward Michelangelo with a scowl.

Michelangelo walked forward and Lisa stayed back, lingering at the edge of the room and grinning as she watched what was about to happen.

"James Harlow." Michelangelo said, his voice calm but containing an unmistakable note of authority. "Your actions tonight tread dangerously close to treason against the Ark. Explain yourself."

James's jaw tightened as he dropped his arm down to his side. "This isn't your business, Attendant. This is a Faewall matter."

Michelangelo's dark eyes bore into him. "As an Attendant of the Ark, it is my business. And I will not stand by while you attempt to murder a peacekeeper captain in the middle of your own estate."

James said nothing, his silence thick with suppressed rage. Michelangelo turned his gaze to Ezra, who now stood protectively in front of his partner.

"Captain Matten." Michelangelo said, his tone lighter but no less authoritative. "Are you unharmed?"

Ezra gave a small nod, his expression guarded. "I'm fine."

Michelangelo's gaze shifted back to James. "Call off your guards. Disperse your Aura. Now."

For a moment, it looked like James might refuse. His eyes roamed around the room before settling on Lisa. His eyes flicked back to Michelangelo and he nodded.

He withdrew his Aura, knowing that even if he didn't, Michelangelo had already countered it. He also wasn't ready for a two on one fight.

Michelangelo glanced at Lisa, who gave him a knowing nod. "We'll have a more… thorough discussion later, City Lord." Michelangelo said. "For now, we wait for the killer to be brought forward."