The woman was incredibly beautiful, yet there was a firm and dangerous aura clinging to her. Unlike Viviane and Isolde—who appeared warm, kind, and quietly unsettling—this woman was terrifying in the most straightforward way.
Her elegant green hair was pinned into a high bun, and her thin golden eyes gleamed like a serpent's. A monocle framed her right eye, giving her the look of a strict headmistress or a predator about to strike.
She wore a dark green dress, likely from 1855 England, the kind that hugged her hourglass figure perfectly. The added bustle at the back accentuated her shapely rear, making her look both regal and dangerous.
She really did resemble a snake with the folding fan she held delicately in her gloved hand.
Seamus's expression fell into disappointment.
"What? Why are you frowning?" she asked, adjusting her monocle.
"Well, you know... you're not a snake," he sighed.
He had thought this was his lucky day maybe he'd finally found a giant talking snake to adopt and fulfill his childhood dream of owning one.
"What the heck?" The woman slapped him lightly with her fan.
Seamus flinched. "Ow—why?!"
"Tch, this brat... why does it feel like he just insulted me?" she muttered.
"Isn't it obvious? If you're a man—gentle or perverted—you should've been mesmerized by me!" she declared, throwing her hands up.
"Oh... I guess I'm used to it? I mean, Viviane and Isolde are also... otherworldly beauties, so..." he replied casually and got smacked with her fan again.
"Hey!"
The woman sighed. "I was right. There's something terribly wrong with your head."
Then, with a snap of her fan against her palm, she grinned. "But oh well... you're still useful."
Seamus raised an eyebrow. He wasn't sure what she wanted, but he suddenly remembered where he was and what she might be.
"My name is Madeline Velstrath," she said, giving a half-curtsy with that same wicked grin. "A glorious Emblem of Enigma, of the Velstrath family."
Seamus blinked, it was the first time he had heard that term.
"Anyway, I overheard your little monologue from the hallway and your bedroom," she said, tapping her fan to her chin.
"So, how about it? Why don't we work together to destroy the Matriarch of Velstrath and her daughters?"
Seamus froze. That was... not the offer he expected. But being used and exploited by beautiful women had become a tiring pattern in his life. Now, he needed to be careful.
He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. "What even is an Emblem of Enigma? You're not a vampire?"
Madeline laughed, a low, musical sound that dripped with condescension. "Oh, you poor little bunny. You're stuck in the middle of all this mess and you don't even know the first thing about vampires or the Seven Great Covenants?"
"I am a creature far greater than the vampire itself. The essence of Velstrath. The symbol of their greatness. If I die, so does this House. They cannot survive without me," she declared, eyes gleaming.
Then, her smile curved like a cunning one, "So, won't you work with me?"
Seamus listened carefully, but something didn't add up. If she were so powerful, why ask him?
"Why do you want to destroy the Matriarch of Velstrath?" he asked. "And why can't you do it yourself?"
Madeline's lips twitched. "Good question."
She twirled her fan. "The Matriarch isn't even the rightful heir to this Covenant and I don't want her dirty blood run free in this household."
"And... maybe I want to help you. Don't you want out of this cursed mansion?"
His gut twisted feeling something wasn't right. She was hiding something but she was good at it. Just like Viviane and Isolde.
'Why can't I read any of them? It's like they're all wearing masks.'
In moments like this, he missed his simple-minded dad. At least he was easy to understand.
"Then why not do it now?" Seamus pressed. "Should be easy for someone like you."
Madeline shook her head, her face turning solemn. "If I did, you would never get out of here."
"What? If you kill Isolde, wouldn't that fix whatever's keeping me trapped?"
"It's not that simple, little bunny," she said, lifting his chin with her fan. She studied the bite marks on his neck, her golden eyes narrowing.
"This world will crumble along with you... And I won't lift a finger if you reject my generous offer."
Seamus's brows furrowed while her mocking smile didn't vanish. She might be telling the truth but he knew better than to believe her completely.
'She's just like the others. Can't be trusted.'
He had his system, he would be fine for now, and deep down, he didn't really want Isolde dead.
'God... she's too beautiful to kill.'
"Thanks for the offer," Seamus said, turning his head away from her fan. "But I'll figure things out on my own."
He turned and walked off, leaving Madeline standing behind him.
Her smile vanished as rage twisted her face. His rejection felt like humiliation. She has been kind to him and he just said no?! Unbelievable!
"HAH! You fool!" she shouted after him. "You'll come crawling back bleeding and broken! And when that day comes, I won't help you!"
But Seamus just kept walking, shoulders relaxed with uncaring attitude. Better to stay far away from family drama involving monsters in fancy dresses.
That offer had been too good to be true. What if she planned to make him a scapegoat or worse, a human shield?
'My heart's too fragile for another betrayal,' he muttered, shaking his head.
However, the snake didn't leave Seamus alone. She kept following him, glaring with an intensity that practically burned into his back.
An hour passed, maybe two. The time was oddly weird in this mansion.
Even when he stopped to rest in one of the rooms, lying on the couch and doing absolutely nothing, she was there. Just staring as if he'd personally murdered her bloodline.
Seamus finally snapped and spun around. "What do you want?"
"For you not to reject me," she growled. "I've never been rejected in my entire life! Damn it, I want to twist your neck right now."
Her fingers flexed with dark veins as she mimed snapping his head clean off, making Seamus grimace.
"You know, since you vampires live forever and are probably older than my entire family tree, maybe you should get used to rejection."
His tone was maddeningly calm. Relaxed, even. It made Madeline gasp, then seethe in silence, muttering curses under her breath.
"Fuck this brat..."
"Anyway," he said, stretching lazily, "what is this place? Why does it feel like I've been walking through the same hallway for hours?"
"Hah! That's because this is a dre—"
Before Madeline could finish, one of the doors creaked open. A tall, graceful figure stepped out, smiling with all the warmth in this dark mansion.
"Good morning, Seamus," said Isolde, her voice silk and honey. "Why don't we have breakfast? You must be starving."
"Oh, right, that's—" He turned back to point at Madeline, only to find she had vanished.
"What is it?" Isolde asked sweetly.
He faced forward again and Isolde was suddenly right there, standing just inches from him.
He flinched. She moved too fast. Not a single sound, not even with those stilettos.
"Ugh, n-nothing. Let's just… eat breakfast," he stammered.
He had a strong feeling the snake woman was hiding from Isolde. And as someone who preferred to stay neutral—and alive—he figured it was best to shut his mouth for now.
"Good." Isolde took his hand, her touch cool and possessive, and guided him down the hallway.
To a vast dining room.
A room he never found, no matter how many doors he'd opened.