Ivy smiled at his presence. "Dear husband, why are you looking so tired?" she asked worriedly.

"My dearest Ivy, I\'m going to rest here inside your room. I badly needed rest!" he said. "But I will feed on your blood, first," he said, tenderly.

"Sure, husband," Ivy replied and extended her right arm to his mouth.

Maxwell sank his teeth greedily on Ivy\'s skin, drinking her blood to his heart\'s content.

A few seconds later. Maxwell\'s craving for blood was finally sated. "Thank you, my love! Your blood is always sweet! I\'m going to rest now," he said.

"Okay, my husband. Rets well, I\'ll watch over you," Ivy replied sweetly.

Maxwell smiled and planted a quick kiss on Ivy\'s lips. He lay his body down on the bed and shut off his eyes.

Ivy covered Maxwell\'s body with the blanket and lay down beside him, looking at his face adoringly. She closed her eyes and sleep with him.

~

Back in the mountain.

Esmeralda, Jegun, and Aspen were having a conversation in the living room of the house.

"Guys, what do you think is the plan of those bloodsuckers right now? Did they stop releasing the monsters? As in for real?" Aspen said.

Jegun shook his head. "The question is... why would they stop releasing the monsters? I believe that once they started doing it they will continue doing it. There\'s no reason not to... considering that there are thousands of hungry monsters inside the castle..." he explained. He looked at the old woman beside him.

Esmeralda looked beyond the window. "Maybe...Maxwell was planning on something big?" she released a heavy sigh. "This constant thinking and analyzing the vampires\' next move is killing me!" she hissed.

Aspen and Jegun nodded their heads in agreement.

"Yeah, the fact that we don\'t know what the vampire brothers are thinking right now is maddening. And to add to the wound, there\'s only six of us now. It\'s gonna be a bloody fight later if they will release more than we can chew," Jegun said worriedly.

Aspen looked at the elders. "Guys, do you think it\'s about time we will ask the Nephilim Royalty to send the king\'s soldiers here to help us fight the monsters?" he suggested. "Yeah, we do have powers but we are outnumbered. Who knows what evil plans they are devising in their heads right now..." he said breathing deeply. He finds the future full of uncertainty.

Esmeralda shook her head. "No! We can\'t do that! The Nephilim land is in a peaceful situation. Sending soldiers here will alarm everyone. I created this problem myself, therefore, I will find a solution myself. And I already had a solution, but it needs proper timing because Ivy was still inside the castle. Honestly, I\'m already willing to die this time just to end this mental torture I\'m experiencing right now!"

Jegun and Aspen looked at each other. Esmeralda has been thinking and planning of her demise many times over, it no longer alarms them.

"Can\'t you see guys?" she looked at them. "I\'m willing to sacrifice my life just to bring an end to all this madness...but the only thing that stops me is Ivy. I still want to save that girl come what may. I can end my life here surrounded by friends since it\'s convenient for me but I can\'t do that right now. That\'s what I\'m stressing about!" she said in a wretched voice.

Jegun sighed heavily, he can\'t help but feel pity for the old woman. Her mental struggle must be torturing her within. He patted her shoulder, comforting her. "I know how you feel, Esme. It shows in your eyes," he said.

"I wish to end the castle as soon as I get Ivy out," she revealed her plan.

Aspen\'s brows knitted together. "How will you do that?"

"I can\'t do it while they are releasing monsters, I must do it by entering the castle through the main entrance and find Ivy myself. I can\'t get Zemeth involved in my plan. You guys needed him the most outside when it comes to battling the monsters and the dark shadows. I can sneak inside the castle and rescue Ivy, no one will hurt me there. All I need is that one moment in time that I can get Ivy out of the castle and I will end my life immediately," she said with finality in her voice.

Aspen and Jegun sighed.

"Are you sure about your decision, Esme? Are you going back to the castle?" Jegun asked.

Esmeralda nodded her head slowly. "I have decided to end my life a few times already. Just that I\'m a bit reluctant, trying to hold on to my freedom. But in the end, I have to chose what is best for everyone. Besides, it\'s useless, I can\'t enjoy my freedom while being constantly bombarded by the thoughts of the castle releasing monsters now and then. What kind of freedom is that? So, it\'s better to end my life and rest in peace. Maybe I will meet my mentor again in another life," she said wistfully.

Tears glistened in Aspen\'s eyes. His friend no longer craves long life, she craves death and eternal peace. He felt deeply saddened by it.

Jegun\'s eyes watered as well.

"It\'s much better now that I finally convinced myself to go back to the castle. I don\'t like going back there but I have to do it to rescue Ivy. Now that I finally resolved my inner struggle, I\'m eager to do it tonight! It\'s the only way. I have to do it soon!" she continues.

Aspens sighed. "Esme, let\'s think of another plan. Why do you keep changing our plans? I don\'t like it!" he said. "Let me accompany you back to the castle," he volunteered.

Esmeralda looked at her friend. "No! I will go there alone! You must remain outside the castle to help the others fights the monsters!" she said adamantly.

"Okay fine," Aspen finally said.

Esmeralda looked at Aspen affectionately. "You must continue to live and enjoy life, do it for my late mentor and my self. Okay?" she said.

Aspen nodded his head. "I will!"

"When are you going to enter the castle?" Jegun asked.

"Tonight, before midnight, I must already be inside the castle. If I can prevent the vampire brothers from releasing new batches of monsters, I will do it," she replied.

"Then try your best to find the dagger and Ivy, once you will get them, those bloodsuckers can no longer release monsters and they can never get out of the castle. Then you and Ivy can get out of the castle alive! Problem solved!" Jegun spoke with his eyes shining brightly.

Aspen smiled a bit while looking at the old man. "Yeah... if only...that\'s easy to do," he murmured.

Esmeralda looked at the men\'s faces. "Guys, before I go. Accompany me to get the roots of Drilizir Tree so that I can make poisonous powder as many as I can before going back to the castle. I\'m not sure if I can get out again," she said.

"Sure!" the men replied in unison.

Esmeralda rose to her feet. "I\'m going back to my room to change my clothing first," she said.

"Take your time," Jegun said.

Esmeralda left the living room going to her bedroom.

A few minutes later, she exited her room and went back to the waiting men. They exited the house and hovered down the mountain - going to the thick forest below.

~

Six hours later.

Inside Ivy\'s room. Maxwell finally awakened. He feels good, he has rested well and ready to rumble. "Party Time!" he muttered to himself.

He glanced at the sleeping woman beside him and planted a quick kiss on her forehead. "Sleep well, my dearest Ivy. I\'m going outside to attend to some matters," he whispered.

He rose to his feet and disappeared from the room, going to find his siblings outside.

Maxwell reappeared in the room where Xenon and Lothaire frequented a lot when they got bored.

Vampire women wearing provocative black clothing were currently entertaining his brothers with a sensuous dance. There were a wine bottle and glass filled with liquid that looks like blood on the center table. His siblings were having a good time, enjoying themselves while he was hard at work inside the ritual room. But what he did inside the ritual room is something that needed all his concentration, so outsider is not allowed.

"Brother! You\'re finally awake!" Xenon said, surprised to see his brother\'s presence in the room. He thought he will rest the whole day and only wake up the next day.

Lothaire instructed the women to leave the room.

Maxwell lowered himself on the couch facing his brothers. "We will release the monsters soon along with several dark shadows to entertain our enemies outside!" he said, grinning.

Xenon eyed his brother\'s face keenly. "So...care to share what have you been doing inside the ritual room for two days? Why do you have to stay there inside the room without informing us what you\'re up to?" he said.

"Yes! Please tell us now, brother! We\'re dying of curiosity here!" Lothaire demanded.

Maxwell laughed, amused by the excitement on his siblings\' faces. "Calm down. I\'ll tell you later. But first, let\'s discuss our next plan," he said.

Xenon\'s face darkened. "Huh? Why later? Why not now! Why are you punishing us with suspense?" he grumbled.

Maxwell sighed and relented. "Okay...I\'ll show you my creation! Follow me to the ritual room," he said.