MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Chapter 339: Blood of a leader

The vampire hurried over, peering at the page over Blake's shoulder. His eyes widened as he read the text, muttering under his breath in a language Blake didn't recognize.

"What does it say?" Blake pressed, impatience and hope warring in his chest.

Dumpheries straightened, a spark of excitement in his tired eyes. "It speaks of a ritual," he said, "one that might be able to sever the bond between a familiar and its host."

The room came alive with renewed energy. Reggie and Randall crowded around, their fatigue momentarily forgotten as Dumpheries explained the contents of the page.

"The ritual requires specific ingredients," Dumpheries said, running his finger down the list. "Most are rare, but obtainable. Moonflower petals, crushed under the light of a full moon. The ash of a yew tree struck by lightning. Water from a spring that has never seen sunlight."

He paused, his brow furrowing. "The last ingredient, though... it's troubling."

"What is it?" Blake asked, dread coiling in his stomach. Blake felt his anxiety mounting with each impossible-sounding ingredient Dumpheries listed. Moonflowers crushed under a full moon? Ash from a lightning-struck yew tree? Water from a perpetually dark spring? These were the stuff of fairy tales and ancient legends, not things one could simply pick up at the local market.

His mind raced, trying to imagine how they could possibly gather such rare and mystical components. Each one seemed to present its own unique set of challenges, requiring not just resources but precise timing and perhaps even a touch of luck.

But as daunting as these requirements were, Blake couldn't shake the feeling that they were merely the prelude to something far worse. The grave expression on Dumpheries' face, the way he hesitated before mentioning the final ingredient - it all pointed to something truly dire.

Blake's hands clenched involuntarily at his sides, his jaw tightening as he braced himself for what was to come. If these seemingly impossible items were just the warm-up, what could possibly be so troubling that it made Dumpheries pause?

He swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady as he asked, "What is it?" But even as the words left his mouth, Blake felt a cold dread settling in the pit of his stomach. Whatever this last ingredient was, he had a sinking feeling it would push the boundaries of what he thought possible - or ethical.

The tension in the room was palpable as they all waited for Dumpheries to reveal the final, most troubling component of the ritual. Blake found himself holding his breath, steeling himself for whatever impossible or horrifying task lay ahead. After all they had been through, after all the challenges they had faced to save Rose, he knew he would do anything. But at what cost? And would it be enough?

Dumpheries met his gaze, his expression grave. "The willing blood of a vampire elder."

A heavy silence fell over the room as the implications sank in. Vampire elders were notoriously reclusive and protective of their blood. Convincing one to participate in such a ritual would be no small feat.

"There's more," Dumpheries continued, his voice low. "The ritual must be performed at the exact moment of a lunar eclipse. And it comes with great risk. If done improperly, it could destroy not just the familiar, but the host as well."

Blake felt the weight of this information settle on his shoulders. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but the alternative - leaving Rose at the mercy of Nemisis - was unthinkable.

"When's the next lunar eclipse?" he asked, his voice steady despite the fear churning in his gut.

Dumpheries moved to a cluttered desk in the corner, rifling through papers until he found an astronomical chart. He studied it for a moment, his finger tracing the paths of celestial bodies.

"In three weeks," he said finally, looking up with a mix of relief and concern. "It's not much time, but it might be enough if we act quickly."

Blake nodded, determination setting his jaw. "Then we have our mission. We need to gather these ingredients and find a vampire elder willing to help us."

Reggie and Randall straightened, their hands moving to their hips in an unconscious gesture of readiness. "We're with you," Reggie said, his voice firm. "Whatever it takes to save Rose."

Dumpheries nodded, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes as he looked at the three men before him. "I'll reach out to my contacts," he said. "There are a few elders who owe me favors. Perhaps one of them will be willing to assist us."

As they began to discuss plans for gathering the other ingredients, a sudden gust of wind rattled the windows. The candles flickered, casting long shadows across the room. For a moment, Blake could have sworn he saw a dark shape move across the wall, too quick and too formless to be a natural shadow.

A chill ran down his spine as he remembered Dumpheries' words about the Nemisis growing stronger with each passing day. How much time did Rose have left? And even if they managed to gather everything they needed, would they be able to perform the ritual correctly?

The weight of their task settled over the room like a heavy blanket. They had a plan now, a glimmer of hope in the darkness. But the road ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty.

As the first sign of dawn began to creep through the windows, through activities in and around Dumphries area, Blake made a silent vow. He would save Rose, no matter the cost. The Nemisis had chosen the wrong family to prey upon, and he would stop at nothing to free her from its grasp.

Dumpheries cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "There's one more thing you should know," he said, his voice grave. "Nemisis isn't just feeding on Rose's life force. It's learning from her, absorbing her memories and knowledge."

Blake felt a chill run down his spine. "What does that mean for Rose?"

Dumpheries' expression was grim. "It means that with each passing day, the line between Rose and Nemisis will blur. By the time of the eclipse, we may be facing a being that has all of Rose's memories and abilities, but none of her attributes left. Blake, we might be facing something other than Rose,"

The implications of this revelation hung heavy in the air. They weren't just racing against time to save Rose's life, but her very essence.

"Then we'd better get started," Blake said, his voice tight with determination. "We have a lot to do and not much time to do it."

As they began to make plans for their desperate quest, Blake's thoughts drifted back home.

Has there been any improvement in her health? How is Celena coping without him around?...