The moment the ancestors' gaze settled on Cain and Cornelia, something ugly broke loose among the kneeling vampires behind them.
Voices rose, trembling at first, then sharper, louder, layered with fear and blame.
"Forgive us, Ancestors!"
"It's not us, it's not us!"
"We won't dare again! We won't dare!"
Suddenly, one of the vampires spoke in terror, targeting Cain and Cornelia.
"It must be the daughter of Rivik and his husband!"
Others agreed.
"Yeah.Yeah. Yeah."
"They probably did something."
"Yes! They probably did something to their blood!"
They all said.
One vampire crawled forward on one of the ancestors's knees, his forehead scraping against the stone as he bowed again and again, voice hoarse with panic.
"They forced their ancestors to awaken! They polluted the blood ritual! Please punish them!"
As if a dam had broken, more voices joined in.
"Yes, it's their fault!"
"That man's blood is wrong, it feels unnatural!"
"He's not one of us!"
