Shadows of London: 2-14 The Sin of Blood

< Previous

Shadows of London

Next >

After Caroline's narrow escape, a seemingly minor incident spirals into something far more dire...

Info

Style: Event Logs: Assistant Commissioner Recommended: Wonderful Age (Dress), Pursue the Scarlet Rose, His Vow, Night in Moulin Rouge Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 3 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Belinda

Belinda

Dialogue Choices

I choke up for a moment, then lift my head to meet his gaze.

• Your character and will?
  • Story continues
• I don't distrust you
  • Edward goodwill up

I focus my gaze on a particular line.

• The Blue Roses
  • Try again
• The Scarlet Roses
  • Story continues
• Neutral vampires
  • Try again
• Human nobles
  • Try again

Transcript

Expand for script.

• Priscilla Barnet: Roger, over here!

• Priscilla Barnet: Is everything going smoothly?

• Roger Evans: Caroline's managed to successfully infiltrate the Eastern District, at least. What about you?

• Priscilla carefully retrieves a document.
• It is similar to the permit in Roger's hand, the only difference being the signature at the bottom.
• Roger Evans: Wow.

• He compares the two permits and whistles in amazement.
• Roger Evans: Not bad. It looks real.

• Priscilla Barnet: What are you talking about? It is real!

• Priscilla Barnet: It's really a license issued by Scotland Yard that's signed by the Assistant Commissioner.

• Priscilla Barnet: Caroline asked me to visit the wife of the Assistant Commissioner, as she's one of Madam Petit's supporters.

• Priscilla Barnet: I told her all about Doctor Grey, and she was so moved by his compassion for the residents that she persuaded her husband to sign the permit.

• Priscilla Barnet: Ahem, but now's not the time to explain all that.

• Priscilla Barnet: Shouldn't you hurry up and take this permit back there?

• Roger Evans: There's no need for that. Our mission is to buy time, and the more time we can give Caroline, the better.

• Roger Evans: Doctor Grey can handle those police officers.

• Priscilla Barnet: However, the longer we delay, the greater the risk of Caroline encountering unexpected dangers...

• Roger Evans: You really care about your dear friend, Priscilla.

• Roger Evans: I'm almost jealous of—

• The paperboy's loud shouts from outside the alley interrupt his half-hearted complaints.
• Paperboy: Extra, extra! The government has issued a new notice!

• Paperboy: The Eastern District's lockdown policy is getting even stricter! Extra, extra!

• Roger quickly walks over. He tosses the lad a copper coin, takes the newspaper, and scans the article.
• The content makes his brow furrow.
• Roger Evans: Priscilla, I have to leave now. You should hurry home, and not stay outside for too long.

• Edward Grey: ...

• The sky is gradually darkening. Edward's face grows gloomy.
• Edward's "coachman" still hasn't returned, and there is no word from his other companion either. He can only continue to play the role of a wronged doctor and wait anxiously.
• ???: ...Doctor Grey!

• Edward hears a faint yell and instantly glances at the policemen near him.
• Once he's sure their attention is elsewhere, he turns his head and leans out towards the back of the carriage, pulling me inside.

• You: Phew... Did I, uh, make it on time?

• Doctor Grey takes out a handkerchief and skillfully wipes away the sweat from my forehead.
• Edward Grey: Don't worry, I'll do my best to buy you enough time.

• Edward Grey: Have you completed your "task"?

• You: I suppose I have.

• You: (At least I've got some information about Jesse and Pastor William.)

• You: (Ah, I should return his revolver!)

• As soon as this thought crosses my mind, I lower my head and reach for the revolver hidden beneath my skirt. Doctor Grey's calm voice descends nonchalantly from above.
• Edward Grey: Did you meet Mr. Savile?

• His sudden question surprises me, and the revolver falls out of my trembling hand to the floor of the carriage.
• Doctor Grey smiles helplessly and bends down to pick up the revolver.
• Edward Grey: Don't be so tense. I wouldn't have given you the revolver for protection if I hadn't guessed that you were going to see him.

• You: (Doctor Grey misunderstood, I really hadn't thought of looking for Vincent at first...)

• You: (But now it seems so difficult to explain.)

• Edward Grey: Do you still trust him? Do you really think it's safe to meet him under these conditions?

• You: ...Yes. Because I trust him. I asked him to investigate Jesse's whereabouts.

• Doctor Grey's eyes flash with a sharp gleam as he stares at me expressionlessly.
• You: Doctor Grey, I believe we cannot determine someone's stance based on what they are.

• You: Even among the Blood Clan, each individual's attitude towards humans depends on their own thoughts and beliefs.

• You: After getting to know Vincent, I believe his character and will are more trustworthy than his identity.

• Edward Grey: What about me?

• Edward Grey: Is my character and will not worthy of your trust, Miss Rayes?

• I choke up for a moment, then lift my head to meet his gaze.

Your character and will?

• You: And whose character and will are you talking about?

• Edward Grey: What?

• You: I trust Doctor Grey's character.

• You: But as for Edward Grey, the vampire hunter... I don't know.

I don't distrust you

• You: If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't be in this carriage with you right now.

• You: I can trust both Vincent and you without contradicting myself.

• Edward Grey: Actually, Caroline, our positions and identities are in conflict with each other.

• Edward Grey: In the future, there will come a day when we will be forced to make a choice.

• Edward Grey: At that time, which side will you choose to stand on?

• Edward keeps his gaze fixed on me tensely.
• You: As you've said before, "I won't consider this for now."

• You: I'm not going to conjure up such pessimistic conjectures before that day comes.

• Under the gradually dimming daylight, I catch a glimpse of Doctor Grey wearing a bitter smile.
• He sighs, looks away, and gloomily tucks the silver revolver into his pocket.
• Edward Grey: I understand, Miss Rayes. I won't ask you such questions anymore.

• Edward Grey: Roger should be coming back soon. Be careful when you head home.

• Roger Evans: Unfortunately, if we don't hurry up, there's no guarantee we'll make it home safely.

• Roger's cold voice interrupts us as he forces the carriage door open, his face pale.
• You: Roger! What happened? Did Priscilla not get the permit?

• You: The Assistant Commissioner's wife is friends with Aunt Petit, after all...

• Roger Evans: I have the permit, but that's not important right now. You two need to get out right now!

• Doctor Grey and I hear the urgency in Roger's voice and immediately get off the carriage.
• He doesn't say more, just hands the permit to Doctor Grey and stuffs a newspaper into my hands, then hurries off to find Inspector Dudley.
• I unfold the newspaper, puzzled and confused, and read the new article printed on it. Instantly, I realize the gravity of the situation.

• Dudley: ...

• Inspector Dudley, with a grim expression on his face, glances at the permit bearing the signature of the Assistant Commissioner. With a casual wave of his hand, he allows us through.
• He doesn't even notice that Doctor Grey has mysteriously gained an extra person beside him. This is because there is another, more important command that he needs to carry out.
• Dudley: Attention everyone! Immediately cease all health inspections—

• The residents of the Eastern District, who are hopefully waiting in line, raise their heads, but their hope is destroyed by the next sentence.
• Dudley: No residents of the Eastern District are allowed to leave, regardless of whether they are infected or not!

• The crowd falls silent for a moment. Then, suddenly, a terrifying protest breaks out.
• The people, who were originally hanging onto a thin strand of hope, watch helplessly as their only opportunity slips through their fingers, causing them to lose their senses.
• Any remaining remnants of order are destroyed, and the scene begins to spiral out of control. The police officers draw their guns one by one.
• Police Officer: Fall back! I'm warning you, don't mess around!

• Male Resident: Let me out! Let me out!

• Police Officer: Get lost!

• The sound of gunfire banishes the last remnants of sanity. The people start shoving, cursing, and trampling.
• I hear the sharp cries of a child and the fearful scolding of a mother.
• Inspector Dudley clenches his jaw, leading his subordinates without hesitation, firmly holding the blockade.
• Edward Grey: Detective, take Miss Rayes and leave this place. Hurry!

• I look up in fear, and Doctor Grey gives me one last glance.
• Edward Grey: I hope we can meet again.

• After these soft words, he reaches into his pocket, grasps his revolver, then resolutely turns around and goes against the raging crowd.
• You: Doctor Grey...!

• For some reason, an inexplicable panic rises within me, and I instinctively reach out my hand, wanting to hold onto him.
• His final words conveyed a sense of farewell.
• Did my words just now disappoint him?
• He, as a vampire hunter, has always been fighting to eliminate vampires and protect humanity.
• But the humans under his protection are getting closer to their natural predators—
• You: Ow!

• I feel a sharp pain as I reach out to Doctor Grey's back.
• I quickly snatch my hand back, and discover a cut on the back of my hand. Fresh blood is oozing from the wound.
• I must have accidentally cut myself on a metal object amidst the chaos.
• Roger Evans: Hurry up, Caroline!

• Roger pulls me close, wrapping his arm around my shoulder, attempting to shield me from the surging crowd, forcefully pushing through the panicked masses to make our way out.
• Under his urging, I turn around involuntarily, instinctively swinging my arm.
• Male Resident: Oh my goodness!

• You: What?

• Right beside me, a man wearing a hood and covering half his face suddenly lets out an indescribable howl.
• Something seems to have upset him terribly, and with his face in his hands, he spins in a circle, and goes into a mad sprint.
• Police Officer: Catch him! He's an infected person!

• As soon as they hear he's an infected person, the people near him are frightened and back away from the man, allowing him to run even further.
• Police Officer: Damn it!

• Dudley: ...

• Inspector Dudley, standing on the blockade, suddenly becomes expressionless. He takes a step towards the man's escape route and raises his gun.
• ...!
• The howling stops. The commotion stops too.
• The man's limp body collapses onto the ground, and his hood and hands fall away from his face.
• On his exposed face, there are large areas of decay and crimson eyes, indicating that the infection has been present for a long time.
• There are a few drops of fresh blood around his sockets.
• Edward Grey: Are you injured?

• In the midst of confusion, something soft wraps around my hand.
• I look up and see Doctor Grey again.
• He used his handkerchief to quickly bandage my wound, temporarily stopping the flow of blood.
• Edward Grey: You...

• With his back to the light, he holds my hand but does not speak, his expression darker and more mysterious than the sky.
• Roger Evans: Get going before they come to their senses!

• Roger Evans: Stop dawdling!

• Doctor Grey locks eyes with him, finally releasing my throbbing hand and taking a step back.
• Roger smoothly pulls me over, stuffing me into the carriage and closing the door.

• Upon learning of the tightened blockade, Priscilla, who had been anxiously pacing at home, angrily smacks Roger.
• Roger reluctantly bears her irrational anger, and gives her a brief explanation of the situation.
• Priscilla listens attentively as she unties the blood-soaked handkerchief and carefully redresses my hand.
• And with my thoughts in disarray, I can only give her a forced smile to express gratitude, but I don't have any extra energy to respond to her incessant care.
• I excuse myself by saying I need to go upstairs to change my clothes, and allow myself to have a moment of solitude.

• You: Ah...

• The night is dark and deep.
• After repeatedly urging me to rest well, Priscilla finally, with little peace of mind, takes Roger away.
• The wound on my hand has stopped bleeding, but it still throbs with a dull ache.
• I can't sleep, so I get up and wander about the empty house, trying to organize the jumbled thoughts in my mind.

• Aunt's study, which she usually uses for reading and writing, is now open to me as well.
• I gently brush my hand over the white letter paper and pen that my aunt often uses, and slowly sit down in her chair.
• The few drops of fresh blood on the infected person's rotting face are still etched in my mind, and I can't help but raise my hand and gaze at my wound.
• You: (Did he run away because he accidentally came into contact with my blood?)

• I keep going over the scene in my mind, and the more I think about it, the more I feel his behavior was directly linked to me.
• You: (It was just an accident that I got my blood splattered on his face.)

• You: (But why would my blood have such an effect on an infected person?)

• You: (Is it related to my constitution?)

• But this theory seems illogical.
• The Baroness had long been acquainted with my blood. At that time, she had no fear whatsoever, and even willingly reached out to touch it.
• The Elder considers me a "vessel" because I am half human and half vampire.
• You: Why are the infected afraid of my blood when the Blood Clan isn't?

• You: Are the infected not related to the Blood Clan? Or...

• I suddenly recall similar events in the past.
• When I first arrived in London, not long ago, an infected person, a homeless man, injured my arm.

If you last read 1-9 instead of 1-10

• You: Vincent then knocked him out...

• I raise my arm and search for a trace of that incident.
• You: It's all healed up by now... Well, it did happen a long time ago.

• I try to remember if the man showed any fear at the sight of my blood.
• But I was so consumed by fear that I didn't have time to observe such details, and it's futile to try and recall them now.
• You: Vincent might remember something.

• When I think about how Vincent may be running around trying to find Jesse's whereabouts, I feel a little ashamed.

If you last read 1-10 instead of 1-9

• You: Doctor Grey then scared him away with a gunshot...

• I raise my arm and search for a trace of that incident.
• You: It's all healed up by now... Well, it did happen a long time ago.

• I try to remember if the man showed any fear at the sight of my blood.
• But I was so consumed by fear that I didn't have time to observe such details, and it's futile to try and recall them now.
• You: I wonder if Doctor Grey noticed anything...

• But when I think about how Doctor Grey may be busy treating the patients in the Eastern District, I feel a little ashamed.

• You: You can't rely on him so much anymore, Caroline.

• As I admonish myself, I redirect my thoughts back to the information I received today.
• You: The London clan is divided between the Scarlet Roses and the Blue Roses... The Elder and my mother were at odds...

• You: The powerful noble faction represented by William Akerman...

• You: Someone took Jesse away...

• You: Oh no, I can't go on anymore!

• The jumble of clues is about to explode in my mind. I decide to use the paper and pen from the desk and write everything down.

Elder-Baroness-Scarlet Rose

Mother-Blue Rose

Akerman-Noble Families-Influential

The person who took Jesse away?

• I fill the pristine white paper with the names of the factions I know.
• I ponder for a moment, then hesitantly pick up the pen, adding two more sentences.

Vincent-Hawke-Neutral Blood Clan members?

Edward Grey-Vampire Hunter-Foster father?

• I take a deep breath and can't help but chuckle bitterly as I look at the now densely packed list.
• You: (It seems that even in this city, which is home to millions of people, there are numerous factions of vampires.)

• You: ...

• Once I write down the names of those close to me, my mind calms down accordingly.
• Setting aside all emotions, I objectively analyze the positions of all parties involved, and the once tangled web gradually becomes clear.
• You: Currently, the epidemic that has broken out in London has affected ordinary humans the most, followed by—

• I focus my gaze on a particular line.

The Blue Roses

• You: The Blue Roses, the faction that Mother created...

• You: No, that's not right.

• The Blue Roses do not rely on human blood. For them, animals are the source of food.
• The epidemic only spreads among humans, so it wouldn't impact them much.

The Scarlet Roses

• You: The Elder's Scarlet Roses...

• You: Vincent once said that the Blood Clan needs young and healthy humans, and an epidemic is detrimental to the Elder...

• You: That's right! That's why the Baroness started the Scarlet Rose Club, eager to recruit young nobles and middle-class children.

• You: Because the epidemic has a high mortality rate, there are fewer humans that the Blood Clan can use as food.

• You: And the followers of the Scarlet Rose Club, usually young and healthy, have a very low chance of being infected with the epidemic.

• You: Whether used as sustenance or transformed into Blood Clan members, they would be an excellent choice.

• You: And the Elder meant to use them for power!

Neutral vampires

• You: Vincent... Would neutral vampires be affected by the epidemic?

• I hesitate, gripping the pen, as I hover uncertainly over the line.
• If you're talking about food, don't worry.
• I've long been accustomed to battling hunger.
• You: In other words, if neutral vampires don't rely heavily on human blood, then the epidemic would have very little impact on them.

• You: And vampires themselves won't become infected.

Human nobles

• You: Would the nobles be worried about this?

• When I think about the current social situation in London, I chuckle bitterly.
• You: They sure are, since they left in such a hurry...

• For the upper class, who can leave London at any time and seek refuge in the countryside or even abroad...
• This epidemic is certainly dangerous, but it is far from being a matter of life and death.

• I draw a circle around the Scarlet Rose and let out a slow sigh.
• This long period of intense contemplation has left me feeling extremely exhausted. I casually shift my gaze elsewhere, hoping to give my mind a moment of relaxation.
• Underneath the bookshelf, there is a square object covered by a white cloth.
• I pause for a moment, remembering that this is the painting of Desdemona that I obtained from the Ruby Opera House.
• At that time, in order to prevent my aunt from suspecting anything, I hid it in my trunk.
• You: Did Aunt Petit discover what I did?

• The narrow and poorly ventilated trunk would easily damage the oil painting. Aunt Petit must have taken it out, unable to bear the thought of my mother's only portrait getting damaged.
• I uncover the white cloth. My mother's beautiful face appears before me once again.
• In the painting, she possesses stunning beauty, but what is most captivating is the natural allure that emanates from her eyebrows, eyes, and corners of her mouth.
• That is not the loving side of my mother that I remember. It must be the lingering radiance of the "First Apostle".
• You: The First Apostle?

• I suddenly feel my heart leap, and begin searching in the corner of the canvas.
• Sure enough, a name is inscribed in the shadow of a crease in the lower right corner.
• You: I... Irad.

• You: (This artist named Irad portrayed my mother so beautifully.)

• You: (Would he know my mother's true identity?)

• Although this speculation is somewhat far-fetched, I am still excited by the thought.
• You: But where would I find this painter now...

• You: Oh yes!

• You: The owner of the Ruby Opera House... Mr. Johnson!