MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Nana's brow furrowed as she glanced around the cavernous chamber, her eyes taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. "This isn't the way to the shrine I know," she remarked, her voice tinged with confusion.

Reggie turned to her, his expression serious. "No, Nana, we're not heading to the main shrine," he explained. "We're going to the birthplace of the original king."

As they ventured deeper into the cave, passing multiple entrances and winding corridors, they eventually emerged into what appeared to be a makeshift laboratory. Nana's eyes widened as she took in the sight of beds stained with dried blood and various arcane implements scattered about.

Reggie led his brothers and Nana through an open door adorned with Latin inscriptions, the air around them crackling with residual energy. "Even after Duncan Salvador's departure, his tomb still holds a strong aura," Reggie remarked, rubbing his temples as if trying to alleviate a headache.

Nana felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, her legs threatening to buckle beneath her. Ignoring the protests of her body, she forced herself to step inside the open door, determined to see their mission through to the end.

Once inside, Randal and Gunther carefully placed Blake down in front of a shriveled tree, its twisted branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. As Nana's pounding headache began to subside, she noticed an open coffin and the shriveled tree before them.

Her eyes widened in realization. "Is that...?" she began, her voice trailing off as she pointed towards the tree.

Reggie nodded solemnly. "Yes, Nana," he confirmed. "That's the Sun Tree."

As Nana gazed at the shriveled tree before her, a sense of recognition washed over her. Though she didn't know the tree personally, everything she had been told as a child and growing up on the island seemed to align with what she was seeing now.

But then a sudden realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. "Wait," she interjected, her voice tinged with urgency. "This...this can't work."

Reggie met her gaze with understanding, confirming her suspicions before she even voiced them aloud. "I see you've already figured it out," he remarked, a hint of resignation in his tone.

With a sigh, Reggie proceeded to lay out their plan. "We're going to use the sun fruit to turn Blake," he explained. "All we have to do is keep him alive long enough for the eclipse to begin, which isn't far away now." He glanced towards the horizon, where the first rays of dawn were beginning to break through the darkness.

"As soon as the eclipse starts, the Sun Tree will bear fruit," Reggie continued. "And with that fruit, we'll begin the full ritual."

For the most part, his plan seemed straightforward enough, but the question lingered: How was Reggie planning to keep Blake alive long enough for the ritual to begin?

Reggie, however, was already one step ahead. He began by circling Blake three times, a solemn ritualistic gesture that seemed to imbue the air with a sense of solemnity.

Then, with a determined expression, Reggie extended his hand and dug his nails into his palms, drawing forth his own blood. He poured the crimson liquid onto Blake's chest, the warm liquid pooling around the wound where Elena had stabbed him.

"This will keep him from bleeding out completely," Reggie explained, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. "Older and more powerful vampires, especially purebloods, have blood with potent healing properties. While I'm not on their level, my blood should suffice to stave off Blake's demise until the eclipse begins."

Nana nodded, understanding dawning upon her. It was a risky gambit, but they had no other choice. They would have to rely on Reggie's blood to keep Blake alive until the eclipse provided them with the opportunity they desperately needed.

As the hours passed and the sun began its ascent into the sky, Reggie felt the weight of each moment bearing down upon him. He glanced at his brothers, their faces mirroring his own anxiety. He wasn't supposed to be exposed to direct sunlight for too long, but he couldn't afford to stop administering his blood to Blake's wound.

If he did, Blake would start bleeding again, and their last hope would vanish before their eyes.

Reggie was barely hanging on, his resolve the only thing keeping him upright in the face of searing pain.

Sensing Reggie's struggle, Randal stepped forward, offering his own blood to aid in Blake's survival. But Reggie refused, his voice strained but resolute. "Take cover in the shade," he instructed, gesturing toward the rocky overhang of the cave. "The sun will affect you, but I can hold on longer, the eclipse isn't far anymore,"

His brothers exchanged worried glances, but they followed his command, seeking refuge in the shadowy recesses of the cave.

Yet despite Reggie's determination, the eclipse seemed further away than ever. The sun continued its relentless ascent, its rays piercing through the cracks in the cave's ceiling to strike Reggie directly.

Smoke began to emanate from Reggie's body as his flesh sizzled and charred, but still, he persevered, his focus unwavering as he continued to pour his blood onto Blake's wound.

The cave filled with the acrid scent of burning flesh, and Randal and Gunther screamed at Reggie to flee from the sunlight. But Reggie remained steadfast, his commitment to saving Blake unwavering even in the face of his own agony.

Nana stood frozen in terror, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the harrowing spectacle unfold before her. Uncertain of what to do, she could only pray for a miracle to save them from the brink of disaster.

As minutes ticked by, the elusive eclipse remained stubbornly absent from the sky. Reggie's once stalwart frame now knelt on the cave floor, his burned flesh emitting wisps of smoke as he continued to pour his blood onto Blake's wound, his strength waning with each passing moment.

Randal exchanged a worried glance with Gunther, his voice tinged with concern. "Reggie would have been able to withstand longer in the sun if he wasn't already draining himself of his own blood," he murmured, realization dawning.