Rein gave his orders to the two part-timers and went back upstairs to attend his King who was sitting beside the window, staring into the world that has become while he was asleep. The others are standing on the side, waiting for any orders.
"Rein, do we still have the book my grandfather wrote about my grandmother?" Taylan asks without moving an inch. He's watching people enter and exit, walk, cross, run and, laugh down in the streets.
"Yes, sir. Trace, can you go down and take the book? I'll find the key." Rein looks at Trace before leaving the room to find the key in the attic.
Trace went down to the library and looks for Eli who holds the key for the Private Room, "Where is she?" he asks Ben. They look like they are done arranging the books. Among all the part-timers that work here, they are the fastest pair to finish the job.
"I dunno, maybe reading novels again. She returned the book she borrowed last week," Ben replied as he was reading a book about medicine since he is taking a course related to that field, "she might be there." He pointed at the novel section.
Trace went directly to where Ben was pointing and saw Eli sitting by the window and reading seriously that she even has emotions on her face. He snorts which caught her attention. Even though she's been with them for almost half a year, she doesn't fail to amuse them.
"What?" Eli asks irritably, she hates being disturbed while reading.
"Nothing. What book is that?" He asks and sits with her, forgetting why he was there in the first place.
Eli showed him the cover book, "This is a thriller novel about a pair of kids fighting evil in their town. I already saw the movie but it sucks so I went to find this instead!" She beams her energetic smile once again.
Trace nodded, but he remembered what she said earlier, "You failed your quizzes?" he asks softly.
Eli froze. Her smile slowly vanished and she looks down on the book. "Yeah," she whispered, "I'm so stupid, aren't I?"
Trace sighed, he didn't want her to get upset, but he knows that she needs to let it out or else she'll end up bottling her emotions again. She's been their little sister. When she started working with them in the library, everything seemed a little brighter, happier, lighter, and alive.
They kept on dragging their grief for the King and, the loss of their Queen and, the next heir. Even though they try their best to look for the reincarnated Queen, there was no first step. She's a whole different person. How will they be able to find her? Since then their lives looked darker and felt colder until Eli came.
"No, you're not. You're just lost as of the moment. I know you'll find your light again," Trace smiled at Eli who looking at him with satisfied eyes.
"I was sad. I was angry at myself. I was disappointed in myself. I want to pass but I just can't study enough. Maybe I should quit some of my part-time."
"How many work are you doing now?" Trace asks abruptly, alarmed by Eli's words.
"Hmm... 4 part-time jobs. One here, two in fast food and one in a convenience store." Eli counts on her fingers and looks at Trace.
"You should quit fast-food jobs. I heard it is stressful."
"Yeah... But it pays well. You know I need the money."
Trace stared at Eli for a while and nodded, "Alright." He whispered and stands up.
"What 'alright?" Eli asks but Trace already went back upstairs.
He saw Rein and immediately he talked to him, "Raise the kid's salary." He looks deeply into Rein's eyes as if he's commanding him to do what he said.
Everyone stared at him, including Taylan. How can he say something about salary out of the blue when they are seriously waiting for the book? Jade pats Trace's shoulder. It might be Eli. They know how close he is to Eli and how his heart softens for the human.
"Book?" Rein asks Trace with his hand waiting.
Trace closed his eyes and nodded slowly in disappointment for himself, "I'll get it." He said and went back down.
"How much is the kids' salary?" Taylan asks while staring at the door, thinking about Trace's actions and words.
"I pay them enough for a part-time, but maybe Eli's in trouble again that's why Trace said that," Rein explained and took the key from the box as Trace approach them with the book.
"Is the human in trouble again about her tuition fees?" Taylan asks as he waits for the book to be unlocked. Macky's information about Eli is not much, he only sees her as a big sister who smiles a lot.
"No, she has to quit some of her jobs. She needs to study." Trace answered.
"Can we stop talking about this human?" Willow irritatedly steps in and looks at Trace, "I don't know why you fancy this human, but this," he points at the book, "is the important matter we need to talk about."
Trace looks away in embarrassment. He only wanted to help Eli, but Willow is right. She's just a human.
Taylan looks at Trace. How can he give importance to a human aside from the Queen? "Trace, remember who you serve. The only human you care about is the Queen." Taylan's voice was cold but full of disappointment.
The book that was locked by Taylan's grandfather, opened. Everyone waited for Taylan to take it from Rein. He's the only one who can understand what is transcribed in the book, only royalty of the Haima family write and understand such letters.
"Leave me. I'll call you when I find something." Taylan ordered and immediately, everyone disappeared. He opened the book and began reading about how his grandfather found his grandmother, who was a human, after her several reincarnations.
Rein went to talk to Eli and Ben about their salary raise. Trace went out to clear his mind. Willow went to check if other vampires or beasts, along with Dane and Jade, found out that the King's wake.
"But sir," Ben was surprised by the sudden announcement, "That is too much!"
Eli nodded, "I am sorry to talk about money, Sir Rein. You don't have to do that."
Rein smiled at them, he's been thinking about this for a month but since Trace already commented about it, he decided to do it now.
"I know you too are struggling and I care about you," he paused, why does he care about these mere humans? "Anyway, it's settled. You can go home now."
Eli smiled at Rein before leaving. It's been two months since she started drifting from her usual self. She's the one who pays for her aunt's hospital bill since she became sick. She also has to pay for her tuition now. Rein massages his temples. When did he start caring about this creature?
"Getting the soft spot too, Rein?" Trace appeared with a teasing smile, "They feel somehow familiar, don't they?"
"Maybe the reincarnation of the servants of the castle, that's why." Rein went to check the people reading the books. There are fewer people today and the next part-timers will arrive soon.
"We have to focus on finding the Queen, let's forget about Eli and Ben." Rein said as he heard their Master calls them.
With just one second they all arrived in his room. Macky was rubbing his eyes when he arrived from just waking up.
"Are you alright, Macky?" Taylan asks before telling them what he found out.
Macky smiled, "Yes, My Lord."
Taylan looked relieved but his face turned cold once again, "It's her blood. I will know if it was her if I taste her blood."
Everyone went silent. The air was heavy. None of them dared to speak.
"I will have to break the promise or else I will never see her again." Taylan lowly said while locking his jaw. He never knew that his promise will be useless. He began stomping the ground while feeling anxious about the process that he has to do.
His promise was whispered to the Queen right before she died. It will be his end if he break his promise. "But I will look more about this. For now, try to find similar scent among the humans. You know well how the Queen's blood smells like."
Rein and the other bowed. They all scattered around town to find anyone who has a similar scent with the Queen's blood. The sweet and strong fragrance of the Queen will be enough to draw lowly vampires and beast to her. Macky collects information about anything related to vampires or beast recently while Taylan continues reading his grandfather's journal about the reincarnation of a Queen.
Eli was on her way to the hospital to visit her aunt when she saw a young kid, around age 5 waiting for the stoplight to turn green. He looks anxious enough that his feet won't stop stomping the ground. He has blond hair and chubby cheeks. She can't help but giggle.
"Hey, kid. You need help?" She asks with her hand reaching out to the kid.
Without a doubt, the kid took her hand and held it tight with the most beautiful and cheerful smile she has ever seen.
"You look like someone but I can't figure out who," Eli pointed out while staring at the kid. There's no denying that this kid will be handsome once he grows up. His deep brown eyes and long eyelashes have the most striking effect.
"I look like my dad. But I have my Momma's eyes!" He proudly said while pointing to his eyes.
"I see, where are they?"
"Hmm..." he just smiles at Eli and when the light turned green, he pulled her into the thick crowd, rushing to cross the road until she lost his grip.
"Kid!" Eli shouts, but no kid was around. She stays on the other side of the road wondering where the kid went but her phone vibrates from receiving a call from her aunt.
"I saw a kid earlier," she began telling what happened to her aunt who's on her bed eating apples. "He's a pretty child. When he took my hand, it was like I knew him. I had this warm feeling."
"Maybe you knew him before."
"Again with these beliefs, Aunt Susie?"
"What? You can see in your birthmark in your chest that you were stabbed!"
Eli facepalms in annoyance. She loves her aunt dearly. She's the one who took care of her since her parents died but sometimes she just gets too superstitious.
"Anyway, my boss raised my salary~" Eli beams a smile and proudly moves her head, "I can pay your bills now."
Aunt Sussie softly smiles, "I'm sorry to be sick, Eliora. I promise I'll pay you when I get better."