In the room reserved for the protectors, Orthon was trembling with his whole being. Fear gnawed at every bone in his body and, sitting on a cushion, all he could do was watch Minndt's father pace. Sometimes he would stop to take a sip of his tea before resuming, far too deep in thought to worry about the Duke's worry.
"I've had more than enough of you," he said finally, stopping in front of him.
"I'm sorry…"
"I'm tired of not being able to figure you out, tell me who you are."
"I am who I claim to be, Orthon Monty my real name I can swear to you!"
"I'm not talking about that, who are you? A vampire who refuses to feed at the source and kills one of his own like that, isn't that strange?"
"I didn't mean to kill him!"
"That is not the problem, how can you have killed five members of the order by shooting them repeatedly, kill another by making his skull an impossible puzzle to recompose if you pretend not to be able to? kill?"
"I... The emotions."
"Sorry, the what?"
"Your son said that I operate by emotions. When something is unbearable to me, I feel like I'm not myself anymore and I don't think anymore. My brother always said that I should stay calm, master of myself but it's so complicated without him!"
"Do you often get killed by accident?"
"No, it is usually rare."
"You've done it twice here, with little time apart."
"I usually said! Nothing is ordinary for me here, I don't feel well..."
"Would you like me to bring in something to drink?"
"I'm so scared. I didn't want to kill him, but he didn't have to say that!"
"What did he say to get you off your hinges like this?"
"He said my cousin was more cooperative in his bed! We have to find out where the Order is, he's an omega! I don't want him tied to a brainless jerk like him!"
"Maybe he's okay, have you thought about it?"
"SORRY?!"
"What I'm trying to say is..."
"That my omega cousin gets screwed by the first asshole and lets himself be tied by the first comer!"
Minndt's father widened his eyes in amazement before taking a step towards the vampire.
"Sorry, I didn't..."
mean"Yes, you meant to say it. Let go, if it makes you feel good. Speak, I'll listen to you. Your cousin is an omega, that's useful information..."
" His sisters wouldn't have let him do it, it's impossible."
"They were five years old when they were taken in by the Order, weren't they? Are they omegas too?"
"Alphas."
"If they have inherited the character of the Montys, there is little to worry about your omega cousin. Unless they have been separated."
"What are you trying to do, make me angry?"
"Exactly. Am I on the right track?"
"You are a sadist! Let me go, I've had enough!"
"Where are you going to go after you get out of here to complain to my son and Day-sama?"
Orthon jumped up and grabbed the god's collar before slamming it onto the table, resting his forearm on his throat.
"Well there you are, you are angry," the deity said proudly with a smirk.
"Stop bullying me, you and the others! Tell the Lord to stop laughing at me!"
"Otherwise what, will you kill me too? After letting my son be tortured in your basement, you might as well attack the father."
"Are you going to understand that I didn't know ?!" cried the duke, pressing his hands to his throat.
"Do it. Go ahead, let me see the other you."
"You are nuts!"
"Do it if you have the guts. Kill me."
"You are nuts, completely nuts!"
Orthon's hands tightened around his neck, feeling his victim's pulse increase and his breathing more irregular and difficult. He felt it, he was about to die.
"I just want to know what the one courting my son is like."
The words between two gasps hit his twisted mind with his emotions, snapping him out of that manic trance he was in. The noble vampire stared at his hands in dread before stepping back from the panting god, tears rising in his eyes.
"I didn't mean! Please, I beg your pardon!" Orthon hurriedly shouted, raising his hands in front of him for protection.
"I know you didn't want... You've got the strength."
"What?"
"What what? Do you expect me to bring in a guard? Come on, I asked you to get upset, it's my responsibility."
"I tried to kill you!"
"You are not the first and certainly not the last. But from what I see, you are close to my son to make you wake up suddenly."
"I'm not close to Minndt!"
"Minndt, eh..."
"Yes, where... Oh."
"For a smart person, you are sometimes incredibly stupid. But okay, now you just call him Minndt. Did he ask you?"
"Yes."
The god smiled, arousing the curiosity of the vampire who watched him sit up casually, taking a sip of his tea again.
"I don't understand you," confessed the nobleman.
"I reassure you, you are not the only one. Come on, come out and try not to put yourself in such a state on guard. They are good."
"How can you be sure all the moles have been found?"
"They denounced each other when a certain god began to disembowel them."
"D...Disembowel?"
"Never anger Nyx's brother. Never. For your bodily integrity."
"He scares me sometimes..."
"Don't tell him, your fear will be a weapon he will have fun using to kill you with. Like you, he works on emotions and his feelings. His brother is from even but... his reason is still present."
"He is crazy?"
"Nyx's brother is not crazy, but he has psychological problems, yes. Just like you."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You have a new personality when the emotions get too strong. It is that personality that takes control then."
"I... I am not schizophrenic!"
"I never said you were, but you are not completely sane. I reassure you, you are not the only one. Far from it..."
"You are sadistic for example."
"No. I didn't like the pain you inflicted on me. I would have pushed you away if my sentence hadn't impacted you."
"Is that true? I wouldn't have killed you?"
"Absolutely not, remember who you are talking to."
"That reassures me..."
"If you need help, if you feel bad, please let Minndt know."
"What if I want to come to see you?"
"You can too, I won't bite you. I might even diagnose you."
"I'm fine thank you!"
"If you say so."
"Yes, I say it! Can I go now?"
"You can, I got what I wanted."
"Tell your friends and the Lord to stop behaving this way towards me, please."
"I'll spread the word. Bye Duke Monty, have a great end to the day."
"That's it yes, bye."
"He's in the maze. He said he needs to isolate himself for a while."
"You know everything, my word!"
"Maybe so. Go find him before I change my mind about your reconciliation."
The noble vampire didn't have to be told twice and rushed out of the room, unaware that an amused smile had appeared on the god's face. Orthon quickly reassured Day who was waiting down the hall with Nyx, informing them that he was going to see Minndt in the maze. Once again, he didn't see the smile appear on their faces. The servants, busy cleaning up the blood on the ground, moved aside as he passed, watching him take the direction of the garden. Orthon will undoubtedly never cease to be amazed at the grandeur of the exterior and its beauty. The many cherry trees, the perfectly manicured grass, the perfectly trimmed bushes: everything was splendid. The labyrinth, quite far from the monastery, made the duke stop: what if he got lost in it?
"What are you doing here, Orthon?" Suddenly asked Minndt as he came to the exit.
"I was coming to see you, your father has finished talking to me."
"Was he nice?"
"The discussion was strange."
"Oh? Come on, let's talk around the maze and tell me all about it."
The Duke smiled and followed the god while holding his arm, smiling happily as he recounted the whole discussion. Nothing surprised the god of spirit and feelings who only laughed when he recounted his father's experience.
"Haha, he will never change!" he laughs, stopping to catch his breath.
"You seem to be entertained by that. He's nice but… he has a funny way of communicating with other people."
"Oh that's common to the gods, isn't it?"
"I wouldn't have dared to say it."
"Dare to say whatever you think, I won't take offence. People so often forget that I can read their mind..."
"And what am I thinking about now?"
Minndt turned to him and smiled.
"Eat cheesecake, greedy," the god replied in a low voice, moving closer to him.
"I want something sweet."
"Me too."
"A cheesecake with chocolate?"
"A lot of chocolate."
"As greedy as I am."
"Oh yes. Tell me, can I ask you something Orthon?"
"Of course! Anything you want!"
"Can I do something?"
"All that you want."
"Sure of that?"
"Sure, tell me what you wanna do!"
Minndt leaned close to his ear and put his hands on his shoulders before sticking out the tip of his tongue. The nobleman shuddered as he felt something warm pass over his ear before arching under the soft bite. A shiver of pleasure ran through his spine when a gentle embrace pressed his body against the one he thought he admired when it was not. Day had opened his eyes after a long discussion and now, at that precise moment, he understood that what he was feeling was love.