Nicholas kept himself occupied in his office. He now wears his usual grey suit that matches his blue checkered necktie. He kept his nose down, letting himself drown on work.
The writing on his paper begins to look squiggly. It looks hideous. Irritating. Maybe it's because his pen is slowly running out of ink or he's just distracted. He scratches his head in dismay.
He pushes himself off the desk then gets up, finally giving up on his work. He walks across the room and noticed the black folder on his sofa. He remembered sleeping on it the whole night.
Just like humans, vampires still feel exhaustion and need sleep to somehow give their physical body some rest. But for Nicholas, sleeping is where he also starts to dig deeper in his thoughts.
It is like dragging himself back in a nightmare. This nightmare has left a very deep cut in his heart and it has been healing for decades until today. The wound was ripped open as if it happened yesterday.
A sudden knock on the door got him distracted from his thoughts. He just realized that he has been holding the pen the whole time just as soon as he throws it at the door.
The vampire dodged the pen upon entering. "Bad timing?" he asked as he closes the door behind him. He didn't even flinch when he saw the Highborn in bad mood.
Nicholas straightens his necktie and collar, as if they are not neat enough. "Any news? Good perhaps?"
The blonde vampire walked towards him, carrying a long black envelope. He unfolds the lid and pulls out a file. "Not sure if it's good news but our lookouts last saw Kalvick in Vermilion District." He handed over the file.
The Highborn looks closely at the picture in the file. Through the glass window behind Kalvick, he noticed a reflection of a lady. "Who's that?"
"Cora Clyborne. Stella's sister. She appears to be following Kalvick."
"That's not good." He rubs his fingers, creasing his forehead. He throws the file on the sofa, next to the black folder. "We need to get her as soon as possible. She doesn't know what kind of danger she's getting herself into. Am I clear?"
"Yes, dad." The vampire walks across the room, looking around. "If I may ask…about our guest…"
"I know, Dan. I know."
"But she's not--"
"I'm aware of that too."
Dan looks up and noticed that something seems off. As if something is missing on the wall. "You took it down."
"Yes, for the meantime."
There is a frown on his face, keeping himself quiet as he tries to understand his father's impulsive decisions.
"I know what you're thinking. You don't have to say it." Nicholas raises his head, watching his son overlooking through the window. He knows he is troubled. "I know what I'm doing."
------------------------
Stella woke up in the bed again, realizing that she passed out after breakfast. Her body still feels a bit shaky, probably still recuperating from last night's Innefilis tea. Though the groggy effect already wore off, she still feels a bit frail.
She turns around, facing the balcony where she and Nicholas had breakfast earlier. Then she remembers the discussion this morning. Reaching out to her side, she picks up the surveillance picture of her father again.
"What's going on, Papa? What are you not telling us?" she asked as she stares at the picture. She wants to prepare herself for the worst. For the possible blows that she might get once she open that door. The possible heartbreaks. Yet she's not even sure what she's actually preparing herself for.
As she tries to lift her body up to sit at the edge of the bed, she saw a silver wrapped box on the nightstand. On it is a note written by Nicholas.
"Warm shower can help you loosen up that headache. I have prepared everything you needed in the bathroom. My office is four rooms to the right. I'll be expecting you there 9 p.m. sharp.
PS: I hope the dress fits.", says the note.
"Dress?" she asks as she lifts the box's lid open. In it is a gold dress and a pair of stilettos to go with it.
As she lifts the dress, she sees a black laced lingerie sitting underneath it. Laying everything in bed, she starts wondering how Nicholas managed to get these things for her, at exactly her size. The thought made her blush.
She turns to the vintage clock on the wall and realized that it's already quarter to nine. She hurriedly gets out of bed and headed straight to shower.
After prepping herself, she stares at her reflection on the mirror, now wearing everything that Nicholas has sent her.
She hasn't worn anything like this before. Besides the fact that she and Cora aren't really into dresses, they really don't attend much events to actually require something with a dress code like this.
The vintage clock dings as it strikes nine o'clock. Stella hastily walks out of the room, her legs somewhat wobbly from wearing the stilettos.
The surrounding changes the moment she stepped out of the room, with the wallpapers now in royal blue and gold. It doesn't scream 'vampire' anymore but more of 'royalty'.
Vintage sconces on the walls faintly illuminate the hallway. Each door has their own personalities from the type of material used, color, and designs.
People, both vampires and humans, politely nod at her as they walk past her.
As instructed, she turns to the right hallway, looking for Nicholas' office. She kept herself near the wall, walking cautiously as the one inch stilettos take their toll on her. While being distracted, admiring every elements in the hallway, her heel accidentally got hooked in the carpet.
Someone immediately caught her as she trips over, almost falling face first.
"Are you alright, miss?" the man asked as he leans down, helping her heel get off the carpet then supports her as she gets up.
She caught herself dumbfounded as she lifts her head up and saw the man's face for the first time. It's another familiar face. Another face that she should be bowing at. Another Highborn.
"Y-You're Sir Kameron Pope." she said under her breath.
"Please, just call me Kameron." He beams a sweet smile as he shakes her hand. "You must be Nicholas' guest."
"Y-Yes, sir. I mean… Yes… K-Kameron." She clears her throat. "I'm looking for Nicholas' office."
"Right this way." He guides her, still holding her hand. They both stop in front of a dark brown door with distinct carving of horns almost protruding out of it. "And here we are."
Stella turns to Kameron. "Thank you."
For a moment, Kameron's smile disappeared shifting to somewhat concerned look. He was about to speak when the door opens with Dan just leaving the office.
"I guess you know your way now then." The Highborn bows then excuses himself as he leaves. Keeping a straight face as he heads down the hall.
"Oh hi! You must be Stella," the blonde vampire who just exited the office cheerfully greeted before heading to the opposite side of the hallway.
There is something peculiar about the way he talked to her but she shook it off as she grabs the door knob. There is a hesitant feeling yet she gathered the courage to turn it, leaving the door ajar before peaking in.
Nicholas forthwith stands from his desk and approaches, opening the door for her. He caught himself standing still in front of her, gawking the moment he saw her in that dress. "You look amazing," he complimented.
"Thank you," she bashfully replied, looking down as she averts eye contact.
The Highborn leads her to take a seat on the red velvet sofa. He then walks across the room, taking the black folder from his desk then takes a seat beside her.
"Before we start, I would like to inform you that our lookouts spotted your sister near the outskirts of Vermilion." He shows her the picture Dan brought him earlier. "It seems like she has been following Kalvick."
For a moment, there is a sigh of relief in Stella, assuming that her sister finally found at least a solid lead to their father's whereabouts. At least she is with someone she knows.
"Are you ready to know the truth?" he cautiously asked.
"Yes," she firmly answers. Despite having a determined look on her face, her eyes shows fear and worry. She is lying. She will never be ready to learn the truth.
Nicholas then flips the black folder open and shows her a file that has Toto's picture. He looks well-off and young. Below the picture is a different name.
"Maximus Leighton," she muttered as she reads.
The vampire nods. "Max used to work as a detective here in Wisteria." He flips another page and it shows a picture of Max and Kalvick. "Kalvick Rosen is his former partner."
Their father used to live here. She couldn't believe it. After all those 'Do not trust a vampire' speech, she couldn't imagine Toto actually living in a place literally dominated by the creatures he hated the most.
"Max and Kalvick went AWOL twenty years ago after closing the case that killed your mother. Kalvick burned his identity and used different names to keep his identity hidden. And as for your father, that is when he decided to go out of Wisteria and transfer in Oblivia with you."
"My mother? But I thought--Papa told us Mama died of illness after Cora was born." Things are starting to get more confusing now.
"Your mother died here in Wisteria along with your older brother." He tries to keep a straight serious face despite seeing the lady beside him close to falling apart. He wants to comfort her but he doesn't want to cross that boundary.
"I have a bother?"
He nods. "His name is Louis Leighton. Six years older than you. He was burned in the fire along with your mother. Sacrificing himself to save your father."
Stella now has both of her hands over her head. This is crazy. How can she process all of these facts? "What happened to me? Why can't I remember anything?" she helplessly asked as she turns to look at Nicholas.
Nicholas lifts his hand, gently resting it on her shoulder. He doesn't know what to say. The words won't come out of his mouth. But he has to do something now before she falls apart.
Swiftly, he pulls her to embrace tightly. "It's going to be okay. Things will clear up soon," he said as he caresses her hair.
"N-Nicholas…" She grips his suit as she starts sobbing hard.