A knock on the door distracted them, with Nicholas frustratingly sighs as he let goes of Stella. "Who is it?" he asked in a bitter tone as he turns to the door.
The door slightly opens as a lady takes a peak, quite wary after hearing the Highborn's tone on her. "S-Sorry to interrupt, Master, but you're being summoned by Master Pope in the dinning hall." Her voice almost shaky.
"Forgive me." He sighed deeply. "I'll be there in a minute."
"Very well, Master. I'll inform them." The lady politely bows then exits the office, closing the door behind her.
Nicholas turns to check on Stella who now has stopped sobbing. He pulls out a handkerchief from his pocket then gently wipes off the tears on her cheeks.
His gesture made her blush.
"I know it's an off timing but they're expecting me for a meeting now. Is it alright if I leave you here for a while?"
"Mmn…" She slowly nods.
"Hey…" He cups her face. "I'll be back. I promise." He assures as he leans forward, kissing her forehead.
Once again, another out of the line gesture but somewhat something that she felt like she needed. "Why is he doing this? Why is he being too gentle?" she thought to herself.
"Promise me you won't leave the office until I get back."
"I promise."
"Good." He stands then grabs the black folder, closing it then places his desk again. "It won't take long. I promise." He then went straight to the door, shutting it close behind him.
For a moment Stella caught herself just staring at the door, somewhat puzzled. She then turn to the desk, overlooking the folder from where she was seated.
She quickly unstraps the stilettos from her feet, finally feeling relieved. Walking barefoot, she approaches the desk, looking into the folder again.
There pictures. Why can't she remember any of these? If she is not mistaking, she's supposed to be at least five-years-old at that time. Already good enough to remember at least her mother's face or her brother's. But why are they omitted from her memories? What aren't they telling her?
----------------------------
Nicholas headed straight to the dining hall where Kameron is expecting him. With them are Highborns Zayne Elony and Julien Mason. The rest of the Highborns are being represented by their Scions.
Nicholas takes a seat beside Kameron, just opposite Zayne. Keeping himself quiet, waiting for Kameron to start.
"So, can somebody please tell me why I had to skip my daytime nap for this?" said the youngest Highborn in an irritated tone. The tiredness still obvious in his eyes. He is Zayne Elony, the youngest among the Highborns.
"Sorry for interrupting your daytime plans, everyone. But I think this is a matter that we all have to discuss before it gets out of hand." Kameron slams a thick stack of files on the table.
"Are those case files?" Julien asked, his tone quite baffled.
"Aren't those supposed to be digitized by now?" Zayne interrupted.
"Yes, Zayne. Except I specifically have these compiled in paper to avoid getting leaked in public." The Highborn starts walking around, distributing at least one case file each vampire. "Take a good look at them. Don't they seem too familiar?"
"But Kameron, these are case files from twenty years ago," said Zayne.
"Now turn to the next case file," he instructed.
"2034… Recent crimes but almost the same M.O." said Julien.
"Exactly. And the detective who broke this case twenty years ago returned here in Wisteria. Am I right, Nicholas?" Kameron glares at the Highborn with silver grey hair.
Nicholas turned to Dan then back at Kameron. "Yes, he's right. Maximus Leighton is back in Wisteria. So is Kalvick Rosen."
"Rosen? The traitor?" The vampire with straight long brown hair sitting the other end of the table asked. He is Colby Daycreek, Highborn Lizeth Daycreek's Scion.
"I thought the dude died in the fire?" Zayne asked, scratching the back of his head as he flips through the pages of the case file. "Okay, this doesn't make any sense. I thought we already dealt with this twenty years ago. The suspect is already dead, along with his cult. Who would dare to start suck ruckus again?"
"I don't know. Why don't you shed some light on that, Nicholas?" Kameron walks behind him, taps his shoulder then grips it tight. "More secrets to share, my friend?" His eyes, blazing in bright crimson as he fakes a smile.
Everyone at the Paramount knew that Kameron and Nicholas aren't the best of friends among the Highborns. Both secretive and never really trusted each other.
Gritting his teeth. "I have nothing to say," Nicholas firmly said.
"Anyway!" Kameron let goes then brushes his fingers through his blue streaked hair, pushing it back tidily as he deeply sighs. "Eight among those victims are from Oblivia. Some were found of them, some still missing. I don't want to alarm you all but if this gets out of hand, this might put our kind to jeopardy."
"What can they do? They're just a bunch of mortals. We're basically gods here," Ariel Kim, Highborn Mara Kim's Scion, smugly said.
In a swift motion, Kameron grabs Ariel by the neck, choking him hard. "WE ARE NOT GODS," he said in a weighted tone.
"I-I'm s-sorry. I-I get it…" He coughs. "W-We are…not…gods…" Choking from the Highborn's tightening grip.
"Very good." He then let goes of Ariel. "Your mother really should teach you some lesson." He added, looking down on the Scion then to his audience. "Like I said. We have to deal with this before things go out of hand. Study the case files but keep them within the Paramount walls. Someone has been leaking those outside Wisteria and that's why Leighton is back here, playing detective again."
Yawning. "Got it. Got it." Zayne stands, carrying the assigned files with him. "Now please excuse me, I'll take these to bed. Don't worry, Kameron. I'll look into it." Waving at the Highborn then headed straight to the hallway to the left.
"Very well, everyone's excused now. Meeting's over." Kameron said, just standing still as he rests his back on the wall, watching everyone leave.
"You really should stop insinuating things, Kameron," Nicholas said as he leaves his seat, turning to face him.
He chuckles. "Insinuating? I'm stating facts."
"Believe what you want to believe…" he said as he takes a step towards the hallway where he came from earlier.
"Does she know?" The younger Highborn's grin grew wider. "Does your guest know why you took her?"
Nicholas immediately turns then grabs Kameron's collar, gripping it tight. "It's for her own good!"
"Oh Nicholas… You're so easy to read. I know what you want." Grabbing Nicholas' wrist then forcefully twists it to free himself.
The older vampire hisses in pain, immediately letting go and rubbing his wrist.
"Don't worry. I won't say anything. But this is your mess. Better deal with it before it bites you back." Shrugging his shoulder. "Just a fair warning. You really should stop sticking your nose to the Leightons." He then leaves, walking towards the hallway where Zayne headed to earlier.
Nicholas urgently headed back to the office, his eyes stricken as he catches his breath. Kameron's words are stirring in his consciousness and he couldn't shake it off. He has to get to Stella as soon as possible.
As soon as he reaches his office, he saw Stella rummaging in his drawers. Files with gruesome images laid on the desk. Her eyes, wide yet teary. Horrified by what she saw.
"H-He did it… All of it…" Stella shows an image from a surveillance video with Kalvick in it with a victim. "WE TRUSTED HIM! HE USED TO BE HIS FRIEND! And now…. Now… My sister is with him and she doesn't know who he really is…" She starts to hyperventilate. "I-I have to go. I have to get to her as soon as possible." She steps away from the desk, heading towards the door.
Nicholas immediately stops her, pulling her into his arms.
"Let go of me!" She sobs.
"I won't." He embraces tighter. "But I'll help you with everything you have to do."
She raises her head, looking at him. Somewhat stopping herself from sobbing. "Y-You'll do that?"
"Yes." He tucks a few strands of hair behind her ear to clear the view of her face. "For you, I will…" He then grabs her hand. "There's no time to lose. We should get going now."
"Where are we going?"
"My place. Away from the Paramount. You're no longer safe here."
The night, Nicholas and Stella headed at the backdoor of the Paramount with the help of Dan and the other servants. As they were about to enter the limousine, almost the same as the one that took Stella, she looks back at the Paramount. It is indeed breath-taking from the outside. Almost like a castle. Sadly, she didn't have much time to appreciate it
"Stella…" Nicholas said as he offers her hand, guiding her to take a seat at the back.
"Y-Yes." She shook off the thought then enters the backseat.
Nicholas then follows, taking a seat beside her. The servant then closes the door beside him.
"Where to, Master?" the driver asked.
"Sangria District. Madden Residence."
"That will take us at least a day, Master. Should we look for safe stopovers?"
"Not necessary at all." He holds Stella's hand. "We have to get there as soon as possible."
"Very well, Master." The driver presses the button that pulls up the back window of the limousine, giving his passengers some privacy.
"It's going to be okay, Stella. I'll make sure of that," he softly said as he stares at her.
"Thank you, Nicholas." She looks at him then turns to the window as the limousine starts moving. "Thank you for everything…".
She is moving to another district again. A district probably miles away from Cora now. She can't help but feel unsettled by the fact that her sister is now with a criminal. She knows that Cora's fondness of Kalvick will definitely have her gain his trust all over again. But it really doesn't make any sense. If Kalvick is a criminal, why did their father approach him again? After all those years of cutting ties with him, why try to get back to him all over again if he is indeed a bad man?
"Something just doesn't quite add up," she thought to herself.