When the elderly men heard the man in front of him, his eyes were full of confusion as he tilted his head. Hans was quick to catch on so he went closer to the Grand Duke and explained to the man what he meant with that question.
"What he meant was, are you someone who is the ruler of this town?"
"Are you the exorcist that was sent by them?"
Hans and Grand Duke Arthur stared at each other in confusion. The Grand Duke was about to oppose but Hans immediately cut him off.
"Yes! Yes, we are. So, are you the leader of this town?"
"No, but I'll take you to her."
The old man replied and did not hesitate to lead them towards the ruler while supporting himself with a wooden stick. Many of the few watched them being led by the old man which the mixed teams ignored. Hans began to notice the hostility the people are giving them that he questioned the old man in a respectable manner.
"Uhmm… Excuse me, grandpa. Did something unnatural happen in this place? I'm not trying to be rude, however, I just wanted to know what happened here for them to be wary of us?"
Although Hans politely asked him and tried to be as concise as possible with him, yet he received no such answer which felt kind of disappointing. Arthur, the Grand Duke saw Hans' expression which he can't help but see this old man disrespectful. He was about to reach out to the old man but a hand stopped him from doing it.
When he turned to see Hans' shaking his hands while giving him a bit of a threatening look, he shook his hand off of him. It made him sulk for doing him a favor and yet he was being ungrateful by sending him daggers of glares. Hans tried to analyze his expression but decided to ignore him whilst he concluded that he was being childish. Their attention quickly directed to the old man as soon as he spoke.
"We do not believe in exorcism. None of us believe in such things as salvation. But we have no choice or this place will be history, forever."
The vampires and hunters stared at the old man, analyzing what he meant by that but they found no clue from his words. Grand Duke Arthur, being a royal, went to question the old man in an authoritative tone.
"Speak to us in a precise manner, peasa—."
Fortunately, before he could even finish his sentence Hans was able to stop him by unconsciously covering his mouth with his hands. The teams and even the Grand Duke were surprised by Hans' unusual actions. The royal can't help but smirk at his boldness and his eyes formed a smiling expression. And when Hans finally noticed, he quickly withdrew his hands while apologizing to him then avoided his gaze.
Before they know it, they arrive at a mansion however none of them seem to be surprised by the beautiful infrastructure of the house. The old man pressed the doorbell at the end side of the gate then a voice called out.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Mayor. They have arrived."- old man
"Lead them the way."
"Yes, Mayor."
The huge gate opened with guards waiting for them on the other side. The old man introduced the teams to them and the guards nodded then started to lead them the ways of the mansion. The hunters and vampires looked around the mansion with indifference. The walls were carved magnificently and the tiles of the floor were fully thought of. Even the pictures hanging on the walls as well as the decorative vases with plants were organized carefully.
The moment they arrived at a huge door, the guards knocked a few times before letting them in. An old woman revealed herself as she carefully spun the chair facing them. The old lady watched them thoroughly and the Grand Duke found it insolent to the point he threatened them.
"You dare to look at us with insolence, human. You ought to have some death wish."
"Such a disrespectful—"- old woman
"Ahh! My sincerest apologies, madam. This man didn't mean to threaten you. He's just not used to the culture of others. He must've thought he was a royal or something." (Laughs awkwardly) Hans
"I am a ro—"
Before Grand Duke Arthur could even finish his words, Hans' smacked him in the gut using his elbow that the hunters and vampires were dumbfounded. Hans laughs and smiles awkwardly whereas the royal vampire held his stomach from the trembling pain. Even the mayor and her companions were surprised because it was such a rare sight to see a petite young man overpowering someone who is twice his size and who is ten times stronger than him.
The Grand Duke stares at Hans's back with shooting daggers but the human and the old woman ignore him. The hunters and vampires slightly panic while the guards as well as the old man look at them in puzzlement. The old woman clears her throat then starts the discussion without any further distraction.
"Before I tell you the complete details, I want everybody out except for the leader."
Everyone, excluding Hans and Grand Duke Arthur, went out of the old woman's office. At first she repeated her words thinking that Grand Duke Arthur would leave, however, Hans explained to her that he and the royal vampire were the leaders. She then began the discussion through her introduction of herself.
"I am Sonia Barbaros, the 17th mayor of this town, Vermodias, in the city of Tasbilaonias. May you introduce yourselves?"
"I am Hans Baron."
"Arthur Skyler Adonis, the vice president of the AD enterprises. No one dares to look down at me so be careful, old woman."
"I see. You're that tyrant. I should have known from the way you acted back then. Youngsters these days don't seem to know what respect truly means. However, I wasn't aware that the tyrant is an exorcist as well. It is surprising that someone like you believes in someone they call god."
"Insolent woman. Must I show you who shall respect who? Hence, thou shall obtain a rightful punishment. I myself do not believe in such a thing, however, never underestimate me. For I shall make you pay."- Grand Duke Arthur
"That's enough. Must we fight over something so little? Please, we're not here to bicker but to form allegiance for a purpose."
Hans reminded them of the main purpose of why they're here and fortunately they understood him. Sonia took up her patience and humility to ask forgiveness to the Grand Duke. On the contrary, Grand Duke Arthur didn't say anything and just avoided her gaze. However, Hans lightly nudged at him which he subconsciously responded to.
Hans took this opportunity to make him apologize to the old lady. Grand Duke Arthur sulked from Hans' request but still heeded to his request. His displeasure still cannot be hidden from his expression that Hans thinks that he's being childish. Then the old lady immediately took the opportunity to start the conversation.
"I requested from your leader to send us some exorcists because we need you to exorcise someone for us."
"Who might it be, Mayor Sonia?"- Hans
"I'll lead you the way. However, you must be cautious of her, she can kill you."
Sonia stood up from her seat and guided them along with the others who were waiting for them outside the room. All of them were confused, except for the mayor's companions, as to where they're taking them and what it was that they had to show it instead of explaining it to them.
They all pass from one pathway down to another inside the mansion and stairs to stairs. Sonia opened half of the abstract figure then pressed something inside it. Right after that, the huge frame in front of them ascended revealing a door. The hunters and vampires looked at each other while trying to contemplate whether they should follow or not but seeing their two leaders confidently followed the old woman, they did so as well.
What was presented to them was a dark and eerie place where fog was thicker than they should be and figs hanging from one branch to another. The sound of the crows echoed in the spectrum, hissing that comes from the snakes slightly shakes the fields of green, and the dancing of the trees cools one's body while giving them goosebumps.
The morning light they saw from the town disappeared as soon as they stepped inside the forest. It's likely having two worlds connected by one door which somehow fascinates the vampires and hunters. Before they could go further inside the dark forest, the old woman warned them without meeting them in the eye.
"Before we go, never listen to the whisperings in the dark."
"Who is whispering in the dark?"- one of the hunters
"The Siren Sylph."
"Why is that?"- one of the vampires
"Because you'll never be able to step foot out of this place if that happens."
They all stared at each other and some gulped from the warning they just heard. In spite of being superior to humans and having abilities, it doesn't mean that they are not afraid of danger especially when they know what happens to their partners if something ever happens to them.
The time they advanced further in the dark forest, everything was completely silent to the point that it was horrifying. But not too long, they started hearing whispers that something began to build up inside them to make them lose consciousness.
"Come, come. You must come to me, my love."
"I'm waiting, honey."
"Let's stay here forever."
"Be with me for eternity, mi amore."
Those were the kinds of whispers inside them as they copy the people they love and treasure the most. They're like sirens hypnotizing their victims while singing the sweet song they adore the most, except they use the voices of the person you are attached to the most. It took a while before Grand Duke Arthur started hearing those things as well.
"Arthur! Arthur! Help me!"
"Catina?"
"Save me! I'm scared! I'm scared, Arthur. They'll take me! They'll take me away! They'll kill me!"
"I won't let them do any harm to you! Catina, show yourself. Catina! Where are you?!"
Siren Sylph's voice slowly faded while repeating the words in his ears and the Grand Duke kept calling out her name with desperation. A loud slap echoed in the forest that Grand Duke Arthur snapped back to reality. A sting of pain welcomes him as he holds his cheek to caress it while his vision and hearing slowly comes back to him.
"Grand Duke! Can you hear me?! Grand Duke!"
"Hans?"
Hans sighs in relief.
"What happened?"- Grand Duke
"You were hypnotized by the Siren Sylph. Luckily, we were able to snap you out of it."
"What about the others?"
"They're safe now since those with Sensory Deprive abilities managed to block their hearing senses. You were the last one who was able to snap out of it."- Hans whispers
"Let's begin our journey now before they come back and do something to us again."- Sonia
Although two elderly and the two guards weren't able to hear their conversation, they still decided not to interfere. They immediately started their journey and passed from one huge boulder to another before arriving in a small penthouse. It looks so ordinary outside but when they invited themselves in, a gust of wind welcomed them while they covered their faces from it.
The house was full of scratches and redness for who knows who owns it. The smell of rottenness went through their noses that they had to cover it as they couldn't help but feel disgusted. As soon as they arrived in the basement, there was a large-thick fence which served as a jail or should they say a cage.
Hands hanging in the air by the chains keeping the prisoner from rest, hair that is as deprived as a beggar, body full of scars and scratches. A mark of rose bud on the neck, drooling fangs from constant thirst for blood and as she slowly meets them in the eye a glare of redness surprises them.
Before everything could even process, a voice distracted them from looking at the woman in front of them. A loud bang of the door in the basement echoed as he spoke cheerfully.
"Your Highness, I have arrived!"
"Kalios? What–? How did you get here?"
"Your Highness, you wouldn't believe what I jus—"
Kalios' cheerful smile soon disappeared the moment he was distracted from the woman inside the jail. His lips began to tremble whereas his rationality slowly faded from the sight of the wounded and fragile woman in front of him. He went near her while reaching out his hands to her and the woman struggled to get near him.
"M-maya?"
The girl desperately nodded then their tears began to crawl down their faces. Kalios felt anger rising inside him as he mumbled.
"Get her out of her."
"What?"- Sonia
"I said get her out of here!"
Kalios turned to face them at the same time his eyes glowed red and fangs grew. Sonia along with her companion eyes widened and gasped from the shock.
...