Bloody red eyes portraying anger and threat, growing fangs that resolutely control one's conscience. Not one of the humans were able to utter a word of how scared they are right now by the sight of another vampire among them. Trembling knees and scorching anger yet cold sweats from the image of death.
"W-what's this?! W-w-w-why is there another monster here? Are you one of them?"- Sonia
The perplexed feeling of the mayor whereas her trembling voice passes through from one corner of the room to another. However, before the problem escalated, Grand Duke Arthur was quick to assess the situation by covering Kalios' mouth while placing his lips at the side of his ear.
"Kalios, stop this now."
Unfortunately, due to the sight of his Female Blood he is unable to calm himself down and all he can do is to grunt continuously. So, the Grand Duke made a promise to him which somehow released the tension of his body.
"I promise you that we will figure something out to save your Female Blood. Trust me, I will definitely save her."
He slowly backs away then faces him as his eyes turn red which activates his manipulation ability in order to hypnotize him. His PS slowly loses his aggressiveness and at the same time his eyes went back to normal whereas he felt dizziness kicking in. Unable to fight back the hypnosis, he lumped himself on the Grand Duke's shoulder and slept peacefully while the back of his head was supported by him.
Grand Duke Arthur's eyes remained red while fighting back his anger towards these humans for harming one of their clan, especially the Female Blood. They are very sensitive when it comes to their Female Blood since they only had a few of them and some remained bondless like the Grand Duke himself. After losing his Female Blood, he never took any of them for granted as if they will always be there for you, never. Twice is more than enough.
The Female Blood struggled when she saw her bond sleeping on his shoulder while thinking that he'll be in danger because of her. She tried reaching out and calling him to snap himself out but when she saw the Grand Duke eyes she immediately quivered in fear.
A hand reached out Grand Duke Arthur's other shoulder and he turned to see Hans looking at him calmly while slightly shaking his head. With no unexplainable reason, the royal vampire slowly calms down as eyes turn back to ocean-blue. When Hans finally sees the Grand Duke in his senses again, he faces their clients and reassures them.
"We are unable to see this through; my deepest apologies. Since we now know what these creatures are, it would be best for you to leave this place to us. Rest assured that we exorcists will exorcise them and this place."
"You better be! I don't want to do anything with them! They're monsters, my people aren't safe with them."- Sonia
Grand Duke Arthur clenched his jaw when he heard the mayor's degrading words. She didn't know that each one of them are no ordinary creatures as well. Unfortunately, he had to control himself because this is an important mission which made him curse himself. While suppressing his anger he felt a slight clench of pain on his shoulder. He looks at Hans' domineering aura while battling over his rationality. He managed to force a smile and hold up his anger then said.
"Rest assured. You will not see even a speck of hair from them."
The old woman was escorted with her companion leaving the place to them in spite of having a bit of suspicion towards them. Few of the hunters and vampires guided them out of the place after Hans commanded them. Among the escorts, only one hunter and one vampire came back and confirmed that they're completely out of the forest while the others guarded the secret door.
Hans immediately took the opportunity to release the Female Blood while Grand Duke Arthur lay Kalios on the ground to rest. It will take a while before Kalios could regain his consciousness since his hypnotism is quite stronger than most vampires. When Hans was finally able to free the Female Blood, the girl extended her hand that made him think that she was going to attack him. But, in fact, she reached out to Kalios and hugged him tightly as she cried her tears out for seeing him again.
The nostalgia between the couple and the touching scene ended when they heard a loud bang at the entrance of the house. Some of the hunters and vampires followed the Grand Duke while Hans and the rest remained to protect the two. A minute or two passed by but they couldn't hear anything except silence. Hans was feeling uneasy so he instructed them to follow him and place the couple at the center so they could protect them. Two of Hans's team carried Kalios and the injured Female Blood at their back while the rest formed a circle as a source of barrier to protect them.
When they're finally out of the place, all they could see was the back of their comrades. But as they got closer they were in a state of shock that even the Grand Duke froze in place with confusion in his eyes. Hans didn't quite understand so he followed to where they're staring, only to find out a horrifying creature standing before them.
Thin figure with a cheerful yet creepy aura smiled at them while holding the neck of their comrade who was supposed to guard the secret door. His eyes had two different glowing colors, the purple one with a weird characteristic in it and the gold one with a hint of redness. The lower half on the left side of his face was covered by a black mask with a pattern of fangs. Scars and veins popping out of his skin can be seen visibly whereas fur on his arms and the other side of his face is reflected.
He smirks at the struggling hunter and vampire then looks at them with malice. His smirk turns into a cheerful smile then asked.
"What am I supposed to do with these two? Should I let them live? Or die?"
Before he could even make his final conclusion, a snap in Grand Duke and Hans's mind made them unable to control their anger. They both ran and fiercely launched at him, unexpectedly, a claw and a dagger cut through his skin. However, he felt no pain in spite of it but decided to free the captives from his clutches as he flew away from them. After he landed at the side of a broken tree, he gave them a round of applause while praising them.
"Good job, you two. I never expected Grand Duke Adonis and Sir. Hans to be so in sync."
"How do you our name?"- Hans
"What? Is that even a question? Of course, both of you are quite pretty famous."- enemy
"One, a royal vampire and the other… Hmm… a liar? A paradox? Ah! No, this suits you best. My master's masterpiece."- he added
"What do you mean?"- Hans
"Heh~ Not tellin' ya."
"Enough with this foolishness and reveal yourself."- Grand Duke
"I am here. See? I just revealed myself."
"Do you wish to die."- Grand Duke
"Ahhh! No, no, not yet! Okay, okay, I'll tell ya. I'm Moscard, the 5th rank of the Catalyst Circle. And master is the call of death known as, Dearil. Nice to meet ya!"
He expressed his greeting in courtesy then his smiling face soon turned wicked. That made Hans and Grand Duke Arthur jolt while in position for defense. But they were too late to notice when in a blink of an eye, Hans was already in Moscard clutches a meter away from them. The Grand Duke couldn't believe his eyes that such speed exists and is far more superior than theirs. Hans struggled in Moscard clutches whereas the enemy started to mutter his excitement.
"Now, let's see what you've got, masterpiece. We should be able to force it open."
"W-what nons-sense are you t-talking about?"- Hans
"You'll see~"
Instantly, Hans screams uncontrollably when he feels an immense pain surging in his stomach then momentarily spreads all over his body. Moscard can feel the excitement trembling all over his body upon successfully getting a hand of his master's one of the last masterpieces. However, time passes with no changes happening except for the continued pain from Hans.
Moscard was about to go in further to force something in him open but noticed nothing was happening at all except Hans was getting weaker and weaker. Grand Duke Arthur didn't hesitate and punched the unaware enemy while supporting Hans' head to avoid him from getting hurt. When Moscard flew away and banged himself on the tree causing it to break into pieces, Hans landed in Grand Duke Arthur arms unconscious.
The royal vampire checked him but his body started getting colder than usual and without any pulse. Moscard stood up while caressing his chin then watched the unconscious man getting paler than he already was. The Grand Duke called his name as he kept shaking his body slightly but then stopped when he saw the enemy leaving with courtesy.
"Then I shall leave first, Your Highness."
"You imbecile! Hey! W-wher—?"
Grand Duke was late to refrain him as soon as he vanished like a thin air whereas he stared at the unconscious Hans.
An hour passed and they finally reached the mansion. Ashley was busy chatting happily with a few hunters until she saw Hans being carried by the Grand Duke. Horror and fear came to her then rushed to them worriedly while she held Hans forehead and asked.
"What happened?"
The disappointed and frustrated Grand Duke couldn't utter a single word but laid the human on the ground, not even the others who were with them. Kalios gained his consciousness after the incident and couldn't defend any of them. Ashley hurriedly instructs the hunters to inform the director. A few minutes of waiting, the director arrived as well as those with important figures.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"- Jasper
"Y-young Master! It wasn't the Grand Duke's fault! It was—"- hunter 1
Jasper held Grand Duke Arthur's collar with pure anger. One of the hunters with them tried to explain to him but was interrupted when Dir. Melvis stopped him and told him to calm himself. Jasper clicked his tongue in annoyance then the director went to check on him while asking them the details. The hunter who defended the royal vampire quickly explained.
Jasper was so confused that he interrupted him by asking and when the hunter revealed the identity of the enemy, Dir. Melvis' eyes widened upon hearing these names and held Hans tightly. Grand Duke Arthur noticed the disturbing expression of the director that he couldn't help but asked.
"Do you know him, Director? You seem to know him well."
Head Benjamin and Emma arrived late full of sweat and distress in their expression. However, as soon as Head Benjamin saw Hans, a flash of unknown images came into his mind. He saw a young boy die in front of him while he cried out to reach up to him but it was too late. Then an image of a young girl with his rose-gold ombre hair whose back facing him. The young girl noticed his presence which she turned to face him then smiled brightly and called out his name.
"Big Brother Benj!"
The moment those images ended, his head began to feel an extreme pain that made his screech and yell. His knees weakened whereas he supported his head then started to drool from the immense pain which he soon collapsed. Head Kelly immediately went to aid him while Emma worriedly called out his name. Jasper was perplexed by the situation as if he was traumatized and the rest was just in pure confusion. Dir. Melvis quickly changed the subject to divert their attention.
"Head Kelly, Head Akito, and Head Asher, help Emma bring Head Benjamin back to his room. Aid him. Head Melissa and Head Audeth, I want you to investigate the Catalyst Circle and find out what they're agenda is. And you… How many hours did Hans pass out?"
"About an hour, Director."- hunter 2
In the Vermodias town, Sonia along with her three companions were in a middle of discussion about the incident. They were suspecting about the exorcist that was sent to them but they all stopped when the door burst open. Two male with dark purple hair and a hue of amber eyes appeared in front of them as they confidently invited themselves in.
The old man shivered in fear while the guards protected them. The mayor gathered all her courage to question the uninvited guest whereas she stuttered in distress.
"W-who are you? W-what do you want from us?"
"We are here to evict you."- Peter
"Good luck."- Maxx
Then in a blink of an eye, they all feel unconscious and the twins leave without a word. Sonia, the mayor, woke up with no memories. But a gas of blood stimulated the entire room, she scanned the area and landed on a man, a monster, while one of the guards was in his clutch, lifeless. She then saw the old man and another guard laying on the ground full of blood. She couldn't utter a word nor move, in spite, seeing Moscard getting near her.
"You're awake, Mayor. Oh? No need to be scared. I just want to ask something from you and then you'll be free. If you are able to answer it, though."
"W-what i-is it th-that you-want?"
"It's simple. Did you offend my master's masterpiece or not? Yes, or no?"
"N-no! I don't even know who they are!"
"Eeenkk! Wrong answer!"
In the speed of light, the mayor's body lumped on the ground lifelessly. The next morning, the news went all over towns about the death of the mayor along with her companion. It was predicted to be an attempt of murder and the officers still continue searching for the suspects.
On the other hand, a woman with a rose-gold ombre hair was standing at the sink of the bathroom while washing her pale face clean. Her tiredness was visible in her face while wiping her face clean. A knock on the bathroom door disrupted her and the man spoke.
"Ya awake, Hans? Or should I say, Catina."
The woman turned to face the man calling her name and spoke.
"Master."
...