"What do you think?" Axel stood up from the couch and began to unbutton his shirt.
"Since the first day you saw her, I already knew something was going on in that heart of yours. Offering to help her find the killers of her family, then the dinner date, helping her with school problems and now for the first time since I met you, you are actually spouting flowery words to a woman like a pro. I think you're in love, Ax." Axel's hand movement paused for a moment on the fourth button when he heard Asher's words.
After a short while of silence, Axel let out a sigh. "She reminds me of... Someone close to my heart." He uttered as he discarded the shirt and moved to take off his pants.
"You want to protect the vampire's enemy? You know that's against the law." Asher raised a brow at him.
"The only law I care about is the ultimate law – 'thou shall not kill humans'." Axel said as he discarded his pant.
"The bathroom is close to you, Ax. Don't display your commodity in front of my innocent eyes." Asher complained as Axel began to take off his briefs, but he didn't make any effort to look away. Axel, however, paid him no attention as he discarded the last piece of clothing on his body before strolling to the bathroom to shower.
"Shameless." Asher murmured. He threw his head back on the couch where he sat and closed his eyes. A small smile appeared on his lips as he thought of everything that was happening. Things will surely get more interesting from here on and he couldn't wait to engage in some action. It's been quite some time since he had blood on his hands.
The ringing of Axel's phone interrupted his thoughts and his eyes flew open.
"It's Fred." He announced loud enough for Axel to hear over the sound of the water.
"Answer it." He heard Axel's voice and quickly received the call.
"Your Highness..." Fred greeted
"Speak."
"I found something you need to see." Fred's voice echoed.
"Location?" Asher asked.
"Echlon Park." And with that, the call ended. Asher's face held a confused and disbelieving expression.
"They found something at Echlon." Asher announced when Axel finished with his bath and was already fully dressed.
"Echlon?" Axel asked in disbelief and Asher nodded. "Smart move. Do your dirty business in the least suspicious place." He commented with a smile.
"I would have never guessed it." Asher stood up and handed the phone to Axel. "Shall we?" He asked and at that instant, the two of them disappeared from the room.
***
When they arrived at Echlon, the park was unusually empty. Though some of Havilla vampires have no problem moving around in the daytime due to the favorable weather in the land, others still chose to carry out their activities at the night. Echelon is a bubbling park and unless there is an order from the castle, the place would not look this deserted.
"Your Highness, Ash." Fred greeted them when he approached them. "This way please." He gestured and led them to the back side of the park, into what looked like an abandoned building. Inside the building, Fred pushed a switch behind a small painting hanging in the middle of two much bigger ones, and the wall on which they hung moved to reveal a dark passage. Fred took out a battery-operated torchlight from his pocket, switching it on as they went through the secret passage and down a tunnel until they finally stood in front of a huge underground bunker.
"I followed him as you instructed, Your Highness. There are two others like this one and they are also under this same building, but this is the only one he entered." Fred reported.
Axel had a grave expression on his face as he surveyed the entrance of the bunker. The door – if he could even call it that – didn't look like it could be opened from the outside.
"How did he enter?" Axel asked. He had taken these people lightly for a long time. It seemed the time he had been waiting for had arrived. What on earth is this king up to? And Dorian is a part of it?
"I think the door is voice-operated or maybe has a password. He just whispered some words and the door opened. I couldn't get the words, Your Highness." Fred explained apologetically.
Axel surveyed the bunker one more time before they went to see the other two. They looked similar to the first one, with the same door design. What are you up to, Williams?
"Good Job, Fred. Where's Lozan?" Axel asked.
"He went with the others to find the girl." Fred answered.
"Alright. Your next task is to get me the identity of the exact people to be sent to Greenlight city." Axel instructed. If the king wants to play games, then he is ready to play along and beat him at his game.
"Consider it done, Your Highness." Fred bowed before he left the park.
Axel and Asher went back to the first bunker which Fred showed them.
"What do you think?" Axel asked and Asher ran his claws on the metal door.
"I think they have played enough." He answered and withdrew his hand from the door. "The metal is extremely thick and hard. I'll need about an hour to get a peek inside." He added.
"Get to it then, while I pay Dorian a visit. He will regret the day he decided to lie to my face." Axel said.
"What? Why do you get to do the interesting part?" Asher whined even as he moved to start working on the door.
"Stop whining and start working. I'll make sure to extend your greetings." Axel smiled wickedly before he disappeared.
"Of course, you should." Asher mumbled as he started to work on the door. All he wanted was to open a small part of the door which would let him get a peek inside the bunker. Once he can achieve that, they would have no problem entering into and leaving the bunker without anyone noticing. His expression switched again as he focused all of his attention on his current task.