I WOULD BE absurd if I did what he wanted. So, I didn't. It wasn't like I wouldn't get any information from anyone. He seemed to understand that notion as he began telling me what transpired for the past weeks I had been away, with no condition.
"A vampire?" I said, perplexed.
"A Moroi, to be more precise," he said, stretching his legs. I couldn't help but notice how long his legs were. He was a tall man, after all. "They are dead bodies that witches control."
My face sank. "Did that woman from the shop do it then?"
"Yes," I was about to get angry when he added, "and no."
"Can you be clear? Is it a yes or a no?"
He chuckled. And when he did, his eyes narrowed to the point of closing. Still, I could see his eyes twinkling. He looked good—- well, he looked good now. But he looked best when he laughed. "That woman is not a witch. At most, she could perform a seance. She did, however, switch on the forbidden spell. The mastermind is not her, though."
"There's an evil witch on the loose, then," I murmured. And that witch even made such a disturbance in my town. "Can you find who it is? And is there a way to stop these Morois from biting or drinking another victim?"
"Biting? Drinking?" Magnus repeated amusingly. "Witches are powerful beings protected by nature and spirits. The more powerful their origin is, the harder they can be defeated."
"How powerful is Aseyana?" I asked. I couldn't help it. I was curious! She originated from these undead, after all.
Magnus leaned on the bench. "Very powerful," he said. "But it was said that Liliane is much more powerful."
I froze. "Really?"
Magnus shrugged. "I can only say that the one whose body has greater capacity is the strongest."
That didn't make any sense to me.
"The Morois will stop once the witch reaches her goal," Magnus added. "I advise you not to entangle yourself in this case." He looked at my eyes profoundly. The first time we met, I didn't observe his appearance that much. So, I thought his eyes were pure grey. Now that I got a chance to look deeply into his eyes, I could see a pair of swirling golden dots inside them. It wasn't clear at first glance, but it was apparent the more you looked at it. And it became even more apparent even at a certain distance.
Hmmm…
Golden eyes. This family seemed to love gold.
—
We got home. I mean 'I' got home. He brought me home and left afterwards. He didn't even stay until dinner like he usually did. Not that I wanted him to.
"Is that Magnus?" my mom asked as soon as I entered the house.
"Nope," I answered indifferently.
"No, I'm pretty sure it's him."
She peered over my shoulder. Hence, I gave her the coffee and pastries I bought.
"This is for you, Mom," I said. "Enjoy it."
"I don't drink coffee," she said, following me to the kitchen.
"You do," I replied. "You kept stealing half of my coffee every morning. Now, you don't have to. I bought you yours."
She tasted it. "This is good."
I didn't know if it did or not. I didn't manage to taste it.
"Mom, don't go out once the sun is set," I reminded. "They said the suspect in that blood loss crime is an evil entity." I joked. Though, it wasn't.
"That absurd!"
"Right? I couldn't believe it myself when they told me that." I gave her a far-fetched look. "But it's better to be safe than sorry. An evil entity or whatnot—- that didn't change the fact that there's danger outside."
"That's true," My mother nodded. "How about we leave?"
"What?"
"The house you're father's making is about to finish. We can stay there now."
Subconsciously, my hand held the necklace Aseyana gave me. I wasn't human yet. Not a pure one, at least.
So, I couldn't leave yet. Not that far away from Arcane Town.
"I think you should go there," I suggested.
"You want me to leave—- without you?"
Now, there was the tone.
"I don't mean anything. But with the things happening lately in this town, it's best you return to the province."
"Then, you should go with me." She sounded final. "Otherwise, I'm staying here with you."
"I don't actually plan on staying here," I admitted. "After a few weeks, I'll go back to Arcane Town. I don't know how long I'll stay there. It might take months, years or decades. So, you better go back to Dad."
"What are you going to do there?"
"Kinds of Stuff."
"Is Brittany with you?"
Brittany…
"She's somewhere with her Wallis."
Heaven?
Hell?
Well, she was in the afterlife with her Wallis. My words weren't exactly lies.
"Then, what will you do there?"
Oh, dear. This was frustrating. I wasn't used to lying. But… well, I was used to making up stories. What was the difference? I didn't know. Don't tell me. It was my comfort. Even if others would think of me as a liar, I wouldn't be in my perspective.
"I'm a bloodling, a human with special blood and flesh that entices supernatural beings like vampires and werewolves. But I met a witch in Arcane Town that can help me become a pure human. So, I will stay there until then," I summarised it.
My mother stood motionless, giving me a look as if I was a fool. "I swear," she said, shaking her head in dissatisfaction. "One of these days, you will turn crazy from all that imagination you're having. You can't even distinguish reality from fiction anymore!" She took a deep breath as she sat on a stool, tasting the macarons. "I hope—- as your mother—- you will get old sane."
My mouth twitched. Well, it wasn't my fault if no one believed me. I already told the truth.
But I couldn't blame my mother, though. Aside from my story sounding ridiculous, I had been telling her stupid stories nonstop since I was little.
No one would believe a liar.
"Well, at least Arcane Town motivates me to write more. Plus, that place is blessed by nature. So," I trailed, "When will you travel back to Dad's place?"
"Why do you look like you want me to leave that much."
Yes, I do, for your safety.
I was about to say more, but she waved her hand.
"I'll stay here until you leave this place," she said. "That's final."
I had to stop nagging her after that. But I will continue tomorrow.
—
The next day, I received news about the woman yesterday.
She was dead.
Imagine my surprise when I heard that news. And it was the female officer who told me that information. How? She called me, of course.
"Where are you going?" I heard my mom ask when I opened the door.
"Town," I answered. "Don't let strangers in! No matter how beautiful and handsome they are, you should never let them pass this door!"
I didn't hear her response. I left quickly after that. Upon my arrival on the premises, I immediately saw the female officer. So, I went to her side.
"Hey!" I greeted. "Thanks for telling me this." I peeked inside to have a glimpse. And I saw a body lying on the ground with a cloth over her. The police officers were all over the shop. "What happened?"
The female officer took a deep breath. While she did that, I seized that chance to look at her nametag.
Ecclestone.
Officer Ecclestone, then.
"Someone reported a scream coming from the shop," said Officer Ecclestone. "And as soon as we arrived, we saw the shop owner dead. Her blood drained off her body. If you're going to look at her now, she is like a skeleton clothed in skin. It is horrifying to look at."
I gasped. That was done subconsciously.
"She died the same way as those previous victims," I muttered.
"Or perhaps, worst."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you want to see?" she asked, gesturing inside with her head.
I was stunned when she offered me that. I didn't mind. But was I allowed?
"Can I?"
"Come on, then."
We entered the shop. Then, one of the officers immediately said, "Civilians are not allowed inside."
Officer Ecclestone waved her hand. "Don't mind her. I will answer to the chief later." The others then ignored us. "The shop owner's death might not be the cause of her son," she said directly to me.
Confused, I quickly asked, "What do you mean?" The shop owner has a son? And he was the culprit?
"You didn't do your assignment, am I right?" she stated while squatting down the body.
"Well, I didn't really have the time to ask around after leaving the station," in my defence. Magnus didn't like to tell the tale. And my mother seemed to be out of radar lately. She had no idea that people in this town believed an evil entity was on the loose, creating havoc.
Officer Ecclestone looked up at me. "You have seconds to look," she said. Then, she took the cloth off the dead body before putting it on again. She didn't have to, though. I had to avert my eyes a second later after looking.
"Others had their blood drained," Officer Ecclestone stood up. "But she had her organs removed." She spared me a look. "Eyes, heart, liver, spleen, brain—- none of her organs were spared."
The image of the shop owner's body—- I couldn't get it out of my head. The heck!
"I can't believe you can stomach looking at things like this," I took a deep breath to calm my nerves.
"Let's go outside," she offered. And I couldn't wait to accept that offer. I left the shop right away. Once outside, I felt like some good air finally entered my lungs. "Are you okay?" she asked.
I nodded. "What about this son you're talking about earlier?"
Officer Ecclestone opened her mouth—- probably to explain—- but she closed it right away when someone arrived, suddenly standing beside me.
"Hello, officer. I think your team needs you now. There's no need to share this burden with a citizen, don't you think so?"
Officer Ecclestone smiled coldly.