Sneaking out of the library late in the evening the next day, I moved with vampire speed and arrived at the royal garden and found the Old man lying on the garden bench, his eyes closed as he hummed in enjoyment.
I stood at a distance watching him and then his voice reached my ears " Why are you watching me like a criminal my Lord Niko?"
"Aren't you a criminal? Pretending to me be crazy and lying to the Vampire Lords is a crime punishable by pushing a stake into your heart" I responded.
Old man Maxwell sat up and burst out laughing so hard " I knew it. I could never fake it when it came to the three of you. But the only reason that would make you come to me would be that you have a problem that needs my counsel"
" That is true" I nodded and then walked over to the bench he was lying on and sat down next to him.
" I will only help you if you leave me alone and ensure no one ever disturbs me my Lord" He grunted.
"It's a deal. I will protect you from the coven" I asserted.
" So what brings you here my Lord?" He smiled as his fangs became visible as he spoke up.
" There is something that baffles me and we took the library with my brothers in search of information about it and came up empty. I wonder if I can pick your mind about our mates or if there was anything that had been prophesied. " I inquired.
" Mates?" He gasped and then looked around the garden and then said "It's not safe to have this conversation in the garden. Come on. I will take you to a place" He stood up and then rushed forward as we both used our vamp speed and I followed him. We circled around and then entered a closed area in the royal garden. He pushed a brick on the wall and the wall parted and we got in. Once the wall closed off, he heaved a sigh of relief and then walked deeper into a tunnel, and then we came up to a room that was lit so well and furnished.
" Is this your home?" I asked in shock.
" More like a place where no one can find me " He nodded.
"It's neat and comfortable. I can understand one wanting to have a private place. I will organize one for me, Silas, and Talon " I nodded as I walked down the two steps and then approached the well-decorated living room and sat down majestically.
" What is bothering you, my Lord ?" The old man jumped right into what brought me to him.
" Tell me about how vampires find mates and imprint on them?" I spoke up as Old Man Mawell remained standing.
" I remember before your Ma passed on, she cautioned Her Highness your Aunty Tharn about your mate. I suspect that is why that old witch keeps pushing her son to you and even his Highness Blackwood Noire. It is said that your mate's magic powers are great and he will bring harmony to the coven. But before harmony is realized, there will be bloodshed and war"
" What the fuck ?" I cursed and gritted my teeth.
" But I know for a fact that neither Gisela nor Cairan is your intended mate. " He snickered.
" I agree" I leaned back on the couch and crossed one leg over the other deep in thought.
" There are no records of this statement and I don't know what you were searching for my Lord" Old Man Maxwell rubbed his chin.
" Tell me more about the Humans of Elisera, do any of them possess magic powers?" I asked with a straight face.
" Yes My Lord" Old Man Maxwell answered with a nod and this made me jump from the couch and in seconds stood before him.
" What do you know?" I demanded.
" I know that the council that signed the Paktum pact had a witch in their council. I am not sure if she is still alive but your mother informed me that her mind was impenetrable and she looked defiant through the signing process yet never said a word, My Lord"
" There is no way she could be alive right?" Inquired
"It was a century ago my Lord, " Old Man Maxwell chuckled.
" But her lineage is alive right" I walked away from the spot we stood and paced around the living room.
" Don't tell me it's those little slaves that Gisela was plotting about My lord ?" Old Man Mawel whispered as he approached me.
" How did you know ?" I raised one eyebrow.
"Gossip in the inner court. She was ranting that you chased her out of the inner court because of the new batch of slaves that you and your brothers selected. She called them defective because no one in the room could read their minds, my Lord. "
" Fuck " I cursed. " What else?"
" Coven Governor moved them to her quarters and I suspect it's to protect them from Coven enforcer Waren Alaric. You know how much he sucks up to his royal highness Blackwood, my Lord."
" This is worse than I thought," I muttered.
" How can I help?" Old Man Maxwell asked.
"It's true that the little slave's minds are rock solid. Hence they must be the lineage of the witch in Elisera. The problem with those two brats is that they stood defiant as we vetted them and more sore only I can read their minds" I stated but left out the important detail since I did not want the Old Man to know that Cedric was indeed our mate.
" Shit" Old Man Maxwell stepped back and then walked to the corner of the room where a gold cabinet stood. He pressed the lock and the cabinet draw popped up. He then pulled out an old book, walked over, and handed it to me.
" What is this?" I asked before even opening and reading it.
"These are all the secrets of the humans of Elisera. I was bored a few years back and sneaked into the human village. The council is run by a bulky man called Jasper, A beautiful woman called Luna, and the general called Emmet. I would say the three are very close and raised their sons and daughters together. Amongst their children, I noticed that one child was treated differently. He was very handsome and seemed to be the apple of everyone's eye. They called him Cedric My Lord "
I felt like an iceberg had hit my body and mind and reigned in the shock that was radiating all over. I cleared my throat and turned around to flip the pages but I saw nothing but Cedric Charon's face.
" How long ago did you say that ?" I asked.
"It was twenty years ago. The boy was only eight years old and now he would be around twenty-eight years old on the Sith calendar my Lord" There was a wisp of wonder in Old Man Maxwell's voice as he spoke up.
" Thank you so much for the information. I will go and peruse through the book and get back to you. " I turned around to leave.
" My Lord "
'" What ?" I snapped at him.
" I am no fool either. You can hold your breath in and control the shock of learning that the special boy is that handsome man rippling waters in the inner court my Lord"
I turned to his eyes blazing but found that Old Man Maxwell had a happy grin on his face.
" Do you want to die "I muttered.
" I am happy for the three of you My Lord," He stated.
" Nothing is confirmed yet " I retorted.
" Leave that to me. I will investigate and get back to you once I find something. In the meantime, you need to ensure that they are protected and the coven does not get their hands on them. The reason I remain in this state is because I know how much greed runs in the inner court. Hence I find it troublesome to participate, my Lord"
" Thank you, Maxwell. I will await your feedback " I waved at him and in seconds I was gone from his living room, opening the door and leaving the royal garden secretly just the way that I came in.