Night descended upon the Zadroth Empire, the village and town folks had gone to seek the shelter and comfort of there houses big or small. Afew creatures walked in the night, some sought after trouble while others were just unlucky enough to still be outside.
On the third floor of the tall castle, Florah was still cleaning the portraits one after another. The other maid whose name she didn't know, was already done with hers as she was faster in her work.
Florah was also busy admiring the fine art work while she was dusting it to notice that it was already night.
A magnificent man stood in the highest tower of the castle, hands in his pockets leaning against a sturdy pillar. Looking into the night, he flicked his fingers for the lit lantern to lose its flame.
Closing his eyes, his silver hair swayed with the wind as he concentrated on what he was going to do.
The truth was, he was intrigued by Matthew's words, about that maid whose energy was off, was it another rouse by some idiot that was met to kill him or someone stupid enough to deliver herself to him.
First, he searched through the ground floor, he felt strong and light energy coming from the human servants and dull and dark energy coming from the few vampires.
Searching through the second floor, he felt his Butler's strong energy and others' normal energy.
Moving to the third floor, he felt a dull but fiery energy, focusing on that energy he felt it grow stronger as it moved towards his cousins' rooms.
Smirking, he continued focusing on the odd energy but to his disappointment it passed by the rooms and started hurrying towards the stairs.
When the person reached the stairs, he couldn't feel the energy anymore.
Opening his eyes, a dangerous glint flashed in his red maroon eyes.
Gavriel disappeared from the tower to appear at the end of the long stairs that led to the second floor.
Florah was carrying the bucket of dirty water and a duster in her other hand. Carefully hurrying down the stairs. She couldn't believe she had lost track of time, she would have still been ogling at the paintings if a fellow maid hadn't come to light up the lanterns to give light to the dark hallways.
Looking up ahead she saw a man standing at the end of the stairs with his back facing her, pausing in her tracks she called out "Hello, Sir".
Suddenly the lanterns on the walls burnt out leaving darkness.
Florah's heart thumped against her chest in fear of what was to happen. Looking at where she had seen the tall man, she couldn't see anyone there and she knew that her night vision was better than most.
Which she thanked for always sleeping in the dark back at her small house which had no lantern and only depended on the moon light.
"It might just be me hallucinating and the wind" Florah softly muttered blaming the wind for the burnt out candles and lanterns.
Walking slowly and carefully down the stairs, 'humph' she hit a wall.
"Oww" she quietly cried.
Putting her hand forward, she felt an empty space. Furrowing her brows in confusion, she had clearly hit a wall but now she couldn't feel anything infront of her.
Florah felt like crying, maybe someone was just playing tricks on her she thought but her body was shaking all over.
"Please, I just want to go to the servant's quarters" she said to whoever was toying with her.
Shakily moving forward, Florah was down four steps when the lanterns startled her by turning back on.
"Huuuuhh" she gasped. Looking at the lanterns, now she couldn't lie to herself by saying that was the wind.
'Is the castle haunted' she thought to herself.
Hurriedly sloping down the stairs that seemed endless.
Florah reached the bottom, she was about to bolt to the servant's quarters when the lanterns went out again.
"Oh dear God" she cried.
The lanterns started to light up one at a time starting from the end of the hallway and she also took a step back each time.
Turning to run towards the darkness, the hallway lit up at once startling her to halt in the middle of the hallway.
Turning around to go in the other direction, she hit a wall again. Only to realize it wasn't a wall but a tall man.
"Eyes down" the man commanded. Florah did as told. Her heart thumped loudly almost jumping out of her chest due to fear.
"Who are you?" Gavriel asked the red head meekly bowing infront of him. Now standing next to her, he felt no energy coming from her.
Earlier he had scared her to find out if she was the one with the odd energy and he confirmed it when her energy turned fiery thinking that she was in danger.
" I.l.....a amm Florah Crest" Florah stuttered. 'Was he the one who did all that'. She wondered
"Yes I did". Gavriel said and Florah nervously gulped.
'He must be a witch' Florah concluded.
"Pl..please spare me Sir am just a maid" She begged.
Gavriel smirked hearing the girl beg. "What are you doing in this part of the castle at this hour? We both know you shouldn't be here"
"I...l was still cleaning the portraits on the third floor and l..got distracted." Florah said truthfully scared that the man would see through her lies.
Tired of playing with the girl, Gavriel grabbed her chin forcing her to look at him. Looking into her hazel eyes he compelled her "What are you?" He asked.
"Aaa..m human". Florah stuttered more as she looked at the man's red maroon eyes which indicated that he was a pureblood vampire.
She felt tears gathering in her eyes thinking that he was going to kill her.
While Florah was busy preparing herself for her death. Gavriel was wondering why his compulsion didn't work on the terrified girl before him who claimed she was human.
"Interesting" Gavriel muttered to himself looking at Florah.
Pushing the few strands of hair from Florah's face, Gavriel leaned in to whisper "Okay if you say so, but if I find out that you are lying to me.." He threatened and let go of the girl.
Turning her in the direction of the servant's quarters since was running the wrong way.
"Now. Go" the king commanded for Florah to run like she was on fire.