Whilst the carriage wheeled its way out of the Duke's house, Ember rubbed her bloody, trembling palms against her silk Victorian dress.
Her lips quivered as she looked back at the mansion that gradually vanished out of sight as the government carriage wheeled its way forward.
Ember gazed around. Three officers secured the carriage, sitting across from her, and they were nothing like people who would spare her an explanation on why she was taken for something she was clueless about.
She still struggled to wrap her head around how the whole thing played out. It felt like a trap. No, it should be a trap because it was absolutely ridiculous.
It happened so hastily that she had assumed a prank was being pulled on her.
But, no prank would include real dead bodies or fresh blood. And, that bite mark.
It was the same her father had when she found his cold, still body in his room.
It was a traumatizing mark, deep and detailed.
Only the devil could possess such fangs to create that mark.
And now, she is being wheeled away suspected to be that devil. Laughable, but with nobody laughing, including her.
The officers of Belmont are quite rigid, throwing around hanging, and didn't look like people who would spare her an explanation on why she was taken for something she was clueless about.
She still struggled to wrap her head around how the whole thing played out. It felt like a trap. No, it should be a trap because it was absolutely ridiculous.
It happened so hastily that she had assumed a prank was being pulled on her.
But, no prank would include real dead bodies or fresh blood. And, that bite mark.
It was the same her father had when she found his cold, still body in his room.
It was a traumatizing mark, deep and detailed.
Only the devil could possess such fangs to create that mark.
And now, she is being wheeled away suspected to be that devil. Laughable, but with nobody laughing, including her.
The officers of Belmont are quite rigid, throwing around harsh judgments, she was in deep trouble. There was absolutely nothing to laugh about, even if it was the laugh of disbelief.
She was a fugitive. A fugitive for a murder a supernatural being committed.
Ember panicked even more, watching as the carriage carried on to the quarters.
Even if she managed to clear her name, it could still be a scandal. The second she is wheeled away, informants would run for the printers to relay the news of her arrest.
The arrest of the devil.
And, by morning, her face would be on the front page of the newspaper as the culprit.
She panicked even more.
That the situation would taint her image whether or not she clears her name makes her shiver to her bones.
Someone probably requested them the minute they caught her walking into the kitchen, suspecting she had a mission with the way she snuck into it.
Perhaps a worker?
No single soul was in sight when she got carried away by the officers. Could the person have hidden in a corner?
Still, the officers arrived too early. Could it be because the report was from the officers?
With so many unanswered questions, and with each passing second, they piled up, causing her head to throb.
She needed answers.
"Excuse me."
Ember cleared her throat, grabbing the attention of only an officer.
The rest ignored her like a plague.
"I think there is a mistake somewhere. I didn't do any of those things. I was only there to visit the Duke."
"You'd explain that in the quarters."
The man responded gently.
"That is my point here. I don't want to explain anything because I have nothing to do with it."
The man also ignored her as his other colleagues earlier.
"At least, there should be evidence gathered to support your claim before you apprehend me like this."
No response.
"This is ridiculous! I can not be that thing that sucks people's blood!"
Deep silence.
"Are you saying I killed my father as well?"
When they kept on ignoring her, Ember rested back, sighing frustratedly.
However, a deep frown fell on her face when she realized something.
They were on a bumpy road. And no, the road that led to the quarters was far from bumpy.
It was a smooth, vibrant area often occupied by passersby.
But, this road held a dead silence as if no single soul was on the road.
The quarters didn't have a shortcut as well. There was only one road that led to the quarters.
Smooth, lively, and festive.
They were taking her somewhere else.
"I think we have the wrong route!"
Ember immediately alerted, but the policemen were deaf to her protest.
"This is the wrong route. Where are we—?"
She paused when she recognized something slight but familiar.
The officers each had bite marks peeking through the collars of their uniforms.
Ember sat back and remained silent to pretend to be oblivious about her discovery. But, once she got the chance, she reached for the collar of the officer in the middle and immediately shoved it aside to have a clear glimpse at the mark.
Before the man could react and hurl her away, she had seen clearly that the bite mark was indeed the one she saw on her fathers and those workers.
And, not only that, she had seen that they were more than one of them on his neck.
At least five bite marks were extending from his collarbone to his shoulder blade.
Ember gasped in shock.
Who were they?
"Who are you?"
She asked, glaring at the men as they shared a look amongst themselves.
"I said who—!"
A punch on her face, loud and swift. Ember's head flew backward, and her eyes shut out in unconsciousness.