Chapter 25 - Chapter 2

Chapter 4: Unusual Cottage & The Girls in the Kitchen

When Chervil saw the cat turn its head on their direction, he quickly grabbed Fanies shoulder and vanish from there and appearate in the small living area downstairs.

"Your Highness, that man shouldn't be trusted!", Fanies whispered with orgency in his voice as he could not believe what he saw and heard. Did he just heard the cat talked?

"Could you shut your mouth, Fanies. For once.", said Chervil with a serious expression he sat on the couch near the fireplace. 'My grandparents knew Dion's family while grandmother description of the place is similar to this one. Just what they know?... And that cat, none I've seen before. Did it just speak or...', he thoughts thus looking at the burning woods on the fireplace that was now turning to ashes.

Fanies could only clenched his fist at the response of his Prince while he stood on the side.

They saw the door open, and the two girls coming in then bowed at both of them without a words, and went to the kitchen.

Chervil stood from the couch and walked towards the stairway while Fanies was about to follow when he turned and stop his aid from following then went up, and the room where the girl was being opened and saw Dion coming out.

Dion sighs. "That one was really crazy. To think he used that form while wondering around and even called me an idiot.", he said and shook his head and was about to go to another room when he saw the Prince standing there looking at him seriously. "Chervil, I'm so sorry. I just need something to grab for the girl to wear."

Chervil walked towards Dion. "What with the unusual self, Dion.", he said and pat Dion's shoulder with a smile.

"I'll just grab her something to wear.", responded Dion and went on the middle room while the Prince was following behind.

"Is it okay if I come with you?"

"Yeah, I guess.", he open the door and entered the room, hence the room the girl was put are on the right side where the stairs were.

When Chervil entered and saw the room he didn't know why but he felt nostalgic all of the sudden. "Is this your sister's room?", he asked looking around and saw some paintings, one was on the floor while the two was hanging on the wall. "You know... This place has a similarity of what my grandma's stories were, as she would love telling me and my siblings of her life experiences when she was still in her homeland.", said Chervil while looking at Dion who's busy trying to find things for the girl to use.

He heard Dion chuckled and saw him open one of the cabinet and says, "Chervil, that aid of yours was suspicious of me for a while now, and his trying to get you to be suspicious of me as well. Ain't this suspicious to you, then?", he then get one pair of shoes from the lower cupboard while replying, "And No. My sister's room was the one that girl's currently using now. This room belongs to someone who's important to our family."

Chervil nodded, 'So, this one was owned by someone. And I wonder why does it feels so melancholy in here.', he thought while watching Dion closing the cabinet. "Somehow, I am but not this time...I mean, your words sometimes is, and how you said something that isn't makes sense.", he said walking towards window and sway the curtain to looked at the night scenery outside.

"Well, I don't denied my words were sometimes isn't that reasonable enough and so did my actions but that's for the best.", Dion replied opening the other cupboard where the other things are being kept. "Sometimes you need to take the path that others don't for you to take them on the right track even if that's mean they'll going to turn their back at you."

He saw Dion opened the next cabinet that surprised him to see so many dresses inside, and the quality of the dresses were high and the design of each isn't the same. Chervil walked forward to look at it more closely, and Dion was trying to choose from more than twenty inside with different designs that were quite unique, nevertheless, what confused him was that in every dresses there is a symbol of rose design embroidered lining on it.

Thus, in the meantime at the small living area, Fanies was left there as he was being stopped and asked not to follow, he could only clenched his fist while standing there like a statue.

'What did that Dion done to His Highness to trust him... that inhuman?', Fanies thought angrily he looked around and walk towards the kitchen. 'It's obvious that this place wasn't ordinary.'

He then saw the girls who were making meals, and he could not believe of what he saw: the two girls are cooking like they were really good at it, they didn't even talk to each other and just having an eye contact like they're talking through their eyes. As he observed them, as one was placing the plate on the table with foods on it, Fanies mouth watered at the sight of the dishes that were for vampires while most of it is a human food which was convenient knowing what Dion's line-age.

However, what astound him was that how will they could cook and prepared the vampire food with their age, and it's more like they're experts of the night creatures.

'The place and this cottage are so different...", Fanies thought while watching continuesly at the girls as they cooked, like bloodrace, blood soups and more but most of the foods were made for human.

The door opened and a young man who went out awhile ago entered the cottage with an elderly man following him behind who wore a black suit and a hat with a bag on his hand.

Fanies thought that the man was a human but when he looked closer he saw the men's eyes were faded red that he concluded that the man was a vampire of the tenth generations.

"Where's the patient, Sir?"

Fanies heard the man asked and assumed the man was a doctor, 'But, why would he brought a vampire doctor to check the human girl?', he questioned his own mind while looking at the man.

While the young man didn't spoke a word and just lead the way to where the girl was while the doctor is following him behind.

As the two man went upstairs, Fanies followed them with his gaze whist he looked again at the two girls who were busy preparing dinner, and it seems they aren't bothered about their surroundings while he stood at the kitchen entrance, continued observing the girls then he heard them conversing on each other.

"Aren't you done slicing the fruits, yet?", asked the one whose preparing the food at the table. "Want my help? I'm almost done here."

"Yes, that would be great.", said the other girl while slicing the fruits and after she finished a small smile appeared on her lips. She wore a black off shoulder dress and a white apron was on her waist. "If you're done with that, can you takeover these and slice a bunny shape? And please stir the heated blood on the vessel while I gather some herbs cause it seems Master Dion would needs some for the girl."

Fanies frown because of the way they sounded while talking as if they were chanting a song in his ears, thus he lean himself against the entrance wall and continue listening.

The girl whose preparing the dishes at the table, who wore a pink off shoulder dress and a white apron smiled when she saw him, "Sir, would you like to have some while waiting? As it looks like they're still attending on the girl. We're almost done the preparation."

He heard the girl spoke to him while she walk around the table double checking the food, and went to the vessel on the fireplace to stir the blood, whist talking to him.

"And I just need to stir this heated blood then continue on slicing the fruits, and we're all set."

While other girl whose slicing the fruits earlier went to the sink and wash her hands. "I'm going out now to gather herbs. I'll back when I'm done.", she said bowing at them and went outside the cottage through the backdoor.

The girl giggled and shook her head while looking at the backdoor where the other girl used as she exit leaving her.

Fanies raise his brow upon hearing the girl giggled, and pull himself to stand went to the table where the variety of foods are, then look at the girl again while still attending the vessel, continues stiring the blood in the fireplace.

"How did the two of you learned how to cook this kind of foods?,", asked Fanies while looking at the girl being suspicious. He narrowed his eyes while observing her expressions., "With your age... The way I saw it, the two of you cooked while just making an eye contact isn't a normal person nor a human can do."

Nevertheless, the girl just keep stiring the blood on the vessel like she never heard anything and her expressions never changed, then she hang the paddle on the side and went to the other table where the other girl earlier was slicing the fruits, and she took hold the knife, started cutting the apples and form it into a bunny shapes.

Without getting any response from the girl, the aid walked to where she is and keep on watching her slicing an apples to a bunny form, observing her when he heard the girl say in a boring way.

"Everyone can learn if they wanted to, did they not, Sir?", questioned the girl without looking at him and just continued on slicing the fruits, then she turn her head to look at the aid who was on her side, "And stop staring at me while observing my actions with your calculative gaze. Don't you think its rude, Sir? The girl with me went out because of that."

He was shocked by the girl's words and look away immediately, he tried opening his mouth to revoke but he couldn't form a words then he looked back at her which made him speechless as he saw her bored expression mix with annoyance. And seeing her expressions Fanies couldn't help but laugh out loud. 'How can a human be so fearless? This girls are quite interesting... And to think that this one could face me like I'm one of her kind.', he thought trying to control his laughter.

The girl didn't bothered herself with the man shocked expression and laughed, she just looked down and continued with her work and when she's done she place it on a plate like the others, then carried it to the dinning table which was just winside the kitchen.

"Just how old are you to not fear the vampires, my kind?", Fanies asked sarcastically whist he try suppressing himself. "You know about the food chain, right? If not then I'll be glad to tell you.", he said and smirked.

"Thirteenth."

After the girl place the plates on the table and heard Fanies asked her, she looked at him with an unreadable expressions while answering him.

"I know about the food ladder,Sir. You think your kind were at the top while humans was at the lowest, but still slaves was at the very lowest of the ranks, Sir.", she said untying the apron strings on her body and hang it in the wall.

"Yes, Humans and slaves are below your kind but still... the appearance cannot be trusted.", said the girl trillingly as she stopped walking and turn around to face Fanies with a smile on her lips while tilting her head that could give a chill when one sees her, then turned to went the entrance, "Don't be so proud of yourself, Sir. You might go rolling on the ground and not be able to make a stand ever again."

After saying those words, the girl went out of the kitchen and go to the living area, she put logs on the fireplace to hit up the place and went to sit down on a single couch near the fireplace and grab a book from the nightstand to read silently while waiting.

Fanies looked at her back in disbelief due to what she said as it sounds like a threat, and the way she smiled gave him the sense of danger that he couldn't shook the feeling of the same as their kind that made him pissed off because of the girl's words who's just a mere human.

Chapter 5: The Young Girl's Health & Food For Sun and Moon

On the room where Dion and Chervil were still looking at the dresses for the girl to wear.

Chervil was stunned looking at the dresses on the cabinet as Dion was trying to find some much simple so that the girl could have, he walk forward and look closely while touching the dresses fabric, then he heard a light knock on the door.

"Sir Dion, the doctor is here as you asked.", said the young men and bowed at them as he stood by the entrance.

Chervil then let go of the dress and turn his head on the side to looked at the young men and heard his human friend reply. "Okay. We'll be there in five minutes."

Prince Chervil looked at Dion who still searching, "Let the doctor check the girl's condition first, and ask him if there's something we need for the girl to recover faster."

He then saw the young men bowed slightly without a word and turned to where the patient is, and the doctor was already waiting.

Chervil remains silent and just watching his friend who was closing one cabinet and opening the other whist there's total of two cabinet and a cupboard drawer while thinking about the place their in now, and as his thoughts were running he heard a loud laugh coming from below which he guessed it was Fanies; thus, he wondered what's going on downstairs with his aid to laughed like that.

"Looks like the real idiot were having fun down there.", commented Dion when he heard the laughed and look at his hand that's holding three dresses that was much simpler than the rest in there, and finally close the cabinets went out of the room while he murmurs worriedly, "I just hope he didn't annoyed or provoke those girls down there, it would be a heck of headache if he did."

Chervil heard his friend murmured while they went out of the room and followed him to the other room where the girl are being treated.

He smile and ask,"Worried about my aid who you sent flying this afternoon?", he chuckled and glanced at the portraits on the wall as they passed then pat Dion's shoulder to assured his friend. "Don't worry about those girls, Fanies won't harm them."

Dion sigh out loud. "That isn't what I'm worrying about, it's the other way around.", he said and sigh again. 'When was the last time he saw those girls like they were going to destroy these whole Kingdom.', he thought and shivered as he remembered those past years.

He hold the handle of the door and open it wide enough to enter the room, and the doctor were checking the girl's condition while he pass the dresses he chosen for the girl to use and wear to an elderly woman who stood at the side.

"Did you take her clothes off?", asked Dion glancing at the girl under the quilt.

"Just what do you think of me, stupid?", questioned the elderly woman while she looked at Dion who turn his attention suddenly on her with confused expression. "Of course, I took her dress off. It would be worsen her condition if she keeps wearing those."

Dion just smiled at the elderly woman while on his mind, 'This old punk! Did she forget her position! And besides I was just asking, I never thought of her as stupid!', then turned his head to the doctor who still checking the girl while he murmured, "Well, sometimes I did. Like these ones."

Chervil whose following Dion entering the room while watching and hearing the elderly woman responded infront of them, he couldn't help himself but smirked and he wondered what is she here and to Dion.

"The patient isn't in critical condition now.", the doctor spoke suddenly while turning his attention to them and looked at Dion with his faded red eyes. "Since Mrs. Alze already treated her wounds, I just need to check her pulse and her breathing which is in good shape. And about her pale complexion, it because she stayed wet without changing that caused a discoloration and also she haven't eating for the pass three days or so.", the doctor said while arranging his things and put it inside his bag.

He stood straight and looked at the people who were in the room, "She just need to eat properly when she woke up and hope she'll be back to her old condition. I will give the medicine needed tomorrow. For the time being you can just give her fruits to restore her health."

"Thank you for checking on her condition. And for coming here over a short noticed.", Dion said and raised his right hand as he shook with the doctor, and then glanced at the young man on the side who nod, "Eilwe will be escorting you back to your home."

A few moments after, Dion and Prince Chervil followed went the elderly woman pushed them out of the room saying she needed to tend the girl, and so they just decided to went down and grab something to eat as Dion could no longer hold his hunger.

As they went down the stairs they saw the girl at the living room reading a book as she sat on a single couch near the fireplace.

"Thashie, where's that man with us earlier?", Dion asked and peeked on the book the girl named Thashie was reading. "The one who laughed like a lunatic awhile ago."

Thashie was concentrating on the book she's reading, that she's startled when she heard Dion's voice and tilted her head to looked up with wide eyes then stood up and bowed slightly, "I must apologize Sir, for not responding quickly. However, the man you been seeking just went out fifteen minutes ago."

Dion raised his brow and just nodded while he ask again, "Are you the one who's cooking?", as he touched his gut.

"Where's Navet? I'm famish because of some two man dragging me without informing, I vomited all the food I have ate from the house this morning.", said Dion then went to the kitchen to check what does the girls was cooking while complaining in which Chervil just shook his head and followed his human friend with the girl following behind them.

"Navet and I cooked it, Sir.", Thashie answered following them to the kitchen, "But since you didn't give names as to what do we need to cook. We just cooked the popular food for both kind."

She went to the fireplace where there's a vessel and started to stir it using a paddle. "She went out to gather herbs for the girl."

'You didn't asked!', thought Dion and just nodded as he sat down in a chair at the dinning table where there are varieties of foods while he gestured Chervil to join him as he started placing some food on his plate from the dishs infront of him.

Dion and the Prince sat opposite to each other whist Dion didn't bothered himself about his table manners and the foods infront of him, and just continued placing food he likes into his plate.

Chervil looking at him and the foods infront of them. 'Is he really this hungry?! For him not to notice the differences of the foods that's served.', he thought while having a complicated expression on his face as he continue watching his friend.

He turn at the girl named Thashie whose serving him a glass of blood, and his wondering if the girl and her companion could really cooked as he knew what kind of foods that was in the table.

A vampires special food is a combination of Sun and Moon, it's served as a classic food for elites on special occasion, though it isn't necessary to combine their food everytime because they could just eat both without combining unlike humans who could only eat one side. Nonetheless, there were still some vampires who loves the taste of the combination food of both blood and foods for human. And which they call it comfort foods.

He couldn't help but wondered, how could they prepared it so easily as it's very hard to prepare for those who doesn't have the skills and even if you're from the moon line-age, and especially for humans who belong to the sun line-age to even know the preparation and how to cook the vampires special comestible is unheard because it isn't their way of living.

"Sir Chervil, is there something you would like to have other than what's being prepared?"

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the girl asked while standing there and holding a jar of water, then he saw her poured the glass and put it on Dion's side for the third time while having a relaxed expression on her young face. He looked at her who also glanced at him after placing the glass on the table, and that's when he realised his been staring at her for sometimes while lost in his thoughts.

Thus he wondered how she knew his name as he remembered he just met her awhile ago, and they didn't even talk to them as they took the horses from them. And he doesn't even have any recollection of meeting her neither the other girl at any parties and balls that he attended.

'They didn't seems like servants or maids.', he thought looking at Thashie.

"No, I'm fine. This is enough but...", he said and point his index finger infront of him as he turn his head to Dion, "Does he know the foods were two different kinds?"

Thashie nodded her head. "Yes. He does know about the food having two kinds.", she answered while looking at him. "That's why he didn't bothered himself to pick on the ones that has gold lining at the edge."

After he heard Thashie's answered he look down at the foods and scan the plates edge with his dark red eyes, in which he saw and notice two plates with different edge styles and colors.

The plates that had food for vampires has gold lining at the edge and a zigzag pattern, while the other plates has a black lining at the edge without a zigzag pattern.

Chervil looking around the kitchen with his keen dark red eyes as he took the glass that was served for him at the table, and took a sip from the glass after wiggling it with his right hand.

"Were you and your companion the ones who cooked these?", he asked and saw the girl responded to him with a small nod, and with his voice turned cold he ask again, "Where did the two of you learned how to prepared these kind of foods that belongs to my kind? Because I knew it's not easy to prepare especially for humans."

"Anyone can cook if they wanted to, Sir.", said Thashie looking at him and smiled sweetly. "You just need to have patience and dedication to succeed all you wants. Learning isn't meant to be easy. It meant to be hard and harsh, so that we can learn and know our limits, and once we know our limits, all we need to do is to surpass it while overcoming the challenges."

Though Dion was busy eating his food he heard his friend asking the girl, he slightly took a peeked on his friend and the girl whose standing at the side and when he heard Thashie's answers, his lips slightly curve up listening to them while he continued eating his foods.

"You didn't answer me correctly.", Chervil said narrowing his eyes whist he didn't noticed Dion's reaction as his focused was on the girl, "And how come you know me when I don'teven know you? I didn't saw you at any regale though. Just how old are you?"

"I'm thirteen, Sir.", she said, "And I've known you because your the next in line..." She slightly curtsy and added, "Your Highness, Prince Chervil de La Crista de Questillia. Son of Cedrus and Ashter, current ruler of the Southern Empire and Questillia Kingdom. First grandchild of the former Queen Docellia and fifth grandchild of the late Arch-King, third and legitimate sons."

Chervil was taken a back by the girl's answer, he never thought and couldn't believe that she was just only thirteen years old. He open his mouth to say something but no words comes out.

'She knows how to cook and prepared things like these at her age!', he thought staring at the girl, and he doesn't bothered about how did she have known him as he's the Prince and next in line. He just thought maybe they told them.

Then a moment on, they heard a loud sound of something like it's being smashed coming from outside and the ground were slightly shaking.

All of them went out to see what happen leaving the girl inside, and what they saw when they went out was Fanies being thrown at the tea table near the fountain while five meters away from where the aid are was a figure of a girl holding a knife as she walked slowly towards Fanies whose in so much pain due to being sent flying and crashed on the metal table.

Chapter 6: The Girl of The Abyss

When the girl bowed and said she knows him and also knows his full royal name that wasn't publicly announce to everyone, even those from the council, royal court and other nobility of their empire and even those his other family relatives, he constantly narrowed his eyes at the girl while making a glance at his friend who seem not that bothered.

'She knows how to cook and prepared things like these at her age?', questioned Chervil in his mind while staring at the girl, 'Does the other girl too?'

Unknown to him that Dion was smirking while listening to their conversations and even pushed his movements for a brief second and peeked.

Dion knew he had more than some explanation to do once Chervil went and ask him about the place he brought them in, and he could only sigh thinking about what would he answer if ever that time would come. He was known as the right hand of the Arch-Crown Prince, though he's a human his family was will known of the empire societies of elites, and his father was part of the council too, though not known. And so does he but his participation isn't disclose to anyone as only the head council, some elders and a few council members knew about it.

Chervil was about to ask another questions when he noticed the ground shook slightly and thought it just a normal movement of the ground, then he notice Dion stopped eating and didn't moved and Thashie having a shocked expression written in her face who took a glance at his friend.

"What's happening, Dion?", he asked Dion as he could feel the ground movements are increasing and saw Dion lowered his head while taking a deep loud sight. "Is there's something wrong?"

"Fanies, what did you do this time?", Dion whispered, however, Chervil didn't heard him whist felling the ground shook. Then he look up when he heard Chervil concerned tone, "I'm fine, Your Highness.", answered Dion and smile to assured Chervil not to worry. "But, I'm more worr...", then his words were interrupted when he heard a crashing sound and a loud tud as if something was being thrown away.

"Navet...", whispered Thashie wide eyes looking at both of them and rush to went out of the cottage without saying anything through the front door.

Chervil and Dion looked at each other after Thashie ran in a rushed and follow the trail of the girl who had a terrifying worried expression on her child-like-face.

They saw the elderly woman and the girl named Thashie looking at the distance with a worried expression when they were out, and Chervil eyes turned wide as he had didn't expected his aid to be lying on the metal table near the fountain side.

What he saw isn't what he expected to see when they got out, Fanies was lying while gruning in pain due to the impact of being thrown distance away, and his trying to sat up at the top of the metal table where his lying while looking infront of him with shocked mix with fear expression.

Dion expression on the other hand was unreadable, like as if he had expected it when he reached the others and saw what's happening at the distance.

"What does he done?", whispered the elderly woman to Thashie who was infront of her.

Thashie shook her head at the elderly woman question, "I have no idea...", she answered worriedly and continue to watch the scene trying to understand the situation, then narrowing her gazed at Fanies. "One thing's for sure, he does something to upset her."

The girl was having bloodlust in her eyes while looking at the aid whist holding a silver knife in her left hand that could reflect a reflection with it sharpness as blood dripping down on her right arm.

The herbs that she gather were on the ground, camouflaged by the night, and the lantern she carried to lighten up her path were on the far end while the plants that supposed to be there were being ripped off from the ground.

"What's going on over there?". asked Chervil shocked looking at the girl and then to Fanies whose in terrable pain whist he couldn't help but turn his head to Dion who was at his side.

Dion turned to the side after he heard his friend. "Well... Chervil, looks like your aid are in trouble.", he said nonchalant and scan the surrounding where the girl stood, while a smile was tugging on his lips. "An idiot upsetting a girl from the abyss."

He could feel the danger coming from the girl as she walk forward to where the man who provoked her in a slow pace as if she's luring her prey.

"Navetha, stop! Stop right there!", shouted Dion using a commanding voice and turn to his friend and nod lightly as if sending a silent message to Chervil to help control the situation.

While the girl named Navetha halted for a second after she heard the command without turning her head, and just continue her walked forward to where the aid is.

Prince Chervil was thinking about Dion's answered while still looking at him, he was stunned to see Dion was so calm who just said a nonchalant replied with a smile forming on his lips. Hence, what confused him was the following sentence which Dion uttered, he subconsciously gulped as he could feel a lump on his throat while thinking, 'What does he mean by girl from the abyss? That girl?'

When Dion shouted to stop Navetha on her track to walk farther and got near to Fanies which brought Chervil back to his senses and he looked at the girl then back at Dion that was on his side.

Dion looked at him and saw his friend nodded slightly as if conveying a silent message while titling his head to the direction of the scene, thus Chervil understood right away and walk slowly to help and stop the situation before it will go to worse.

"How could that girl managed to hurt that idiot aid of mine?", while they walked, Chervil couldn't help but asked. He looked at his aid and the girl.

"Have you not try provoking your sister, Your Highness?", asked Dion back to which Chervil suddenly raise his brows and turn to him like saying are you really asking me that now, and it made Dion chuckled. "Have you ever tried to make your sister or others upset?"

"I do but I don't care about the others. However, I didn't try provoking nor make my sister upset.", hence he answered Dion while ignoring the chuckled.

"You should try it when we get back.". said Dion as he remembered something from the past and smile. "I'll help you."

"What?!", exclaimed Chervil while turning his head to the side looking at his friend. "Why would you want me to try it?!"

"For you to know what happen to Fanies here and find out why.", answered Dion and chuckled looking at Navetha who keep on walking forward towards Fanies direction. "You're like a ruthless beast to others but when it comes to your close ones, you're like a tamed lion.", he stated and sighs loudly.

Chervil just raised his brows as they get near. He couldn't denied it because it's genuine that when it comes to the ones closed to him, he would interact differently. And he knew Dion could see it as most of the time they were together, thus observing each other was way too easy for both of them. Nonetheless, he still don't know his human friend. A worthy mystery worth discovering.

"Help your aid.", said Dion as they were ten steps away and turned his head to the side, "Navetha is my responsibility.", then he looked at the girl as he walked normally.

Chervil just nodded and went to Fanies as he could heard a snapping sounds in the air which he just ignored.

As Dion walked closer to where the girl whose likely ready to kill Fanies as she's half meters away. "Navetha, stop right there and go back to your cottage now.", he said with a stirn voice and glanced at Thashie who quickly walk to the girl's side.

Thashie quickly grabbed the silver knife and threw it away while she stood at Navetha's back, however, when the knife was thrown, it just vanished into dark red flames and gone.

"Hey, Navet... Calm down, okay. ", he whispered while hugging the girl as her eyes was about to turn into slit indigo. "Relax."

"Control your emotions.", whispered Thashie calmly while holding Navetha's shoulder. "You will be just endangering everyone. Remember there's children in here."

Chervil looked at them while supporting his aid who got stabbed on his right chest and scratches allover his face and arms. He noticed how the wounds wasn't healing faster. Though Fanies was lower to fifth generations, he's still a vampire, so healing a wounds is much more faster than human but lest faster than a vampires with pure blood, thus he wondered what's going on with the wounds because it doesn't heal yet by itself.

"You alright? Just how did you got into this mess?", he asked with serious tune looking down at his aid whose like dying at any moment, "You're in bad shape."

Fanies didn't answer but instead said in a whisper pointing his finger at front indicating to Dion, "Your Highness, you should not trust a sun line-age, especially that man over there."

Chervil was confused by his aid's word and looked at the other side where Dion was talking to the girl whose name as he remembered was Navetha, and he saw the girl pointing her finger on them.

"He... He bit me...", said Navetha tears are flowing through her eyes and rolled down to her cheeks as she sobbed. "He biten on my neck... and he destroyed the plants..."

"I destroyed it because it's a poisonous plants for any creatures! Especially for humans! You BITCH!", Fanies snapped back and turn his head up at the Prince and pointed at Dion whose trying to calm the girl thus he just listened. "This is why I told you not to trust that man."

" And I didn't bit you to kill you!", he said to the girl while gritting his teeth.

Chervil looked down at his aid who he helped to stand by supporting him, and so does Dion after Fanies claimed that he had indeed biten the girl.

Dion stood up and look at the Prince who nodded at him then he look down at the girls on his side.

"Go to your cottage now and help her, Thashie. We'll be asking you when morning comes.", he commanded them with a serious voice, and the girls just lowered their head went to their cottage whist glaring at the aid.

Dion turned back to Chervil again and saw him just shrugged without a words and helped his aid to go back to their occupying cottage.

Chapter 7: Symbol & Poisonous Plants

Chervil helped his aid to lay down in the bed on the last room which belong to Dion as he just left them to go fetch something and to talk to an elderly woman.

"How come your wounds and scratches didn't heal faster?", asked Chervil looking at the wounds that had fresh blood coming out on Fanies chest as he leaned himself on the wall near the opened window while folding his arms on his below chest.

"The girl stabbed me using an unusual knife...", grunted Fanies as he could feel the wounds isn't healing but instead it's more likely increasing the pain. "And it seems coated with those poisonous plants."

"And why did you bite the girl?", asked Chervil narrowing his eyes at his aid.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Your Highness, to not put your trust on that man!", said the aid in heavy breathe, "And that girl isn't normal at all as you thought they were, my Prince. She even nearly killed me."

"Because you attacked her. And you didn't answer my question.", said the Prince as he looked at the night sky and turn his head to Fanies whose lying on the bed. "You know that you shouldn't bite that girl right?"

Chervil gritting his teeth trying to hold himself to get more annoyed. They were just a guests in this place, so he felt embarrassed over what his aid had done. "And who are you to decide as to whom should I put my trust on?!"

"Your Highness, I'm just concern. This place is pretty unusual too.", said the aid closing his eyes as the pain on his wounds was too much for him to handle, "And yes, I did biten the girl, that's because she's a human and a humans is our food. Their blood is what we need as a creatures of the dark."

Hearing those words, Chervil chuckled darkly then pushed himself to stand and walk towards the bed, "How low of you to think that way. And if you have forgotten, my grandmother was a human."

He gritted his teeth and speaks as he stood at side of the bed looking down at Fanies, whist controlling his anger, "They can live without our kind but us, we cannot live without their kind... the animal blood isn't sufficient for us to help our thirst, however, that doesn't meant you can attack anyone when you're thirsty! You could just ask if you were that thirsty, there in the kitchen!"

Fanies was terrified when he felt the atmosphere in the room were getting heavier, he suddenly forgotten the pain on his chest and sat down immediately.

"I haven't forgotten that your grandmother being a human. Please forgive my words,", he apologized hurriedly afraid of the consequence when they got back to the palace and felt abit of pain again but he just ignored it, "As well as my actions awhile ago but I think you need to be careful with Sir Dion, Your Highness!"

Pain were nothing compared to his life. As he was sure that when they went back to the palace his life will be at least, barely in a death sentence.

"What do you mean out there 'bout the plants being poisonous?", asked Chervil while looking down at Fanies with a serious expression, "And how did you know that the plant was poisonous to both kinds?"

"Um... I have... Ahhh... Because... I know because I read it on books.", the aid answered nervously. "And some of them doesn't even exist in our kingdom nor on this empire, Your Highness. Please believe me this once.". begged Fanies while his voice cracked, "My Prince, please be careful of Sir Dion... he might just be waiting for the right time to strike. After all his a human..."

He wasn't able to finish his sentence because a light knocked on the door that slightly open was heard, and enter Dion into the room holding a basin with hot water, the aid didn't even bothered himself to hide his dislike and distrusted of the human who came in the room as he glared at Dion like the man was responsible of what happened to him.

While Fanies was glaring at Dion who entered the room, Chervil knew Dion was already outside when his aid talked about human were just their food.

And yes, he agreed that humans is sufficient for them because human blood was much more satisfying than those animal blood, nonetheless, there are some who would attack without consideration of the law. Like to some vampires, it's like growing an animal in a farm.

Dion looked at them and walk forward to the side table near the window and put the basin.

"I'm sorry if I only got here now. I have to talk to Mrs. Alze, the elderly woman whom you two met awhile ago about what to do with the plants that was destroyed.", said Dion he stood there ignoring the glared coming from the aid. And walked toward the other side of the bed, commanding the aid while bending down to open the drawers on the far end of the bed, "Take off your skirt. I'll try to undo the wounds pain so that it can heal faster."

"Just who are you to order me?!", shouted Fanies he had totally forgotten about his wounds and the pain on his chest, "Who knows what ruse were you thinking now. Not to mention the variety of poisonous plants that was planted on this place!"

"I am but only a human.", said Dion and smirked before hesigh deeply whist opening and closing the drawers still searching for something while he murmured sadly, "You destroyed the plants that's very important to them, to me and does to this empire..."

While Chervil went back to the window side when he heard his friend ordering Fanies to take off his clothes and his aid snapped back, he could only sigh while thinking what's wrong with his aid whist looking outside the window as he could see the front of the place. He turned around and lean on the windowpane as the breeze soothing him, and looked at Dion whose still rampaging the drawers when he heard his friend murmured sadly, hence, Chervil couldn't help but wondered about something.

Dion calmly says while he took something from one of the drawers and walk to the table where he put the basin, "Those plants ain't poisonous as what you thought they were. And how come you are so sure of it when its nighttime?"

"What are you referring to?", asked Fanies back still glaring.

"Nothing...in the meantime.", said Dion calmly and put something on the water.

Chervil just watching them whist observing the two talked, then he saw Dion added something on the basin which has a hot water. And to his curiosity, he walked towards his friend and saw a light blue crystal that has a dark red like drops of blood and looked up to meet his friend's eyes as Dion was already looking at him.

He doesn't know why but whatever Fanies would make him believes, he couldn't bring himself to believe his aid and suspect his human friend for anything.

Dion stared at the Prince dark red eyes and his gaze went on the bowl infront of them as he stir it reversely using his hand with the crystal, he then took it and wrapped it on a towel.

"Chervil, if you don't want your aid to perish, you better convince him to take off his clothes and let me see the wounds before it worsen.", said Dion without any expression and took the basin then went to the bedside where a wounded man was still glaring at him.

'What, perish?! What's this human talking about?', thought Fanies nervously He could now feel a much more pain on his chest, and he bite his lower lip to suppressed the pain. 'Just what the hell?! Why the pain like its increasing every second rather than healing?!'

Chervil looked at Dion trying to make sense over the words his friend said as he knew Dion was a playful man, however, when someone's in danger Dion would become a person who he don't know.

" You're a crazy human!". hiss Fanies while glaring at the man who only stared back at him. "Why would I die because of this wounds?!"

"You won't die because of the poison that you thought was the reason of your wounds ain't healing fast...", said Dion as he sat down on the side which cause Fanies to be alert while panting. "But because your body cannot take the pain that you would just rip off and kill yourself in the process."

The aid looked at the human infront of him as beads of sweat were running through his forehead down to his face and body that soaked his clothes, narrowing his eyes he ask in a whispered, "How did you know what it feels like?"

"I was once stabbed by the same knife before because of my older sister asking me to try them. Fortunately, someone who had the skills was able to control the effect of the knife.", said Dion and shrugged while a faint smile appeared on his lips like he remembered the event whist unbuttoning his shirt and reveal a horizontal scar on his chest. "But since I'm a human and you're a vampire, especially of a lower bloodline, it would affect differently."

The two men looked at his chest with a shocked expression on their faces when they saw the big scar on his chest, in which they thought was from an early accident when they saw it before.

Then, a loud cry was heard coming from the aid while holding his chest and scratching the wounds like he wants to rip it off because of the pain that he couldn't withstand, which Dion immediately rushed to help by pushing his hand to prevent him from ripping off his chest that oozing with blood.

"Just take off your clothes already, you idiot!", shouted Chervil and walk toward them to help by assessing his friend who gave him an instruction to hold his aid's hands while Dion was unbuttoning the shirts to take it off and reveal the wounds.

Hence, after the wounds was revealed, Dion couldn't help but sigh deeply while closing his eyes as he felt pitty at his friend's aid, and Chervil also sees the wounds while holding his aid hands and screams echoes through the whole cottage.

He couldn't help but narrowed his eyes as the wounds on his aid right chest was two holes with a thing that he couldn't explain what is it, however, it looks like the flesh was being eaten or something like its digging inside.

"Would he be able to survive this?", he asked looking at Dion who's trying to make his aid steady and he look back at the wounds which like its digging deeper inside.

"I think he can.", replied Dion. "Since he's the one who put himself into this."

"You better calm down, steady your body and don't you dare move or else I'll kill you myself!", Chervil aghast his aid and Fanies quickly tried himself to calm down and try not to move.

While the aid tried himself not to struggled, Dion took the towel with the crystal wrapped into it , and put it on the wounds slowly.

"It would be more painful for him as the knife goes in two times and much deeper.", said Dion while he get another towel from the drawer on his side bed table and spread it on the bed, "But I'll try my best to make it less painful as I am no expert."

The towel that Dion spread out on his side has a silver thread of crescent moon like protecting the star while a yellow thread of an eight pointed star was inside the crescent moon that's also inside of an embroidered rose center which blue in color.

Chervil saw the spread towel on the bed which he notice the design and recognized it as it's like what he saw on the dresses.

However, he wondered what's the blue rose signifies?

He knew it was use on the council and for what reason behind it is unknown, as the book of symbols on each empires and the kingdoms under its respective ruling has never stated nor mentioned anything about the rose symbol that was used in every council of the four great empires aside for the symbol that represent you are from the empire of South Council which was a white magnolia flower.

And the magnolia flower was also used to identify the seal of Southern Empire ruler.

As Dion put his hand on the wounds with the cristal wrapped and push it which made Fanies flinched and screams louder then lost his consciousness, Dion's other hand is on the sheet that was on his side whist he continued the worked with his other hand that still pushing the aid chest.

Chervil let go and looked at the aid who has a much paler complexion as he stop struggling.

Vampires may have pale complexion but not all vampires are the same as the bloodlines and generations is to be considered and observed whist vampire are the same and are different from humans, nevertheless, a pureblood vampire like himself of a fourth generation are different from those turns vampires and those half vampires bloodlines as they have a heart that's beating, a blood flowing in their vains and a warm temperatures just like human and other creatures that walked the land.

Chervil turn his gaze on his human friend who looked like another person to him as Dion was concentrating while pushing the object on the wounds and the blood stopped flowing, and there was a light shown in the sheet that Dion had his other hand on, and as the light appeared on the sheet cloth Dion retreat his hand and took a deep sighs, sweats streaming down on his face from his forehead while his other hand was still on the wounds.

"What's happening?", asked Chervil shocked and look closer on the sheet that has a bright light.

"It's absorbing the knife bacterias.", explain Dion which he too looked at the sheet. "The knife has no poison coated on it but its the knife that can kill your kind...", said Dion trailingly and turned his head to the side and looked up the Prince.

"How could that be?", Chervil was shocked and look at Dion who had a serious expression, "It can kill our kind?! What about the other kind- what about humans, your kind?", he asked as disbelief was on his glorious face.

Dion could feel the Prince aura that wasn't like any other vampires he in counter as disbelief and shock was formed on Chervil's face, and he could only sigh as he understood his vampire friend's facial expressions.

Dion answer after he thought what and how to explain it to his friend who he guess never heard of it yet, "It also can kill us as human beings but not as effective it is to vampires especially for those from the lower bloodlines and generations, such as turn or from a half vampires bloodlines."

"What about the poison plants that this idiotic was talking?", Chervil then asked Dion after he heard the explanation and processing it while pointing at the unconscious man on the bed. He's still confused whist he remembered about the poisons that his aid was babbling about.

Dion just looked at the Prince in the eyes and a smile appeared playfully on his lips that made Chervil even more confused as he could see Dion usual behavior was back.

"Chervil, did you heard of a saying that goes, a poison can be cured by another poison?", asked Dion on Chervil who just stared at him, and look back at the sheet which the light slowly disappearing. "Though, there's no poisonous plants on this place, there are similar form, however, not the same used and properties."

"This's why Fanies always told me not to trust you because of your unusual self that made him very much weary.", stated Prince Chervil and shook his head as he looked down at Dion who had a playful smile tugging on his lips.

He now understood why his aid adamant on making him believes, and if he didn't know better about his human friend, he would believe his aid and make a misjudgment of the situations.

Dion just chuckled when he heard Chervil, take his hand that was on the aid right chest as the towel cloth that was white, now socked with blood as its absorbing.

"Someone said to me before, Chervil...", said Dion cleaning his bloody-hand on the basin and also put the towel cloth with the cristal to clean it, "Being unusual isn't what should be worry and be weary about. Particularly, the peculiar one are the genuine one, for most of them didn't bothered themselves to hide their true self while letting others misjudges them and their behaviour, than the ones who's trying to be picture perfect infront of you or others just so they can get a favor then lure and make their victims believes then make their move."

He narrowed his eyes when he looked down again onthe sheet and notice something on it that caught his attention.

As when the light that was on the sheet cloth completely disappeared, a black dirt was seen as a bird form.

Chervil nodded over what his friend says. "I've heard of that from someone before.", he said.

This was why he made Dion his third-in-command even though his a human because of his grandparents influential beliefs, and when he met Dion more than ten years ago because of his grandmother who introduced Dion to him at one of the gathering, he felt different about Dion and also his grandparent trusted Dion so much.

Dion quickly grab and fold the sheet cloth when he saw the pattern and place it aside as he looked at the wounds that's regenerating slowly.

'A black bird pattern...', thought Dion, 'a black bird... could it be...'

He didn't wait for Chervil to see it and ask him what is it as it's something he doesn't want to explain in the main time.

"You just stay here with your aid or do you want to rest on the sofa downstairs?", asked Dion while holding the sheet cloth and put it on his pocket then took the basin and walk toward the door, "As for me, I just go to the cottage where the others are resting now.", he stop turn his head to the bed as his friend standing there like a handsome statue looking at him. "I'll be explaining with you tomorrow 'bout the bacterias that I said and the methods that I used now as it's almost midnight and I am exhausted from my adventures within one whole day. Have a good night to you, Chervil."

Dion left the room after saying those words, leaving Chervil who could only shook his head while looking at the closed door.

Chapter 8: Finding Clues

Chervil leaned himself in a chair near the fireplace on the living area of the cottage house to rest. He closed his eyes thinking about Dion's words awhile ago as it's still bothering him, and there's also about how would he be able to solve the problems of their land.

The current Arch-King, his father was an irresponsible ruler who didn't mind and doesn't bothered himself about the state of his empire as long as he got a great wealth, whist slavery was their lands biggest trademarks that he's trying to figure out how to make it stop, and thus the solution that he think is when he would become the Arch-King because it's the only way his desired to change the Kingdoms or rather their Empire to a better one.

Hence, his father once told him that he would step down and make him an Arch-King within five years which he doesn't mind or opposed.

He once heard before, a merchants from the western land saying that their lands was much better than the southern Kingdoms but he doesn't know if it's the truth or not as they don't associates with other empires for a very long time as he known, and so does the other.

Nonetheless, they could still get an information through the travellers and merchants that would come and visit to sell their goods from other empires, hence with limited access; and that's how they would know what was and is happening within the other lands.

He doesn't know why but he felt a bit off about the ruler of the western land based on what he heard from the merchants and travellers that he made him curious about it and wanting to know it; nevertheless, he didn't mind that much as there are much more important for him to solve with in.

He just went out of the room after Dion left him with his aid to take a rest, and thought of checking the girl whose resting on the other room, but when he open the door and saw the elderly woman taking care of the young lad, he decided not to be known and just went down to the living area, sat there beside the fireplace where there's a long couch and a single couch near.

He's still in deep thoughts when he heard the door where the girl was open slowly, and a light foot steps was heard descending the stairs.

Chervil opened his eyes and turn his gaze to the staircase to see who went down, and his reckon was right when he saw the elderly woman walking down the stairs, holding a candle lamp.

When the elderly woman stepped down on the staircase and saw the Prince sitting on the chair while looking at her, "Did I disturb your rest, Sir?", asked the elderly woman calmly who gave a slight bow, she informed with a worried expression on her old face, "I'm just going to the kitchen to get some medicines for the girl fever to go down as it seems her fever has gone high again."

"That's no-good to hear that she would have a high fever.", Chervil straighten his position and shook his head while he stared at the elderly woman and stood, pulling out his pocket watch to check the time that's already passed one o'clock in the morning, "No. You didn't disturbed me. I'm just thinking about something."

When the elderly woman saw Chervil pulled out his pocket watch to check the time from his side pocket, thus she slightly bowed and turned to the kitchen after she says, "I'll get going to the kitchen then, Sir."

"Wait!", he said hurriedly when he saw the woman turn to the kitchen's direction and is about to leave. "Can you please give me a glass of wine blood if it isn't much of a troubles? And if there is?"

The woman turned to face him and bowed again, "Certainly, Sir. But I must apologize in advance, but you can't have your wine in here. It should be in the kitchen."

Chervil raised his brows and wondered why, but he didn't asked further and just nod his head and followed the elderly woman in the kitchen.

He sat there on a chair which he and Dion were having dinner, he look at the woman preparing his drinks at the other table, and he saw the woman pouring the wine to a wine glass that has a blood already from the heated vessel.

The foods that were served to them earlier this evening were being kept, so now the table was cleared with only a candlelight that was at the center, illuminate the place.

"You seems not that frightened with me being here even though I am a vampire, and only you who are awake in here.", stated Chervil. His trying to make conversation with the elderly woman and maybe he'll be able to find something or about the place. "Others would have been afraid and doesn't want to be alone with a night creatures presence."

"Not because you are from the moon bloodlines, one would be the same as everyone.", said the elderly woman, pushing the cork on the wine bottle to sealed it, "It'll be a choice of the beholder if he would become like others or someone else different as just be himself, Sir."

"Sure.", Chervil said nodding his head and as if there's something on his mind, which there was, he ask, "I've noticed you talk openly with everyone, specially to Dion even though you're just a caretaker here, right? Like you two have known each other very well for long. Do you know Dion and his family or have you meet with his family?"

He could get this opportunity to know the deep backgrounds of his friend, as Dion's mother and sisters were like a deep hole to him, and when he was going to ask Dion about his family, he would noticed the sadness that his friend's trying to hide, who seems not that willing to tell him.

'Sometimes, the ones who had the most cheerful attitudes and who always smile were the ones who has a hidden sadness and in most painful past...', he thought thinking what could possibly happened to Dion's family that only the father and son would only appeared if they were to be invited to attend a gatherings. '....But what painful experience on the past would that be?'

"Nothing much I've known of about master Dion's family, Sir.", answered the elderly woman whist putting the wine glass on a tray and carry it to the table where the Prince sat. She trailed saying while placing the tray on the table, and the glass infront of Chervil, "As a matter of fact... I'm just a low caretaker, I'm ain't like those girls and the young man whose staying here... I am just here because I have no where and no one to go."

Prince Chervil, who seems lost on his own thoughts were suddenly interrupted when the elderly woman answered and giving him the wine blood that he requested.

He took the glass and mixed it more by twirling then put it on his lips and take a sip, when the wine touched his tongue he couldn't stop but just took it in one gulped and asked the elderly woman for one more, in which she obliged and get the wine bottle to pour it unto Chervil's glass who drank it as he enjoyed the taste of it on his mouth.

"This wine is the finest quality I've ever tasted.", he commented looking at the texture of the wine which is dark red now due to the fact that it is night time while the candles were burning brightly. He took a sip again.

"It's a fourteenth-fifteen wine collection, Sir. From the western merchants...", said the elderly woman informing him about the wine age while looking at the bottle level in her hands, and added when she notice a mark on the bottle cork which was an L. "And it's from Sir Dion's older sister's collections, which his older sister gave to him."

By the mention of Dion's older sister, Chervil stopped sipping the wine and turn his attention to the elderly woman who stood by the side holding the bottle.

'This is the best quality of the western wines that I've tasted, and it's this old.', he thought while he twirls the glass in his hand, and he ask,"Would it be okay for me to drink this then, as it's from his sister?"

"It's Sir Dion's instruction to give you these wine whenever you ask."

He nodded his head slowly and took a little sip from his glass, and afterwards he says, "So,could you tell me what's your relationship with Dion's family then, Mrs. Alze?" He looked at her, he did remember the woman's name which he heard from Dion and the doctor who checked the girl earlier. "And how come you have nowhere to go?"

"Sir Dion's older sister was the one who found me, helped me and saved me from my vampire husband who only abused me which my family decided for me to merry.", answered Mrs. Alze and walk to the other side to prepare some medicines for the girl, "Although, the one who let me be as a caretaker of this place because I've nowhere to go was the one of their relatives after hearing my story. And that person was also the one which they looked after, thus the circumstances was unknown as to why they so much cares about that person."

"Oh... I'm sorry for bringing up your past.", Chervil said with sympathy in his voice, in which Mrs. Alze gives him a smile and just nod her head.

He could still showed some sympathy for someone like her even though his a vampire, he doesn't want to bring up the past of an old lady and he don't know what to say as he, himself was a vampire.

She's not that scared though, she believe that not everyone was the same just because of their line-age, at least that what she believes and observed on this place while thinking, 'Those ladies are much more scarier than your kind.'

"The one they looked after? Could it be that this person was also the reason why Dion left without informing everyone even his own house butler four years ago?", questioned the Prince while looking at Mrs. Alze who's preparing the medicines as she was curious.

She looked up again from what she's doing when Chervil asked her, and she could tell the man's trying to figure something by asking her, to which she answer, "Actually, it's been about four years ago when I first met that person. I was brought here by Sir Dion three years beforehand to look after this estate, and also to take care of some childrens who were abandoned and then two years later they've came with that person who they need to take care."

"What's this person's identity?"

"She.", answered Mrs. Alze and as if she remembered something, she then says, "I remembered Sir Dion told me that she's being poison, and she was on a coma for almost two years in this place and they left a year after that when she was already fine. That'll be almost a year ago"

Chervil observed Mrs. Alze expressions which was kind and gentle, he didn't asks further about the person that he now know was a girl.

Nevertheless, out of his curiosity he ask with a serious voice as it seems something very unusual about the gate he saw earlier, "Do you have another identity than what you let out? Did you or can you go out of this place and went out to town?"

"In this place, I'm a caretaker. In this place, I am just an old lady who look after the children.", answered Mrs. Alze while stirring the medicine that she's done making and took some taste from it.

An elderly caretaker went to the back door leaving Chervil without bowing that made him to raised his brows in question after she says, "They give me a new life where I can be happy, heal my life and feel everything now. So, why would I want to go out when we have everything in one place. Excuse me then."

At least, in some point he had an idea about why does his friend left four years ago, and the theory he came up with of whom the person that Dion mentioned to him which added some more mystery. Why would they take care of this person?

Chapter 9: Camouflage & A Crow

At one of the three small cottages...

"Are you okay and calm now, there?", asked Thashie to Navetha whose sitting on a chair. And she says while making blood tarts and cake, "You almost kill the man and almost reveal your self out there."

"It wasn't my fault. He destroyed the plants that my master planted.", Navetha said and raise up from the chair, went to the bathroom to wash up as she untie her hair, "And it's all his faults. He attacked me when I'm just gathering herbs there. And now, he thought that those plants were poisonous." She whisper to herself, "How pathetic of him

"You stabbed him with the silver knife Navet.. and we knew that knife can kill their kind.", said Thashie worried about what her companion did, "It's part of the lost things."

"So what?!", shouted Navetha from the bathroom as she strip off her dress down, "It wasn't a lost things, it was just forgotten."

"It's the same!", Thashie sang.

"Great!, geez...", said Navetha and rolled her eyes, went to the bathtub that's made of wood and socked herself inside while complaining, "Why couldn't I win to you when it comes to reasoning?! It's annoying."

Thashie just giggled and shook her head, continue on making blood tarts and cake for them to eat.

They taking care of the place as it was a private sanctuary of their family relatives, and the place has nine childrens who they helped as these childrens were slaves or abandoned by their parents.

The cottage wasn't a big one unlike the main cottage, as their cottage has no upper room and just ground, but big enough to accommodate three double-beds, a small kitchen, a six sitter round table at the far end near the window and a fireplace at the other side. While the childrens were on the other cottages which both their side as the cottage where they were staying now was at the middle of the other two cottages so that they can rush if something would to happen to the childrens they need to looked after.

Thashie was baking at the kitchen and Navetha was having her time on the bath; thus, the door of their cottage open as someone entered and Thashie raised her head to see who was it, she saw who it was and she smiled as the young man wearing white suit entered the kitchen with a questioning look playing on his angelic face.

"Mind filling me up what happened out there?", questioned the young man named Eilwe with a serious voice and expression, "Why's the plants that the lady planted almost two years ago are all being destroyed?!"

Thashie could feel an ominous aura coming from Eilwe which neither good nor bad but something caught in between, and although they were the same, Eilwe was much superior than her and the other girl as they're just from the high and middle rank while Eilwe was from the highest rank.

"The aid of Prince Chervil was the one who did it as he thought it was a poisonous plants... And Navetha was being attacked by him as well... Then, she stabbed him with the silver knife and almost killed the aid.", Thashie answered in a trailed way trying to calm her nerves as the man infront of her was like its about to exploded, whist she still smile and ask back trying to avert their conversation while ignoring the murderous aura coming from Eilwe's body, "Did you know about those plants being poisonous or... Do you know about the camouflaged of those plants had?",

She doesn't want mention about Navetha almost reveal herself to the guess as she knew Eilwe would punish the girl for surely.

Eilwe narrowed his eyes when he heard it was the aid of the Prince who had destroyed the plants and that Navetha was attacked and even stabbed the aid with the silver knife, which was part of the lost things.

"Once the Lady said: Camouflage by the ones who isn't true to oneself or to others... the one whose true will see the beauty and the one whose obscure will see the similarity of their own... people must be true to their own self if not... none can see the beauty that was given to them...", said Eilwe trying to recall what was said to him months later the plants were being planted when they're together at the garden, he just decided that he would give Navetha an earful and punishment later when their guess are gone, after making sure what really happened. "Now, that I thought about it. I finally understand what was the meaning of those words to me that day."

"So, the plants has no poison... however, the plants that she planted has something like camouflage if one ain't true to oneself and to others?", asked Thashie in wondered. She was trying to understand the parable as a clue whist she doesn't have any clues, and thus, they heard the door as the doorbell rang again.

"Yes. Well... that's what I thought and understand myself.", said Eilwe while following her out of the kitchen.

While they were talking and looked at the door that was opened by what Thashie expected to come. She was done baking the blood tarts and cake, went to the table, put the hot baked cake and tarts while the man were following her as he recalled the memories.

"Looks like you two found something.", stated Dion who observed Thashie's expression with his cheerful self and walk to the table, spread the sheet out that he used to cured Fanies, whist his expression become serious. "I also discovered something myself tonight."

"What is that?", asked Thashie as she walked closer to see what is it.

Eilwe didn't recognized what Dion was trying to let them see, but he did recognized the sheet that was spread and he ask to confirm it while also walking closer to the table, "Isn't that the parchment cloth gaven to you by the Lady to heal any kinds of wounds and diseases with the crystal that has blood dropped on it?"

Dion nodded and looked at the sheet. "These parchment cloth isn't just used for healings. It is also used to unveiling one's true self.", he said pointing at the black pattern that was form of a bird, "When the kreatofagía bacterias transmitted to this parchment, it formed these which symbolize a crow."

They looked at each other, and looking down closer to the parchment cloth that Dion spread and when they do, they saw the pattern and looked up at Dion whose waiting for them to say something.

"Think like those plant he destroyed earlier, or something else?", asked Thashie with wonder on her voice and expression.

"No. Not the same.", Eilwe shook his head.

"What's up with those plants?", Dion asked while looking at the two as they're likely thinking about something.

Eilwe observed the pattern and look at Thashie whose now lost in her thoughts, whist he could only sigh. He knew how Thashie while functioning herself, and he hates explaining things to anyone, nonetheless, What could he do. As how much his trying to juggled his mind he couldn't remember the pattern, so he took a deep breath and decided he just explained what they discovered about the plants while waiting for Thashie to finished her analyzation. He maybe at the higher rank but he knows he doesn't have all the ability needed as any of their kind had different types of ability and capability.

He then took a sit in a chair infront of him and started to explain at the table, "We discovered just now that the plants that was planted by her before you three leave this place almost two years ago has a camouflage ability, and which she give me a hint beforehand, though, I don't really understand it back then...", he stopped and took a small plate that was already prepared on the table and took the knife as he started to cut the newly baked blood tarts while continuing the his explanation, "But now I did. If one was lying to one's own or to others, the plants will do the same. If you are true to yourself or to others, the plants will let you see the genuine beauty that its hold, and if you're not, the plants will let you see the similarities of one's self."

Dion listened carefully and was trying to comprehend the informations he just know, whist he knew that person are very capable of doing the impossible but this was a shocked to him as he wasn't informed and so does Eilwe and the other, while just giving a hint of the possibility that will to happen. He's just outside the door earlier, listening to the conversation of Thashie and Eilwe because he doesn't want to make it worse when he felt an ominous aura coming from inside of the cottage, he knew exactly who was it the owner of the terrifying power, thus he just decided to wait for a bit before he enter.

"What a trick to unveil someone's true self...", commented Dion thinking about the plants. He was there that day when the lady planted it. "It seems our enemies are trying to gain access by putting their pets as a bet inside the palace.", he said thinking how they can take out their enemy's pet.

Eilwe sigh looking at the man because he knows what Dion was thinking, and he doesn't want it to become a distraction and to cause an unfortunate accident which would2 and could make things worse, and adrift the plan.

"Don't think too much about the pet for now.", said Eilwe while he took the tart and put it on his plate and cut it in tiny pieces, "You better think about how will you explain this mess to the Prince and about his aid."

"Yes, I know... I'll tell him the truth but not all things he should know and needed to know as this time is not yet ripe.", said Dion looking at the man who nodded at him as he eat the blood tarts with elegance.

Navetha walked out of the bathroom, wearing an undergarment dress and went to the table and joint the others, she could heard their serious talks; thus she finished her relaxation faster and come out as soon as she could. She was on the bathroom when she felt the ominous aura coming from the kitchen and she was shocked because she was familiar with the aura that suddenly release.

She sat on the left side beside Dion while she took a glanced and observed the other men whose eating a tart of her favourite, who didn't bother himself to look at her. While looking at Eilwe for a brief moment, she then turn her attention to Thashie whose just standing there looking at the table without any movement, and whist she followed the gaze of her companion and notice the spread out parchment cloth infront; thus, when she saw the pattern inside it which made her suddenly jult on her chair, and with the sudden sound and movement, the two men's attention went instantly on her.

The two men looked at her confused as why she suddenly jult that cause her chair to make a sound while looking at the parchment infront of them with eyes wide open.

Eilwe understood that Navetha might know something or recognized the pattern that was shown on the sheet cloth and decided to confirm something. "Navet, do you recognize that pattern or know something about it?", he asked narrowing his eyes that has an intimidating gaze like saying if you ever lie I'll surely skin you alive.

Navetha gulped as she turn up her gaze at Eilwe whose waiting for her to answer, she could see how impatient the man was while looking at her with narrow and intimidating gaze which made her gulp again, and answer the questioned as she remembered the bird pattern which she saw a long time ago on one of her travels.

She says trailingly while trying to control her nervousness, she was also trying to recall the meaning behind it, "A blackbird or a crow in other meaning is use as a messenger and gatherer of informations by one group called themselves as the summoners of darkness. And... they are...."

Dion who was observing while waiting for Navetha to continue her words as he could see and feel the nervousness on her face, voice and body that was trembling as she spoke and explained to them. He could only sigh and shook his head, he turn to Eilwe whose most likely wants to murder the girl with the way his looking at her, thus he smirked looking at the two.

He could still remember the first time he met them. It was when his mother decided to go home, back to her place where her families were because of an important matter, thus made his mother decided to leave his father and his father allowed his mother to bring him along, then when they arrived at his mother's place he discovered that he had an older sister, and months later that time he then encountered Thashie who he bumped by accident and after years he also met Navetha and Eilwe then some other acquaintances for what they needed and had to learn, and so did their given order.

And now, who would have thought that they were going to become this close with one another, an acquaintances and a friends just to fulfill and create a life they yearn for someone of the past to have which was being wasted and ruined by people of envy, greediness, obsessions, gluttony, ambition, pride and depriving of what's fated to.

'I wonder when will we be able to have what we're yearning for?', thought Dion while still lost in his past memories.

Thashie suddenly speak with a bit of sadness in her voice that cause Dion to comeback to his senses and turn to the girl who has a eyes swollen, and was about to cry, "They were humans. The ones they used are just humans not vampires nor did they turned one or from another beings. The ones who put them into the night bloodlines were just making them believed they are by using hypnosis and a little sparks of magic, thus to change the eye and temperature of one's body and so does their strength and ageing."

She's staring at the parchment that has the black pattern, as she just continue the sentence which Navetha trailed off.

"So... that's all?", said Eilwe on a neutral way. He's still staring at Navetha who turned her head to the side when Thashie spoked and continued her sentences, and he turn his gaze to the side and raise his one brows, "And do tell us, why are you crying?"

Thashie swallowed the lump on her throat and took a deep breath to calm her nerves as tears starting to fall down to her rosy cheeks, whist she forced her voice to come out and spoke, "There are others who have the same goal. Not just the Dark Summoners but there are many others, united as all... And their goals is to find what has been lost and forgotten... That's presently with us but none of many ever known and noticed... They're going to claim and use, to cause destruction... A big choice that will to make... Be a destroyer or being killed... The one who's with us that we so much cares... Will to choose..."

She covered her face with both hand and sobbed in silence but the faint sound just came out.

"I'm not playing with that dumb parable of yours, Thashie!", said Eilwe trying to control his anger and turned his head to Navetha while narrowing his eyes, "Say it or else... I'll going to punish you along with this idiotic girl!"

"Enough threatening her now, Eilwe. You know what is her abilities capability more than I do.", said Dion calmly. He took a fruit from the basket that was on the center and put it on his mouth. "She can only hear things or see what revealed on a sheet of parchment within her.", he said again while chewing the fruit.

As much as Dion wants to be entertained by them because of how amusing it is to see the two girls being punish, he knows that there's another matters more important than being entertain by them that's need their full attention right now.

He then says after weeping his mouth with the back of his hand, "And besides, I have my idea on the one she said that was lost and forgotten, use and destroy, that is with us but not everyone ever noticed."

"You mean to say...", Eilwe trailed and his eyes turn wide, his heart was beating faster like there's something squeezing it forcefully, so does Navetha who had tears in her eyes when she realized what's the meaning behind the parable.

"Why couldn't this change and stop?", whispered Navetha to herself as tears trailing down on her cheeks, "Doesn't she suffered enough..."

"Unfortunately, it can only be stop by her alone. And that's when she'll regains what she let go and lost in the process.", said Dion while on his heart was a conviction to make sure that the future was worth the sacrifices of the past. "Only us can help and protect, but only she can stop this and them. And it's up to that person's judgments to make a changes."

Eilwe and the other just kept silent, sitting and trying to think of a plan until they decided to have a little rest, and talk about it some other time because it almost three sharps in the morning when Dion took out his pocket watch and look at the time.

* ** * ** * * * *

Meanwhile, two days ago at the eastern part of Questillia Kingdom, on the deepest part of the forest, six people are sitting surrounding the flame, while the other four were leaning on the trees as they are talking about their previous missions.

"It seems that we didn't acquire the exact amount of sacrifice needed for it to be successful once again.", said the one whose leaning on a tree holding a green ball of crystal as he sigh. 'That was the third times that we try it and still failed...', he thought and sigh again.

The other one whose beside the one who was holding a crystal ball said as they were leaning on the same tree, "We'll need a pureblood of the royal family, or at least, that's what we did not acquire yet."

"Soon enough we'll be able to.", said the other one whose a woman that was with the group of six people surrounding the flame while having a sinister smile on her lips. "Patients is the best quality to be successful, and besides my pawns was already placed in motion."

Chapter 10: Remember Them

A few days later, and they were still at the place which Dion brought them in while treating the young girl as she wasn't woking up, thus they called a doctor to visit two days after the young lad was brought in to check the girl, then the doctor told them that the young girl was fine and just needs some more rest.

And after Fanies woke up, they went back on the village again where the massacred took place to investigate further on what really happened but there's none. Henceforth, the council then concluded the massacred was cause by the practicer who was trying to accomplish something.

Whist, the investigation was carried out finished. The council head then ordered to burn the bodies as no one could claim them by their relatives because of the bodies state which was already decaying, and the smells was becoming stronger as the days passed and as for the village, the elders of the court council along with the head council said that the decision on what to be done about the land was still at hold as they're waiting on the decision of the duke who owns the property.

However, the council members who was investigating there didn't even notice that the childrens of the villagers aren't there and were missing because of the body's state.

Thus, when the aid woke up, he immediately distance himself from Dion and the girls so did the other people on the place, and still convincing the Prince to get out there and never to trust Dion ever. But Prince Chervil just ignored his aid whist he said, he has his own understanding with Dion and that he shouldn't bother himself on continuing to convinced him as it will be in vain because he would not listen.

Therefore, the event that took place the night when they first got on, the things about the flowers being poisonous, and the thing that Dion did to cured Fanies wounds are being discussed and explained to Prince Chervil that very morning, but as Dion planned, he never said anything further aside the important things as he decided to just kept it with himself of what he discovered about the Prince aid as it's not the time yet.

Chervil on the other hand was surprised to see how many childrens were there that very morning because it was night when they arrived, and therefore, he doesn't have a chance to meet all the childrens that was taking shelter there.

Though the children were all humans, they don't seem that afraid of Chervil and his aid who was a vampires, because the children would asked them and even wants to play with them, hence, when they come to play with the aid, Fanies would distanced himself right away that very noon when his aid woke up and all good, afraid that the children would attacked him. He was traumatized.

Thus, that very morning up until now, Chervil still couldn't believe how prepossessing the environment Dion brought them in, it more likely they were in another land where fantasy and reality meets. He looked through the window while the view of a birds chirping on the trees and flying in the sky from the room where the young lad were.

"No, please don't go! Mother... Father... Big...brother..."

He turned after hearing the girl calling out her family, tears falling down on her pillow whilst she was still on her sleep. He then walked toward the bed and sat on the side, pulled the girl in his arms and stroke her head softly.

"No! Mother, Big brother don't go... Don't leave me alone!"

"It just a nightmare.", whispered Chervil softly cuddling the girl on his arms as it looks like she was dreaming. "You're not alone. It was just a dream."

However, he knew it wasn't a dream nor a nightmare, whist he could only hope the girl could survive where fate may leads her.

"Don't leave me alone...", said the young girl still hasn't open her eyes.

When she stopped sobbing and opened her eyes with tears that continuesly falling, she looked at the one who hold her and stared at the man who stared back at her, then the event that took place was starting to flow on what happened to her family and the village folks that early night.

The girl stared at him trembling while she sobbed continuesly.

He could sence the girl was scared at him, thus hearing the way the girl's heart was beating, Chervil said tenderly, "I'm not going to hurt you. No one will."

"They're gone... They helped me escaped... My mother and father... so did my big brother... and my friends.", said the young girl as she recollect the past events that took placed on her village which made her trembling in fear. "They're all gone because of me."

He hugged the girl when he noticed she began trembling, "Don't blame yourself over what happened. It's not your fault.", he whispered softly and weep her tears. He then decided to change the subject, "Let's fix yourself and go down to have breakfast, is that okay? I'm sure your hungry now. And beside, your parents wants you to be healthy too."

The young girl looked at him contemplating the words and nodded. She knows that when her parents were still alive they won't want to see her like this, after all her parent taught her how to be an independent girl, so all she could do for now was to helped herself but blaming her own self won't go away.

She went down the moment Chervil release her and guided her to the bath to tidy up herself; though, she still felt weak while she walked and her body felt sore she declined when he asked her if she needs some help so that he could called up his companion to help her wash. She's about to enter the bathroom when she saw a light pink dress hanging inside, she stopped then turn her head at the man who guided her.

"My friends choose that for you to wear. And so does the shoes over here. So go ahead and wash. I'll be downstairs.", Chervil said tenderly letting go of the girl's hand and went towards the door giving the little one some privacy. "I will be waiting for you outside."

After Chervil left the room, the girl went on the tub that was already filled with hot water and submerge herself, her thoughts brought her back again to what transpired on her village.

She cry in silent, hugging herself as remembering what happened and after sometimes of reminiscing, she washed up herself, robbed her hair with the towel she found beside the hanging mirror then wore the dress that almost reached her feet. She went to the side to looked at her own reflection on the mirror; and when she did, she saw: a young girl staring back with a sad expression and swollen eyes, who had an eye color of hazel-brown and a straight shoulder length acorn-brown hair, the dress was an elbow sleeves length that has a light pink on it waist to make a ribbon, thus she tied it up ineptly.

When she's done, she went out of the bathroom and wore the pair of light pink shoes then slowly got out of the room. While walking out down the stairs she looked at the place that's so peculiar to her, and half down the stairs she saw Chervil was there waiting while leaning himself on the railing.

Chervil stood and stretched his arm for the young girl to hold to which she took his hand reluctantly, and helped her down halfway.

"Come, let's have morning meal together.", said Chervil guiding her to the kitchen, and started introducing himself and explaining, "I'm Chervil. This place is owned by my friend's family relatives named Dion, and his a human too just like you... We were the ones who found you at the cave behind the waterfall. Anyway, could you tell me, what's your name and how old are you?"

He knows the girl was crying when he left her as he deliberately went out to have the girl adjust on her own, whist he was just outside the door leaning. And he heard her sobbing after he leave her alone inside the bathroom.

The girl look up at him and look down right away when she saw the man was already looking down at her with curious dark red eyes, waiting for her to answer.

"I... I'm seven years old...", she said softly and in a whisper way, "My name's Ellvinah."

Chervil looked down at the girl whose looking on the ground as she walked like it was a very interesting thing to look at. Thus, a gentle smile appeared and was tugging on his lips. he didn't say anything and just lead the way holding the girl's hand.

When they entered the kitchen which no one was present, but there's food already prepared at the table, and it made the little girl's mouth watered at the sight.

Then, the back door suddenly opened, they turned their heads to see a man almost as tall as Chervil entering the kitchen while a bright smile appeared after seeing them.

"Oh! Top of the morning to you two.", greeted the man who wore a white long sleeve shirt with buttons that was half opened revealing his firm chest and a crimson red long pants. He looked at the girl then bowed while greeting her dramatically. "A very good beautiful morning to you, my fair maiden.", in which Chervil rolled his eyes.

"Done your breakfast?", asked Chervil, ignoring the greetings. He guided little Ellvinah to the table and made her sat on his side whist the girl was still looking at the man who was smiling while walking towards them at the table.

"Stop grinning at her already. You're creeping her out.", added Chervil when he noticed Dion's playful self and decided to asked and to averted the attention as he could hear little Ellvinah's heartbeats which was pumping faster, "So... How's Fanies doing at the palace, Dion?"

"I am more gorgeous to creep her out.", Dion replied sarcastically.

Prince Chervil decided to sent his aid back to the palace the other day as their're done with the investigation on the village whist also to sent a letter to the Arch-King as a report; also, his aid has so much things to be ready and done as once he got back because his aid was responsible of the arrangements and other things that needed his attentions.

"Missed his nagging over things about me to you? I know why.", said Dion pulling out a chair opposite to them and sat which made Chervil narrowed his eyes and looked up at his friend who was looking at the foods. "I think, I know exactly the reason why you sent him off."

The crown Prince stared at him with his dark red eyes questioningly as if challenging Dion over his knowledge about the situation.

His friend felt the stared and looked up, putting his index finger on his lips and smiled mischievously as he says, "Fill you up later... I knew you don't want him to cause any trouble like what happened last time. However, isn't it too much? He's your aid. He should be by your side all the time and yet you sent him off."

He then put some food on the girl's plate who lower down her head looking at her plate as he said tenderly, "And I know you're hungry, so eat it up! Or do you want something else?"

Chervil could only shook his head and looked at little Ellvinah who was sitting on his side, then he heard a small sobbed again like whisper in the air, "Don't you like the foods, Ellah?"

"I want my Mama..."

They heard her said it while sobbing and they looked at each others, one has a troubled expression while the other has a sympathy for the girl.

"Grief won't bring them back to life but instead it only brings more pain unto you... However, it's okay to cry.

Ellvinah looked front after hearing the words while tears continuesly falling. She saw him stood up and walked to where she was, crouching down and held her cheeks, weeping her tears tenderly.

"Just don't blame yourself. Blaming yourself won't bring your family nor your friends to peace nether does it to yourself. Do you want them to worry about you?"

Looking at the man who has a tenderness on his face, she shook her head softly to which she saw the man giving her an encouraging smile.

"Then, you must live and remember them. Don't let those who died- dies within you. You shared with their life now, so live your life for them and also for your self. Remember them as you journeys to what's fate may hold tomorrow. Remember them and always be thankful of the memories good or bad that they've gave and shared with you because no one can now but you only.", said Dion softly staring at Ellvinah's hazel-brown eyes and giving her a hug.

She then wail and hugged him back. A comfort of the hug which gave her warmth and a sense care like her big brother used to gave her, a warmth which would stay on her memory now that her big brother was no longer here with her.

Chervil pat her back after sometimes which she finally calm down and asked her to continue with her meal and take a rest after, which the girl nodded her head as her eyes swollen due to her wailing.