Scarlet Rose

Chapter 12 - Devastating Truth

After dinner, when count Akira locked himself in his office, and count Williams went into the woods to hunt animals for more blood, Margareth was sitting in the living room with Katherine, teaching her to knit prettily. Katherine was evidently impatient, but you can see that she was trying to hold back and learn everything with determination.

Having asked lady O'Sullivan to embroider a floral pattern on a piece of cloth, Margareth looked out the window for a moment and noticed that Wayne was returning with some guests.

- And who did count Williams bring with him?- she asked herself, and Katherine immediately looked up from her needlework to look out the window as well. She recognized two men, who were coming off the horses, right away.

- These men are....- Katherine began, looking at dr Stone.- My father and brother.- she added, very pale, but you could tell she was glad to see them too.

- How did they get here? Even if they found traces in the woods, they could not link them to count Williams and count Akira...- Margareth said mostly to herself, frowning.

Suddenly Shiro appeared in the living room.

- Lady Katherine...- he turned to her with a very serious expression, but his face showed shock as well.- Is your father lord Michael O'Sullivan?- he asked.

- Yes, that's right.- she confirmed, looking at him with a little surprise. Margareth was silent, only listening carefully to their conversation.

- Damn it, why didn't I ask more about your family before.- Shiro replied, clearly irritated.- Lady Katherine, do you know who your father is?- he asked again.

- What a strange question, of course I know.- Katherine replied.- He is a lord and a landowner.- she added.

- So you don't know about it...- Shiro replied mysteriously, looking down at the ground.

- What do you mean, count Akira? ”Katherine asked, not understanding.

- I think it would be better if he told you about it.- replied Shiro, and headed for the hall, as it was heard that the main door has been opened.

Katherine sat nervously on the couch, pondering over the words of count Akira all the time. The muffled voices of both Wayne and Shiro, and the familiar voices of her brother and father came from the hall. Hearing the latter ones, something squeezed her heart - she wanted so badly to hear their voices - and only now did Kath realized how much she missed her father and brother.

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Eventually, they all appeared in the living room - Wayne, Shiro, and lord Michael O'Sullivan, along with his son Patrick. Katherine got up from the couch at the sight of them, and so did Margareth.

- Katherine... What a relief that you are alive and well...- Michael immediately walked over to her, hugging his daughter tightly.

- Father... I missed you so much.- Katherine replied, snuggling against her father as tears ran down her cheeks.

Moments later, when Michael released his daughter from his embrace, Patrick took the place. He hugged his sister without a word, stroking her back slightly.

- Let's sit together in the living room, we need to have a serious talk.- Shiro said, attracting everyone's attention.

Michael and Patrick sat down with Katherine, one on her left and one on her right. Margareth took a seat in the armchair next to it, Shiro and Wayne took their place on the couch opposite.

- Count Akira, count Williams.- Michael spoke up first.- Thank you for saving and taking care of my daughter, I am really grateful. However, now that we are here, we would like to take Katherine to Cardiff. After all, there is no reason why she should use your hospitality any longer.- he explained, and Patrick nodded in agreement with his father.

Wayne looked at his cousin, and Shiro sighed heavily, closing his eyes for a moment, then opening them to look at the older lord O'Sullivan.

- I wish the same, I assure you, so that lady Katherine could go home as soon as possible.- Shiro began to speak with a slight hesitation.- But unfortunately I'm afraid it is impossible for her to leave our property at the moment.- he informed with difficulty.

- What? How is that? By what right?- Patrick demanded, getting up from the couch, but when he saw his father's scolding gaze, sat down again.

- Explain that to me, count Akira. Why can't my daughter leave your property?- Michael asked, apparently trying to contain his anger.

- To start from the beginning... The point is that when we stumbled upon your daughter's carriage in that part of the forest, all servants were already changing, so we had to kill them and then burn their bodies.- Wayne relieved his cousin from speaking for which Shiro gave him a grateful look.- We also killed off most of the wild turned vampires that made the attack. However, lady Katherine was lying on the road, already bitten by one of them.- he also explained with a little difficulty, but continued.- We were faced with a dilemma. We could have killed Katherine before she turned or...- Wayne wanted to go on.

- Or give her your blood.- lord O'Sullivan finished for him, already understanding exactly what had happened.- Am I right? One of you gave her his blood, so she has not changed, but because of that Katherine cannot leave your property.- he added with a slightly questioning look, but was sure that had accurately guessed the further development of events.

- Yes, you are right, lord O'Sullivan.- Shiro confirmed, finally looking up again.- I gave lady Katherine my blood, thereby imprisoning her here.- he admitted, guilt clearly written on his face.

- But there is a solution.- Wayne cut in, seeing the stern expression on Michael's face and the anger on Patrick's.- There is a way to free a person from this 'blood curse', legends about it have been circulating among pure-blooded vampires for centuries. Shiro is looking for a solution and I'm sure we're close to finding it. Certainly, soon we will find accurate information and we will be able to set lady Katherine free.- he assured.- Besides, dr Margareth Stone...- he pointed to Margareth sitting in the chair.-... is in the same situation. Shiro saved her with his blood as well.- added Wayne, looking at her.

- That is true, lord O'Sullivan.- Margareth spoke up finally, so far listening anxiously to the conversation.- I look after lady Katherine and assure you that count Akira and count Williams are doing everything in their power to find a solution as quickly as possible.- she assured, looking first at Michael and then at his son.

Patrick was about to say something and the anger on his face deepened, but his father's hand held him back again.

- All right, I understand perfectly well.- Michael said finally, looking first at Margareth and then at both counts.- If this is the case, we have no choice anyway, do we?- he asked, focusing his gaze on Shiro.

- Unfortunately yes.- Shiro confirmed, still apologetic, his expression looking even more guilty.

- Then we have to trust count Akira and count Williams.- Michael decided.

- How can you do that, father?- Patrick finally exploded, rising from his seat.- We can't leave Katherine in a mansion full of vampires! You can't trust this breed, even the pure-blooded ones!- he addressed his father with grudge.

- Patrick, sit down, immediately.- lord O'Sullivan turned to his son in a very firm tone and gave him a scolding gaze.- First of all, don't speak that way about anyone, humans or not. Especially since there are ladies among us.- he continued, casting a short, apologetic look at not only Katherine but Margareth as well.- Besides, have you forgotten what I taught you about pure-blooded vampires? You should know very well too that there is no other way in this situation. Besides, I also heard about this legend and at the moment it is our only hope. And as long as there is a way, everything must be done to be able to implement it.- he pointed out, and Patrick finally sat down, calming down a bit, but staring at the floor.- I also remind you, my son, that not only your sister is in this situation.- Michael added, looking back at Margareth.

- Thank you very much for your trust, lord O'Sullivan.- Wayne spoke up, then turned his gaze to Patrick.- I know that is not easy to accept, but I assure you we have no ill intentions. We wish to free your sister as much as you do, young lord.- he added sincerely.

- Please forgive me for my outburst... I should have more self-control.- Patrick finally said, a hint of embarrassment on his face.- I was just so worried about my sister... I'm really sorry.- and his gaze traveled from both counts, through Margareth, to his father and Katherine herself.

- It's already forgiven, young lord.- Shiro said.- Your reaction is understandable. Nobody will blame you for that.- he assured, then looked at his father.- There is also another point I wish to discuss in your presence, lord O'Sullivan, considering of your position in the assembly.- he added.

- I understand. Please speak.- Michael replied, though he looked at Katherine nervously.- I'll explain everything to you later.- he assured her, seeing his daughter's questioning gaze. Then Michael focused his gaze back on count Akira.

- We learned from lady Katherine that Antoine was among the turned vampires who attacked the carriage. He was also the one who bit her.- Shiro said, and Michael's face was completely frozen.

- You mean... He's around here somewhere?- Patrick asked, being faster than his father.

- That's exactly what we think.- Wayne confirmed, nodding slightly.- It seems Antoine wanted to surprise us all by directing the turned towards Wales. After all, no one expected it from him after all those heavy attacks centered around London.- he noted.

- So it was all a trick. We made a huge mistake sending Katherine here. Turns out London was much safer.- Michael sighed heavily.

- Father, there's no need to think about it now.- Patrick suddenly turned to him.- If Katherine can't leave this mansion anyway, maybe it's better for now, since she will be relatively safe among pure-blooded vampires. Meanwhile, we can return to lord Edwards, notify the others... And prepare to pursue Antoine, maybe we'll finally get him. This is a unique opportunity. We don't have to worry so much about Katherine and can fully focus on our work.- he pointed out, choosing his words carefully, seeing the increasingly confused expression on Katherine's face.

- You're right.- Michael agreed.

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When both counts and Margareth had left the living room, leaving the O'Sullivan family alone, Katherine looked at her father and brother closely.

- Can you finally explain all of this to me? How did you knew where to find me, why do you know so much about vampires, and how is that possible that you're going to pursue Antoine? And how does my fiance, lord Edwards, contribute to it?- she showered them with questions.

- Katherine, we need to start with the fact that your brother and I are vampire hunters.- Michael began to say.- At the beginning it was just me and my father, thanks to his merits I am quite high in the hierarchy of hunters, so I was present when the pact was signed between our association, and pure-blooded vampires, hence I know count Akira and his cousin. Then Patrick, as my son, just like me before, followed in my footsteps. I didn't really want him to become a hunter, but when your brother found out the truth, decided he wanted to join.- saying that, he sighed slightly, looking at his son.- In any case, as hunters, we knew that attacks by the wild hordes of turned vampires were increasing around London. That is why we wanted to speed up your wedding with lord Edwards, since we were receiving information that Wales, especially Cardiff, is safe for now. Unfortunately, when we got a letter from your fiance and then got to Cardiff, found traces in that forest, we also found out that our scouts had been killed and that's why we did not receive reports about turned vampires' nests forming around Cardiff. On a meadow near the forest, we also found remains of burnt bodies, which indicated that someone was at the place of an attack on your carriage. It might have been another vampire hunter, but we questioned everyone in the area, and none of them had a clue about the formation of nests, so they weren't going into the woods. Then the only option was left.- Michael paused for a moment.- Pure-blooded vampires. We have learned from lord Edwards that the only representatives of these vampires living near Cardiff are count Shiro Akira and count Wayne Williams. That's how we got here. As for your fiance, lord Liam Edwards himself does not hunt the vampires, he is more of an informant who also contacts pure-blooded vampires if needed. Therefore, he seems to be the perfect husband for you, because lord Edwards does not perform dangerous tasks, you would be safe with him and you can lead a normal life.- he explained at the end.

- Capturing and getting rid of Antoine is one of the main goals for vampire hunters all over the world.- Patrick continued to answer his sister's other questions.- As leader of the turned vampires, he has a huge impact on them. These wild vampires are like a herd of animals, which means that without a leader, they would become weaker, less organized. It would help us to eliminate them completely, therefore we need to get rid of Antoine first.- he added, underlining the words 'we need to'.

- Okay, I understand it more or less.- Katherine finally spoke up.- I know a bit about vampires now, there's a book of their history in the library of this mansion after all.- she explained in more detail.- But why didn't you tell me who you are?- she asked with a hint of resentment in the voice.

- Mainly for your safety.- Michael replied, looking apologetically at his daughter.- Besides, what would this knowledge give you? You would only be worried about us, and I wanted at least you to lead a rather normal life.- he explained more precisely.- There is one more truth I have to confess to you.- he added, looking at her uncertainly, and Patrcik looked down at the floor again as if he knew what his father was about to say.

- There is something else?- Katherine asked incredulously.

- What I said about your mother's death... It was a lie.- Michael revealed with obvious difficulty.- She didn't die of any disease, although in a way it was like a...- he sighed, then pulled himself together.- Katherine, your mother was attacked by turned vampires on her return home. Later, together with the other hunters, I had to go into the forest to kill her, also the maid and coachman who were with her at the time of attack and also became the victims.- he added.

- You mean, father that... You killed our mother?- Katherine asked, completely shocked and angry at the same time.- Father, how could you do something like that?- she yelled at him, tears in her eyes.

- Calm down, Katherine. This is not the end of this story, let the father finish.- Patrick scolded her, looking at his sister with eyes full of pain.

- You have to understand one thing, Katherine.- lord Michael O'Sullivan continued, throwing a grateful glance at his son, then focused on his daughter.- Your mother was no longer herself. When we found her, she attacked us like a wild animal. Lynn managed to bite two young hunters before I finally managed to set her free. Yes, it cannot be called an ordinary murder, because if I left your mother alive, I would condemn her to greater suffering. I had no choice but to kill Lynn or she would have killed me, then other townspeople, maybe even your brother or you.- he explained.- I had to realize that it wasn't your mother anymore. Those wild vampires killed her back then, in the carriage, by turning into one of them.- Michael pointed out.

Katherine jumped off the couch and ran to the kitchen, where she could walk out right into the garden. Now she didn't want to see her father anymore, even though had missed him so much before and was glad to see him.

Patrick wanted to run after her, but father stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

- Let her cry a little bit and think it over pacefully.- Michael spoke up, and Patrick sighed slightly but stayed on the couch.