A Vampire's Muse

Chapter 8

“You called for me, sir?” I asked as I closed the door behind me.

The captain looked up from his usual stack of job orders on his desk before gesturing towards a chair. “Ah, yes. Sit down, Avery.”

I did as I was told. “Do you have a job for me, sir?”

“Actually, yes. But it’s not an assassination, I only need you to investigate—as of now, at least,” Mr. Morgan fished out a manila folder from one of his drawers and handed it to me. I quickly skimmed through the file and found documents about a certain drug ring operating in the city. “It’s a delicate case, so do treat it as such.”

“Copy that,” I replied. I looked at the file once more and tilted my head in confusion. “But sir, if it’s okay to ask…Didn’t you tell me before that cases like these should be handed over to the kingdom?”

“Yes, but the king himself required our assistance.”

“T-The king?” I sputtered. This had never happened before, for as long as I can remember. And I should know since I’ve been in the force for ten years now while the guild itself is only a few more years older. Rather than being impressed, I found the assignment…strange.

He picked up his pen and went back to going over the seemingly thousands of job orders on his desk. “The drug allegedly has hypnotic properties, and they smuggle their stocks through the ports in our city.”

I felt that familiar weight on my shoulders once more. Not only was I tasked with such a dangerous case, but also one that the kingdom’s ruler himself was keeping an eye on. For the first time in my life as a guild member, I got so close to buckling from the pressure.

“I see…” I stared at the folder and fiddled with the papers tucked inside it. After taking a deep breath to muster some courage, I asked, “Sir, is it alright to request for a team?”

Mr. Morgan’s hand froze before slowly looking up at me to meet my eyes. “A team?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Well, that can be arranged, but I had faith that you can manage on your own.”

I became speechless, and my heart sunk. It felt like I disappointed him, so I forced a smile. “I don’t need it, sir. I just thought of sharing this opportunity with others as well.”

“I see. Perhaps a team would be an overkill…” he trailed off while he entertained his thoughts for a while. “…So, I’ll arrange a partner for you instead.”

I guess that was better than working on it alone. “Thank you, sir.”

“Dismissed.”

---

I wasn’t sure if Calum Reed would hear it if I knocked on his front door because of how huge his mansion was, but I tried anyway. Shortly after, the double doors opened to reveal what must’ve been around a dozen female servants clad in gray uniforms and laced leather boots. They lined up perfectly to lead me into the hallway. For the past two times I’ve been in the manor, I’ve never seen any of his attendants before.

“Uhh…” I muttered awkwardly, unsure whether I should go on right ahead or return the formal 90-degree bows they were giving me.

Before I could resort to doing both at the same time like a doofus, the head of the household himself emerged from the hallway. Unlike our previous meetings, he was dolled up today—his long, dark hair tied up into a half-bun while golden accessories adorned his neck and his fingers. Standing in his presence in my dull clothing felt inappropriate.

“You came earlier than I expected,” Calum Reed stated as he walked towards me. With a single flick of his wrist, his servants relieved themselves from the bow and disappeared into another hallway. “I figured your guild would keep you busy for a while, considering you just came back from a break.”

My unique assignment came into mind once again. My mouth formed a frown unknowingly. “I was just briefed. Nothing much.”

“I see.”

I caught the subtle head tilt and knew then that he had noticed my discomfort about the topic but was too uncaring to pry. Fishing out his little note from my pocket, I shut the doors behind me and walked towards where he stood. My footsteps echoed irritatingly loud throughout the room. “That aside, what business do you have with me? Do you need my blood again?”

“Well, Avery dear,” he smiled at me and held my chin with a finger once he got a little too close. “If only your body has already recovered from last night, I would gladly accept the offer…And perhaps give you the pleasure of my company as well.”

A blush instantly formed on my cheeks. He didn’t mention it, but it was blatantly implied. I stepped back and turned my head to release myself from his touch that was, admittedly, becoming dangerously warm and inciting “So, why’d you call me again so soon?”

“We need to discuss our terms and sign the contract.”

“Contract?”

He led me to his dining hall. There was a long table at the center of the room, underneath a huge crystal chandelier, with a ridiculous number of chairs. Even if Calum Reed did dine with his servants, they still wouldn’t fill up the table, so I couldn’t imagine how lonely it must feel to eat alone. The space suddenly made me anxious and ironically claustrophobic.

I didn’t notice the envelope tucked under his arm until he slid it over to me from across the table. When I stared at him, waiting for an explanation, he only wordlessly gestured towards the envelope.

For an agreement that puts both our lives at stake, I was surprisingly and embarrassingly not taking it as seriously as I should. Though our verbal agreement was probably enough to seal the deal, I should’ve thought about my safety and offered to sign a proper contract first like the professional I am.

Since Calum Reed came up with it, I was expecting for the terms to be more in favor towards him, but I found myself nodding along as I read instead.

“You seem pleasantly surprised.”

I tore my gaze off the document to meet his stare. His red eyes were glinting with amusement. “Yes, I thought you would conjure a contract that would benefit you more than it would I.”

“I am deeply offended, Avery dear,” was what he replied, but the smirk on his face said otherwise. “But do make up your mind quickly. I do not have the patience today.”

“Is everything okay?”

He leaned towards me, resting his chin on his interlocked fingers. “Do I worry you, dear?”

“I was only asking out of courtesy,” I sighed and shook my head. Then, I took the pen before signing on all the blank spaces where my signature was required. “But I guess there really is nothing worrisome going on with you.”

“Well, if you are that curious, then I guess I have no choice but to tell you.”

“I wasn’t—”

He cut me off by standing up from his seat and going over to my side. Then, with a hand on my chair’s backrest, he bent over me to whisper in my ear. “You see, I am still far from over with what happened the other night.”

My lobe felt ticklish and warm because of his breath. I blushed as his words evoked memories of the night we spent together. But as much as I wanted to push him away, my body wouldn’t move. “W-What are you trying to say?”

“You know fully well what I am trying to say…” he whispered once again, but now in a deeper, more seductive voice. “…Avery dear.”

At long last, I snapped out of it. I picked up the pen I didn’t notice I had dropped and hastily signed the rest of the pages. When I was done, I stood up from my chair and pushed the papers against his chest. Calum Reed, too stunned to react, wasn’t able to catch them in time and the documents fell onto the floor by his feet. His red eyes were wide in surprise, but a hint of amusement danced in them just as how they always did.

I didn’t dare risk one more look and just sprinted towards the doors. A couple of servants were stationed right by the doorway, their hands clasping the handles and ready to open it for me. But I beat them to it, probably knocking them down in the process.

When I got home, I still couldn’t get my bearings back. I spotted the pile of clothes spun out of luxurious silk by the foot of my bed while I sat on my floor, trying to even out my breathing.

“Right,” I mumbled as I continued to stare at his clothes. “I was supposed to return those today.”

I hated how undeniably charming Calum Reed was that despite my resolve, he still managed to knock down my defenses. But even worse—at that moment, when his breath was tickling my ear, I wanted nothing more but to share a night with him again.