Moonlight Lovers

Thirty-one

GODRIC STAYED behind in the home office with Selene when Silas and Roald left the room after the latter asked for a drink to help his parched throat. The two headed for the parlour. Selene began her work that day, thinking Godric would immediately follow Silas and Roald outside.

“Are you feeling alright, Selene?” She heard Godric ask. She found him standing in front of his desk, reading some documents that he picked up from the furniture. His eyes were on the paper he was reading, but she knew his attention was on her.

Selene smiled even though he was not looking at her. “I’m okay.”

“I found out a lot about you today,” he said, then shrugged. “Should I ask Roald over every day?”

Selene wrinkled her nose. “I just felt like I had to tell him that because he’s trying to understand how I became a spellblood. And I want to know, too.”

Godric finally put the document he was reading down on the desk. This time, his eyes focused on her. “You said that night you found out that I am a vampire that your parents were killed by a monster like me? Were you referring to your foster parents?”

Selene could not respond right away. She swallowed the huge hump that was forming on her throat. “Yes,” she answered after a short silence.

“Is that not something you want to talk about, too?”

When Selene sought Godric’s eyes, he immediately understood why. Her eyes were filled with fear and grief. “What happened traumatized me for a long time, see,” she said quietly. “Since then I’ve been trying not to think about it—”

“Hey, ssh, it’s okay.” Godric moved toward Selene’s desk where she was sitting. He gently pulled her hand that was clenched over the desk and tenderly squeezed them. “If you’re not ready to talk about it, you don’t have to force yourself. I understand.”

“Thank you, Godric.”

“Whenever you’re ready, though, would you like me to help you to find out how this happened? Do you think you can go back to Wobrium?”

Selene stared at Godric, she opened her mouth to talk. “I’m not sure.”

Godric used his free hand to touch Selene’s hair. “I don’t need the answer right now, Selene. But when you’re ready, just let me know.”

GODRIC FOUND Silas and Roald having some Scotch in the parlour. The two were laughing at something Roald said. He didn’t capture what the older blood being said to his assistant because his mind was occupied. He was trying to remember if he had gone to Wobrium three years ago. He couldn’t have, could he? If he did and he finds out that he had something to do with what happened to Selene’s foster parents, he wouldn’t know how to face her. If he found out that his bloodthirsty ways in the past caused her the lives of her parents, he would have more reason to hate his existence as a vampire.

Throughout his years as a blood being, he had gone around the entire country to try and stay fed, visiting famous towns from days on end to meet new people and potential victims. At the time, it was the natural thing to do. Now, he wished he had other options. But every time, he would return to Clairhill perfectly satiated.

This also makes a good opportunity to throw the local authorities off his track. If he keeps getting his victims from one place only, it would be very suspicious. Of course, he always had help from Edrus Crest, the half-blood who covers up dirty works of blood beings like him, but he wants to be careful too when he can. That doesn’t mean the council has no means of knowing who killed who, however. They know everything everyone is doing.

No, he convinced himself. I couldn’t have been in Wobrium that time. I have been there, but I’m sure it wasn’t three years ago.

“You’re deep in thought,” Roald remarked. “What’s on your mind, Octavius?”

He switched his gaze between the men in the parlour. Silas and Roald were staring at him with curious looks. Godric just shook his head. “It’s nothing. What were you two talking about?”

“Ah, just this and that,” Roald crossed his leg over the other knee and leaned back on the couch, swirling the liquid in the glass he was holding in his left hand. “So, how’s your spellblood?”

Godric’s brows creased. “It hasn’t been an hour since you left her. She’s fine.”

Roald raised his brows. “You know what I’m talking about, Godric.”

Silas was sipping on his drink quietly. When he sensed from the unfolding conversation that he probably shouldn’t be in the room, he stood up from the couch with his drink in hand. “I’d better get back to work.” Silas quickly left the room and closed the door behind him.

Godric shook his head, giving Roald a lopsided grin. “You bastard!” He walked towards the table where his precious alcohols were placed and poured himself some.

“Is that not why she’s here?”

Godric walked to the couch and sat opposite Hosmurg. “No! Believe it or not, she’s here to work.”

“And you have no other motive for bringing her here?” Roald challenged.

“Like you, I’m curious to know about the spellblood.”

“And that’s it?”

“Yes, that’s it.” Godric waved his free hand in the air. “I can’t believe you really think I’d have no other reason for letting a woman stay in my house other than stripping her off her clothes.”

Roald just shrugged. “You’re an Octavius. Your reputation precedes you.”

Godric groaned in protest. “Get out of here, Hosmurg!”

“What are your plans now?” Roald asked after a while. There was no longer humor in his voice.

“I don’t know. I’d like to keep her safe.”

“You want to win her trust so you can have a steady source of sustenance?”

“I told you, that’s not why I took her—”

Roald pushed himself on the edge of his seat, folding his elbows over his knees, lowering his voice to a whisper as if anybody can hear them. “Just how many vampires meet a spellblood, Godric? You finally have something you can use to your advantage, and maybe even against your brother. And you’re telling me that your priority is that person’s well-being?”

Godric’s irises moved. “I promised that I will keep her safe.”

“A vampire’s bite is not going to kill her,” Roald reasoned.

“She knows.”

Roald paused. “She does? You mean—”

“I only showed that I will not kill her,” Godric said, cutting the older blood being off. “I didn’t drink enough of her blood to know if there was any difference between hers and other human’s blood.”

Roald huffed in amazement. “That’s a step in the right direction if you ask me.”

“The right direction which is where she’ll end up being regularly fed off of by a vampire?” Godric countered.

“What is it?” Roald asked when he noticed something was off.

Godric sighed, looked away from Hosmurg and out the huge windows of the room. “She said something earlier that’s bothering me. About her parents.”

“They’re dead,” Roald said matter-of-factly.

“She told me a monster killed her parents. Three years ago. In Wobrium.”

Roald’s expression slowly changed when he also realized what he was trying to imply. “And you’re worried that you may have something to do with her parents’ death?”

Godric stared at the drink in his hand. “I don’t remember half of what I’m doing while I’m killing people for their blood. My anger towards my brother has blinded me and I took it out on my victims. I just didn’t want to be the reason for Selene to be hurt.”

There was a long silence between them this time before Roald spoke again. “Well, if you’re hunch is right. What will you do then?”

Godric failed to respond right away. “I…don’t know. I’m truly hoping that I’m wrong.”

Roald sighed. “You know, Crest can help you.”

“Huh?” Godric’s brows creased.

“Edrus Crest,” Roald said. “He makes special concoctions that make the person who drinks it forget a certain memory, right? Depending on how strong the formula is, she might forget what you don’t want her to remember about that night. Once you confirmed that you had something to do with her parent’s death, that will be the most ideal thing to do.”

Godric moistened his lips. “I don’t think I can’t do that to her. All of it is just—”

“A suggestion,” Roald continued for him. “But you’d want to be ready, Godric. You don’t want the spellblood running off and being found by another vampire. We can take a trip to Clearhollow today to ask Crest about it if you want. Then we can also ask him if you had anything to do with the spellblood’s parents’ death. Crest should have that information with him, too.”

Godric was silent. He didn’t know if it’s going to be beneficial for Selene, too.

“You don’t have to give it to her right away. It’s just better to have it ready when you need it,” said Roald.

Godric exhaled loudly. He pushed himself up the couch and convinced himself that it would be helpful to both him and Selene. “Alright. Let’s go.”

“Will the spellblood be safe here?”

“Silas would keep an eye on her,” he responded confidently.

“Are you sure you can leave her alone? I mean, even with Silas, I’m sure they won’t be able to do anything against Boris if your brother comes here.”

“Boris never go here. He only came by one time to threaten me, and that’s it.”

Roald’s shoulder raised up and down. “If you say so.”

SELENE WAS watching in awe as Silas prepared for lunch for the two of them in the elegant kitchen of the Octavius estate. He asked the staff earlier to take a break and he’d cook their food.

“I didn’t know you could cook,” Selene commented, sitting on the stool on the counter.

Silas just raised a corner of his mouth. “Well, I don’t always cook here. Godric doesn’t eat human food, so I mostly leave the cooking to the staff.”

“You’ll get girls swooning at you if they can see you right now.”

Silas just laughed. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Selene feels happy that she is getting along with Silas. She was really expecting he’d be some rigid co-worker who would tell on her every mistake at work and make sure she’s chastised about it, but he’s the complete opposite. He’s understanding and thoughtful and very kind to her. His dry sense of humor doesn’t make him less friendly either.

She waited for Silas to finish cooking and volunteered to set the table in the dining hall, as she was putting the plates on the placemat, she heard the door rang.

“Are we expecting visitors?” Her brows were furrowed when she peeked at Silas from the kitchen doorway.

“No,” Silas simply said. He was about to remove his apron and leave the stove when Selene quickly stopped him.

“I’ll get it. It’s fine.” Before Silas could say no, she was already walking out of the kitchen.

Selene was wearing a huge smile on her lips when she pulled the door open. She found a tall man outside the door, wearing a dark suit, and expensive leather shoes. His long silver hair was tied to a ponytail on the back of his head. His dark brown eyes were penetrating her. It took Selene a moment to ask what the man was there for.

The grin appeared across the man’s handsome face. “Well, well. It looks like my brother’s not just keeping any pet.”

Selene frowned at the man. “Excuse me? Who are you?”

“Boris,” he said, extending his hand to her. “Boris Octavius.”

SELENE COULD not move when the man introduced himself. He was Boris Octavius. Godric’s brother who turned him into a monster. The vampire who mercilessly killed people in front of his brother. Shock flooded her entire body. She didn’t know what to do.

She suddenly wished Godric didn’t leave the estate. But even if he’s there, would he be able to fight against his brother? She trusts that Godric will do anything in his power to keep her safe, but wasn’t Boris one of the most powerful vampires in their society like what they have been talking about?

As if to save her, Silas suddenly came out of the hallway from the kitchen to see what’s taking her so long. When he found out who was outside the door, he paused in his steps. “Boris?”

“Ah, Silas! My brother isn’t here I presume?” He said, but he wasn’t taking his eyes off Selene.

Silas walked towards Selene, putting his arm on her shoulder, pulling her away from the door. “He’s out on business but will return shortly. You can wait for him at the parlour.”

Selene gasped when Boris suddenly yanked her wrist and took it near his prominent nose. “There’s something different about you. What is it?” He strongly whispered.

“Boris, please—”

Before Silas could finish what he was saying, Boris had snapped. He pushed the man on his shoulder, and Silas flung across the carpeted floor and landed at the bottom of the grand staircase.

“Silas!” Selene screamed. She wanted to run to Silas’s side but Boris was not letting go of her hand.

“Who are you?” He demanded. His pupils were now crimson red. Selene felt fear wash over her as Boris slowly leaned his face in on her. “Answer me!”

“I… I’m no one,” she said, controlling herself from sobbing in front of the blood being. “I’m just a servant here. Please let me go. Silas is hurt.”

“You’re lying. You’re not no one. You’re the one Asmodeus’s workers were talking about.”

“No, you’re wrong,” she muttered. “Please don’t hurt me.”

A strong scent of blood filled the air every time Boris breathes and he knew it was coming from the woman. Before Silas gained his consciousness, Boris grabbed the woman and carried her in his arms, disappearing in thin air as he moved faster than the speed of light back to his car that was parked in front of the estate’s enormous gates.

He touched a nerve on the woman’s neck and she was shortly unconscious. He placed her sleeping body on the backseat of the car. Then, he drove as fast as he could back to Courthall.