Valerian Empire

Chapter 67: Confession- Part 2

In his study, Alexander sat at the window taking a puff from the cigar before blowing it out as the smoke mingled with the night air before disappearing out of sight.

He looked at the paper that lay on his desk. Without much effort he had pieced the puzzled paper to its original form. The content in it made him laugh. He already had a few doubts about who could have done such a thing, to go to such lengths to keep her away from him by threatening her and inflicting pain on her.

It had been quite long since he last had blood on his hands. This was an opportune moment, he thought, as his bloodthirsty instincts surfaced.

Hearing the knock on the door, Alexander said, “Come in Martin.”

The old man opened the door, bowing his head.

“Can you please find whose handwriting this belongs to in the mansion,” he said looking at the paper that was on the table.

“Yes Lord Alexander,” the man said picking up the paper.

“And get Caviar in here,” he ordered before the butler left the room.

Alexander knew most of the men who worked for him. Even if he wasn’t closely acquainted with them he made sure to know most of their backgrounds because you never knew who would be of use later.

That was how most of the vampires’ society worked. After all most of the creatures of the dark were master puppeteers, and he was one of few holding a higher degree than most.

It was a world of dominance and power, humans​ and the vampires treading their way to the top.

He planned to cut down all the resources that was going to Lord Norman, cutting it out one by one before he tried anything. Division in the Empires would mean separation in lands to live for both the creatures. Of course it wouldn’t affect the servants but there would be an impact in the world they lived​, especially on the higher society.

“Lord Alexander, did you ask for me?” he heard Caviar stand outside the room.

“I did,” he said taking a last puff. He stood up before extinguishing the cigar on a tray, “If I wanted to hire people to frighten someone would you be able to get them?”

“Ah- I guess I could, milord,” Caviar replied guarded.

He didn’t know why the Lord was questioning​ as such when he knew the man already knew the answer to his own question. He tried recollecting his activities in past few weeks quickly in his mind.

“I need you to find two men who are already in the business,” pulling out the small pouch from the desk he placed it in front of the man, “This will be their reward and don’t mention my name. The task will be given once you find them. You can leave.”

“I will see to it right away,” and he left.

With two traps set one was bound to work, he thought to himself.

The next morning during breakfast Elliot looked around the hall as he ate. Alexander had left the mansion early leaving Sylvia and him to have their breakfast alone. As he scanned the room again, he heard Sylvia speak.

“If you’re searching for Katie, she’s sleeping in her room,” the woman replied before dabbing her lips with the napkin on the table.

“Has she fallen sick?” Elliot asked worried.

“No, but Alexander gave her the day off because he wants her to rest.”

“Something must have happened,” he murmured as they got up, “She must be awake now,” he said looking at the wall clock. It was past ten in the morning.

“Just don’t overreact,” Sylvia warned him as they headed towards her room.

He didn’t understand at that time why Sylvia warned him not to overreact. When they knocked the door and opened it they found Katie to still be sleeping.

Alexander’s cat, Areo sat at the foot of the bed as it looked at them.

Elliot wondered if Katie have overworked herself knowing how she got involved in working once she started. He had to tell her to go easy on it.

As he went closer to check the temperature on her forehead his eyes went wide with shock and he opened his mouth but Sylvia covered his mouth in time before he would exclaim and wake the girl up.

Truth was that previous night Katie could hardly fall asleep after hearing Lord Alexander’s​ confession. And now she was making up for the lost hours of sleep.

“What’s with the bruise?? Who did that?!” Elliot asked Sylvia once they were out of the room.

Sylvia explained what happened in the market yesterday as Elliot looked angry. Knowing Alexander, he knew the Lord was already on the matter.

Now that the Lord had openly started showing his interest in the young woman, she would be subjected to many things. With her associating herself with the Lord, she had entered the dark world and there was no turning back now. There were men and women out there who would try using her as a means to get to the Lord.

He could only hope she would have enough strength to withstand the obstacles and get through without tainting that pure soul of hers.

Close to noon Katie woke to hear someone hum a song in her room. Opening her eyes and getting up, she rubbed her eyes with a yawn.

“You look bad. What happened to you?” She heard Malphus ask her who was sitting on the window with one of his legs hanging outside.

“Apparently people aren’t nice,” she answered him before the smell of food invaded her senses.

“I did warn you that the living are scarier than us,” he said before hopping off the window.

Turning to her right she saw the food cart in her room with containers filled with food. She hasn’t eaten anything last night and now she felt like she was starving.

Without the plate she digged into the container with the spoon.

“That’s very unladylike,” he commented as he saw her mouth full.

“Des-wo-walwe-kowod,” she spoke as she chewed.

“I’m sorry but I don’t speak that language,” Malphus said in a matter of fact tone making her roll her eyes.

Swallowing the food, she spoke, “There’s no ladylike when it comes to food.”

“Rubbish,” he waved his hand as though dismissing her words, “But then you are a little weird to begin with.”

Katie didn’t leave the room at noon. She sat there talking to Malphus about his solo trip as she hadn’t seen him for a while. Dorthy and Corey had joined later on, with Malphus putting in his opinions once in a while which none knew of. Dorthy had said of how they had been asked to draw.

In the evening, Alexander called Katie to his study with Maphus following her to the room.

When Katie had entered the room Alexander was writing something on the parchment paper. Taking a seat she waited for him to finish.

“Are you feeling better?” He asked her.

“I feel much better. I did sleep in a lot,” she replied to see him smile satisfied.

“Indeed,” she heard Malphus pipe in which went unheard.

She didn’t want the ghost following her around especially not be present when Alex and she were talking. Malphus had promised to disappear if things did turn funny.

Alexander folded the paper before placing it in the desk to look at her.

“Katie did anyone bother you in the mansion. Anyone,” he asked her to which she tried remembering but shook her head as nothing had actually happened.

“What about the girl in the attic?” She heard Malphus speak, “I should have seen her face properly.”

“Hmm,” she heard Alexander humm for an answer, “This came for you today,” he said giving her a letter which was named to her by her friend Annabelle.

“Why don’t you go back to your room. I will ask Martin to send your dinner up to your room,” he said to her.

“Thank you,”she said as she got up and opened the door.

“I asked Katie to go. I don’t remember asking you to leave,” she heard Alexander speak making her turn back at him while he looked at the ghost next to her.

Both Malphus and Katie looked shocked.

Alexander could see and hear the ghost all this while!