Chapter 10

Chapter 10

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ANDREAS’ POV

I haven’t been at the back of the palace for such a long time. The last time I came here was when I was a kid and it was even accidental. This part of the palace is the least taken care of. Less guards patrolled the area with the thought that those deadly sharp tree branches that had overtaken the whole back of the palace would be enough to stop any intruder. That’s why whoever hid the body of this dead woman found it easy to sneak in without the guards seeing him or her.

Father stood beside us, his eyes filled with horror as he looked at the dead woman in front of us. Her limbs were at odd angles and her neck had two red spots. We did not need to come close to see that those were vampire teeth. Whoever did this to this woman is a vampire.

Father was right to get worried.

“Bring father inside, Philip,” I asked as I removed my coat and gave it to Aiden. When I turned to look at Philip, he was just looking at the woman too. Fear laced his expression and I had to call him again to get his attention.

He flashed a disoriented smile in my direction, his gaze unfocused. I understood why.

“Bring Father to his chambers,” I repeated and he blinked. After a few seconds, he realized what to do and immediately ushered Father back inside. It was then that I faced the guards.

“Spread out and comb the surroundings. Alert me immediately if you find any clues,” I told the royal guards. A subtle exchange of glances passed between the guards, their expressions telling me that they’ve yet to accept the new authority.

‘Starting today, I shall be overseeing every knight’s activities. Including investigating murder cases that might be happening quite often now that I heard vampires have swarmed the area. So unless you want to be the next victim, get your as ses to work.”

They immediately sc att ered and searched the area. With their number, they should be able to finish the search in a matter of minutes, but I know they won’t find anything. The criminal most probably killed this woman somewhere else and dropped it here. For whatever reason, I’ve yet to find out.

I sighed as I crouched in front of the dead woman’s body. Aiden stepped close behind me, standing like a statue–as he was trained to do.

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Dread lined his voice as he whispered, “Please, tell me I’m mistaken. Is this the same woman you brought home last night?” Aiden’s voice was almost a whisper.

I gave a dreadful nod and he muttered a curse.

“You didn’t happen to kill her, did you?”

I looked at him incredulously. “You think I would do this?”

He raised his brow. “Well, that was the reason you brought her home at the manor. You wanted to kill her. If this is not your doing, then who is behind this?”

My gaze went back to the two dots- a vampire’s bite- that allows it to drink from its victim’s blood. Is this just a coincidence that the woman I was trying to kill died after I decided I shouldn’t kill her? Is this also a mere coincidence that the way she died, and the way her body was positioned was very similar to that of how Philip’s mother died?

Is this just a ploy to taunt the King who still has haunting nightmares about the death of his wife? The King is not very well liked by his own people so anyone could have a motive. Anyone could have done this out of spite. Furthermore, vampires have been swarming the Veridian Capital and one of them could have done it. After all, wolves and vampires never got along.

“Why did you want to kill her, anyway?” Aiden asked.

“She was one of the handmaidens who took care of my mother when she got sick and eventually died. My mother was poisoned and the handmaidens were responsible for bringing her food.”

“You sure you did not do this?” he asked again and I stood.

“If I had done this, I would not have made it this messy.”

Aiden nodded as though I made a point. But it was true. I had indeed planned to kill this woman last night but I changed my mind when she confessed she had a husband and a kid waiting for her at home. I couldn’t possibly

rob a child of a mother.

“What are you going to do now? The Royal Guards don’t seem too fond of you.”

My hands delved into my pocket, retrieving the familiar weight of my pocket watch. “It’s nothing new. They’ve never liked me.” I extended my hand and Aiden handed me my coat. “They wouldn’t be of much help. I’m going

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to find out who did this.” I jerked my chin to the guards who were busy searching the area. “That can keep them busy. Stay here and keep an eye on them.”

I did not wait for Aiden to say something. In an instant, I was gone. Even though I only got half of my wolf abilities, they are strong enough..

I ended up in a quiet alleyway. Some people were on the street, sleeping on folded papers. Some were in the dark corners, whispering to each other as they exchanged something in their hands. When they both saw me, they muttered a curse and immediately disappeared in the dark.

Despite Veridia’s stature as a formidable kingdom, it harbors its share of darker corners. This specific part of the Capital is a testament to the unpleasant parts of Veridia. This is where the underbelly thrives, evading the watchful eyes of the law. It’s the realm where shadows are darker, hiding the illegal practices that fueled this neglected district.

My measured footsteps resonated through the narrow alley, the gritty pavement beneath my boots absorbing each careful stride. The air hung heavy with the scent of dampness and distant whispers, enveloping the path I ventured into. I kept my senses alert but I knew I didn’t need to do it as I sensed the presence of a vampire nearby. After years spent on the frontier lines dealing with their kind, I could easily discern the smell of a vampire from a mile away.

It could be just an ordinary vampire who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or this could be the vampire I am looking for. I stopped walking and the homeless people around me started to scuttle away. It could be because they know and fear me or perhaps, as wolves, they sensed the presence of a vampire nearby.

When the alley was clear, I looked straight ahead.

“Come out,” I called.

There was silence at first. But then the figure appeared in front of me too quickly that I almost did not see his attack coming.

I grabbed his arm and slammed him against the wall, my hand tightening around his neck. He started to thrash. but I lifted him up, his feet leaving the ground.

“Who are you?” I asked, voice low.

He continued to grunt. I know these kinds of people. They will not give you a straight answer unless you force it

out of them.

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Without any hesitation, I drove my fingers into his chest, my nails tearing flesh and finally holding his beating

heart.

“Give me a straight answer or you’ll lose this.” I squeezed his heart for emphasis.

He grunted but then finally, he said, “Dreyfus.” I don’t know any man named Dreyfus.

My eyes narrowed. “Why did you attack me?”

Instead of an answer, he grinned. “To prove what I’ve been suspecting all this time.”

My hand tightened around his neck. “Did it prove anything?

He chuckled and then grunted before shaking his head slightly. “No. But to see you up close is already an

achievement for me.”

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I muttered a silent curse inside my head. This man knows me. Not me as the legendary warrior but me as someone I’m trying to hide.

“If you know me then you also know that people shouldn’t know who I am,” I said and he nodded, eyes suddenly becoming serious.

“Of course. I know everything–”

Before he could even say something more, I snapped his neck. It won’t kill him but it would render him unconscious for a few hours, buying me enough time to figure things out.

“You can’t be let out in the open,” I muttered as I dropped him to the ground.

Now I need to do something about him.

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