Chapter 80

80 Something Unknown

Caspian waited for Anastasia to speak further words but she seemed to be stuck. So he gave a questioning glance and asked, “Yes? You were saying something?”

“I...” Anastasia tried to say it again. But she was feeling so nervous that the words refused to come out of her mouth.

She took a deep breath in and instead of saying what she really wanted to say, she asked, “Can you show me around the capital? I don’t even know what Sorvando’s capital really looks like.”

“That’s it?” Caspian didn’t think that that was what she really wanted to ask.

However, Anastasia nodded her head and further said, “I want to see what the streets and buildings of the vampire kingdom’s capital look like.”

“I might be biased when I say this, but our capital looks superior to others.” Caspian gazed at Anastasia and said in a whisper, “It will especially look beautiful when you observe it from the sky during the night. Shall we fly around the capital tomorrow night?”

Anastasia thought for some moments. She leaned to rest her head on the sofa, and then she replied, “Let’s do that some other time. As for tomorrow, why don’t we take a short flight during the day? You know... just so I could get used to it.”

“Hmm...” Caspian pretended to think even when he had already decided. And he agreed to her, “How about two in the noon?”

“Sounds great!” Anastasia showed her enthusiasm.

.....

Caspian then asked her, “Sometimes the meeting in the court can go on for a bit longer. So, if I don’t come to pick you up by two then come and find me in the court. We will head out from there.”

“You can come here after you finish all your work. You should not leave before finishing your duties just because I said that I want to roam around.”

Anastasia didn’t want Caspian to make her his first priority because she didn’t want the councilmen and the ministers to think of her as someone who was a hindrance to the King.

However, Caspian shifted closer to Anastasia and rested his head on her chest. And he said while listening to her heartbeat, “Duties can wait. It’s mostly about taxes and criminals and something boring anyway. Come to the court sharply at two and rescue me from that boredom, will you?”

Caspian smiled because he could hear Anastasia’s heartbeat rising.

Anastasia took a deep breath in. His hair smelled really great, like some sweet flowers. So she caressed his luscious hair and whispered, “Okay, if you say so.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Caspian then suddenly looked up at her and asked, “Earlier, did you say that Aunt Edith and Hamilton both drank in front of you?”

Anastasia subconsciously wiped her upper lips and asked, “Yes. W-Why do you ask?”

“Nothing. It just that you...” Caspian straightened his back and said, “You are giving off a faint scent of blood.”

Caspian cleared his throat and then got up on his feet. He was starting to feel the hunger for blood and was getting fidgety. So he quickly said, “I haven’t had dinner yet. So, I will take a leave. And I think I will sleep in my chamber. I umm... I have some readings to do.”

Anastasia could tell that he was trying to avoid her due to his hunger. And she knew what might have aroused his hunger. So she pressed her lips together and gave a nervous smile. “Goodnight then.”

“Goodnight,” Caspian managed to give her a smile before rushing out of the room at the speed of the wind.

—

The next day, Caspian wanted to see his wife in the morning and then apologize to her for running away yesterday night.

However, right when he was about to head for Anastasia’s chambers, he was informed by Zenon that a certain situation had arisen in the Silver Keep.

Zenon vaguely said that Caspian had to personally go there to investigate. He also followed Caspian as he was more knowledgeable in such matters.

When they reached the Silver Keep along with some Royal Guards, a few villagers had gathered around something in the middle of the road.

The villagers bowed to the King and gave way.

Caspian saw a dog that was lying lifeless there. He glanced at Zenon and asked mockingly, “So this is what we came here to investigate? Am I supposed to find out the murderer of this dog?”

Zenon nodded and replied with all seriousness, “Yes, something like that.”

Caspian kept on raising his brows at Zenon, waiting to hear what he had to say.

Zenon pointed his brows at the dog and then asked the King, “Don’t you think it looks a bit weird?”

“Yes, it looks weird. Because it’s dead!” Caspian was now glaring at Zenon thinking he dragged all of them to the Silver Keep for something that stupid.

Zenon shook his head and tried to clarify, “It does not look like it was killed by an animal. And neither does it look like it was killed by a human or a vampire.”

Caspian suddenly furrowed his brows and looked back at the poor dog. And he asked, “Are you suggesting that...”

“I’m not sure what did that.” Zenon then spoke in ‘code’ with Caspian, “I don’t think that a wolf did that because it’s not a full moon yet. Also, the smell... you don’t smell them, do you?”

Caspian sniffed a few times and then shook his head. “I don’t smell them.”

Zenon turned to look towards the woods and further said, “There are some broken trees in the woods. And it looks as if something deliberately snapped them down.”

“So what are you suggesting?” Caspian turned his gaze at the far away woods and asked Zenon in a grim voice.

Zenon heaved a sigh of frustration. And he replied in an equally grim and confused tone, “I don’t have an answer. All I can say for now is that we might have something lurking in this area. Something that is... mad? And strong.”

Caspian clenched his jaw. He didn’t like it that some unknown creature was roaming freely inside his Kingdom.

Zenon turned to face the King and asked, “What are your orders, Your Majesty?”

He glanced at Zenon and then ordered him, “Ask the commander to accompany you in this investigation. Take as many men as you need. Find out who or what is running rampant in my territory. And if it’s something dangerous, feel free to kill it on sight.”

Caspian narrowed his eyes and further added, “Especially if it’s a wolf that has somehow learned to hide its stench. You know that they possess their strength even when it’s not a full moon.”