What Crime?

Without giving out a shocked expression, he replied, "Mr. Norman, I would not take your words to heart; if only the councilman knew what I meant." Norman's brow furrowed, not knowing what Edward meant.

The councilman's interest peaked upon hearing what Edward was saying. "What do you mean, Mr. Turner?"

"Everybody knows that since Mrs. Norman passed away, his mental health has not been stable, and he keeps seeing things that did not happen."

The councilman now watched Norman skeptically with raised brows. "Really?"

"Don't tell me you believe him. He--"

"Enough of it, Norman." Deadpanned the councilman who squatted to Eddy's level.

He whispered just enough for only him to hear, "Why don't I make you an offer? Willingly give me some drops of your blood, and I promise you a safe passage out of town." Baring his fangs at Edward.

As the angels are holy beings, legend has it that even just a little drop from a willing angel can make a creature very powerful, unstoppable and almost immortal. But up until now, no one has ever taken blood from an angel without force, as angels rather prefer death over it.

"Forget it." Edward spat on his face, now glaring at the councilman, who wore an angry face.

"Take him to the dungeon." He ordered, "I doubt that he will last a week there when Kegan finds out about his refusal." Saying the last part to himself.

The townsfolk, who had gathered after hearing the commotion, bickered amongst themselves. Some were curious about what their friendly neighbor had done, while others were curious about the whereabouts of his family.

"What crime did Mr. Turner commit?" One of the townsmen dared ask the councilman, but the head of the town who had been around was the one who answered.

"Mr. Turner is an angel." His deep, throaty voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.

The bickering increased.

"Aren't angels holy beings?" One of the women whispered to her friend.

"He has been nothing but good to everyone." Another woman commented.

The councilman hearing the continued whispers got annoyed and ordered, "Silence!" The voices quieted down, not because they didn't have anything more to say but because the person in front of them was a vampire with the status of a councilman while they were just mere, lowly humans.

He continued, "I am sure you're all aware of the rumors about these angels trying to take away our lands from us and turn us into their puppets. I doubt any of you'll want to turn into slaves." The whispers started again, but that didn't stop the councilman from saying, "The council is just taking precautionary measures. If you'll excuse me, I've got work to do."

Even after the councilman had left, the whispers still continued, and rumors spread like wildfire even before dusk. Some of the townsfolk who had heard the councilman speak agreed with him, while others neither agreed nor disagreed.

During the time of night when none of the townsfolk could be seen outside, in the forest, the councilman stood with another man who wore a cloak.

"Lord Kegan, I'm afraid that the angel is unwilling." The councilman informed.

"Then what have you called me here for?" A threat in his voice, "It seems like you are lacking in doing your work, and I won't mind putting someone with no tardiness at work."

"My apologies." He bowed deeply. "I thought you might want to know about it as you were passing this way."

Kegan hummed before asking, "Are you sure that you caught the right fish?"

"Yes, my lord. He had left his old town to live in Branchwood for the same reason, as I also confirmed from one of the townsmen who had his own suspicion." He paused. But remembering an important information that he missed, he added quickly,

"The man claimed to have seen the angel with his daughter, who was also an angel. But I brushed it away, as the man was said to have been delusional since his wife's death, and my men only found one angel." The councilman explained with a thoughtful look.

"And who told you this, Louis?" questioned Kegan with narrowed eyes.

"The an…gel" He frowned while placing the dots together in his head.

'I had been tricked.' He thought.

How could he have missed it? The angel was too smart for his own good. While taking the bait, he had bought enough time for his family to escape.

"I wonder what I keep paying you for if you'll still continue to be a fool with no brains."

Louis bowed in apology, mentally making a note to give Mr. Turner a painful punishment. "I'll have my men look for them."

"Hang the angel to death in front of everyone. That will serve as a warning." Louis looked shocked.

'What about the angel's blood? Didn't he want it anymore?'

As if reading his thoughts, Kegan affirmed, "I have nothing to do with people who are of no use to me." An underlying meaning to his words that made the councilman gulp down.

The councilman watched the lord's silhouette disappear before making his way through the forest to the dungeon.

In the dungeon, he came to stand in front of one of the cells, and the dungeon keeper who held the lamp hung it on one of the stands before opening the cell's gate.

Edward had been beaten so badly that dry blood was now stuck to his face and clothes. He didn't bother to check who had come to pay him a visit, as even a slight twist of his body would make him end up with a throbbing pain.

His hands were chained to the walls of the cell, and he stayed with his knees on the rough floor and his head bowed.

"My men did a great job on you," Louis said with a hum of approval, as if liking what he saw. "Did you change your mind?" He asked, but got no response.

Edward winced in pain when Councilman Louis roughly gripped his face to look at him.

"Your death day has come even earlier than I anticipated. Isn't that good? Tomorrow you can finally go back to your true home." A wicked glitz in the man's eyes. And seeing the angel give out no reaction, he went on to add, "You lied about your family, but then my men are already out to find them, questioning every coachman that left town."

In Lasburgh, Belle had already fallen asleep in her room because she was really tired. They covered part of their journey on foot. Piper didn't want the coachman dropping them off at Zack's place; she knew anyone could put her and Belle in trouble.

Now alone, Piper stood watching the night outside through the window, looking at a distance and lost in her thoughts. But then she asked out of the blue,

"Do you think I'll see him again?"

And Zachariah, who had been watching his sister, walked towards her. "It's hard to say."