|| Chapter 1.10 || The Beating Heart

In the middle of the night, Cadel rose from the bed and left his room. The darkness in the hallways looked as if it was luring him in. He walked barefooted, careful not to let any sound slip. Mary was still awake, fixing some of the broken furniture within the basement. It looks like she would be up all night. While Cadel walked, his gaze drifted to windows. The darkness swallowed the forest. If it weren't for the moon, everything would be pitch-black, including the hallways where Cadel was walking. The young man's shadow embellished the dark floors like a lost spirit.

Arriving at his destination, Cadel stood before a door. His eyes looked sideways in the hallways, paying attention to any sound. And expressionlessly, he entered the room.

Throughout Luke Vermillion's life, he didn't really know much about what this particular room was. It looked to be a bedroom, but it was wider and simpler. Mary had always cleaned every room in the manor, and this wasn't an exception. This room used to be the room of Luke's parents. The estate wasn't the Vermillion family's permanent home but a secluded place where they would go in hiding.

Cadel drew his brows together as he assessed the room. There wasn't even one picture of the two people within the room. Cadel only shook his head and began searching the room.

Kerpuffle: Host, what are you looking for?

Cadel rolled his eyes as his hands began knocking on the walls. "Let me work."

Kerpuffle: But I can help-

"Aha," Cadel smirked when he heard a hollow sound on the other side of the wall. His blood-red eyes searched for any hidden anomalies on the smooth surface. One of the lamp sconces looked crooked. He reached for it and yanked it downwards.

Click!

In the next second, a passageway emerged on the floor before the wall. The floorboards separated revealed an old dusty staircase surrounded by cobwebs.

Cadel pressed his lips together. He wasn't impressed. "Typical..."

"You were saying?" Cadel spoke to the system with a raised eyebrow.

Kerpuffle grumbled: Nothing...

"Thought so..." Cadel chuckled before he began to descend the stairs. His bare feet met the dust, and he waved his hands to get rid of the cobwebs obstructing his path.

Cadel lit a match and a candle that was placed on a stone ledge embedded on the wall. His fingers brushed off the cobwebs and dust of the match before he lit the candle. Warm light illuminated his surroundings faintly. Coughing softly, Cadel ventured deeper into the narrow passageway. It was such a poor way to hide a room.

Finally, at the end of the passage, he stood before a doorway of a spacious room.  He couldn't see clearly because of the darkness, so he entered the room and raised the candle.

Old bookcases lined the walls. A desk was situated against the wall in the northern part of the room. There were suspicious papers, documents arranged on the table. Rats scattered on the floor before Cadel's presence. They swiftly entered the holes and crevices on the wooden walls out of fear.

Cadel found the switch for the lights. However, he wasn't surprised when it didn't function. Searching the drawers, he found a candle lantern and lit it, placing it on the side of the desk.

"Interesting..." Cadel's eyes slightly lowered. Propping his face on his palm, he browsed through the information.

The data contains lists of ingredients for formulating an unknown drug. However, Cadel couldn't thoroughly read the entire document because the author used coded writing to confuse strangers who would discover the information. The corner of Cadel's lips twitched, stretching into a smile. Of course, deciphering coded messages and writings wasn't a problem for him. Luke's parents weren't as simple as he thought.

Cadel stretched his arms and began collecting the documents. He decided to decipher them in his attic, where he was most comfortable working. Before he left, he took out a random book from the bookcase and left the underground study.

The next day in mid-morning, Cadel sighed in exhaustion as he shook his hands, gazing at the documents scattered on the floor. He was working on translating the information, unraveling surprising secrets, in the attic. Outside, the weather was cool and perfect for a short stroll. Although Cadel wanted to go out, he was too lazy to go outside or even climb down the window. This quiet and comfortable life was making him extremely lazy. And he didn't even have the strength to complain.

The young man sighed, tapping the end of his pen on his rosy cheek. When will that little fool come?

.....

Navigating on the road, through the mountainous terrain, a black car drove in secrecy. The driver glanced at the young master, sitting silently on the backseat. He grew curious about the young man's actions.

"Stop here," Cedric said. And the driver muttered a sound, obeying.

They pulled over to the side where the dense forest awaited them. The bodyguard worriedly glanced at the young man taking a large bag out of the trunk.

"Don't come looking for me. I'll be back after a few days." Cedric declared, entering the dim forest.

"Young master, but the patriarch-"

"I've spoken to my grandfather. I'll call when I come back." Cedric didn't give him a chance to say another word before he disappeared within the thick trees and lush vegetation.

The towns around the mountains were warned not to wander around the forest in the day or night. Ferocious animals roamed within and would attack anything that would come close to their territory. However, Cedric wasn't afraid. He's shed enough blood to forget his fears.

Under the cloudy skies, which were concealed by towering trees, a lone figure navigated through the forest. Even satellites couldn't locate the hidden manor. Cedric had to rely on his compass, digging through his brain as he tried to remember the way. Unfortunately, the trees and plants had changed so much within the past two years. It was more challenging to find his way. Furthermore, Mary, that robotic caretaker, must have planted several traps and altered familiar routes to confuse travelers.

Cedric's eyes narrowed. It didn't matter. He was going to see him. If he couldn't, then even one glimpse of his figure was enough.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Kerpuffle: Host! Host!

Cadel groaned. His nap was rudely interrupted. He almost pulled his hair in annoyance. "What?!"

Kerpuffle: He's approaching the manor!

Cadel:... Who?

Kerpuffle huffed, 'Cedric Grey!'

"Ah..."

Kerpuffle: Ah?

"Ah, shit!" Cadel abruptly kicked all of the papers under the rug hurriedly left the room.

Fuck! Mary had just finished setting up the traps around the manor. There were lethal enough to kill a whole crowd of people in less than a minute. If he could get him in before he could trigger the traps, Cadel could safely lead Cedric out of harm. Cadel leaped down the staircase, scaring the wits out of Mary, who was carrying a basket of laundry to the lower floor.

Her eyes widened, "Young Master? Where are you going?"

"No time!" Cadel huffed as he swiftly left the staircase and rushed out of the manor's entrance.

Meanwhile, within the woods, a young man gazed at the skies while patting the dust from his pants. Behind him are three large holes gaping from the ground. Fifteen feet deep, a series of sharp spikes waited at the end of each hole.

Cedric could tell that they were recently built. Luke's caretaker had become too cautious. Perhaps, she had heard about the news that had been circulating the world. Cedric wouldn't blame her. If it were him, he'd do the same.

He continued on his journey—crossing rivers and avoiding predator-infested parts of the forests. He had encountered many obstacles. However, he didn't have a drop of sweat on him when he overcame them.

Finally, Cedric's steps ceased. His chin lifted, and he somehow recognized the route leading to the Vermillion's hidden manor. Although there were now many shrubs surrounding the area, he could picture them for how they were two years ago. Exhaling, Cedric continued. This time, his steps were quicker, and anticipation boiled in his chest. Soon...

Suddenly, there was a flash of light, and Cedric stopped in time to witness three sharp metal stakes fly before his face and pierced the tree at his right. Only a few centimeters of the end of the stakes protruded. It was evident how deep it burrowed. If Cedric didn't stop on time, those things would have shot through his neck.

"..."

He had already expected this. The closer he was to the manor, the more dangerous it was. Mary had really gone beyond his expectations. He was slightly impressed.

Cracking his neck left and right, Cedric braced himself.  In the next second, he swiftly rushed onwards. The air buzzed, and twigs snapped. Multiple traps were triggered, sensing his arrival. But not once did the hunter falter. The attacks failed to wound or injure him. He was like a snake, slithering through the cracks and narrow tunnels of a tree.

A full hour passed, and he felt that he was near. The path had turned clearer.

Suddenly, a rustle sounded. Alarmed, Cadel turned his head.

Snap!

A tree branch broke and fell in Cedric's way. A loud sound noises throughout the area. Cedric was unable to avoid the big thing that fell on his body. He crashed to the ground. The skin beneath his clothes was scraped raw. He was caught off-guard, but he didn't feel threatened. His hand slipped into the knife belt on his calf.

"Arghhh"

This voice... a person??

Cadel blinked his eyes and waited for his vision to adjust. The person on his body struggled to rise, placing his hand on the ground behind Cedric's head while he groaned. It sounds like he was in pain.

When his vision cleared, Cadel widened his eyes, and his breath left his throat.

Cadel drew brows together. A faint halo of light outlined his figure. His white hair curled in whorls, and his ruby eyes dazzled, reflecting Cedric's stunned expression within.

Heartbeat quickening, Cedric's breath hastened. His hands curled into fists, grasping the tiny rocks and dirt trapped within his palms. The young vampire before him was like an unreachable dream. Something so precious and desirable that no one will be able to obtain... not even himself. He wanted to monopolize him and take this person for himself. At the same time, he wanted to cherish him and be lost in his captivating charms.

"C-Cedric..." His name squeaked out of the youth's mouth. It sounded heavenly and endearing.

Cadel was finally conscious of how close they were. Their breaths mingled. Their noses touched. Their chests pressed against each other, and they could feel each other's heartbeat.

"Hi..." Cedric spoke. The coolness in his eyes broke, and his gaze turned soft.

Cadel stopped, lost within those gentle eyes. Ah, they were exquisite.

Cedric's arms wrapped around Cadel's torso as he slowly rose, sitting on the ground. Cadel slid until he was straddling the younger man's thighs.

Their postures were quite ambiguous. Cadel couldn't help but blush.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a glare of light flashed at the corner of Cadel's eye. His hand moved before he could even think, and he caught a long thick needle before it could make its mark. One of the traps was triggered.

"...!" Cadel abruptly met Cedric's surprised eyes.

"..."

For the first time, Cadel felt shy under someone's deep intent gaze. He lowered his head slightly while peeking at the hunter underneath his lashes. Ugh... Why am I acting like this?

And... Why did it feel like he forgot something?

"Blergh!"

Cedric's eyes turned bloodshot. Red splattered all over his chest. And the young man on his body was tightly covering his mouth. However, it could not stop the blood from slipping between the gaps of his fingers.

"Fuck..." Cadel cursed.