8 Assemble

Niklaus is a shapeshifter and a very strong one. His sense of smell, his eyes and even his sensitive ears. All he needed was just a whiff of Riley's scent and what better way to get it than from the person who has had the most contact with him, lord Darien himself.

Niklaus quietly snuck up behind him in the disguise of the crowd of specialized shapeshifters that also wanted a scent to follow. He knew lord Darien's scent and all he had to do was pick out the unfamiliar scent.

He hadn't expected what came next. The intoxicating smell that hit his nose was indescribable. He was now more serious than ever to find Riley. And so he closed his eyes and followed his scent directly to the point where it was strongest.

Kai used his bloodline ability space magic to teleport himself into the room where all the important reports were made and documented. Once he got ahold of the files concerning lord Darien's son, Riley, he teleport himself into a space which he created and only he could enter. It was where he came when he wanted to be alone. The design was a replica of his bedroom but more spacious.

After thoroughly reading the files on Riley, twice, he was filled with ambivalence. Kai had to stop and take a deep breath then process the information again. Riley, age 14, male and bloodline ability unknown. The son of demon lord Darien and possesses the rare double red. Red silky hair and ruby red eyes, his scent intoxicating. He was reported to have last been seen in the orientation hall wearing a black cloak given to him by Maxwell who was assigned his protector. Reason of his sudden disappearance is unknown and his current location is unknown.

Kai placed the files back in its folder and teleport to the orientation hall. He knew it was impossible for someone commanding that much presence to have made it anywhere near the second or third year halls without being noticed by Louis and Niklaus and even more impossible for Riley to be in the first year halls without being noticed by him.

Therefore, only one place is left to look, the orientation hall. Kai was sure his deduction was accurate. He used his space magic to filter the entire room and that's when he saw it. A crack in space and it was slowly widening, Kai wasted no time as he stepped right through.

Louis was taking a more violent approach in getting information. He went straight to the detention hall to pay a visit to Grayson a second year demon he had wanted to personally discipline for a while now, but the latter kept getting away. Of course, if Louis was the least bit interested in him, the probability of escape was zero. However, he was in no rush and had a long line of victims to choose from.

"Hello Grayson…" Louis tortured the demon until he spilled everything he knew about Riley, which didn't take long. Louis was sorely disappointed in how easy he caved.

He soon arrived at the orientation hall and froze the entire room using his bloodline ability ice magic. He looked around until he saw his ice cracked, he knew exactly where to go.

•••••••

Riley who was still asleep in Lincoln arms suddenly got warmer as his body temperature rises. Lincoln who had been closely watching him was quick to notice.

He carried Riley to the bathroom and stripped him of his clothes. He made sure to prepare a cold bath for him as he bathed him and shamelessly studied his body. The mark of the butterfly on his back was complete and big enough to cover his back easily.

However, something puzzled the boy as he looked at the crimson butterfly imprinted on his back. It was normal to be drained of energy and fall unconscious after a blood binding contract, but the mark was a clear sign that the contract was completed.

Why then was he not able to feel this newfound connection? And Riley should have awoken awhile ago. Lincoln knew he would be hungry and needed food.

This house was actually Lincoln's prison and he had been asleep for a very long time so no food was kept here. He had to leave this space prison if he were to feed his master. He was fully prepared to do so without a second thought. But, Riley's rising temperature was of great concern. Lincoln was also troubled as to why he couldn't sense his connection with Riley at all.

Thinking it was about time he took Riley out of the cold water, he lifted the boy in his arms but immediately had to place him back in. He was burning up. Lincoln filled the tub with freshly new cold temperature water. After just a few seconds the water became warm and Riley's temperature had skyrocketed at an alarming rate.

"Master! Young Master can you hear me?" Lincoln worriedly called out. When he received no answer he bared his fangs and bit into Riley's neck. Something unexpected happened as Lincoln was suddenly thrown into the wall by an extreme force.

Lincoln's breath was knocked out of him and for a moment he lost consciousness. He quickly recovered and stood up. He felt like his throat was on fire after barely tasting his young master's blood.

Something strange was definitely happening, it was as if his body is being burnt from the inside out.

A blood contract was a binding connection with another demon. However, there was one requirement for it to be done. Both demons needed to possess power beyond any average demon. In other words they needed to be incredibly strong.

If this requirement was not adhered to then they would immediately die. Lincoln knew full well of this. Nevertheless, he was not the least bit concerned about such things. From the very moment Lincoln saw Riley, he wanted to serve him and him alone.

This peculiarity was not caused by the blood binding contract, but something else.

Lincoln returned to Riley's side as he once again refilled the tub with water and placed a small towel damped in cold water on his forehead.

Before he could continue to observe his young master something else had his eyes darkening. He sensed the presence of three intruders. With a gentle kiss on the cheek he left his blood magic butterfly to watch over the sleeping Riley.

Kai who was now at a mansion surrounded by roses was about to enter through the front door when a hand stopped him.

"What are you doing here?" Louis asked his younger brother.

"Brother! What are you doing here and let go of me" Kai replied.

"Ahh so your both here too huh?" Another voice from behind said. The two brothers turned and looked at the demon with utter surprise clear on their faces.

"Niklaus?!"