Arthur

“Hm…” Sila was in a deep ponder as she stared at the dismantled body Arthur and Edmund brought back. Not too far from the metal bed where the body is placed on and Sila who was standing beside it, Arthur was leaning against the wall of the forensic room while gazing at Sila and the body.

“Good evening.” Arthur muttered, shocking Sila from her ponder.

“Wha-?! You surprised me, Duke.”

Arthur giggled. He sauntered to her before scanning the body while crossing his arms over his chest.

“So, did you find anything?”

Sila shook her head. “Have been staring at the body for about an hour now, but still couldn’t let the fact sink in.”

“Yeah.” Arthur grinned. “That’s why I come to see you. All the other researchers have gone to have lunch and you’re still cooped up here in this antiseptic infested room.”

“Hey, don’t underestimate antiseptic supremacy. They are a great wound disinfectant.” Sila retorted.

“Pfft- Even though we can just lick our wounds and healed it?”

Sila hissed. “Then try to lick you own back, moron. I created antiseptic to disinfect parts that were hard to reach by our tongue. If your tongue is long enough to reach those parts, then feel free to lick your own wound.”

“Whoa.” Arthur raised his hands. “Okay, calm down there. I was just saying. Not trying to judge your eligibility as the royal vampire researcher or anything.”        

Sila huffed. “I know. I am just triggered because I still couldn’t find the rationality in your statement. You said this criminal is killed by magic beast, how is that possible?”

Arthur shrugged. “I don’t know too, to be honest. Was about to share memories with Edmund but he suddenly had some matters to attend.”

Sila unexpectedly groaned. “You’re lucky you got that share sense going on between you guys. I too want to see a strong magic beast!” Her groaning turned to wails. “All I have ever seen is a bird magic beast. I want to at least see a bull or a rhino!”

“A rhino?” Arthur contorted, but Sila is too stressed out to hear him.

“That’s it! I’ve had enough of this!” Sila stomped her feet to her work desk. “The King might not believe my report but that is the only thing reasonable right now.”

Arthur snickered. “I told you to just write about the criminal died from getting ravaged by a magic beast, yet you didn’t listen.”

“Of course, I didn’t listen! Look at that body.” Sila passed her gaze from the empty report paper to Arthur before pointing at the body.

“That corpse is a vampire, that is supposed to had its body disperse into air when they died, yet even looking like that, it still didn’t turn into ash.”

Arthur’s face slowly tightened after hearing Sila’s statement.

Sila added. “Either that wasn’t the criminal or another person, or the magic beast’s sorcery passed the higher level where it can hold off a vampire’s body degradation.”

Sila’s addition caused Arthur to feel a chill down his spine. But that chill wasn’t for him, it was for the old man that is still living in those dangerous woods.

Arthur

By the time he was going to sleep, Arthur is still troubled by Sila’s newly brought information. There is no doubt that the dead body is the criminal as what stated by Edmund, but if his Little’s observation is proven to be wrong, then there is a criminal—with ongoing case of human murder—lurking inside those woods. But if the dead body is really the criminal’s body, there is another problem. If the beast is powerful enough to hold a vampire’s bodily degradation, then the old man Charles is exposed to another danger.

Who know what the magic beast can do to an old and weak human like him? As someone who had never encountered a magic beast before, Arthur can just hope that the magic beast isn’t hostile.

“Sire?” Edmund’s voice sounded muffled from behind the door. It snapped Arthur from his daze instantly, and he told Edmund to come in.

“Sorry for being late. I have to return to my mansion to change my clothes.” Edmund bowed down a bit to his Master.

Arthur gaze at Edmund emptily for a few seconds, before gradually, weaving a smile to him. “You could have just wash yourself here, you know?”

Edmund broke into a chuckle. “I can’t possibly do that, Sire. You are quite busy these days after all.”

“WE are quite busy these days.” Arthur was sitting on the sofa inside his bedroom before he stood up and went to the bed. Then, while heaving a loud sigh, Arthur plopped himself on the king-sized bed and commented on how soft the bed is.

Edmund chuckled as he saw his Master’s behaviour. He had known Arthur for many centuries already, and his behaviour is still childish sometimes, despite being among the ancient vampires of the Moon Sector.

“By the way,” Arthur rolled around to face Edmund’s direction. Edmund was taking off his clothes and hanging them inside the closet before changing into a pair of satin pajama that Arthur had prepared for him.

“The investigator said that they found evidence of the nobles who are involved in the human trafficking case.”

“Really, now?” Edmund shot Arthur a look of disbelief. “That’s a huge step. I thought that case had already ended.”

Arthur shook his head as a response. He stayed still while waiting for Edmund to head to his bed and pulled him close when he’s leaning in to sit down. The two are now laying on the bed, facing each other.

“It’s not, actually.” Arthur caressed his Little’s matured face. The current Edmund looks different from when he first bought him in an auction, where he is just a young boy. As the year went by, Edmund grew up to be a splendid gentleman, even receiving Arthur’s blood to be one of his children after the Little’s contract is terminated.

The Edmund in front of him meant everything for him; from his Little, to now his most trusted advisor and work partner.

Arthur continued to caress Edmund’s cheeks as he added, “A few days ago, some of the watcher reported an increase in missing human population at the border between the Moon Sector and the Sun Sector, the Middle Region. That is why the royalty though that the human trafficking case is still ongoing.”

“I see.” Edmund answered simply, actually enjoying Arthur’s touch on his skin. It was probably due to the Little’s tendency still lingering inside him, but Edmund loved being in contact with his Master. It was different than sexual contact, for Edmund, he just wants to be as close as he can to Arthur, like a child to his mom.

“So, does that mean we have to investigate that too?”

Arthur heaved a low sigh. “Probably. The King requested us to go to the palace tomorrow. Life is sure a pain.”

Edmund giggled at Arthur’s remarks.

“It can’t be helped. We are one of the King’s close aides after all.”

Arthur nodded in agreement.

The two went still after that and just stared at each other’s face.

“Oh, right.” Arthur suddenly dragged himself up and scooted closer so his head could rest on a pillow. He then invited Edmund to lay down beside him.

“Come here. I am dying to see this powerful magic beast you had mentioned.”

Edmund chuckled shortly, while he also scooted to where Arthur motioned to. They both then laid down again, this time sharing one pillow together.

Arthur wrapped his arms around Edmund’s waist and pulled him closer, causing Edmund to suck a shallow gasp while he placed both of his hands on his Master’s chest. The two of them then went still, their eyes gazed into each other for a long time until at one point, Arthur saw Edmund’s pupils dilated and one of his pale orange eyes darkened to take in his red hue.

Arthur weaved a gentle smile. “Looking forward to watching your memories, Ed.”

Edmund’s heart skipped a beat. The former Little still finds it enjoyable to hear such calls from his Master. With a slightly glowing cheeks, Edmund nodded shyly and brought his face closer. They both pressed their foreheads together and closed their eyes.