Chapter 229 - The Creator

I watched how JJ picked a female server with a red chrysanthemum on their lapel, and tried to decipher the complicated feelings that rose in me when I saw the young woman blush and smile from something he said as he led her outside of the hall. As if feeling my eyes on him, just before the crowd hid them from my gaze, JJ turned to throw one last look at me.

Someone else might have been defiant, challenging, I thought. Something like "this is my nature, grr, accept it!". I've seen that in plenty of romance stories, since half of the stuff I read features some supernatural, and often pretty monstrous, beings as the male lead…

JJ just looked calm. Maybe mildly worried, or curious, or both. Just that single glance from him suddenly made me realise how small and insignificant my concerns were. It wasn't the good comparison, but I was positive that JJ wasn't jealous of the canapes I enjoyed so much, and it made about as much sense for me to be jealous of the people he bit, whether or not they were young and pretty girls.

My cupcakes were also fresh and pretty, and neatly arranged on their plate. I threw my concerns away and went back to enjoying food. I had almost emptied the plate when someone interrupted me.

"Leave someone for other people, you," a woman said and reached to snatch the last four canapes from the plate. Then, she gave me a scrutinising look from under her thick eyelashes. "Hm, I know you. Your face was all over the news a few months ago."

I scrutinised the woman right back, frowning at her unfriendly attitude. She looked to be in her thirties, and was tall and lanky, with deep green eyes and skin so pale it was like she never got outside. Or was a half-vampire. She wasn't, though—that woman was a witch, and from a first glance at her well, one with a big talent. As big as Ghost's, I'd say, and he was just a hair-breadth away from being an arch-witcher.

But most notable feature of the woman was her hair. It was put together in a thick ink-black braid that coiled loosely around the woman's neck like a scarf. If she uncoiled it, I was sure that it would fall to her knees. It was astounding.

It didn't change the woman's bitchiness, so I responded with that of my own, though for now I kept it in check—there was no need to antagonise someone potentially powerful or influential too much. "You know me, but I don't know you… And there are plenty of canapes around."

"But these are the last ones with cream cheese that aren't spicy," the woman retorted. "I'm Eve Ziffer, unaffiliated to any coven and not known to anyone except for the researchers actively working to expand my chosen area of magic."

"I chose these for exact same reason." I smiled, forgetting all about Eve's surliness. We had similar tastes in food… why not bond about this, really? "But these cupcakes are also delicious, too. They are with vanilla custard inside."

"Oh?" Eve's eyes gleamed. "Good."

She said nothing else, just wolfed down a canape and snatched a cupcake from the table. I followed her example, then asked, "So what is your chosen area of magic?"

"Seals. I'm an expert at this. In fact, I was the one who created the aggression-dampening seals on this place," Eve gestured around with a hint of pride gleaming in her eyes, "though I couldn't perfect the work in the timeframe I was given to finish the task. The seals still require a witch to operate them manually, but that, at least, not my problem today."

"This is amazing! I know next to nothing about seals, except that they are so complex I feel like I won't get them even if I spend a century on studying," I admitted, looking at Eve with new respect. "How come you aren't in a coven, though? I've never seen anyone without one."

She snorted. "It's better to do things on your own than to have morons who don't understand a thing in your work to interfere with every step. Now, let me ask you a question, too. I'm gathering data on the results of my work for this place. Actually, the question wasn't for you, but for your companion…" Eve frowned and looked around. "Did he run away? Fine, I will ask you instead. The opinion of an arch-witch is important, too. Besides, other vampires I asked weren't very accommodating."

"I can't imagine why…" I murmured under my breath.

Eve smiled wryly. "Yes, I know that social interactions aren't my forte. I have someone else for that, but he couldn't come for health reasons, sadly. So, a quick survey, Diana?"

I nodded. "Go on, ask."

"Did you notice any interference with your emotions from the seal?"

I shook my head no. Eve moved on. "Did you notice anyone else, especially a vampire, behaving abnormally today, or expressing signs of physical or mental distress without a reason?"

"Well… JJ, the vampire you were looking for, noted that the spell grated on his nerves. But overall, nothing seemed out of place with him or anyone else."

Eve hummed. "Not outside the limits of possibility… Very well. You must've looked at the spell by now yourself. Do you have anything to say about it?"

I pursed my lips. "It's very oppressive, it feels like. It doesn't affect me, but it looks like it chokes every vampire here, even if they don't notice. And I also think that when they leave the area, all that pent-up aggression will burst out."

"Yes, yes." Eve nodded. "Cornellio is aware of that and prepared warnings. A flaw in design I didn't find how to fix yet. When you and your companion leave, I recommend him to find a safe outlet for that aggression."

I wasn't listening very hard, because I opened my well to look at the spell again. Yes, it was still oppressive, though no vampire seemed to be very harmed. I checked the other guests, just to make sure, and then paused when, at a look at a man's aura, my intuition rang a warning.