Chapter 45 - The Truth About Her Brother

"I don't understand what you're talking about, sir." Jasper smiled at the commander as he sat slightly leaning forward. It was almost time for Jasper to drink blood so he was very restless. Caesar came unannounced and he wanted this meeting to end quickly. He was a little confused as to why Caesar wanted to meet him instead of the Duke.

"We have a strong suspicion that the cursed weapon taken from Rasputin's lab is now in the hands of your family, sir," Caesar was friendly to him.

Petrovsky resumed his plans for the benefit of Avalon. He had to confirm the existence of the cursed weapon in order to map the power between Florentia and Avalon. Besides that he wanted to see for himself what Jasper Dubois was like. Was he as strong as Amelia's commander says?

"Sir, the Dubois have never had any cursed weapons wielders, I didn't even know about it recently. That's the wrong question to ask us," said Jasper confidently. His eyes don't lie. He had only learned about cursed weapons in the last few weeks.

"What about Valor Dubois?"

"Who?"

"Valor Dubois, he who joined the Florentian military at the Taverin war, my lord," explained Caesar.

Jasper thought for a moment, he knew that it was Valerie's alias. Avalon could guess anything but it was all for nothing if their family didn't admit it at all. It was not a crime that could be brought to justice. They won't be able to prove anything.

"I don't know him, you know that I hardly ever leave the Dubois mansion..I may have a distant relative by that name, but I don't know," Jasper shook his head lightly.

"Didn't you visit the Taverin a few weeks ago?"

"I'm not a knight, sir..I have no reason to be there," said Jasper, starting to find it difficult to hide his anger. Caesar had no right to investigate him that far. What he did at the Taverin was none of his business.

Caesar smiled calmly at Jasper's evasion. He couldn't force Jasper Dubois to admit it.

He noticed the look on Jasper's face and his demeanor. Jasper had a much paler complexion than the other vampires. The pupils of his eyes were currently constricting showing a palpable uneasiness. Bluish veins protruding around his temples and the backs of his hands. His nails were blue too. He had almost reached his limit and reminded Caesar of a barrel of petroleum ready to explode.

Caesar several times met people like Jasper in Avalon. But he felt Jasper might be stronger than them.

"It must be hard for you, sir,"

"What?" Jasper seemed to be trying to calm down.

"Living in Florentia society with having to kill humans almost every day. It must be very hard for you to live life as it is now," said Caesar.

Jasper's expression turned furious, his lips pursed and he looked at Caesar sharply. He did not immediately reply to Caesar's words. His tongue was numb. Did the Avalon knight know what happened to his body?

"None of your business sir..You'd better go when you don't have anything to say anymore." Jasper got up from his seat.

"Avalon has people like you, sir Jasper. We can reduce the symptoms your transformation causes. . . maybe you can even reduce your need for human blood," said Caesar again.

"Our maid will escort you out, sir," said Jasper again coldly.

Caesar smiled, he nodded and walked out of the room. Although he didn't get any confession from Jasper, he knew that Dubois did have the cursed weapon. In a war situation, Florentia was allowed to take the sword as the war bounties. Avalon could not bring it back except by force.

Besides, Jasper Dubois would probably make a fine specimen for Rutherford's research. The Dubois family had a lot of potential. They were also not very hostile to Avalon.

"Sir Caesar?" A girl greeted him, and put on a worried face. She waited for a while while he met his brother.

"Lady Valerie," Caesar bowed.

"Are you about to go?" Valerie asked doubtfully.

"Oh, are you asking me to stay for a while?" Caesar said in an ignorant tone.

"It's not like that, sir..I'm just worried that Jasper doesn't make a good host, he rarely meets people" she evaded. Valerie could feel Apollo's sword reacting. She hoped that Caesar wouldn't notice.

Caesar then reached into his pocket and took out the scarf he had borrowed from Valerie yesterday. He then gave it to the girl who looked a little nervous. Caesar guessed she was blushing. Even though the girl was only wary because Caesar was her enemy.

"What did you say to Jasper?"

"Hmm? Just confirming a few things. I'm concerned about your brother's condition..Avalon has the facilities and knowledge to help him and I offer him. But he refused. Too bad,"

"Sir, I don't understand. Are you making fun of my brother's weakness? He was weak but he was responsible and a good heir," Valerie snapped.

"Weak? What do you mean, my lady? Your brother is not weak at all. He's probably stronger than all the Florentian knights out there," Caesar looked confused.

"What?"

"My Lady, did your brother not tell you anything?"

Valerie felt stupid. Was Caesar playing with her? Why did he say that Jasper was a powerful vampire? Though he couldn't even last long in the sun. But Valerie had also several times suspected that there was something different about Jasper. Her father and mother often evaded when Valerie asked.

"You have to explain it to me, sir..what happened to my brother?"

Caesar looked thoughtful. The girl showed high curiosity. She really didn't know anything about his brother's condition.

"I'll tell you if you willing to take me for a tour in Lapella,"

"What why?"

"I just got here, I want to know the interesting places here. Accompany me and I'll tell you everything I know. How about it?"

"What? But sir, didn't you hear that I was dating Raphael Chastain?" Valerie folded her arms as if Caesar had said something inappropriate.

"Just as a friend, won't Raphael allow it?"

Valerie smiled bitterly. He knew that Caesar and Raphael were enemies. Of course the commander would not like it. But as a Florentian knight, Valerie felt compelled to know. Raphael wouldn't mind if she sniffed out information from Avalon's side right?

"Okay sir, I'll guide you, you can pick me up tomorrow afternoon," Valerie agreed.

Cesar smiled elegantly before bowing to Valerie and leaving. Caesar was a veteran when it came to seducing women. If he managed to lure Valerie, then it would only be a matter of time before the Dubois family switched sides.

***

In a dark corner in the hills that was almost never touched by human hands, gathered mysterious figures with large bodies.

The barren land and cold air made it a place no one wanted. Crops couldn't grow, and livestock won't have anything to eat. There was also no discovery of valuable mines underground. The location was also not strategic so the hill was never considered to exist.

But behind the boulders hide the outcasts. Human predators. A vampire who didn't care if the victim was a boy or a girl. Later they also enjoyed human flesh.

krauk krauk krakkk...

There was the sound of them grinding the cartilage from the joints of the human bones they had caught. Their teeth were sharp and strong so they could break a human skull easily and sip the contents of the cranium.

"Haaa... I'm still hungry..." The voice of one of the figures seemed miserable. No matter how much he eats. Although now his body was very large with a bulging stomach as if it was about to explode. He was never satisfied.

"I just brought you two humans this morning, and that wasn't enough?" Said one of them who had a slimmer body but very long arms like an ape.

They were shadows. A vampire monster created by Daniel Rutherford of Avalon. But this shadow was different. They could not be controlled by the Avalons and have their own will. They were intelligent, very strong and dangerous.

"I want to go berserk, Wrath. I want to kill Rutherford," said the distended Shadow after burping.

"I forgot who I was before.. why am I never satisfied with all the humans you bring," complained the distended Shadows again.

Back then, they didn't have names. Avalon just gave them a number code to tell them apart. Those who could not be controlled were gathered by Wrath, one of the first Shadows to escape.

Avalon knew that some Shadows had escaped. They were still trying to catch them. But the intelligent Shadows managed to trick them.

"I'm tired of hiding, Wrath! I want to throw a tantrum!" Glutton shouted, he was the pot bellied Shadows with hairy arms.

"Calm down, soon you'll be able to rampage to your heart's content. Envy was already in Lapella. He was going to have a few things ready before we could party..there was Avalon's secret lab there where they hide Shadows like us.. We will free them and gather our brothers," said Wrath again with a sly grin on his face.