Chapter 92 - Year 1887

When Roman returned to the manor, the main door was opened by the Moltenore's family's butler. Compared to how things were when he had first come to live with his father and the rest of the family, people's behaviour towards him had changed in many ways. 

"Welcome back home, Master Roman," greeted the butler with a bow. The man's hair had turned completely grey, his skin slightly wrinkled. He stepped behind Roman, helping the young master remove his coat, and hanged it on the stand. "Was Mr. Trosney not at his place?" asked the butler in a polite tone. 

"He had guests to entertain. I will visit him later," said Roman and made his way inside the manor. 

The butler closely followed his young master from behind while keeping a good distance as he was only a servant who served Lord Moltenore's family, while the boy was the Lord's son. 

"Lady Petronille has gone out to buy jewellery for this evening for her with Lord Malcolm," informed the butler, "They left a few minutes ago, and Master Tristan is in the study room. 

"I am right here, Edison," came the male voice of Roman's half brother Tristan, who stepped in the corridor. He was as tall as Roman, his hair black, which both the boys had acquired from their father. But his eyes were hazel in colour that he had received from his mother, Lady Petronille. "I am so glad that you are here. Edison bring us tea to the drawing room," he said to the butler away to spend time with his brother. 

Both Roman and Tristan walked next to each other in the corridor, and when Tristan went to place his hand around Roman's shoulder, the younger brother slightly glared at him. Lacking the experience of anyone touching or hugging him when he was young, Roman didn't like anyone touching or hugging, an action that he found to be uncomfortable. 

And even though Tristan knew it, he put his arm around his brother with a smile on his face, "I am trying to see which one of the clothes I should wear. Brown or grey?"

"Both of them are going to make you look old," commented Roman, and Tristan chuckled. 

"I knew I had bad taste. I should probably ask mother when she returns. Which one are you wearing?" asked Tristan.

"The usual black. I don't think you should dress yourself so much, it might bring you trouble," commented Roman, his voice nonchalant yet indulging himself in the conversation. 

"Sometimes it is so hard to understand what you are pointing to with your words, Rome. It's just simple clothes," stated Tristan with a bright smile, compared to Roman, who rarely smiled. 

"Father and mother are planning to get you engaged and married to Mr. Robins' daughter, who has recently come to a marriageable age," Roman notified his elder brother, and Tristan nodded his head. 

"So I have heard. But I have the matter covered," Tristan waved his hand as if there was nothing to worry about. "I think if I said yes, I would be haunted by Piper for the rest of my life," he laughed, thinking about it with a thoughtful expression on his face. I have been waiting for the right time to break the news to our parents. I was thinking maybe tomorrow morning. What do you think?" 

"Do whatever you want," sighed Roman, tired with the conversation. 

"When I was of your age, I was more enthusiastic about meeting girls. Hasn't anyone caught your fancy?" asked Tristan. Entering the room, the brothers took a seat on the comfortable cushioned chairs. 

Roman stared at Tristan for two seconds before he gave a nod, "There's a woman, who has caught my attention." 

"Tell me more about her," a wide smile appeared on the elder brother. 

Roman replied, "It is the woman who is lying on Mr. Trosney's examination table. She died in some mysterious circumstances with no blood in her body. Mr. Trosney is checking with her muscle tissues."

Tristan stared at Roman, his mouth parted while the smile on his lips died down. He shook his head, "I wasn't speaking about the subject of the dead, Rome. Really, what am I going to do with you. You know we worry about you. Father is planning to involve you in his work, one that doesn't involve sick people or operating bodies. Mother isn't happy that you keep visiting and spend time with the bodies. She might not tell, but she's worried that you will fall sick."

"She will come in terms with it one day, similar to the time when you plan to drop the news about you and Piper to them tomorrow," Roman raised his eyebrows, and Tristan smiled. 

"Does it make you happy? Working with the physician?" asked Tristan, wondering if it brought his brother peace of mind by helping the people who were in need. 

Tristan was aware that even though the people in this manor had accepted Roman to be part of the family, it wasn't the same outside this manor. Though most people didn't speak or mention how Roman was born, the look on their faces gave away what they thought about his younger brother. 

"It's interesting," responded Roman. 

The butler arrived in the room with a tray in his hand. The tray held a teapot filled with hot tea and teacups on it, along with a plate of biscuits that had been baked this morning. 

Roman then said, "It is good to see the way how a body functions and what is inside it. Like a treasure box, and if you take anyone out, the rest of them fail." 

Edison tried to keep a straight face while he poured the tea in the teacups and offered it to the Moltenore brothers. Most of them in the manor had gotten used to the way the boy sometimes spoke oddly, and they were still learning to ignore it as if they heard nothing. 

"I don't think I could ever be able to look into an opened up body of a person. What is the progress of the case? Any new developments?" Tristan asked before bringing the teacup to his lips and taking a sip from it. 

"It looks like a case of an animal bite," stated Roman, his gaze steady as he watched the butler leave them alone in the room. He then continued, 

"The magistrate has an absurd imagination that it's because of contamination. The body of the woman was found on the edge of the forest and when I checked with the officer, he said when they found the body it was sprawled near the tree. Similar to a tomato being kept under the sun for long and dries up with no liquid in it. Mr. Trosney said that the town's authority will be closing the case as it has already been more than two weeks."

"That must be terrible for the family, to not know what exactly happened to the person. If it was really an animal attack, wouldn't there be some blood spilled on the body or in the area?" questioned Tristan, enjoying the conversation with Roman about their town's news.

"That's the only thing that makes me doubt that it was a natural death," replied Roman, his eyebrows subtly knitting together in thought. 

"Well anyways, if I am being introduced to meet the girl, I want you next to me. I know she will be charmed by you, more than me. That's one way to solve the problem," said Tristan with a smile. 

A small smile appeared on Roman's face, and he sipped the tea.

When the evening started to approach, all the families, who had been invited to the soiree by the Arthur family, started to get ready. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur's had arranged a grand dinner, as their daughter Lauretta was getting engaged to a reasonably wealthy man from another town. 

In the Moltenore's manor, Lady Petronille was helping her husband wear his bow, standing in front of him. 

"Today is an important day for us, and I hope things goes as we thought it to be," remarked Lady Petrnollie, who was already dressed. "She's a beautiful girl, and fairly educated and polite in nature. I am sure there are many mothers who want to take her home by marrying her to their sons."

On noticing his wife's anxiousness, Lord Malcolm placed his hands on her shoulders, "It will be fine, Petronille. Tristan is our son and he has all those good qualities in him that a girl would appreciate."

Lady Petronille nodded her head, a sigh escaping from her lips. 

"I know, but one cannot help but worry," said the Lady before telling her husband. "I will go and see if the two of them have gotten ready. I trust Rome to be ready, but Tristan must still be finishing those papers that you gave him."

Lady Petronille stepped out of the room, making her way down the stairs. Heading to Tristan's room, she knocked on the door and asked, "Do you need any help, Tristan?"

When she opened the door, the room was empty, and she frowned. Turning around, she walked away from there and met the butler, "Do you know where Tristan is, Edison?" 

"Master Tristan went outside a while ago, milady," replied the butler and Lady Petronile gave a questioning look. "Did he tell you where he was going?" 

"No, milady," answered the butler, and Lady Petronille nodded her head.

"Okay," and she started to walk on the ground floor, making her way until the end of the corridor, and she stood in front of the room. Raising her hand, she knocked on the door and noticed the room was slightly open. 

Pushing the door, Lady Petronille saw Roman standing in front of the mirror, trying to tie the tie.

"It's good to see that out of you two, I have one less person to worry about," stated Lady Petronille. She then asked, "Do you need help with that?" 

"No, I am good," said Roman, his eyes catching sight of Lady Petrnollie standing in front of the room. But though he said that, he continued to figure out how to wear it around his neck. 

"You are doing it wrong, let me do that," said the woman and stepped inside his room. Making her way to where he stood, Lady Petronille got him to turn around so that he faced her. She took the tie that rested around his shoulders. "It isn't bad to take others' help when you need it." She gave him a brief look before her eyes fell on the tie. 

Roman and Lady Petronille had not started their years together as expected, but with many years that had come to pass, the woman had taken the mother's role in his life. Not entirely, because in one corner of her mind, the lady still felt the prick in her heart. But sometimes, even a little gesture was a lot. 

Roman stood in front of the woman, letting her help him wear the tie around his neck. Once she was done, she was about to place her hand on his shoulder but dropped it to her sides, knowing how much he enjoyed his personal space. 

"I heard that you have been hovering around the physician's workplace again. Does your father's work not interest you?" questioned Lady Petronille. 

"I think it would be better to let Tristan have the title as he is the older son. It suits him better than me," stated Roman, knowing the Lordship's title could go only to one person in the family. 

Lady Petronille didn't speak immediately, letting the words sink in her mind, before she said, "You are both inheritors of the Moltenore's family. And as much as you hate people's company, I think like your brother, you are someone many people look upto."

Roman's lips twitched, humour entering his eyes, "I am happy dissecting things."

"Okay, if that is what makes you happy. But you can always return to take the title, if ever the time comes in the future. I am sure your father and brother would agree to it too," said Lady Petronille.

"I will keep that in mind, mother," responded Roman, and the woman nodded. 

"Good." 

She didn't want to treat Roman as an outsider.  Knowing he had no one else but them in this world, Lady Petronille had stepped into the role, making him call her mother. 

Lady Petronille then said, "You have come to the age too now, it isn't too bad to mingle and talk to girls who catch your eyes."

Instead of replying to what she had asked, he said, "I think you should check with Tristan if he wants to meet Mr. Robins' daughter. He is unaware that you have plans about having plans of proposing the idea of the family merging together after tonight's soiree." 

A frown appeared on Lady Petronille's face, and she asked, "Why do you say that? Don't tell me Tristan is skipping today's soiree."

"He's not," said Roman. 

"Do you know something, Rome?" 

"I think it would be better for you to speak with him than with me about it," he gave her a heads up. Turning away from her, he walked to where the shoes were placed and started to wear them. 

Lady Petronille stepped out of the room, making her way towards the hall when she saw her elder son entering the manor through the main door. She placed one hand on her waist and gave him a stare. 

"Where have you been Tristan Moltenore? And what happened to your hair? Did you fall down from a tree?" she questioned him. 

Tristan quickly weaved his fingers through his hair. "I went to get some fresh air, mother. What's the matter?" he asked her with an innocent smile. 

Lady Petronille stared at her son, her eyes narrowed before she said, "Just go and comb your hair. I will talk to you later." 

"Of course, mother," Tristan quickly offered a kiss on her cheek and went to his room. 

When the four of them were ready, Lord Moltenore and his family got into the carriage and rode to Lady Laurett's mansion, where the grand soiree was being held. Many elite families had already arrived, their carriages had been parked at the side in a line. 

Before people could even step into the mansion, one could hear the music that spilt out from the open windows and doors. Women and men were dressed in their finest clothes and jewels that adorned the women and girl's necks. The atmosphere was one of merriment, where the town's richest folks had been looking forward to attending since the party had been announced. 

The Moltenore's family stepped inside the mansion, where people greeted Lord Moltenore and his wife with great glee and their elder son. But when it came to the younger son, their smiles turned upside down. Many believe it was a shame, not only because he was the Lord's son but also considering how handsome he was turning out to be. 

Some parents, especially the mothers, would have offered their daughter's hand in marriage to the younger boy. But knowing he had been born in such a disrespectful way, they were hesitant about it. And as much as these mothers tried to educate their young daughters about it, the daughters couldn't help but look at Roman Moltenore. 

Roman didn't stay around to greet the people with his parents. He walked away from them, making through the wide hall and corridors of the mansion, where people stood talking to each other and enjoying themselves. 

Noticing one of his friends, who stood at one side of the room, he walked there. 

"Maximus isn't here, he's with his uncle," said Simon, whose red hair had been neatly combed the same as Roman's. He looked like a young man who had been brought up with good manners and etiquettes. 

"How's the matchmaking season going?" questioned Roman, standing next to Simon and looking at the people who were near them.

"So far, boring. I was hoping to see something more exciting, but it seems like any other soiree where people have nothing but endless gossip that I have already heard about," commented Simon with a pleasant smile on his lips. 

After five minutes, Olivia appeared at where they stood, along with a girl next to her, whose eyes fell on Roman. 

Olivia complained, "I am tired of my mother dragging me all around to introduce me to every person."

"This is your age to shine, Olivia," teased Simon with a chuckle, which she didn't pay heed to. 

"Do you like me to bring you something to drink or eat?" asked the girl with long blonde hair and her gown that had swept the floor before coming to stand near Roman. 

"No," came the crisp answer from Roman. 

"I would like to have a glass of liquor," said Simon, and the girl glared at him. 

"You can go and get it yourself instead of putting me into trouble, Simon," said the girl. 

"So harsh, Victoria. Is it because Rome is special and we aren't?" The red-headed boy poked at Victoria, who excused herself from there. 

Olivia glared at Simon and asked, "Do you really have to do that? Every single time."

"What did I do? I was just asking. When did asking questions turn out to be offensive?" asked Simon. "Am I not right, Rome?" 

"Don't drag me into it," responded Roman. His eyes had caught someone in the crowd. It was the same man he had met in the morning when he returned from the market. "What do you know about that man?"

Simon shifted his gaze to look at the person Roman had asked about, "The one with the dark green coat? I heard came here with Maximus' uncle. Apart from being wealthy, I heard they both hold a very high position from where they come. Even our beloved magistrate is in awe at their presence. 

"I can tell," remarked Roman. 

Simon turned to him, "Why do you ask?"

"No reason," replied Roman, staring at the man from a far distance. The man turned his head as if feeling Roman's eyes on him, who then offered a slight nod. 

There was something very odd about the man, thought Roman to himself. He had met peculiar people, but this man named Azazel Donovan had a different air around him. 

Roman looked away from the man and said, "I am going to get something to drink."

While walking, he met his brother's lover, who seemed like she was trying to get away from there. When the young lady, older than him, turned in his direction, she placed her hand on her chest as she had not expected to see a person in front of her. 

"Roman," the young lady greeted him.

"Ms. Martin," Roman greeted her back, and just when he was about to step away, the young lady raised her hand. 

"Do you know where Tristan is?" asked Piper. 

"No, clue. He must be searching for you or standing next to my parents," he replied in a monotonous tone. 

"I didn't find him standing next to Mr. or Mrs. Moltenore. Don't tell me both of us have been running in circles," the young lady sighed and then said, "Mrs. Getrude was supposed to finish stitching the gown yesterday, but its belt is not done. She said she's trying to add pearls in them. Now I am stuck with this, and with a man who my mother thought would be a suitable suitor for me." 

"Seems to be fun for everyone," said Roman. 

"Those are really supportive words for your future sister-in-law," said Piper, a smile appearing on her lips when she caught Tristan in the crowd. "I will see you later," Piper said to Roman, who gave her a nod, and she went to where Tristan was. 

While making his way through the crowd, where one room on the ground floor was filled with men and women dancing to the music with the same steps, Roman left the place to get away from the noise and the voices of all the people to have some needed peace for himself. 

Climbing the stairs, Roman was walking past the room when he heard two men, "What do you mean by we are not starting it now? It's the perfect time!" 

"Shut up, and lower your voice! What we are doing is pinning the blame on them. I don't want you getting us caught! The others have already taken position and we'll be doing it one at a time. A place with so many people where the older vampires are present, is not a good idea. So wait for my cue."

"And what if we get caught before that? You think those old ones cannot differentiate between us and humans?" 

Roman heard a smack sound, "I will fuck you up before you try to fuck up, you got that?! Just listen to what I say. Let's go now." 

Hearing the footsteps of the people heading towards the door, Roman quickly stepped away from the room and went to the other room while wondering what that was about. It was a strange conversation that didn't make sense. 

People continued with their merriment, dancing and listening to the musician's music in the mansion. Not having anything particular to do, Roman stood on the patio of one of the rooms. He stared at the buildings of the town while looking at the forest that stretched at the horizon. 

Roman, who had leaned towards the railing with his hands resting on it, noticed something move in the darkness of the forest. 

His back straightened when he noticed the dark trail to the left side from where he stood, where the other houses and manors were located. With his eyebrows furrowed, he went back inside the room, stepping into the corridor and made his way down the stairs. 

"Where have you been, Rome?" questioned Maximus, who had left his family's company. 

"Above. Did you see Tristan?" asked Roman, while his eyes were looking through the crowd. 

"He must be at the front or maybe away with Piper," replied Maximus, "Everything alright?" 

"Yeah," replied Roman, and he stepped out of the mansion, taking a look around the place, which was surrounded by lots of trees that joined the forest. But he saw nothing to be unusual. He wondered if he had imagined what he had earlier seen. 

"Rome, what are you doing here, instead of being inside?" 

Roman turned and saw it was Lady Petronille. She was with another woman, "Getting some fresh air. Are you going somewhere?" he asked her. 

"Yes, Madame Tabitha wanted to see the silver and gold gown that had been made by Lady Getrude. She is leaving tonight and won't be able to visit the dressmaker's place, we'll be back soon," said the woman and Roman gave her a nod. "Your father said he would drop us."

"Your husband seems to be a very loving man, to be with you all the time," said Lady Tabitha and Lady Petronille only smiled. 

Roman saw his father walking past the door. He then placed his hand on Roman's back and said, "Are you bored."

Roman shook his head and said, "I am fine."

Lord Malcolm offered his younger son a warm smile, and he said, "If you want to get back home, you can ride with us. I know you don't like these things very much. Your mother used to be like that too."

Roman watched them leave in the carriage while he stood there for a while before getting back inside. After spending some more time with his friends, he noticed a new man had joined Azazel Donovan, speaking to each other with a pleasant-looking smile on their lips. 

After a few minutes passed, Roman looked for the two men he had heard arguing inside the room. 

But the men were nowhere to be seen. He checked the ground floor before climbing up the stairs once again. Standing at the patio, he looked to his left and noticed a little glow coming near the centre of the town, and the frown on his face deepened. 

"AHHHHH!!!" 

"HELP!" 

Roman turned back, hearing screams coming through the room's door. The music had abruptly stopped, leaving nothing but screams to reach one's ears. 

When he dashed outside the room, he noticed two injured people lying on the ground, with their neck bleeding and part of the flesh on the neck had been bitten. Hurrying himself down, he noticed a few men and women sucking on people's necks. When one of the men pulled his head away, Roman caught sight of blood trickling down the neck. 

Suddenly, Donovan appeared in front of the strange human, throwing the man against the wall. There was too much blood, and the place filled itself with people screaming. Chaos and death filled the air. 

He noticed Olivia, who laid on the ground with a bleeding neck and her body trembling. 

"Olivia?!" Roman ran towards her and helped her to sit. She looked like she was about to pass out any second. 

Olivia murmured something that he didn't understand. He got closer and finally heard her say, "Run." 

He noticed too many bodies lay on the ground, and he didn't know where the other people he knew were. Some of them who continued to suck blood, he realized they were going to come at them soon. Gritting his teeth, he put her hand around his shoulder and said, "I will take you home. Mr. Trosney will know what to do." 

Roman stepped out of the mansion carrying Olivia in his arms. He caught sight of people fleeing away from the mansion, some in the carriage and some by their feet as they ran as fast as they could. 

He kept looking around to make sure no one was coming to attack him or his friend. Once they reached Olivia's house, Mr. Trosney, who hadn't come to attend the soiree, was shocked. 

"Olivia! What happened to her?!" 

"There has been an attack and she's lost a lot of blood," informed Roman in a hurried tone and said, "I should go and check my home, please lock your doors and windows. Make sure to not open the door for anyone!" 

Roman ran towards his family's manor, hearing people's scream all around the town. Two houses were on fire, burning brightly. On his way, a man came to stand right in front of him. The person had blood-red eyes and canines that were longer and sharper to look at. 

"You are the people who killed that woman two weeks ago," Roman's voice was low. 

"It's good to see there is one less person who isn't screaming," said the creature, heading right at Roman to suck his blood out. 

But Roman used all his might to stop the person's mouth from getting close to him. He struggled to get up as the person had pushed him to the ground, and suddenly a painful scream escaped from Roman's mouth when the human who looked like a strange creature, dipped his hands into Roman's stomach. 

"Such a stubborn boy," chuckled the creature and said, "Would you like to turn into one of us? Why don't you drink some blood from me and I take a bite?" 

Roman felt drops of blood fall into his mouth, and right on time, someone from behind hit the creature's head and then staked the creature through his chest.  It was one of the women from the town, who wheezed for air, "You need to use a wooden stake. They don't die without it," she said to him. 

He looked frantically for the nearest stick while more creatures came into view, threatening to kill the woman and him. As his hands trembled in a rush of adrenaline, Roman picked up the wooden stake and pushed it into one of the creature's back. 

As sharp pain shot up from his abdomen, Roman limped to get back to his home to let his family know about what was going on. Finally making it home, he saw the door was already open. Stepping inside, he noticed Edison, their butler lying cold on the floor and a cold and drowning sensation engulfed his body. His hands numb and a resounding beating of his heart thumped in his ears as he moved frantically to check his home.

Roman had his hand on his stomach, which had now turned red because of the blood that was leaving his body, and he was feeling faint. 

"Father! Mother!" Roman shouted in the manor, which echoed. "Tristan?!"  A feeling of dread erupted from his chest as he continued to limp around the manor.

He frantically searched for them, and when he finally saw them, his hands turned cold.

His parents laid on the ground, eyes open, bloody lips, surrounded by a pool of blood that left their bodies. Roman quickly made his way to where they were, bending down to wake them up and to take them to Mr. Trosney's house. But when he placed his hand on their necks, he didn't feel any pulse. 

Only an hour ago, he had spoken to both of them. They couldn't be dead. He stared at them, the shock of what had happened starting to sink in his mind and tainting it with blood. 

Roman closed his eyes, feeling the pain and anguish hit him as he had never felt before. His hand shook as he raised it towards them and closed their eyes. 

When he turned his head, he saw the woman who had accompanied his parents to the manor, only that she looked different as her head was severed from her body. 

"Mother?! Father?! Rome? Are you here?!" 

Hearing his brother's voice, Roman stood up from where he had crouched earlier, his heart growing heavy with every passing second. 

He flinched in pain, limping and walking in the direction of where he had heard his brother's voice. But halfway there, Roman started to sway because he had lost too much blood from his body. He tried to walk as much as he could. 

"Tristan!" Roman shouted, "Get yourself to a safe place!" 

"Where are you?!" called Tristan in haste, not realizing he had alerted one of the night creatures who had stepped inside the manor, looking to hunt more people. 

Roman finally saw Tristan, who stood on the other end of the corridor. He was glad to see that his brother was unharmed, and Tristan looked at Roman with relief washing on his face. Tristan then informed, 

"There are creatures hunting us! We must leave now! Where's mother and father?! What happened to you?" 

Before Tristan could walk towards Roman, one of the rogue vampires came to stand behind him. Roman's gaze was blurring, unable to keep up with his failing body. 

"Behind you!" Roman exerted his remaining energy.

But it was too late to react, as the vampire pushed his hand right through Tristan's back, and dropped the human's heart on the floor. 

"No!" Roman's scream echoed in the manor, noticing the light in his brother's eyes leave and slowly turn hollow. 

Roman's breathing turned shallower before he fell cold on the ground.