“Then how?” Shin asked no one in particular, his voice shaking just a little.
Daniella said, “Papa Marco has his private eyes and ears. He has a network of people working for him all over the place.”
“True,” Shin said. “And now we’re in deep trouble.”
Daniella nodded in agreement. Turning to face the brothers, she cleared her throat and said, “There’s no need for you two to accompany me. I mean, it’s only me they want to see, right?” She chuckled uncomfortably. “All right, now off you two go to your rooms.” She placed her hands on Ren’s chest and proceeded to urge him away.
Ren didn’t budge even an inch and grinned softly. Daniella saw the smirk and glared at him. She said in exasperation, “Ren, please, leave immediately. If you do not, I will be very upset.”
Shin rolled his eyes. “If you want us to run with our tails between our legs and hide, you’re sorely wrong.” He puffed out his chest and said, “I’m a man, and a man must face the consequences of his actions.”
It was Daniella’s turn to roll her eyes. “Shin, it’s not the time to be brave. Remember the last time we were punished?”
That reminder made Shin pale immediately. The last time the both of them were punished because of their misadventure, which was destroying important evidence for some high-profile case, they couldn’t walk for a week. All because they had wanted to help.
At the time, they had been whipped into shape by not only Li, with his beastly wolf’s tail lashing at them with such an intense supernatural force, but also Marco’s Death Whip, a powerful iron-blooded chain. Not to mention Maiko’s knives being haphazardly thrown at them while they had been tied against spinning targets. Every throw had made them wish for death. The mind teasing had been enough to drive them mad. Those knives, too, had grazed many parts of their bodies, only missing killing them by an inch.
Shin looked as if he were thinking about taking Daniella’s recommendation and bolting. Ren, however, refused.
Daniella wasn’t going to give up on her endeavor to save her friends’ hinds and gathered her internal qi and concentrated the energy on her palms, forcing Ren to get his legs moving. She was working so hard that her palms started to glow a golden halo. But of course, Ren still didn’t budge. When he did voluntarily shift his leg to tease her, Daniella lost her balance and found herself flying forward, smashing herself against the brick wall of his manly body.
With her face buried against his chest, she grumbled in discontent. When she raised her face to look up, intending to scold him, he was watching her, his smoky eyes glinting with amusement.
Daniella blushed at the intimate expression, her heart racing a little. With her voice low, she said, “I’m trying not to get you two into trouble here.”
Ren grabbed her hand in his, and said, “Whatever punishment we’re getting, I’m sure I can handle it.” He glanced at his younger brother. “Though I’m not sure if Shin can,” he said doubtfully.
Shin snorted. “If you can, then so can I.”
Noting that Shin took the bait, Ren said, “Come on,” and led Daniella toward the stairs. Shin followed behind.
As they ascended the stairs, Daniella stared mindlessly at Ren’s large hand clasping hers. He felt warm and strong, and oddly enough, he made her feel safe and protected. Against my own foster fathers? She didn’t know, but she did know she savored this precious moment.
A few seconds later, Daniella felt her feet falter at the entrance of the private guest dining room. She noted two intimidating figures sitting at a table, one of them with a dark scowl on his face.
Marco Romano—with black hair, olive skin, Roman nose, and a pair of deep-set blue eyes—was both darkly handsome and intimidating. He wore a scowl so furiously frightening that Daniella was sure even a high demon would tremble in fear at the sight.
Sitting beside Marco was his partner Zhang Li. Though Daniella knew her second foster father was disappointed in her for not telling him the truth of her endeavor tonight, and was undoubtedly wearing what was supposed to be a furious expression on his face, he looked anything but that.
As one of the Sacred Beasts of the East, his person was lean and refined, and his face was, one would say, beautiful. Indeed, the man whose age was undefined couldn’t look anything but gorgeous and serene.
Li’s eyes lit up the moment he spotted Daniella at the door. He made a move to get off his seat to go to his foster daughter, having been worried sick for her wellbeing since the unwelcome news late that evening came from one of Marco’s men, the Shadows, a confederation of blood alchemists, martial artists, and assassins.
Marco caught his hand, thus preventing Li from making his intended move, demanding he stay put. Li frowned at his partner, but didn’t disobey.
Daniella licked her lips, and after hesitating, giving both her foster fathers a meek look, stepped toward them. Ren and Shin followed behind her.
Once she was a few feet from them, she got down to her knees and kowtowed, her head bowed low in respect. Shin quickly did the same, while Ren stood solidly behind them.
Daniella said, “I’m sorry, Papa Marco, Father Li. I... I didn’t tell you what I was up to, and I...”
Shin intervened, his voice low and just a little bit shaky, “We thought if we didn’t act now, we’d never get another chance.”
Daniella raised her voice so there was no doubt as to whose idea and fault it was. “It was my idea, Papa Marco. Shin and Ren had nothing to do with it. It was my fault. I planned the whole thing. I asked Shin, Maiko, and John for help. I... I shouldn’t have... I... Please, punish only me. I’m the only one responsible, and I—”
Marco slammed his palm on the tabletop, causing Daniella to jump in fright and lapse into silence.
“Dan, raise your head,” he instructed darkly.
Daniella licked her lips nervously and slowly did as her father ordered. Once her eyes met his, she swallowed.
“Have you any idea how dangerous it is for you to barge into that house, of all places? And to kill a high demon at that!” He growled loudly. “You and Shin could have been killed. Li and I could have lost you. And not only that, but you’ve put your friends in danger.”
Daniella grimaced. Her father hit the nail right on the head there.
Marco continued. “I thought I’d raised you better. Safety first. And to involve your comrades’ lives. It was unthinkable. You have truly disappointed me this time, Daniella.”
Li interrupted and said, “Marco, that is enough. Can’t you see our daughter is frightened of you?” He looked heavenward. “Honestly, you need to tone down on your lecturing. You’re her father, for God’s sake.”
Marco directed his scowl at his partner. “I’m her father and this is how a father behaves when his daughter does something senseless, like risking her own life and that of her comrades.”
Li said, “Marco, stop your scowling at me. My, you do look frightening, you know that?”
Marco sighed. There was no help where Li and his adoration for their foster daughter was concerned. Daniella could do no wrong in his eyes, and that was what worried Marco. Their lenient attitude toward her made her a risk taker and an adventurer, which Marco did not want.
He returned his attention to his daughter, and said, “Daniella, I’m imposing a curfew on you. You will not involve yourself with the outside world until you get permission from me. That goes for you, too, Shin.”
Daniella didn’t expect anything less. In fact, she had anticipated him to chain and lock her up in her room for all of eternity for her recklessness.
Li was flabbergasted. “Marco! What on earth you do mean by this? Imposing a curfew? Not involved with the outside world? Why, that is pure imprisonment. Why, that’s pure exile, Marco.”
Marco frowned over this, and said, “Dammit, Li, it’s not exile. The curfew is only for a month.”
Li sighed. “Then why didn’t you say so? No specific timeframe isn’t something I like. Lord, imagine Dan being exiled fo
r all of eternity. Of course, I will not allow that.” He turned his attention to their daughter. “Please, Daniella, listen to your father and play nice. Promise not to sneak off and get yourself into trouble again.”
Daniella nodded furiously. “I won’t,” she said, her fingers crossed at her back.
Ren noted the crossed fingers and hid a smile.
“You, too, Shin,” Li said. “If anything happens to Dan, I won’t forgive you.” He smiled pleasantly, though his eyes were narrowed with a threat.
Shin swallowed hard at the undisguised admonition and said, “I promise to protect Dan with my life.”
Li nodded. “Good boy,” he said. “Now off to bed. Marco and I have a lot to discuss.”
Daniella and Shin eagerly rose, relieved their punishment wasn’t as harsh or life-threatening as before.
Standing there awkwardly, Daniella said, “What about Maiko and John?”
Marco said, “You will do nothing further to complicate the already dire situation, Dan. I will take care of it.”
Shin tugged at Daniella’s sleeve and nodded. “Let’s go before they changed their minds,” he whispered.
Daniella locked eyes with Shin for a moment, and then she shook her head in the negative. “Not yet.”
Shin looked heavenward in exasperation, knowing what was coming.
Daniella returned her attention to her two fathers and asked, “When? When are you going to get them out of prison? They’ll be treated so badly there. Please, Fathers, I want to help them with my own effort, too. Please, I want to help get them out of prison.”
Her heart was pounding vigorously in her chest as she waited for a reply from the two powerful men. When the dreadful silence continued, she licked her lips and said, “Please. Think of it as me disciplining myself... I... I must help them out of prison.”
“Dan,” Marco said. “I don’t want you involved anymore in this case.”
“But—”
Ren interrupted. “Master Romano, I believe Dan is feeling responsible.”
Daniella nodded furiously. “I am, Fathers. I really am. I will not forgive myself if I am unable to take part in saving my friends.”
Ren proposed to Marco, “What if we ask Tristan and his team for help? I’m sure you and your men have your hands full with the other more important serial murder case?”
That seemed to have gotten Marco’s attention. He looked thoughtful for a moment as he stared hard at Daniella.
Daniella, on the other hand, waited impatiently, her eyes large as she stared at her father. Please say yes. Please say yes, she chanted eagerly.
Finally, reluctantly, Marco nodded. “I will request Tristan and his team for their help.” He looked at his daughter for a moment, as though he was in dilemma.
Daniella watched Marco carefully, hopeful for his verdict.
Marco said, “You and Shin will help in getting Maiko and John out of prison. But if you two are to mess things up again, I swear you both will be in a world of pain.”
Daniella didn’t bat an eyelid at the threat. She smiled gleefully and said, “Thank you so much, Papa Marco.” She rushed up, threw herself at him, and hugged him tight.
Marco’s hard expression softened immediately at the contact. Li snickered, while both Ren and Shin smiled. They all knew Marco, despite his intimidating exterior, had a soft spot for his daughter.
Once Daniella released him, Marco schooled his expression to that of dark scowl again. Daniella kissed him on the cheek and said, “Thank you, Papa Marco, for giving me a second chance. I promise I won’t mess up this time.”
Marco snorted, indicating otherwise.
Still smiling gleefully, Daniella turned to her second father and gave Li a hug as well. After that, she and Shin hastily rushed out the door, singing a good night to everyone.
Ren was just following behind them when Marco called, “Not you, Ren.”
Ren halted, turned to look at the two heads of the Romano House, and nodded. After shutting the door, he returned to his position before them.
Marco began. “So, what have you found out?”
Ren knew what they were inquiring about and was ready for it. He fisted his hands, raised his head, hardened his expression, and said, “They were gruesome. The corpse looked like the killing of some low demons, but my gut tells me it’s something more sinister.”
Li cocked his head to one side. “Oh, what is that?”
Ren closed his eyes, and once again, his mind went back to the scene he had witnessed early that evening, during his investigation in regards to the serial murders. A mob of deformed humans raiding a group of homeless immigrants, and slaughtering them in the dark alleys of London. It wasn’t the picture of the deformed humans, or the sight of the killing that turned Ren’s stomach. It was the way in which the deformed humans did the killing. They had attacked the homeless and then sucked their blood and gnawed their flesh, similar to how a low and intermediate demon killed and consumed their prey, which revolted Ren. It was unnatural, and certainly something he had never seen done by humans.
“They are bizarre beings,” he said.
“Can you describe what they look like?” Marco asked.
Ren nodded. “They were clearly human,” he said. “But their eyes were red. Their skin was pale grey, like a corpse or a demon. It seemed their only goal was to drink human blood and consume human flesh.”
Li shivered in distaste. “Just like the low demons. Can we assume a new form of these vile creatures has been introduced by the higher ones?”
Ren didn’t have any answer to that and showed it in his impassive expression. “What we need is more information. Where did these new creatures come from? What are they, really?”
Li said, “It looks like a lot of work for you, Ren.”
Ren shook his head. “It’s not at all.”
It was true. It had only taken him a few minutes to slaughter some fifty odd of those deformed monsters. Once he had transmuted his blood into his iron-blooded katana Murasame, it had vibrated, singing to him that it wanted blood. Indeed, Ren had given what it desired, with pleasure. During the massacre, Ren knew the blood within those monsters belonged to some form of demonic creature, which was why Murasame had been so provoked.
Marco said, “I will assign more of my men to look into the incidents.” He sighed. “I believe this is no longer just another serial murder done by the Night Creatures.”
Ren nodded in agreement.
“What of Scotland Yard?” Li asked. “Has the series of murders reached them yet?”
Ren shook his head. “So far, these deformed humans only hunted on the homeless immigrants, so these incidents have not been reported to Scotland Yard. People on the streets consider it simply being an attack by some crazed animals. Simply put, they don’t care.”
Indeed, it was a dog-eat-dog world on the streets of London. The homeless—the orphans and misplaced immigrants from the previous war across Europe—were considered useless parasites by the people of Britannia, especially the English elites. Thus, when these refugees were found dead, such as that particular group Ren had witnessed, the English elites couldn’t care less, and indeed, the majority would only be too relieved to be rid of some of the hopeless expatriates invading their country.
“Even so,” Marco said. “They wouldn’t know what to do if they were to handle the case. They’re out of their depth where paranormal murders are concerned. If it reached them, the case would undoubtedly be passed to the higher-ups.”
“The queen’s guard dogs?” Li asked.
Marco nodded. The queen’s guard dogs was an unsavory nickname for a squad of powerful men working for Queen Victoria. The organization was suitably named The Queen Victoria Elite Militia, or simply referred to as The Elite or The Militia. The members in this secret association included very powerful blood alchemists, influential night creatures such as high demons, vampires, and werewolves, and of course the supreme noblessen.
The noblessen indeed. Some of
the most powerful beings amongst them. A few were immortals. Marco knew one who could bring down the world if it pleased him, and his name was Lucian William Pendragon, an immortal noblesse with an undefined age. To add fuel to fire, this mysterious, reclusive man was also related to the influential Hastings through marriage, the family who controlled the core of The Elite’s organization.
The name of those two powerful families made Marco’s frown darken.
Li noticed, and said to Ren, “Thank you, Ren. You may go now.”
Ren bowed his head and then quickly left the room.
Alone, Li turned to Marco and said, “Well? What do you think?”
Marco rubbed his temple as he shook his head, his expression still in a dark scowl. “I don’t know, Li. All we can do is prepare for the worst.”
“Like seven years ago in Darnia?”
The reminder jarred Marco’s clouded thoughts. He lifted his head and stared deep into Li’s eyes. Emotions erupted within him as he said, “It could be worse than Darnia.”
Li felt sick to his stomach. “The French playing with fire again, I’m sure,” he murmured. Louder, he said, “Are you worried about Daniella?”
Marco nodded. They both were silent for a moment, brooding over the worst possible scenario that could happen to their daughter.
Suddenly, Marco said, “Why that house, of all places? Why Hasting House? Why that family?”
Li said, “If she got herself involved, her memories might...”
Marco frowned over this. “We’ll make sure she doesn’t.” He shook his head and said, “A mixed blood, eh? One of the worst creatures to exist in this world. An abomination.”
Li said, “We’ll protect her. We’ll make sure she won’t become an abomination.”
Marco nodded.
* * *
Daniella sat, her chin resting on her palms, as she stared at the seemingly delicious hot steamed buns before her, which had just been cooked and brought into the dining room by Mrs. Green, their housekeeper. She was another of those homeless immigrant women her father Marco had found and saved from the streets all those years ago. Mrs. Green had been with them through thick and thin, and Daniella knew the woman loved every single member of the Romano household like her own family.
The Blood Alchemist Chronicles Page 8
