Confronting Ethan

"Huh? Is something wrong?" Aylmer asked.

"N—No. Nothing's wrong," I told him. It only lasted for a moment, but it was so hard to ignore. What did that mean?

"You're right! It did resemble her," Mr. Vlad said. "It was given to Mr. Jack by someone he supposedly knows. The fact that it was made using dark arts. And just the other day, the incident that happened years ago happened again. Do you know what this means?"

No one answered. Victor and Monica just looked at each other. "It means you are being targeted, Mr. Jack," he told me.

"Wha — What do you mean by that, Mr. Vlad. Haha." It can't be what I'm thinking, right? I mean, after all, I did nothing to incur the wrath of anyone to be targeted.

"Exactly how it sounds like. Weren't you part of the game when that thing happened? And did you forget? Weren't you cursed not long ago and had me removed it? And a devourer tried to do something to you?"

"Y — You're right. But if I'm indeed being targeted. Can't we do something about it somehow? You know, like, locating that person or something."

"We can try but… Are you willing to cooperate with us?" he asked.

"Vlad!" Ethan suddenly shouts and slammed his fist to the table.

"Get your nose out of this, Ethan. Let him decide for his own life for goodness' sake!"

"But you're aware how dangerous that can be exactly, Vlad. You're deliberately putting him in danger!"

"I'm not. Besides, I'm doing this for him. To get rid of the one who's actually a danger to him."

"But surely. There are better ways than that. There should be."

"Tell me the other ways that you know then. And are you certain that your ways are better than mine and that it won't endanger him? Hmm?"

"That's —"

"Ethan, that's enough! Know your place. You must've forgotten that he's the lord of this castle. Aren't you aware how pitiful your were before he's taken you in?" Hariric cut him off.

"Guy! Guys! Guys! Uhm… Okay, I know it might sound stupid or heck! Might even come to you as rude. But can I speak with Ethan for a bit? I mean, you know. Just the two of us. Alone." I told them but I was actually only looking at Mr. Vlad.

"Mr. Jack…" Ethan said as he lightly squeezed my wrist. I can feel his fingers tremble. I wish I knew what he meant.

"Also. I wish you can explain the situation more clearly when we're done. I mean with more transparency." I added.

Mr. Alec was tapping his index finger on the table. Aylmer was looking so dumbfounded, Mr. Chaffer had his palm on his forehead as if he was tired of our antics.

Mr. Vlad smiled and motioned me to the door. "Do as you wish, Mr. Jack." And with that, I thanked him and dragged Ethan outside.

"Hey. guys! What happened to that oaf? The last time I saw him, he was so feral and yet…" I heard Aylmer say before closing the door.

"Now what, Ethan? Mind explaining yourself? And what's this — this dangerous thing you're talking about? Because for griffin's sake, Ethan! I'm tired of being kept in the dark. I have a mind of my own too and is totally capable of thinking in case you've forgotten. Please, stop treating me like a toddler and decide things for me, will you?"

He was biting his lower lip. Clearly, he was debating about how much of the truth he should tell me based on the look he had on his face.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I dragged you into this mess. Really. I'm sorry."

I wasn't asking for an apology but I can't exactly tell him that because he sounded so sincere.

"Maybe — Maybe if I hadn't approached you that day, maybe you won't have to deal with all of this shits."

"Ethan, look. I don't know exactly what goes into that head of yours but please. We can talk about that later but what I wanted to know was my situation. What do you know? Is it really that bad? I understand that you have some things you don't want me to know but don't you dare keep this information from me. I believe I have the right to know."

He was quiet for a while. He appeared to be thinking.

"You see, Mr. Jack. I lied to you," he said. "I lied. No one's actually chasing me. No one's actually targeting shapeshifters."

I felt like the cogs in my head suddenly stopped working.

"What did you just say? If that's the truth, then why did you approached me in the first place?"

"It's because — It's because I had no choice, Mr. Jack. You see, I have a twin. And he used to sit on the chair you're using there inside. But he's gone now. Haven't seen him in months. I thought that if I brought a person here like what Vlad told me to do, he'd help me find Nathan but that didn't happen. Mr. Jack… I'm sorry. I — I only found out recently that the reason why he told me to bring a person here was so he could have a cannon fodder. I trully regretted bringing you here. I promise, I'll — I'll get you out of this mess."