Night At The Garden (2)

"This way, Master Aiden."

Aiden followed Richard with a thousand questions in his mind.

Why was the butler acting so mysteriously?

Even more important, why did he look so happy? Or was it just Aiden's wrong assumption?

The stone path led the butler and Aiden to the center of the vast garden.

In the middle of the garden, surrounded by tall and bright burning candles, was Ryan Caldwell.

The vampire stood on a heightened platform, a few steps above the ground. He was leaning with both elbows on a bamboo railing in front of him, overlooking a small pond at the center of the garden. Colorful stones were placed artistically around the pond. Some distance away from the pond, bright red paper lanterns hung from the conifer trees. The bells at the bottom of the lanterns made tinkling sounds whenever the winter wind blew.

"Ryan?"

The elder vampire turned around when he heard Aiden's voice.

"My love, come and join me."