Missed me?

This left Mazitine at the precipice of bewilderment and self-doubt. He knew the moment he took this job that Xiran could be ruthless if things didn't go according to his wishes. The last mayor was secretly involved in the trafficking of young human girls. They were sold out to wealthy vampires, to be rap*d and then sucked dry of their blood.

Xiran discovered it and unearthed the whole ring of traffickers and gave them all a merciless death, including the Mayor. He showed no mercy when it came to breaking the rules, blatant lies, and using someone against their wishes. The Mayor begged for his life in the end but Xiran's disgust at the man only earned him torture and decapitation. Xiran also made Mazitine watch, so he would know what he was getting into and what happened to those who broke his rules and trust.

"No, Señor I would very much like to keep my head and keep serving you. My loyalty lies only with you and this city." Mazitine's legs were shaking, he tried to calm his nerves by taking deep breaths.

"Good, announce a huge reward for anyone who might have information on the incident. I am sure the Police Department will be doing that but you should do it from the Mayor's office. Assure them that their identity will be kept secret, this way we will have more chance of someone coming forward. People are afraid to go to Police but they trust you. I am sure someone will come forward." Xiran laid out another plan and Mazitine liked how Xiran acknowledged him. He was a shrewd man with a sweet tongue, so of course, people trusted him.

"I will hold the press conference in a short while and everything will be dealt with according to your wishes."

"Good, I will be leaving then." Xiran got up to leave.

"Won't you like to have a drink before you leave? I have gotten my hands on some rare-quality blood." Mazitine smiled in a meaningful way.

"Not today," Mazitine bowed as Xiran walked past him, while Carios opened the tunnel door and both of them disappeared behind it.

Back in the car, Xiran instructed Carios to conduct his secret investigation about the kind of bar it was and the kind of vampires that frequented it. A crime always had a motive and he wanted to find one behind this.

Carios dropped him off at an unknown location and said: "Are you sure about this, Sire? We have an unknown enemy amongst us. That incident might be to lure you out and target you. It's not safe for you to be alone."

"I understand your concerns but I need to walk the streets today. It's my city and it's my responsibility as well to keep it safe. I need to do this alone today." Xiran was determined, his face and hair were hidden with a cloth mask and beanie, respectively.

"Sire, call me if the need arises." Xiran nodded as Carios drove off.

He walked the streets as if he was a nobody, amongst his people who didn't know he existed. He had dedicated his life to this city, keeping not only his kind but also the human race safe within its walls. He wanted to send a message to the world that all species could co-exist in this city. His strict laws had kept the hunters at bay because not only vampires but humans were safe here. No one could touch them without severe repercussions. But recently he felt that hunters were testing the waters. They had infiltrated his city once, were they here again? So many questions whirled in his mind.

He already had so many enemies, his own family would be glad to see him fail. Being related to one of the most prominent vampire families in this world, he had a reputation to protect. He couldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing his empire crumble. This city with a population of 70,000 species was his and he would go to any lengths to protect its integrity and peace.

At different times he could be seen sitting on the roofs of multiple buildings, staring at people going about their lives. He had caught two vampires in different instances trying to take advantage of humans. He notified the police, immediately and they were arrested not before Xiran broke their arms and every bone in their hands.

------------------

It had been 5 days since Aselia had last seen Xiran in that Training Room. She wondered where he was and why wasn't he coming to meet her. Carios was mostly missing as well, so she asked Frila and she told her that Xiran is away on some important business. Aselia thought if that business was connected to the Bar incident but she wasn't sure.

She was spending a lot of time in the gym and training room because there was nothing much to do otherwise. She scanned all the weapons in the Training Room and one day when Frila left her alone for a few seconds to answer a call, she even picked them up to check if they were loaded. Sadly for her, all guns were empty and mere showpieces.

The swords were real though which made her excited.

The painting she had started was complete now and rested on the easel. She fell asleep while looking at it. Suddenly, she was awakened by someone calling her name.

"Aselia...," she opened her eyes and rubbed them to see properly and found Xiran sitting in a relaxed posture near her. He had pulled up the chair near her bed and was almost slumped on it. His hair was a mess as if he hadn't brushed them in days. While those beautiful grey orbs of his were dim, the spark was missing. There were deep black circles under them. She immediately sat up in her bed and blinked several times to see if he was real.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. But I couldn't resist saying your name." His voice was soft and apologetic.

"Are you real? Or am I dreaming?" She questioned him innocently which made him smile. "I am real."

"Are you ok? Where have you been?" Deep concern poured from her words.

He didn't answer her instead his gaze shifted to her painting as a radiant smile crept to his lips.

"Seems like you missed me too much that you had to paint one for yourself."