DEATH OF A YOUNG MAN

[Music Recommendation: Stephan Moccio - La Fille Aux Pouvoirs Magiques]

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Astrel smirked at her making her step back, away from the window, and she bumped into someone making her turn around. She saw the same maid who went to prepare her the bath earlier.

"I'm sorry,"

"Apologize me, Mi'lady,"

Both Vilian and the maid said in unison. The maid bowed her head in fear.

"No... I should be the one asking for your apologies. Neither did see you coming to stand here nor did I turn behind before I step backward. I'm sorry," said Vilian, apologetically with a sorry look. The maid could not protest or mouth anything against her, so she nodded her head with a bow and said,

"It is ok, Mi'lady. You need not want to ask for it, but I'm still sorry. Your bath is ready, Mi'lady. The breakfast will be served in the room once you are done with your bath, Mi'lady," Vilian nodded her head, glanced at the window again, and sighed in relief, seeing that Astrel was nowhere to be seen in the garden sight. The maid felt curious about what might the lady be glancing at from time and that too as she sighed as if something really good happened.

"Is something the matter?" Asked Vilian, looking at the maid who was standing idol with her head bowed down.

"Eh... No, Mi'lady," she said, but still stood there in idol making Vilian frown.

"Then, what is it?"

"Your bath, Mi'lady. I'm here to help you with your bath," the maid said in a hurry, not wanting Vilian to misunderstand. Vilian immediately disagreed. The idea of being nude in front of a stranger itself heated her cheeks. Much less that she even would barely agree with Lily's help during her bath.

"Uhh... Noo.. you may leave. I... I can handle it by myself," said Vilian, awkwardly giving an uneasy smile. Vilian shortly glanced and went to take her bath not giving a second look at the maid. Seeing her reaction and sensing her shyness the maid giggled thinking how cute and shy the lady was. Suppressing the giggles that skipped from her lips the maid left the room in search of the butler to arrange the breakfast for the lady guest of their Master.

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A few distances away from Oxshade, beside the forest, people were crowded near a big and tall shady banyan tree, whispering their thoughts to each other, looking at the man who was lying lifelessly on the floor. Blood smeared in crimson, still not in the formation of drying, but blood was slightly oozing out from his gruesome bruises. His head was off his neck. The rest of the parts of his body was covered with a clean white cloth which was now soaking with blood. Though the sight was frightening to see people were still surrounding the dead body, not in the thought of budging away. Their faces were various horrific looks. Husbands coving their wives eyes from the unholy murder or whatever happened to the man. Investigators were trying hard to shoo the crowd. A woman was sitting on a rock shedding silent tears while her husband was leaving comforting words, trying to calm his wife even though he himself was in a mess inside. Some looked at them in pity for losing one of their second son whom they boasted dearly for most of their lives they've lived after they lost their first son.

"Poor thing. The man was such a sweet child."

"Wasn't he engaged to Keela's daughter the last week?"

"How unfortunate to lose their only son after their first son was dead in the very first few days after the lady gave birth."

"Is it? What do you think might be the cause. It looks like a doing of the wild boars."

"Well, haven't already warned not to cross this path when the twilight reaches."

Whispers and gossip continued about the death of the young man most of the villages held dear to their heart. It was said, that he had a down-to-earth character which attracted many.

A little far away from the crowd and mankind, two hooded creatures were lurking from tree to tree, observing the incidents with a very keen eye. Sensing the things were being handled safely as per their plan the lurking creatures left with an ugly satisfied grin.

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Back in the mansion pacing back and forth in a confusion, the man sighed out loud not knowing what might happen if the situation got any worse. He was never to be in a serious expression but today he was.

"Brother, it's been the fourth person to be head of the body. What the hell is happening these days?" Asked Ashley. Gone were his cheery looks replaced with too many frown lines on his forehead, carrying a serious expression.

Even if the world was crumbling apart, the man in front of him had the nonchalant look on his face and body language irking whoever was serious. Astrel was seated on the couch, his eyes closed while his right arm was placed over his face covering his eyes with his elbow. His legs were placed leisurely one over the other in a cross over the coffee table which was in front of the couch.

Ashley sighed out once again, walked towards the couch, and sat giving up his thoughts. More than him, his brother was the one who has to be concerned about the incident. After all his brother was the one who was in charge of these cases. A knock came from the door and Astrel without moving or budging from his place, gave orders to come in, and in came the butler with a glass of blood tea placed on a tray.

"Greetings, master." Coming to stand beside Astrel, Falcon greeted his master, bowing his head.

"Speak," said Astrel, not giving a glance, with his eyes still closed as if he was taking short a nap.

"The murder which took place beside the Oxshade forest is now cleared out of the crowd. Two witches were there to be seen, lurking from tree to tree, Master," informed the butler, waiting for any sign of reply from his master. Seeing his master unmoved, Falcon continued to give away the information which his master had ordered him to collect, knowing that he might not receive an immediate reply, "The lady is awake and the breakfast is being served to her, Master." A slow and deep hum was heard as a response.

Ashley was all eyes and ears, observing his brother and the butler. His interest took its best at the mention of the lady left from the butler's mouth, knowing his brother was keeping a tab on the lady, and at the same time, he saw his brother's lips curled into a smirk. A smirk that look no less than a dangerous sign whenever he was up to something. Ashley wondered what might be his next doing. Poor sister-in-law thought Ashley.

"Talking about the lady, has she settled in?" Asked Astrel nonchalantly, raising his hand to take the glass of blood tea from the butler's hold.

"The young Ms.? It seems she's finding it hard on that. I sent some maids to help her if she needed anything along with her morning chores and her needs but the maids were back after a little while."

"I see," hummed Astrel bringing his finger above the glass and dipping his index finger to feel the texture of the blood tea. He felt something was not right and frowned. "Who prepared the tea?" He asked with no changes in his voice.

"It was Gazella, Master," said the butler, a fear lingering in his tone, knowing what the matter was.

"You wouldn't mind bringing her up here, would you Falcon?" Asked Astrel, looking up at the butler with an evil hint of a smile.

"I surely would not, Master," said Falcon. Bowing his head, the butler left the study immediately not sparing a glance behind, well knowing even a spare would cause danger to his dear life and he was not willing to loose it. Not anytime soon.