章 20: Searching for Luciana
Luciana was sweating profusely, while Raziel stood, watching her dig a grave. For a frail woman like her, she sure had a lot of determination. Every now and then, he would be scared that she would collapse, but he still didn't help her. He wanted to see how far she would go.
She suddenly dropped the shovel, and said. "I am tired."
Raziel smiled and thought she was going to ask him for help, but instead the human girl just lay in her half dug grave.
Raziel didn't know how much time they had spent, but he knew that he had spent hours watching her. And this was the first time she tried to rest.
"Are you aware you are in trouble Luciana?" He asked curiously.
"Yes." She answered curtly, as she placed both hand under hear head, imitating a pillow.
"For what?" Raziel asked again.
"I killed the vampires, and I would be charged for murder."
Raziel shook his head. So she was aware.
"But you know I can help you."
She turned to him with a frown.
"You would really help me cover up a murder?"
"It wasn't a murder. It was a rescue. You were saving the human girl."
"You don't care about humans. Do you?" She tilted her head to ask.
He gave her a long look before shaking his head to himself.
Luciana then fell quiet. Was he showing her sympathy? That was something she didn't need at all.
She then stood up. "I should continue."
"No. If I let you with how slow you are doing it, we would not go back to the castle tonight." He then came over, and took the the shovel from her. He rolled up his sleeves, and Luciana got out and watched Raziel began to dig.
With his vampire speed and strength, he was able to dig a deep hole in a short while, while Luciana sat on the ground watching him.
"This isn't the first time you are digging a grave." She stated as though it was a fact.
"You are right."
She only nodded and said nothing to that. He expertly dug, and when he was done, he dragged the bodies into the grave."
"I should help you."
"You should probably sit there. Your help won't make any difference."
After he was done burying the bodies, he covered the grave.
"Did anyone see you?" He suddenly asked Luciana.
"Huh?" She looked up at him confused.
"Did anyone else see you kill them? Apart from the vampire I killed."
"I don't think so."
"You should be sure Luciana. The death of these men are going to be investigated, and you'd be in trouble if there was a witness."
"They were no witnesses your highness." She said.
"Good. Now all you have to do is stay in the castle and avoid this place, or the place where you killed them."
He had taken her deep into the forest, away from eyes, so that they can bury the bodies.
Luciana nodded. "Thank you your highness."
Raziel only gave a curt nod, then they went back to the castle.
Before she went to her room, Raziel called; "Luciana."
"Yes your highness."
"I would like to learn about your experiment."
"How do I refuse you, your highness?" She asked in a sharp but rather polite way.
Raziel couldn't help the slight smile that appeared on his lips at how daring the human could be sometimes.
"You know I have your life in my hands right?"
When she didn't answer, he said; "See you later Luciana."
But before he could take a step, she called, "Your highness."
He turned back to her, expecting to hear about the experiment, but instead the human asked;
"Why do you buy slaves your highness?"
"Because before I bought them, they were slaves. After I bought them, they weren't slaves anymore." He smiled, knowing he would confuse her for a moment. But he also knew she was smart, and he expected her to figure it out.
"So you buy slaves because you want to set them free?" Luciana asked with brows furrowed.
"Exactly."
"Why? Are you against the slave trade?"
"What do you think?"
"You are the vampire prince. You should support that. The slave market is one of the trade your economy depends on." She stated.
"You indeed spend a lot of time studying. Maybe if I dissolve the trade, you will help me think of a better idea." He joked.
"Why aren't you in support of it, your highness?"
"I wouldn't like it if the vampires were preyed upon by a more powerful creature, and we could do nothing about it."
Raziel saw her eyes widen, and she genuinely looked surprised for the first time.
"So you sympathize with the humans?"
Raziel face palmed himself. "Sometimes I forget how curious you can be."
"I am sorry, your highness. But I have one more question. Where do you take the girls to?"
"To work."
"Work?"
"Yes. Work where they are actually paid and not maltreated. Most of them look for their families after that."
Luciana was astonished. She had no idea where he was taking the girls, but she wouldn't have ever thought of that.
"So Annalise is working now?"
"You know you could always ask me if you want to see her."
She shook her head. "Not now."
"Alright then. Can I go now, your highness?" Raziel asked playfully.
She nodded. "Thank you, your highness. And this is the first time you actually answered all my questions. Thank you for that too." She gave a polite bow, before going into her room, while Raziel stood there thinking about what she had said. Since when did he begin to spend time with people? He really did answer every of her questions. He shook his head, before going to his study.
*******
The duke of Wesborne, Elric Wright had been searching for the girl that once used to live in his town. He knew Luciana's house, and he would often go to visit her there. It was no news he was interested in her.
On one of her birthdays, he asked her to request anything of him, and she asked to be educated, surprising him. Most girls her age would only use the opportunity to get their wardrobe full. He respected her for that. He also knew that the girl was smart.
The last time he saw her was when he asked her to go with him to the viscount's birthday ball, and she refused, just as he had expected. He wished he had persuaded her more, maybe she would have agreed to go with him.
He went to her house two days later to look for her, only to be told that their house had been sold. It was surprising to him because her family cherish the house. Why would they sell it all of a sudden? And where had they moved to?
Elric remembered how frustrated he was when he didn't see her. At first he was mad that her family left town and she didn't let him know. But then, he thought more about it. They would not just leave all of a sudden. Something must have caused it. But what was it?
He wanted to enter to search the house, to see if he would detect any hint. But he would have to inform the new people in the house, so that he can come the next day. He felt uneasy knowing that they was someone else living there now.
He wondered where Luciana could be.
He had even gone to the neighbouring towns to search for her, and also sent people but all his searches weren't successful. The people were even surprised that he spent so much time, effort and resources, looking for just a common girl. She was not supernatural, neither was she from a noble home or wealthy family. They thought the duke was wasting too much on her, but they couldn't bring him to give up.
Elric left his mansion on a particular day to visit the town's council where he worked. He wouldn't have gone that day as he was supposed to be free, but he needed to meet with someone who might have information about Luciana or her family.
His coachman, Noah was already waiting for him in the carriage. He entered the back seat.
"To the council."
"Yes your grace."
When he got to the council, he immediately went to search for the man, Mr Petrova who was already seated in his private receiving, waiting for him. The man stood up when he saw him, and offered a bow.
"Your grace. You're here." He said, while he went to have his seat.
"Sit. What did you find?"
"We did our search, but we couldn't find anyone of them." The man reported, and the duke frowned. "But we got some information from one of the townsfolk."
"What is it?"
The man turned worried, knowing that the duke would not like the news.
"Your grace. I heard that Wallace and his family was attacked."
Elric clenched his hands under his desk when he heard the news.
"And...?"
"I'm sorry your grace, but we were told that the whole family was killed." He announced in one breath.
Elric still remained calm even though the news was causing a turmoil in his heart.
"Did you confirm it?"
"Two days ago, we got some leads that they were buried in the east cemetery. We dug up the graves, and we found Mr Wallace and his son." Mr Petrova reported.
"What about the rest?"
"We haven't found them yet your grace."
"Who did this?"
"I don't know. Everyone claims they were not there to witness it."
"But they knew the family was attacked?"
"Those ones claimed to only be passing by. I believe they are afraid to say who it is your grace. I even had to persuade the person who told me about the attack so much. He refused to speak until he was given money."
Elric calmly nodded. "If it's money they need to answer you, give them. And do not rest until you find the other members of the family. Also let me know when you find the attacker."
"Yes your grace."
With a nod from Elric, Mr Petrova stood up and left the room.
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