Chapter 96: Chapter 96

DAHLIA:

“Alright, sir. Please lead the way,” I replied enthusiastically that Sir Casior couldn’t help but grin.

I can’t explain it, but the moment the red ruby stone was shown on stage, I felt an irresistible pull towards it. Maybe if I could see it up close, I’d understand why it seemed to call me…

Sir Casior led me into a small opening on the right side of the stage where two burly-looking vampires were standing guard.

Once we were near enough, Sir Casior removed his mask, and without a word, the guards opened the small wooden door behind them, and we entered with ease.

I frowned. It was so dark that I couldn’t see a thing. As my eyes adjusted to the dimness of the place, however, I found that the space – a storage room - was actually bigger and wider than it seemed like from the outside.

“Why is it too dark in here,” I asked Sir Casior.

“To prevent thieves from getting in easily,” he said.

At the end of the dim hallway, we were led into another hallway, but this time, it was well lighted. We walked to the end of the hall where we entered yet another room.

Finally, it was the room where the auction items were being kept!

I looked around at the glass, transparent caskets bearing items that were being presented at the auction. Some of them were covered by a cloth, and some of them weren’t. I expected that there would be a lot of people there, but surprisingly, there was none.

“Why isn’t anybody here,” I asked Sir Casior.

“These glass cases are infused with magic, so they don’t need to be heavily guarded. Anyone who tries to break it or get its contents would never make it out of here unscathed.”

The glass cases looked ordinary enough. I originally wanted to press my nose through some of them. Good thing I did not do as my impulse had dictated, or I probably wouldn’t see the light of day…

I wondered what could possibly happen if someone broke the glasses and took the items forcibly.

“What kind of business do you have here, sir,” I asked absentmindedly as I looked at the many curios things around me.

“I was tasked to find a culprit. The madam had a vision that someone will steal something of value today, so we were mobilized to prevent it.”

“The madam?” I knew Sir Casior worked directly for the Apricusian Palace. By madam, did he mean?...

“Yes. I am working today for under the queen’s command,” he said to my obvious question.

The king and queen of the Apricus Kingdom had never shown their faces publicly in front of the other beast clans. There had been several instances when they were invited at Talandor to join the festivities, but they always declined.

It was actually rumored that the present vampire queen had the ability to predict the future, which is why she’s always heavily guarded by the vampire king and the whole Apricus Kingdom.

My mouth must have been hanging open for a long time that Sir Casior couldn’t help but laugh.

“If that’s the case, why are you bringing me here… Isn’t this dangerous?”

“Well, the truth is I was hoping we could steal the red ruby for ourselves… Wouldn’t that be much better?”

Again, my jaw dropped so low that Sir Casior had to laugh once more heartily.

“Sorry, Lady Dahlia. I was just teasing you. Your surprised face is really very funny!”

I laughed a little myself. I always thought vampires were serious creatures because of their deep set eyes and the haughty way they carried themselves, but Sir Casior seemed to be the exact opposite.

“That’s a relief, Sir Casior. One second more and I would have really believed you…”

Just then, we heard some skirmishes from the other side where the door leading to the stage.

“What’s that,” I said nervously. The loud thumping sound followed by some muffled screams echoed throughout the hall.

“Lady Dahlia, stay here. Don’t go anywhere,” Sir Casior said, his face becoming utterly serious with the increasing shrieks from outside.

I nodded to Sir Casior. He made me stand on one side of the room beside a wide foundation beam. If anyone would dare come through the backstage door, I would still stay hidden from view.

Although I could transform at will now, I was not keen on fighting with anyone. I’d rather hide like this until all was well so that I can find Tristan and get the hell out of here in one piece.

“Whatever happens, please don’t come out. I will find your husband and get the two of you safely out.”

As Sir Casior explained his plan, another loud sound resounded from the stage. It didn’t sound so reassuring…

“See you soon and stay safe, my lady.” Almost immediately, Sir Casior ran into the backstage door and disappeared from behind it.

I was left by myself, crouched in one corner of the large beam, still lost in thoughts and counting the nerve-wracking minutes that I was here alone.

Out of the blue, I heard footsteps from the other side of the door that lead to the hall where Sir Casior and I entered. In a heartbeat, three men stood before me. More specifically, three vampires…

“Search the caskets for the rune,” I heard one of them say.

Vampires are very quick, but they don’t have keen senses of smell like werewolves… Otherwise, I would have been discovered by them the moment they stepped inside the room.

Goddess, they must really be after the red ruby!… If I could only hide it away from them, I would have already done it!

“It’s not here,” one of the vampires exclaimed.

“Tsk, this is the only storage room. Where could it be,” the leader of their group remarked, utterly disappointed.

I was apprehensive but at the same time relieved that they did not find the spirit stone. After a few more moments of searching, I was finally able to breathe a little better when they left and moved into the door leading to the stage.

I felt frustrated… Where was the red ruby? Was it really not here? If that’s the case, I hope those thieves would never find it!

I stood from where I was hidden and brushed the dust off my clothes. I don’t know how long the whole ordeal had taken, but the shouts from outside where getting fainter. Hopefully, the thieves will all be caught soon…

I was still deciding whether I should leave or stay put in the room when a glow from somewhere caught my eye.

The bandits did not bother putting the cloths covering the items back properly, and one such thing was left hanging lopsided into the glowing thing.

I walked towards it. I can only half-see what was inside, but from the fiery red glint that it gave, I was sure it was the red ruby.

How did the thieves miss it?! It was right in the middle of the other items and was on one of the most obvious pedestals. How did they not see it when they have three sets of eyes looking for it?

I gasped, shaking my head violently. What was wrong with me? The glow was far too strong and far too captivating that I almost lost myself and touched the glass that was covering it!

I wondered what would happen if I touch the glass with my bare hands… How did those vampires touch these things without activating its magical protection spell? Did Sir Casior tell me a lie earlier when he said these glasses are protected by magic?

Maybe it really was a lie… The glasses here were unscathed after all…

There was only one way to find out… I had to touch it…

As soon as my fingers got in contact with the glass, something unbelievable happened!