Chapter 64 Nicolas
The ballroom sparkles under the chandeliers. There is champagne and chattering. People are whispering their nasty little gossip to one another. The smell of the Human Authority’s souls are still the same, still as rotten as ever. Even their fancy gowns and heavy perfume can’t cover the sinful odor.
I know that it was them who killed Henry. They tried to do it three different ways. And the last one finished the job. My dear Henry was killed as an experiment. He didn’t have the chance to say his last words. And the killers are here, holding a costume party and celebrating it! They are determined to end our partnership. How dare they kill one of ours! Killing and slashing their throats is the only thing that I really want to do. Every single being here has earned their right to be killed by me.
Robert Jones is standing at the very front, under the screen, talking to some incompetent figureheads. Even in this dim room, his pride is clearly visible behind his dull eyes. The reasoning behind his behavior intrigues me. I thought his party broke off from the Human Authority a long time ago. Why are they inviting him here in such a polite manner? From here, where I stand, I can clearly see his pulse in his throat, pumping under his weak neck. His image as a gentleman is fake; his charming appearance is all an act. His heart is so rotten that no creature would eat it. He must have involved himself in Henry’s assassination. Sneaking into my house and killing my man! I can sense the anger building in my body.
I am merely a few hundred steps away from him. If I initiate my move, I can be out of here before people even realize his neck is broken. A party without its leader could benefit us Burtons. It might be worth a try. As I take one step forward, a hand touches my shoulder and stops me.
“Why are you here?” Tom Richards whispers from behind me. He’s wearing a mask, as everyone is. He’s a man of average size with a normal appearance, the kind of man that would be easily ignored in any kind of crowd. He’s grabbing a tray and putting food on it as we stand beside the buffet. I take a tray myself and pretend to be interested in the variety of food.
“Since when do I need to inform you about anything, Tom?” I whisper back.
“Of course you don’t,” he clears his throat, “It’s just extremely dangerous for you to be here. You’ve walked right into the snakes’ nest!”
“Why didn’t you inform me about their plan for Henry sooner?”
Behind the mask, his beady eyes are glancing around the room. “This is not a good place to talk. Let’s go out on the patio.”
I follow his lead. Walking across to the right side of the room, I move dreadfully. I just can’t stand the stench of humans. I have to step up before I can’t control myself and commit a murder. As I keep my head down, an enchanting smell suddenly catches my attention. The smell is distinct and stands out in the room. A mundane human nose couldn’t possibly identify this. A lady in a green dress gracefully stands in the corner of the room. She’s the woman I’m looking for. Lily Evergreen. I didn’t know that she would be courageous enough to dare to come here, standing all alone, right in the middle of her enemies. She wears a citrus perfume, but her special scent could never hide from me. The blood inside of her is heavenly, flowing and emitting the fresh scent of a forest after rain. It makes my dry throat insanely thirsty and my parched mouth drool. I cannot help but stare, fixated on her, and imagine the marvels of her warm flowing blood. And she knows that I’m staring at her. She is nervous, she doesn’t dare move.
Tom and I walk over to the patio in the open air. The City of Morrow smells artificial and tastelessly cold.
“The assassin’s plan had top level clearance. By the time I heard the information, the killer had already been sent. I bet there were less than five people who knew about the plan.” Tom explains.
This was a cautious and premeditated murder. “What’s the deal with Robert Jones?” I ask.
“He’s constantly showing up in the city recently,” Tom shakes his head, “But as I said, his clearance level in the Authority is too high. What they are up to is top secret. His presence here means that their plan will be put into motion soon. This is his first public appearance at an Authority party in a long time. A definite sign of cooperation with his party.”
“And that means they will cut off their partnership with us. What do they have up their sleeve?”
“A gem,” Tom’s eyes darken, “Robert seems to have acquired a gem recently. He showed it to his party in a private gathering at his residence.”
“A gem? Robert has a gem?” A piercing ache splits my head, “Where did he get it?”
“No idea. But he certainly has gained some leverage over the Authority.”
Now everything is becoming clearer. Robert Jones wants to replace as me. The Authority wants an easier partner to give them the same outcome. What a brilliant scheme. Well, a brilliant scheme for those with such foolish, simple minds. They are wrong this time, and they still haven’t realized how wrong they are.
“The gem is still in Moonlit?”
“I’m not sure. But personally, I don’t believe he would carry something so valuable with him all the time. He has to keep it locked in a safe place.”
“Good. It seems that he hasn’t yet mastered the gem. It might be a toy too dangerous for him.” I can’t wait to see if the power of the gem will backfire on him.
I watch over the crowd from behind the patio door. Robert Jones is walking towards Lily Evergreen, pridefully, like he already owns her. Oh, I see. She is his companion. This is getting interesting. I say to Tom, emphasizing each word, “Closely watch that lady in green. Report her every move to me.”