Bride To His Darkness-Chapter 272: Trapped Here

"Witches, witches, witches, and warlocks, name them– if only they were a pain in the ass it’d be easier to obliterate them all together, but they’re much more than that." Uttered Cassian as he twirled a book on his index finger, and then he stopped to look at Ivan who was gazing at him with a deadpan expression. He had his elbow propped on the table, his knuckles, a supporting pillar to his head, and he silently cursed at the ethereal glow of this vampire.

They were both seated on a table in Ivan’s study, and Cassian’s eyes fell on the paperworks that were left disorganized on the surface. The quilt was missing its feather and countless papers Ivan had briskly gone through were displayed on the surface of the table. Out of his own habitual orderliness, Cassian began to arrange the papers while dramatically saying, frёewebnoѵēl.com

"How in the heavens name do you work on tables like this? Look at this! Of course you can’t come up with an idea when your table is silently crying for some attention! Hold on, I think I got the papers mixed! Someday you should visit Carmarthen and I will show you what a real study looks like. Mine will literally give you some peace of mind." Cassian spoke with a voice that radiated confidence, but Ivan’s demeanor remained indifferent, whilst he retorted.

"My mind is not at peace, neither should my table feel at peace." Ivan scattered the paperworks Cassian had been working hard to re-arrange for him, and the man’s mouth hung open when the table was littered in less than a minute. Closing his mouth and lifting his gaze to look at the unsettled Ivan, he couldn’t stop himself from saying,

"Forgive me Your Majesty, but you have a problem."

"And hell is a swimming pool for corrupted souls." Ivan answered sarcastically before reaching for a map amongst the parchment splayed on his table. Cassian blinked, wondering how he could signify them from all these litter he stubbornly refuses to organize.

"Help me with the second map, it’s in front of you," Came Ivan’s request, and that made Cassian’s mind feel like his head was spinning as he tried to figure out where the map was.

"Where’s the map? I can’t find–" he had barely completed his statement when Ivan reached for the folded paper in front of him, and when he opened it up, Cassian’s eyes widened.

"Was it that hard?"

"Yes." Cassian admitted blatantly, "our way of working is different. I work in a completely civilized manner, you work like the space and people in-between are the cause of your problem."

"I think the reason you run your mouth is because I’m being too lenient with you."

"It’s my magic charm." Cassian winked before his expression returned to the matter at hand. He looked at the table and nodded his head, whilst rubbing his palms together. "Alright fine, enough playing, I think I can manage. Can I have a look at the map?"

"These are just references, the actual map is over there." Rising from his chair, he led Cassian to the heart of his study, where a grand ornate desk remained fixed at the center.

On the desk, a detailed map of the bordering Kingdoms was sprawled out, showcasing each Kingdom’s in intricate detail. The map was marked with pins, symbols and lines, each representing various aspects of his investigation, and Cassian’s lips twitched at the neat work in front of him.

Eyes locked on the map, Ivan pointed at a particular spot he marked with a pin and said, "This pin signifies the south. Their use of teleportation has given them an advantage. They appear outside the borders, strike, and vanish again, leaving us in the dark."

"And their recent appearances have been where?" Asked Cassian, whose attention was now focused on the map, and Ivan tapped a location on the pin.

"Most recent appearances were here, near the forest of shadows, I got that information yesterday." His fingers traced the line of the map, "they’ve been spotted near the crimson peaks as well. It is a small town in the south, but the citizens there are harmless. I had someone scout the area, which led me to the forest of shadows."

"The ones you’ve had under your wings, isn’t there a way to make them reveal their coven or whatever they call it." Inquired Cassian as he shifted his gaze from the map to the vampire.

"Their lips are glued, unfortunately. They are so loyal to their Queen, they’d rather choose death than betray her, and I... I happily give them that." A cruel smile played on Ivan’s lips, and he sauntered back to his table to retrieve his goblet.

A sudden knock on the door interrupted their conversation, and when it opened, it revealed the astrophysicist who stood at the threshold, clutching a stack of meticulously handwritten papers that detailed Celestial calculation. Taking a deep breath, he proceeded further into the chamber.

When he raised his head to see who occupied the study, his glazed eyes were transfixed on the two handsome men who were before him. One sat at the table, his expression indifferent, and his eyebrows hung low in boredom, whilst he held a goblet which he could guess contained refined blood.

The other one was standing, leaning his lower body on the table, arms crossed, but his demeanor made him feel more welcomed than the stare His Majesty was constantly using to pierce at his skin. He immediately lowered his head in a bow, intimidated by the aura enshrouded in the space.

"Your Majesty."

"What is it?" Ivan reclined against his seat, and the astrophysicist gulped nervously before stepping forward to present the paperwork concerning all the records he’s made of the approaching blood moon.

Ivan, who assumed the astrophysicist was here to deliver the date of the blood moon, received the paperwork and unfurled it, his eyes raking through the celestial charts, and he heard the astrophysicist say,

"Your Majesty, the blood moon was due to grace our night sky in a few days, as you know." He cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice clear and steady, "however, Your Majesty, something unusual has occurred. It seems as though the blood moon had come to a sudden halt in its orbital path. It’s like it’s been hooked– stuck in place."

"Stuck, you say?" Flinging the chart aside, Ivan leaned forward on his desk, his curiosity piqued, a growing anger surging through as he calmly nodded, as if trying to make sense of what the astrophysicist was saying to him.

"It’s stuck? How is it stuck? Did you stick it there that it has been rendered immobile? Explain to me because I am all the more confused." The annoyance in his voice only made the astrophysicist cower in front of him, his heart pounding, and Cassian, who sensed Ivan’s building turmoil decided to speak to the astrophysicist instead.

"How is that possible?"

"I... I have reviewed all possible natural explanations– gravitational disturbances, planetary alignment and cosmic phenomena. None of them can account for this sudden halt. It’s as if some external force is at play, as if someone or something has interfered with the celestial order." He explained.

"So you’re suggesting foul play?" Ivan tilted his head slightly, eyes darkening like the brooding storm, and the astrophysicist could only hope he steps out of here alive.

"It... it appears so, Your Majesty. I fear that someone has tampered with the celestial machinery, disrupting the blood moons path. The blood moon is vital to all supernatural existence, and the last blood moon of the year has always been compelling. I fear that there are those who want to use the blood moon to their advantage, and the only ones I believe are capable of doing something so despicable is someone whose powers must have transcended the limits to black magic."

"Witches!" Ivan hissed in disdain.

"They’re planning something huge." Cassian analyzed, "but if the blood moon doesn’t show up. Does this mean my wife and I will be trapped here?"

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