Chapter 5 : Another Monsters

However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't succeed. Amos even kicked the glass door, but it didn't move at all.

Amos was desperate. He was exhausted. After what he had gone through today, he was mentally and physically exhausted.

He finally sat down on the floor with sweat covering his face. He was breathing heavily as he kicked the door. He really wondered what the door was made of that his kick couldn't break the glass.

While he was busy neutralizing his breath, a shadow suddenly fell on the balcony.

Amos widened his eyes at the figure. It was a small child with wolf ears and a wild gaze. As if smiling, his lips were pursed with fangs.

Amos staggered backwards as the figure advanced to push the door with a single push. The door rattled open.

Amos ran quickly to find a place to hide. What is that thing?! Why is he so strong?

"Hi! Who are you?" The creature quickly ran towards him. His eyes were red like burning coals.

Amos stopped, stepping back. How could there be a creature with such speed?

Amos saw that the balcony door was now open, and with all his abilities, he ran to it. However, his steps were again halted by the creature.

"Who are you? I've never seen you before." The creature's voice was childlike, shrill and cheerful.

Amos was frightened. He fell backwards. "Please leave me alone!"

Seeing Amos frightened, the creature suddenly put on a sad face. "I'm not evil. I won't hurt you."

Amos gulped hard. How could he not be terrified when he saw a little boy with wolf ears and fangs sticking out? He wouldn't be surprised if the creature came to eat him. Instead, the boy stood still and stared sadly.

Amos took a deep breath and tried to stand straight. He had to face whatever the creature was. If it had malicious intentions towards him, there was nothing he could do.

"Who are you?" asked Amos finally.

Hearing Amos speak, the boy's eyes lit up again.

"I'm Lancel," he replied enthusiastically. He immediately stepped forward towards Amos. "What's your name? Why are you here? Aren't you invited to the banquet?"

The creature peppered Amos with questions. Amos realized the boy was a guest at the banquet. But how did the boy get here? And jumped onto the balcony? Unbelievable!

Amos decided to play along with the boy. "I'm Amos. I want to join the banquet, but I'm not allowed to."

Unexpectedly, the boy gave Amos a sad look. "You must be very upset. But the banquet was so boring! It's glad you weren't there." The boy tried to comfort Amos.

Amos smiled at how innocent the boy was. On closer inspection, without fear, the boy was really handsome. He had silver hair and green eyes that occasionally turned red.

"Why are you here?" asked Amos, trying to find out as much as possible. He had to get a chance to get out of there without causing trouble.

"I'm bored. I can finally sneak out!" he replied proudly.

"Why are you bored? Aren't you going to meet a lot of people there?"

The boy immediately shook his head. "Not many. Just my extended family. And I was always made fun of because until I was nine, I still couldn't turn into a full human."

Amos was surprised. Turned into a human? So, what were they exactly? Amos wanted to ask, but he was afraid that the boy would find out that he was a slave. The boy would report him for punishment if he approached a guest so boldly.

"When are you supposed to turn into a human?" Amos asked.

"All children are supposed to become fully human at the age of seven. But my development isn't complete. My ears and fangs are still sticking out." The boy looked sad.

Amos felt sorry for him. He wondered about himself. He should be scared right now. Imagine he was in the same room with a creature that had just admitted he wasn't human.

"Believe me, you will change someday. Don't think about what people say." Amos almost laughed at himself. He had just comforted a creature that had no idea what it was.

Suddenly the boy smiled broadly, revealing his fangs. Then he pulled Amos' hand towards the door.

"Sera must have forbidden you to join the banquet, right? She's very wicked. Come on, I'll take you there," Lancel invited.

Amos almost fell over trying to keep up with the boy. He walks so fast.

"What took you so long?" asked Lancel, stopping to stare at Amos.

Amos panicked. "I'm not feeling well. Can you slow down a bit?"

Amos was already happy that the boy was asking him out. His chance of escape was getting bigger. Although he had never seen the front porch of the Dumitrese mansion, he could find out as long as he escaped.

Lancel grimaced with pleasure. He seemed to really like Amos. He pulled the knob, jerked a few times, and the door opened. Amos gaped. That kid was really strong. That small child was already so strong, so Amos wasn't surprised that Sera could slam his body down so easily.

"Come on!" Lancel pulled Amos' hand through the corridor.

Amos was worried that if they met the guards, they would drag him back to Sera's room.

"Lancel, I don't want to meet the guards," Amos said softly, pulling Lancel's hand to slow down.

Lancel stared at Amos for a moment, then he widened his eyes. "You must have been locked up by Sera, huh? She's so evil!"

Amos said nothing, but Lancel nodded his head. "Come on, I know a secret passage."

Amos breathed a sigh of relief. They turned around and walked down the deserted corridor. Then at the end there was a staircase leading down. It was dark. The stairs looked unkempt, there were cobwebs on the walls and the floor was dirty. Amos's bare feet felt dust on the soles of his feet.

He didn't care. More importantly, he was concerned about what would happen next. This was a road he had never passed by.

Amos lived there for twenty-one years, but never in the main mansion. It shows that the guards in the main mansion took to very extreme rules to restrict the slaves' movements.

Lancel pulled Amos through a turn into a corridor. Amos studied the place as he passed. Then there was a sudden sound from behind them.

"Where are you heading?" A man's voice brought Lancel's steps to a halt.

Amos immediately turned his head. His eyes widened to find Gerard, Tudor's second son standing at the end of the corridor. He knew that man. Quickly, he knelt there.

"How can a slave enter the mansion?" Gerard's voice rang out. There was a scornful tone there.

"My apologies, Sir." Amos felt his entire body stiffen. Imagining the punishment he would face, his hands trembled.

Lancel looked at Amos. Suddenly his gaze turned concerned. He walked in front of Amos, facing Gerard.

"I'm taking him with me. You can't take him away!" Lancel exclaimed.

Gerard grinned. "Lancel, how could you enter the slave fortress and bring him here? Do you want to show your flawed self?"

Lancel immediately looked annoyed. He clenched his fists. "I'm not flawed!"

"Look at your ears. You want him to know you're not human? You understand the rules. The one who knows your identity must die. You want him dead I suppose." Gerard leaned in to stare at Lancel with a defiant look.

Amos immediately got goosebumps. Die? He was going to die in the end? His body went limp.

"He can't die!" Lancel shouted loudly.

Gerard chuckled. "Aren't you Amos?"

Amos was surprised. The man knew his name?

"Yes, Sir," Amos replied. He ventured to look up at Gerard. Instantly his body shuddered as he looked into the man's eyes.

Gerard smiled meaningfully at him. Not a friendly smile. It was a sly grin. What did that smile mean?

Amos looked down, shivering, as if he was being stalked by wolves.

"You seem to have a lot of courage. Then I'll invite you to the banquet," Gerard said.

Lancel screamed out in delight. He hadn't expected Gerard to let them into the banquet. He didn't have to sneak around anymore.

But Amos was worried. He wasn't interested in the banquet at all. He just wanted to find a way to escape from there and get away from Sera.

"You don't seem happy," Gerard continued, looking down at Amos who was currently looking down.

Amos immediately stood up. "Let me come!" He couldn't make Gerard suspicious.

Gerard grinned and walked in front of them.

Lancel strode along happily, holding Amos' hand. Meanwhile, Amos felt his chest pounding. He repeatedly stared at Gerard's broad back. Could the man also be a monster?

Surely! Why was he still asking for a clear answer?

Amos gulped hard. What would be the fate of the slaves next? He had learned the most terrifying secret. He was sure that no slaves would think that their masters were monsters.