Chapter 3 - The missing.

Kyan's POV:

I slid the tips of my fingers across the slashes in the tree trunk, I could feel the deepness of them and somehow I could sense the fury. Kiko was right, these weren't the markings of a bear or any other wild animal, these marks belonged to one of our own! An anxious flicker thumped in my heart as I thought of Zekan and the possibility of these being his or Lyra's.

A fight definitely happened here, but what bothered me more is that we hadn't found their whereabouts yet, no news of them passing through any lands or being aboard any of our ships. A horrible sinking feeling was setting in at the thought of them being alone out here, fighting for their lives and dying because of it and as much as I dislike Lyra, I hated the thought of my brother's last moments being of him having to try and save her and himself whilst watching the hunters take her life right in front of his eyes. Lyra was vicious, of course, but not much of a tactical fighter, so I doubt they would have stood much chance if they were outnumbered.

Everything in my body was telling me that the hunters took them down first before heading to the castle. The fact that they were still 'missing' just wasn't like Zekan, he would have contacted me by now to let me know where he was. He didn't have it in him to abandon us when he knew of our predicament, only to then not find out if we were all still alive. He would have called me... I know in my heart he would have, he'd be too wracked with guilt and worry not to reach out.

"Kyan!" Del spoke cautiously as he walked over. "There's a tree a bit further up, there's.... there's blood spots on the bark and from the mess I could see of the bushes and branches in that area, it looks like there was a bit of a scuffle!".

"Fuck!" I breathed out in an almost silent whisper.

"I'm sorry, boss! I know it doesn't look good but, but let's not give up hope just yet".

"He shouldn't have left!" I said, but mostly speaking to myself.

"I think he was just trying to protect Lyra, you know? I expect he had a plan to get them away safely".

"Del, you know Zekan well enough to know he wouldn't have stayed this quiet without checking in!".

Del stepped closer as he supportively put his hand on my shoulder. "I also know that we won't give up until we find out what happened to them one way or another, just like Zekan would do for any of us!"

I just nodded in reply. He's right, we will stop at nothing until we find out, but I was rather apprehensive about what answer it would lead us to... Another two lives lost? "Come on, let's head back, we have a visitor coming. Father wants me back before they come".

"Who's the visitor?" Del asked through the wind as we sped our way home.

"He didn't say, just demanded I return before evening!".

"I'm back". I said to father just as he walked out of his study.

"Good, he should be here any minute!"

"So, who is it that's coming?"

"His name is Magnus. He's Hyvan's younger brother. When I told him what happened, he was adamant about coming here. Now son, he's not as...... let's say.... collected as Hyvan was. Magnus tends to piss people off, but he was close to Hyvan, so, we must make him feel welcome".

"So, your basically saying he's a bit of an asshole?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes! But Hyvan died, fighting one f our battles, so we will just have to deal with whatever mood he's in".

"Great!" I mumbled to myself.

By the time Bianca and Constance had laid father's table with a welcoming feast for our new visitor, Lincoln and Drew both escorted him in from the main doors. "Well, well, well... so this is the infamous castle Hyvan always talked about!" Magnus said with a smug grin.

"Welcome, Magnus. I hope you're hungry, please take a seat!". Father said as he motioned toward the table.

"Don't mind if I do, I'm ravenous!" He replied as he plopped himself down on one of the chairs and resting his feet on another.

"Thank you, Lincoln and Drew, you may go". Father said as he took the seat at the head of the table. I opted to sit opposite Magnus, hoping he'd soon wipe that cocky expression off his face!

"So! What did you do with my brother?" Magnus asked as he stuffed a load of pork into his mouth.

"We buried him in one of our flower gardens, it's where we bury all of our dead". Father told him.

"Who else died then, in this hunter battle?"

"A few others were injured and one died. My son and his woman are also missing".

"Are there any of the fuckers still alive?"

"Not that we know of. We certainly didn't leave any alive that day!"

"But you don't know for sure? Have you not raided their lair... or hideout, whatever you want to call it?"

"We would if we knew where it was!"

Magnus stopped chomping on his food as he stared shocked at my father. "So, you mean to tell me, these bastards attacked you in your own home and you haven't even bothered to find out where the fuck they came from?"

"You misunderstand Magnus. We had search groups going out into the forest for weeks. But the day they attacked is when I realized they hadn't been working alone! Three of our kind were with them".

"What?" Magnus replied in disbelief. "Not a chance any of our kind would work alongside some scum hunters!"

"I saw them for myself. Then Vaughn, one of our own, killed them with a hunters' gun. And they were definitely vampires when we burned their bodies!"

"Wow!" Magnus scoffed. "It's all been fucking going off here, hasn't it!"

"Yes, It's been a rough few months."

"Well, obviously, we need to find out if there's any still alive! And I'm not leaving until I know that for myself".

"I understand and, of course, your welcome to stay here as long as you need". Father said, trying to bite his tongue and be hospitable.

"And I'm guessing you're the other son, i've heard of?" Magnus asked, as his attention fell onto me.

"I am. I'm Kyan".

"The older brother?"

"That's right!"

"So, you have no idea where your little brother is? Dead for all you know?"

"We're not ruling that out. Of course, we hope to find him alive".

"What did you find on your search today, son?" Father asked with a worrying frown.

"Just what Kiko explained. It's definitely claw marks and Del found blood on another nearby tree". I told him as his shoulders sunk lower.

"Well that doesn't sound too good, does it?" Magnus spoke as he eyed the both of us. "Tell me Kyan, why would your brother go out there, knowing hunters were targeting you all? Just him and his woman! He thought himself brave enough to take them on alone?" He said in a cocky tone.

"No! My brother some egomaniac! He left because his woman, Lyra got herself into trouble, and not for the first time".

"Ahh! Drama... what trouble was that then?"

"She attacked.... multiple times a human that was in our care!" Father stepped in.

"Right! I've heard about you allowing humans to live here as if they're one of us! What are they... like your pets or something?"

"Magnus! I understand your upset about the loss of Hyvan, I am too, he was a dear friend of mine, but do not disrespect any of our members here, human or vampire!" Father rebutted.

"Well, you're one of the very few that let humans onto their land! So, which human did this Lyra attack then?"

"Her name is Ellie. Lyra didn't like her from the start. Many times I had to warn her to stay away from Ellie, but she almost killed her before Zekan managed to intervene. However, Lyra was warned she'd be banished if she were to disobey me and Zekan didn't want her to leave on her own, so they both fled before I even knew what she did to Ellie".

"You would banish one of your own for a human?" Magnus asked in astonishment.

"For an innocent human, yes!" Father replied confidently.

"What's so innocent about this human? She a helpless baby or something?"

"She's twenty one! But she didn't deserve to be treated like a criminal. And besides, any humans in my home are not to be harmed. It goes against the peace treaty we have".

"So, what was it about this human then that Lyra didn't like?"

"I don't think we'll ever know. She's never hurt any of the others that have come here".

"Hmm, women!" Magnus laughed as he refilled his cup with blood wine. "So, what more can you tell me about what happened while my brother was here?" He asked as he looked at my father.

"When Hyvan first arrived, two of our guards found him wounded and brought him here. We helped him heal, then got him into training. We searched the forest every day, stopped our food hunts and guarded the towers. But... it seemed like the hunters were always watching, like they knew our every move".

"We suspected we had a leak... you know, a spy!" I told Magnus. "But, there isn't anyone here that would betray us!".

"Well, clearly that's not true!". Magnus said as he raised his brows.

"Like I said, we only suspected, we didn't have any proof!".

"Well, from what i've learned over the years, if you suspect something, then it's most probably true!"

"Everyone here fought the hunters that day... so, if any of them were spies they would have fought with the hunters, not against them!"

"You have humans here though, right? and hunters... they're humans! Did any of your little humans help fight the hunters?"

"No". I gulped, knowing exactly where he was going with this. "But they've all been here a long time. They're happy here. They've given us no reason to distrust them".

"What about this, Ellie?"

"What about her?" I shot back as I felt my body tense.

"Well, what if Lyra's problem was that she didn't trust this particular human! You said yourselves that she didn't ever have any issues with the others that live here. Perhaps Ellie is your spy! You know... the one you're trying to protect instead of one of your own!" He said as he stared hard at me.

"She's no fucking spy!"

"Yea? and how can you be so sure? Kinda sounds to me like there's a strong possibility! She's probably waltzing around this place laughing to herself that she's managed to get away with it!"

"She's not waltzing around here, that's for sure!" Father bit back as his eyes narrowed at Magnus.

"No? What, did she flee back to her hometown? Had some plausible explanation to leave?"

"Actually!" I interrupted as I leaned forward on the table to hold his attention. "Ellie is practically comatose in her bed after she took one of the hunters' bullets in the back, to save my father!" I informed him, with anger in my voice.

Magnus looked back and forth, between my father and me, as if we had just told him a joke! "Is that true?" He finally asked, looking at father.

"Yes!" Father replied, with guilt in his voice. "One tried to kill me when we thought they were all dead. She jumped in the way, in fact... she completely shielded me with her own body, she almost died, and..... we still don't know if she will or not!".

"Wow!" He nodded as if trying to take it in. "Well, I think that's a first! A human, sacrificing themselves for a vampire! So, where is she?"

"She's safe. Under mine and Kyan's watch!" Father replied with a warning tone, making it apparent, him seeing her, is off bounds.

"Well, I shall like to meet her. I can get a feel of someone once i've spoken to them. Sacrifcing herself or not... I know for myself when someone is trustworthy or not!" Magnus said as he stood from his seat. "Lord Talon, I would be grateful if you could write me a list of names and their room numbers. I want to know of everyone here. Tomorrow, we can all put our heads together and end this for good".

"I'll get on that, Magnus. That won't be a problem!" Father replied with understanding.

"So, what room number will mine be? I feel the need for a good night's sleep after the long journey here".

"Of course, you can stay in Zekan's room for now. It's just down the hall, number 129".

"Ok, great! I shall see you both tomorrow then!". He said, before gulping the last of his drink, giving us a nod and leaving the room.

"Kyan, would you mind staying a bit longer and help me with that list". Father asked.

"No, I'll stay. I was only going to sit in Ellie's room anyway and keep watch on her".

"Son, I know your worried. I am too, but you have barely slept in days! You should go to your room and get some rest".

"I'll be fine father". I replied, shaking my head. "I'll rest once she's awake. Now, come on, we had better get on with that list". I told him as we got up and headed into his study. I left his door open and sat at the end of his desk, in good view of her room so I could hear if she finally decided to wake up.