Sette

"My Lord,there is a message from the palace", the voice of the servant brought them back to reality. They quickly disengaged.

"What does the message contain?" , Alistair asked the servant.

"It must be the new decree passed by the King", Theodore informed him.

"what new decree?",

"a curfew has been put in place, once it's dark, nobody should be seen outside", Theodore explained.

"Why?",

"because of the beast",

"I see".

Alistair instructed the servant to keep the letter in his study. The servant bowed and left.

He turned to Theodore and stretched out his hand. "Come on, let me take you on a tour of the house". Theodore took the hand that was offered and Alistair took him on a tour of the house.

They were currently in the library, Theodore looked around in wonderment. Alistair's library was even bigger than their library at home and he had a lot of books.

"Your library is so big, I could spend years in here without getting tired". Theodore said as he looked around, his eyes greedily taking in the books.

Alistair look at him in amusement, "you really love reading, don't you?". Theodore nodded his head eagerly. "I love reading a lot, I don't have much excitement in my life, but when I read, I am lost in my imaginations".

Alistair ruffled his hair affectionately, "do not worry, you can always come here to read. My library is yours". Theodore looked at him excitedly, "really, I can come here anytime I wish?".

"Of course, you can read all the books here". Then Alistair pointed to some books in a glass shelf, "but you can't read those books. You shouldn't even touch them".

Theodore looked at the books Alistair had forbidden him to touch,there was nothing particularly noteworthy about the books. They were encased in plain leather coverings, why had Alistair forbidden him to touch them?

"Why shouldn't I read them? What do they contain?", Alistair flicked his forehead.

"you ask too many questions, just do as I said".

"Fine, I won't read them".

Alistair ruffled his hair again, "good boy".

They spent the day in this manner touring the house, eating snacks and talking about general things.

In the evening they both set out for Lord Fife's house, on their way there, Theodore suddenly remembered that Lord Fife had told him to bring a bottle of wine.

"Oh no!",

"What is it?", Alistair asked.

"Lord Fife told me to bring a bottle of wine and I forgot", Alistair smiled and patted the bag he carried. "Don't worry two bottles of wine are here",

"Thanks Alistair",

"you are welcome Theodore".

They got to Lord Fife's house, they were duly welcomed by Lord Fife.

They met other young men who were also present. They started talking and drinking. Gradually the conversation shifted to talk about the beast.

"I wonder what kind of beast it is, it attacked one of my servants", Lord Fife informed the crowd.

"really, can we speak to him", someone asked.

"Of course". Lord Fife sent for the servant. The servant came in. Theodore looked at it, nothing seemed to be wrong with him, except for the two puncture holes on his neck.

"Does the bruise hurt?". The servant shook his head. "Do you remember what the beast looks like?" .

"No my Lords, I don't remember anything, I just woke up to find myself on the ground".

"you may go". Lord Fife instructed the servant, he bowed and left.

"what kind of beast could it be?", The men mused among themselves.

"it might be a vampire". Theodore remarked quietly to himself.

"a vampire? What's a vampire?". Lord Fife had heard Theodore and he was curious about what a vampire was.

The rest of the men looked at Theodore too, waiting for his response.

Theodore looked at them nervously, he hadn't meant for anybody to hear him.

"Come on Theodore, let's hear it", they urged him to speak.

"Uhmm I read a lot of fantasy books and a vampire is a mythical creature that drinks blood. They also have the power to erase memories. What your servant said matches with the description of a vampire. But they aren't real".

"but the beast is obviously real, it might be a vampire as you said, most fiction come from a place of truth. I will inform my uncle, he is one of the council members. Thanks for informing us Theodore". Lord Fife said.

The other men looked at Theodore with a new eye of appreciation and they all crowded him so he could tell them more about vampires.

Alistair looked on with a smile, Theodore had been so apprehensive about meeting new people. With what had happened tonight, he knew Theodore's confidence would grow bigger.

"Thanks for inviting him", Alistair told Lord Fife who stood beside him.

"there is no need to thank me, he is an interesting person. But I do want to ask you a question, why are you so interested in him?",

Alistair looked at Theodore and thought about it, why was he really so interested in Theodore? Since the first time they had talked to each other, Theodore had captivated him.

"I don't really know Fife, I guess i just find him interesting as well".

Lord Fife looked outside, the wind was becoming fierce, it looked like it might soon rain.

"I guess we should bring this little party to an end, it's about to rain". Alistair looked outside too, the weather looked like it was about to rain as well.

"I agree,we should all be on our way before it starts raining".

"Gentlemen, it's about to rain, let's call it a day", Lord Fife announced. The men agreed with him and they bade each other goodbye before leaving.

Theodore and Alistair rode to Theodore's home. Alistair was to escort Theodore home before going back to his home.

Theodore looked at the sky, little raindrops had started to come down. "Alistair, you should start going home, I can go home by myself",

"Not a chance. I am escorting you home",

"but it's about to rain, I don't want you to get soaked by the rain",

"I will be fine Theodore",

"What about the curfew? What if the beast meets you on your way home and attacks you?".

Alistair rolled his eyes, Theodore could be so dramatic. "don't worry Theo. I will be fine, now stop talking and focus on riding your horse".

Theodore pouted and grumbled underneath his breath but he didn't argue with Alistair again. Besides, deep down a part of him liked that Alistair was insisting on escorting him home