Chapter 517: Wanted
With every word Athenodora said, Caius felt his blood—the blood he had received from Athenodora—react, and he knew what was happening; She was exerting her authority over him as his creator to ensure he would obey her word. It’s a lot like the authority Caius had acquired over the Leopolds.
"That wasn’t necessary," Caius said with a sigh.
"Cannot be too careful," Athenodora said, and even though her smile was light, her eyes remained serious.
"Who did this—whatever it is—to you?" Caius asked.
"We can talk about that when you’re here," Athenodora said.
"You could at least tell me what’s happened so I can be prepared," Caius said.
"When you’re here," Athenodora said simply.
"Alright, tell me," Caius said with a gesture toward her, "Where are you?"
Athenodora didn’t actually tell Caius where she was; instead, she showed him a series of images flashing in his head. With a start, he realised she was sharing her memories with him, and because he was receiving memories along with the necessary context, he knew exactly where he was headed.
"Caius," Athenodora said then with a smile, but again, there was no doubt to the gravity of the matter by the seriousness of her gaze,
"Don’t keep me waiting."
Interestingly, that didn’t come off entirely like an order but rather an imploring plea. Still, as it was the word of his creator, he had to obey.
The shadowy scale pulled away then, and Caius opened his eyes back in the room he had just spent two wonderful weeks in. Why was that becoming so fleeting now? He couldn’t even properly revel and delight in his Magical and Vampiric improvement.
"Fucking buzzkill."
****
"Where will you be going?"
"How long will you be gone?"
"I can’t say, and I don’t know," Caius answered the two questions.
It was the next morning, and Arlette, Anne, and Lea had woken up with the general acceptance that whatever little they had done already to prepare for the resumption would have to be enough. They had no regrets for essentially fucking away two weeks’ worth of preparation time.
They were in high spirits but couldn’t help but be solemn at the look on Caius’s face. Caius began to speak of the meeting with Athenodora and soon reached parts of it that he couldn’t talk about. He could only vaguely tell them he was going away for a while.
"We’ll come with you," Lea said instantly. She was likely speaking for herself and her mother, who were a team, but Arlette nodded because she very much agreed with the sentiment.
"No, you should be at Lochxen," Caius said, "If I can’t even tell you where I’m going, I can only imagine how much danger I’ll be putting you in."
"You can’t possibly be thinking of going alone," Arlette said.
"Oh, I won’t be alone," Caius assured her,
"I can’t make the journey as Caius Von Helsing. I need to move with as little attention on me as possible. And if I’m going to be moving in secret, I should have people who can bear that secret with me."
Caius wasn’t being dismissive of any of the three ladies. They were all magically capable—far more than he—but they all also had public personas. Arlette had experience in secrecy, but even she had responsibilities at Lochxen, and her absence would raise some brows.
If Caius needed to have companions—and he did—it needed to be people who didn’t really exist. People who could pass for nobody and share the burden of secrecy with him, with no one to wonder where they had gone.
He needed Leopold Vampires.
It seemed especially fitting, too, as this was all to help a Vampire.
Anne, Lea, and Arlette had many protests, but Caius didn’t budge, and even they, despite their worry, couldn’t help but admit that Caius had a point.
"What about your father?" Arlette asked, "And Alexia?"
"They should believe I’m still in seclusion, trying for a breakthrough in Magical Enlightenment."
Even as Caius said it, his tone was dull because he didn’t think that story would last long. His father, of course, already knew it was likely a lie and a cover-up and just trusted Caius to be safe. Alexia, on the other hand, was not privy to the truth and might eventually find it suspicious if Caius was away for too long.
Especially if it meant he was clearly missing school.
Speaking of school;
"Of course, this means I will be taking a leave of absence from Lochxen. I think if three of my Professors vouch for me, it could be allowed," Caius said with a smile that the ladies didn’t readily return.
"Oh, come on," Caius said in response to their worry, "Don’t make the end of our merriment seem like a mourning."
It took a while to get them happy again, and even then, they seemed to only be putting on a brave front. Caius didn’t mind that because he was, too.
•••
-The Von Helsing Estate-
Alexia strode through a hall in the Main building with purpose. She arrived just in time to see Arlette’s carriage pull into the Courtyard. When Arlette stepped out of the carriage, Alexia was happy to see her again for the first time in weeks, but soon frowned when it became clear that Arlette had returned alone.
"You’re back," Alexia said and threw her arms around Arlette to pull her into a hug.
Arlette hugged her as well, and together, they walked into the Main building and, of course, it didn’t take long for Alexia to make mention of the elephant in the room. Or would that be the absence of one?
"Where’s Caius?"
"Ah," Arlette said, "He’s still away."
"But Lochxen resumes today," Alexia pointed out.
"He’s going to be seeking a leave of absence from school," Arlette said, "Apparently, he feels close to a breakthrough and can’t be disturbed."
Alexia stopped walking then and stood in front of Arlette, the two staring into each other’s eyes— Deep black into feline grey.
"You were with him," Alexia said in the tone of a question, "These past weeks."
"I was," Arlette said and then smiled lightly, "What? Are you wondering if he told me about— you two?"
That hadn’t been what Alexia had been wondering. Somehow, she had put that away from her mind so it wouldn’t make this conversation awkward. Now, though, she couldn’t help that it came to the forefront of her mind. She flushed slightly.
"What— what are you talking about?" She asked with a slight stammer.
Arlette smiled secretly in satisfaction, knowing that triggering that awkwardness had turned Alexia’s mind from wondering about Caius’s current location. It wouldn’t work for long, but as she was going to be returning to Lochxen, Arlette felt it would work for just long enough.
"I scolded him, you know," Arlette said then lightly.
"You- you did?"
"Of course," Arlette said, "Whether you enjoyed it or not, he’s a scoundrel for taking advantage of you like that."
"Well, it wasn’t that bad," Alexia managed and cleared her throat, "But really, that’s not the point. Arlette, where is he?"
Arlette sighed at how quickly the conversation had returned to where she had tried to steer it away from.
"I don’t know," she said, "Honestly, I don’t."
Alexia’s expression was heavy, and her eyes were wide as she said,
"Arlette, believe me, it’s important that—"
She was interrupted by Gareth, the Hellsinger.
"My Lady," he bowed, "They’re back."
His tone was downcast, and a hint of annoyance. Alexia’s tone was the same as she answered through gritted teeth.
"Of course, they are."
"Who is?" Arlette couldn’t help but ask.
Alexia let out a sigh and closed her eyes.
"That’s why I need to know where Caius is," she said,
"It’s the Anti-Vampire Task Force.
Caius is wanted for an inquisition."
