Frila sat motionless in front of Xiran, clutching the lifeless body of Carios. Tartered remains of two vampires lay all around her as if someone had shredded them in a fit of rage. Frila’s hair, face, clothes and hands were matted with blood and her eyes were blank and lifeless as she clutched Carios to her chest.

Xiran’s world turned completely dark, this brought him to his knees, a part of his heart died with Carios as he stared at his lifeless body with teary eyes. Heart-wrenching cries escaped him and all his emotions came tumbling out.

He finally collected himself and with guarded steps, he approached them and lowered himself beside her, she still sat motionless as if had been bound by a death trance.

"Frila....." Xiran softly called out to her and a fresh stream of tears fell from her eyes, she finally turned to face him and an emotional turmoil coursed through Frila’s body.

"He...he is.....gone," she hiccuped, "he is.... gone, he....left me...alone," she whimpered in between sobs which rocked her whole frame.

"Frila...I am so very sorry," Xiran reached out to her and pulled her close, placing her head on his shoulder he comforted her and she cried her heart out, her whole body trembling as her hands still held onto her fiancé.

They sat there for a long long time, crying and comforting each other. Carios and Frila were like kids to him, they were the people he trusted most, people who had been with him for a long time, they were his family. And today his family had been ripped apart by his own father.

Finally, Frila lifted her head from Xiran’s shoulder and spoke in a quavering voice: "You must protect Aselia, your father knows about her now, that’s what he asked us and not finding the answer he sought, it enraged him. And he took Carios away from us..... because of that wendigo. He said you took his right-hand man, so he did the same."

A fresh stream of tears fell from her reddened eyes and Xiran held his hand on her head. The revelation jolted him to his core and to think Frila witnessed everything, this enraged him to the point of no return and he hissed out:

"I promise you Frila, I will avenge Carios for you. I am sorry I couldn’t keep you people safe."

"Señor, give him a merciless death," she requested so very quietly and Xiran nodded with determination. His gaze went to Carios who seemed to be sleeping peacefully, there was a gaping hole in his chest and his heart lay beside Frila. Xiran stroked his face and said:

"Your death will not go in vain I promise you Carios. I loved you, my boy," his voice got hitched in his throat.

Xiran’s phone was constantly ringing and he knew he couldn’t ignore it anymore. He took it out and answered, it was Warise.

"Señor, the enemy has retreated and we have taken control of our city. Some of the enemy forces we have captured and restrained while most of them have been killed."

Xiran cleared his throat and said: "Good, make sure that not even a single of them should escape now. And help all the people in need, our priority is innocent people, especially children."

"We are working on it, Señor. But there is a piece of bad news, I just heard from the female prison that some vampires broke in and freed that female you sent there a few months ago," Xiran’s world rocked once again hearing this. Who would do that and why? Maybe they were looking for victims to drink blood and since she was human they took her.

"Get me the footage and secure the prison so no one else can escape," Xiran ordered.

"On it, Señor."

"I will meet you soon," Xiran cut the call after this and faced Frila.

"Please, let me take him," he softly requested and she reluctantly handed him over with little yelps escaping her. Xiran hugged him closer and his tears fell on his face. He kept him in his arms for a while, tracing his face with his fingers and then he kissed his forehead, so gently, so affectionately.

Xiran stood up and carried him upstairs. Frila quietly followed.

They went upstairs where white sheets had already been laid down by Horuis and other surviving guards. They were laying down their fallen comrades on the sheets while discarding off the enemy.

Xiran gently laid him down and with trembling hands covered him with a sheet. He kept kneeling beside him, staring at his lifeless body. Every time he had scolded him, every threat, every angered stare he gave him flashed across his eyes and rid him of guilt. If only he had been more gentle with him.

Frila sat beside him with a grim face, her eyes fixated on the love of her life. They were about to get married. A fresh stream of tears rolled down her cheeks at the thought and her body began to shake. She lowered her head and placed it on his chest.

"Frila..." Xiran rubbed her back. His phone rang again and this time it was Amonidus. He answered. Amonidus had called him to Mayor’s office.

"Frila, I need to go and sort out this mess. Stay strong, please. I promise I will be back soon," she straightened up and Xiran gave her a comforting hug before giving further instructions to Horuis and exiting his hotel.

A new morning had already dawned. He flew back in no time and landed just outside the red building. Clean up process had already begun and Mazitine stood outside, his usually spotless attire was scruffy and bloodied. He was overseeing the proceedings.

Seeing Xiran he rushed to his side with a grim expression and informed: "Señor! Everything is under control now. But your father took your sister and he wasn’t pleased when he left. I guess some understanding was reached with Señor Amonidus and Prince Casmian."

"Yes, I am headed that way. Make sure everyone who needs help receives it, head for the streets and patrol them. I will join you soon," he ordered before heading to the mayor’s office.