Xiran almost burst out laughing when he heard Aselia calling vampires as ’vermins’. The irony of her words was lost on her for she was unaware that she had fallen in love with one against all odds and he still dwelled deep in her heart.

He listened on and her bratty remarks made him chuckle so many times. He just couldn’t get enough of those snarky remarks and it had been so long that he had heard them. Her voice was just like he had remembered and he sat there imagining what she must be wearing.

He kept hearing until their conversation ended. The part where she revealed that she wanted to visit Fritez City, sent small jolts throughout his body. So she did know about his city, long before she had known him. That was the city she had found love for the first time, and he was sure a part of it remained in her heart, still.

How he wished to switch places with Frila to just be able to peek at that beautiful face that he could never get enough of. To take her in his arms and kiss those rosy lips of hers.

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a phone call from Warise. Xiran received the call and was informed that they had captured some infiltrators and he was needed at the station.

"I am on my way," Xiran told him before getting up and heading out. His good mood had been soured. Reaching the police station he headed straight in.

"Take me to them," he ordered, reaching Warise’s desk, his expression was extremely frosty any hint of a smile was gone.

"This way Señor," Warise guided him to the special cell where they were keeping the prisoners. There were three of them and strangely enough, all of them were girls, beautiful young girls, wearing very tiny and lewd clothes.

And Xiran knew his father was up to no good. He knew Xiran refrained from hurting females so he was playing tactics as usual, underestimating him. His greyish orbs darkened like rainy clouds as he gave them a death stare.

"They were trying to extract information from several police officers in a bar, after trying to get them drunk. Their bad luck is that the officers are on high alert even off duty and rarely get drunk. So they captured them. Recording devices were confiscated from them and tons of pictures of our sensitive buildings. I don’t know how long they have been spying on us," Warise filled him in as Xiran experienced a blinding rage envelop him.

"Who sent you?" Xiran demanded his arms folded against his chest as he glared at them. His face was covered with a mask so girls couldn’t see the disgust he held.

"Now that is some real sugar daddy," one of them exclaimed, while the others giggled.

"Answer the question and it’s better if you do or you will be considered the enemy and I don’t do well with the enemy," his threats seemed to not affect them as they continued to giggle.

"Look at all those ripped muscles, I wanna chain him up and lick," one of them whispered to the other and stuck her tongue out. Warise lightly coughed to hide his embarrassment.

"They were trying to seduce the police officers as well. I don’t think they are normal women, they seem to belong to some special category. Well trained in their act."

This reminded Xiran of his sister. She had told him her father had trained her in the art of manipulation. These seemed to be from the same category. The only difference was they were willing participants. There was no reluctance or shame in their voices or eyes. He could sense their lust.

"Did he threaten you or your family and sent you here to spy?" Xiran asked them again, his eyes narrowed.

"Threaten? We are in the middle of a war and vampires are going to win and rule this world. This world belongs to us, we willingly offered our services," one of them mocked back at Xiran. Her smile was seductive and yet derisive.

"So you are Phantom’s puppets, he pulls some strings and you people get down to disrupt peaceful lives," he spat out feeling irked.

"Puppets? We are proud to be part of his army and no one can stop us," she answered him back. Her obsidian eyes were like a viper’s slits.

"Well let’s see about that," a smirk spread on Xiran’s face. His eyes had gone icy. He was done showing mercy to the wrong people. People who didn’t deserve it and because of his inability to take the necessary steps he had lost the love of his life.

And the fact that he had just heard her voice and was unable to talk to her or see her, didn’t help their case. All his frustration and anguish were about to be unleashed on them. He nearly lost his city, lost a companion and almost lost his best friend, they lost children, but not anymore.

"Warise!" Xiran’s voice rang out, loud and clear.

"Yes, Señor," he answered from his side.

"Try to extract any information they can provide by any means necessary. After that, I want their heads to be hung in the centre of the city with a banner on top which must say, ’Enemy gets what enemy deserves’."

The frostiness and gloom in his voice was foreshadowing that this was just the beginning of such decisions he will take which will further darken his heart.

Their smiles vanished instantly hearing his cold words, which had chilled the very air they were breathing.

Warise was completely baffled listening to his mandate. He had never seen him issue an order like that.

"It will be done, Señor."

"Hey! You! Wait!" they chorused behind him but Xiran turned his back on them and walked away without throwing a backward glance. He wanted to show his father that he could be merciless as well when it came down to his city and people.

What he didn’t know was the entire history which had led to his father turning into the monster he was today.

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