His mother looked at him, her eyes empty and emotionless. There was no kindness or the tenderness that once used to reside in there. Strangely she didn’t attack him. They stood there in the long hallway, looking at each other. One in pain and the other in hollowness that lacked any sense of who those pair of eyes were staring at.

“Mother?” Leonard called out softly, wishing his mother was still in there somewhere where he could reach and bring her out of the darkness. His mother didn’t respond and his heart only sunk that much farther.

Hearing someone’s steps, her head suddenly snapped and she went in another direction.

When Leonard followed her, he saw his mother who had opened her mouth to show her fangs threateningly at someone. Like others, her face had begun to change as veins like lines began marking from the sides of her face and it went on to stretch until her cheekbones.

“Mrs. Carmichael…?” It was none other Vivian who stood there.

Mrs. Carmichael looked at her in rage and went to take a bite from her before she was thrown to the side of the wall which didn’t cause any damage to her. When a vampire was corrupted, it didn’t matter how many times the person was pushed away or beaten, the person would stop at nothing. It was when his mother lunged towards him, he realized he had to make a decision which would cost his peace and sleep and everything that he held dear to him.

Clutching his hand on the stake he ran it through his mother’s chest when she came to attack him, her fangs inches away from his neck. He didn’t move as one hand still holding on to the wooden stake while the other rested on his mothers back.

As both of them slid on the floor, Leonard pulled out the stake, letting it go to clatter on the floor. With both his hands around her, he held her carefully, hugging her.

Vivian who had only arrived at the scene looked at Leonard and his mother in shock. Not knowing what had happened, she stood there with her hands cold.

No one knew how much time passed with the anguish of loss that had taken place; people who had killed their own loved ones. It was midnight when the council members were informed who were still around the land. Lord Nicholas had reached the mansion after receiving the word about the tragedy that took place. The spilled blood was not cleaned as people had to inspect what had happened. With the sudden corruption of hearts that had taken this dark night. The servants were in deep slumber due to which it was only Vivian who stood in the corner along with Paul. It was three in the morning but she wasn’t sleepy but worried.

Vivian looked at Leonard whose face lacked any emotions as he spoke to the Lord. After some time, Leonard called Paul to say something which the housekeeper bowed his head.

“What is it?” asked Vivian worried as she saw Paul begin to walk towards the kitchen.

“Stay here and don’t go anywhere. I will be back soon,” Paul instructed her.

“But where are you going? Did they say what happened?” Paul shook his head at her question, indicating it wasn’t the right time to speak.

She stood there in silence and in a corner as people came and went. No one spoke to her. Not Leonard, not Charlotte not anyone who usually spoke to her as everyone was mourning over the loss. No matter how hard she tried to digest as one body was passed down the stairs after another, she felt her heart hold tight at the number of people who had died. Six deaths and some of them injured.

When Paul returned back, he came with all the servants and the workers who worked in the mansion. Even the family members had gathered in the hall.

One of the elder council members then spoke, “It is an unfortunate night for all of us. We have lost our dear ones tonight and we can only hope that where ever they are, they are going to rest in peace. But before we bury any of them in their coffins, we need to find the culprit,” murmurs of confusion took place in the hall, “We wouldn’t want to waste time and would like to catch the culprit so that we can punish him with whatever the council sees fit as. As the action or perhaps the issue took place at midnight, I doubt we would have to suspect any of the guests. Of course, they will be going through interrogation if we don’t find any of you as a suspect but for now. Each and every one of you will have to go through interrogation which will be started right away. I hope everyone you will be cooperative in giving out the information.”

“It is alright, right Lord Nicholas?” the other council member asked the Lord.

“I think it’s an excellent way to weed out the traitor,” Lord Nicholas responded back looking at all the people who stood next to Leonard.

“We would like to use a room, Duke Leonard,” Leonard nodded his head and so began the procession of interrogating one by one.