Music Recommendation: Elusive Man- (K)NoW_NAME
In Darthmore and the chamber of the Head Council, Vincent dropped a file on Clayton's desk, which had the small-looking vampire stop what he was doing and stare at the bundle. His gaze shifted to Vincent and he asked,
"Did you finally finish going through the file that I gave you last week?"
Vincent offered a smile and said, "I like the hopeful you. It is cute. But no, these are documents that relate to the Hookes."
Clayton, who had been leaning against his chair until now, sat straight and picked up the file. He murmured, "All this while, I have been wondering why you were so willing to get yourself set up by them. As if almost eager." His red eyes briefly looked at Vincent and then back at the file. "I can only assume that you did have something to do with Marquee Walter Hooke's sister's murder."
"The one time where I didn't kill someone, and I get the blame for it," Vincent clicked his tongue, but the mirth in his eyes didn't make the Head Council believe his words. He then pulled the chair in front of the desk and took a seat. "Did you know that the Hookes are soon going to be drowning in debt and poverty. The Hooke's financial condition has plummeted, and this file has the names of people whom they owe and owed money. People from high status."
"I already know it, I was there when they visited and quickly offered you the deal to marry their daughter. And you accepted it very willingly," Clayton turned the pages and then placed the file back on the desk. He said, "Someone close to you killed the woman, and you are covering up for it. You do understand that breaking the blood marking in the Council's registry will lead to your execution and your family's reputation will suffer."
Vincent nodded before he responded, "I am aware of that. I don't plan to break the blood binding seal, someone else will help me to nullify it."
Clayton gave him a suspicious look, and he questioned with a frown, "What are you up to, Vincent? They aren't regular people. Even if they are drowning, they are people with connections."
"Everything good, and nothing bad. I promise, it will all be worth it," a wicked smile adorned Vincent's sinful lips.
Vincent knew that if he didn't take the blame for Lady Camille Wright's murder, the Hookes would frame someone close to him, and now that they knew it wasn't just his family but also Eve, he didn't want them causing any harm. Even though he would try to protect his and Eve's family, he was no God to be present everywhere and know everything. The easiest way was sometimes to trap people. One had to make their opponent believe they were trapped.
"What are you doing with this file? Want to tell everyone that they are falling into the line of poverty?"
"Of course, not. I am not so petty to do that," Vincent picked up the file and read the names listed. "I have much better use of this file." He added, "There's a soiree being held in my mansion, I would be delighted if you attended it." Saying this, he turned around and made his way towards the door. Before he stepped out, Clayton remarked,
"The Hookes, don't underestimate them. Especially not with the blood seal," Clayton warned Vincent.
"Thanks for your worry," Vincent smiled and stepped out of the room, making his way through the corridor. On the way, he met two men who had just returned from their hunting case they had picked up and were on their way to report.
"Mr. Moriarty," one of the two councilmen greeted Vincent and said, "I would like to thank you for tipping us on the witch's location. We were able to successfully find and kill her."
Vincent's smile didn't reduce, and he turned amused, "It is always a pleasure to help fellow councilmen. What do you say, Mr. Scroggs?" He asked the other councilman, who stood next to Mr. Osborne. They were the same men, who had met Marceline in the Palavista forest.
Vincent had kept an eye on Marceline, knowing his cunning sister would try to find a solution for her lost fangs without accepting the good path everyone wanted her to walk in. When Eve had informed about his dear sister stealing Allie's fangs, he could only guess that she was trying to find a witch to help her.
Before Marceline would reach out to a witch, early this morning, Vincent had informed that the witch the Council was looking for was in Palavista forest. One which he believed Marceline had heard about and had gone to seek help.
"Of course, Mr. Moriarty! You are the most knowledgeable man here and we look up to you!" Mr. Scroggs answered, and he said, "We also met your sister there."
"Did you now. She must have lost her way," Vincent sarcastically stated, but the men didn't pick it up as they nodded. It seemed like Marceline wasn't done with one visit and had gone back to the witch for something else, the pureblooded vampire thought.
Mr. Osborne responded, "She told us she was taking a walk and ended up losing her way back. But there's nothing to worry about her, Mr. Moriarty. We killed the witch before she could harm your sister, and we made sure to see that she got inside her carriage."
The corner of Vincent's lips tried to stretch further, and he remarked, "It is good to see that the Council has brave men like you two. To have found the witch with a direction and put an end to the missing girls case, I will be sure to put in a good word about your work to the Head Council. Thank you for your kind gesture and seeing my sister in her carriage."
Mr. Scroggs was an admirer of Vincent Moriarty. He had heard about how capable and efficient Vincent was with his work, who solved difficult cases that others couldn't.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't save the young girls and women, who were lured and dragged into the witch's den. We found nothing but bones," Mr. Osborne informed Vincent.
"Draw up the family names of those who lost their young daughters to me, so that the compensation report can be made and hand it to me. I will submit it so the miserable families are compensated quickly," Vincent said to them, and the two councilmen bowed. He then walked past the two men and heard one of them remark from behind,
"How generous of him. Not only did he help us inform us where to find the witch was and give us credit, but he is willing to submit the report and put in good word for us. As expected from the Moriarty family!"
While Vincent worked on the file, he had on the Hookes, time passed in his office. He finished working on some envelopes, and once he sealed them, he handed them to Patton and ordered, "Have these immediately sent to the addresses on them."
"Yes, Sire," Patton complied, taking the many envelopes to post them. While the man stepped out of Vincent's office, he met Marquee and Marchioness Hooke in the corridor, who demanded,
"Where is Vincent?"
"Mr. Moriarty is in his offi—"
The Hookes didn't wait for the lowly vampire to finish his sentence. On reaching Vincent's office, Marquee Walter Hooke demanded loudly, "Where is Rose?" Vincent raised his eyebrows, and he deadpanned,
"In the mansion's garden. But if you don't like them, you will find plenty of them in the Council's garden."
Lady Aurora's eyes narrowed and she glared, "Our daughter Rosetta. What did you do or tell her?!"
