Elias stared at Seraphina confused. There was something different in her voice that created an illusion of sorrow, but he was sure she could not be hurt this easily. His lips parted to ask what do you mean by that but he never got the chance.
Her gaze flickered sharp and cold like a blade raised high to attack but taken back at once before a wound could be created. The air around her seemed to still.
"You must not use your power, Elias," she said abruptly, her voice taking on the clipped tone of command. "For the time being lay low and concentrate on increasing your powers."
He blinked at the sudden change. "Why?"
Her jaw tightened. "They will be watching. The vampire houses would find out that the rogue vampires had been missing after they were commissioned to kill you. They would not believe easily a human could know about their presence, much less challenge them. They will be wondering what you are, if you are a threat. If you show them more they will strike before you are ready."
"But.." he began, but before the words had fully formed, she was gone.
The room felt hollow without her suddenly. He stared at the place where she was standing before letting go of a shaky breath. Elias ran a hand through his hair with a long, drawn-out sigh. His other hand drifted to his chest, fingertips brushing over smooth skin that bore no sign of the wound that should have ended him.
Then the door creaked open. The maid stepped in with a tray. She had brought a towel draped over one forearm and a steaming bowl of water nestled in the tray. The moment she saw him sitting upright on the bed, her breath caught and her steps halted.
"You are already awake, master. I am relieved that you are healed." her voice was barely above a whisper.
Her gaze dropped to his chest and widened. He didn't miss the way her eyes froze, fixated on where the hole had once been. Her knuckles whitened around the bowl.
Elias smirked, leaning back slightly. "Are you getting afraid of me now?"
The girl shook her head slowly, her fingers trembling just a little as she set the bowl on the table beside the bed. "No, master. I would never be afraid of you."
That caught him off guard. He tilted his head, his smile deepening with mild amusement. "Why not? You saw what I am. You know I am no longer one of your normal humans."
She looked at him then with her dark and steady eyes. "Master, you have never been like those. But you are better than the humans we have known."
His smirk faded and a dark flicker of light crossed through his eyes. the room fell into silence again, this time heavier. Because Elias knew the truth, he wasn't better, He was worse.
He had felt it last night how he had enjoyed the burn of joy in his veins when their bones broke when he sank a blade into a vampire's heart and heard their last cry. He had smiled in blood, bathed in fire, and it hadn't repulsed him. It had satisfied something deep inside. Something human men weren't meant to feel.
And yet, this maid, this quiet, nameless girl, looked at him like he was still worth believing in. His eyes lowered, and for the first time that morning, Elias didn't feel strong at all. He felt haunted by the loyalty she had shown to him.
Elias did not let that emotion linger in his mind. He wanted her to be loyal, to rely on him and to do anything for him, and he had already achieved that. There was nothing to pry in it. He raised his eyes to her again with a sharper gaze now.
"What of the new slaves and servants?" he asked in a low but clear voice. "Are they settling well in the estate? Had they already taken the chores given to them and completed their responsibilities?"
The girl, still standing close to the side table, looked startled for a heartbeat before schooling her features back into composure. She gave a slow nod but her fingers laced together before her. "Yes, master. Work is distributed well and everyone has taken their responsibility. But apart from that.." she hesitated, "and they were behaving just like you expected them to."
He raised a brow, gesturing lightly for her to go on.
"Some of them..." she hesitated, carefully choosing her words. "They didn't react at all. Their minds are quiet and focused on their work. It's as if they are already broken or trained not to question. They follow orders but don't ask why. Those, we believe, are safe for now."
Elias gave a small nod, unsurprised.
"But others..." Her voice grew quieter. "They are still under Lord Velmore's control. We intercepted a few letters last night. Two were trying to send them through the pigeons. One even slipped a message into the sleeve before making an excuse to go to market."
His jaw clenched. "What did the letters say?"
"Mostly coded," she replied quickly. "But we cracked one. It reported details of the estate. It is not a simple master. The letters talked about the watch shifts, supply routes, and your movements."
Elias narrowed his eyes. "And their motives?"
"One of them is Taron. his family is still in Velmore's custody," she said, lowering her voice further. "He is afraid. He does not want to betray you, but he is trying to keep them alive."
Elias let out a slow breath, head tilting back against the headboard. "And the others?"
"Two are doing it for gold. They must be offered a good deal and freedom. Greed has turned them. The last..." She hesitated.
"Say it," Elias ordered.
She swallowed, meeting his gaze. "The last one is loyal to Velmore completely. He is a fanatic. He believes that Lord Velmore is the only one worthy of ruling."
A long silence followed her words, stretching until it grew suffocating.
Elias's fingers drummed against the edge of the bed. "Bring Taron to me. For others, prepare a quiet room. I will deal with them myself."
The maid blinked. "Master...?"
His voice was low, but there was no mistaking the danger in it. "Fear, greed, and loyalty, I can work with the first. The second must learn what true cost means. The last…" He turned his head, eyes shadowed. "The last is already dead."
She bowed her head. "Yes, master."
He caught her hand before she turned. She stilled, and raised her head surprised.
"Make sure Taron's family is found," he said quietly. "If there's a chance to save them, do it."
The girl looked up at him, eyes widening slightly, and nodded. "I will. Thank you."