Klaus's eyes narrowed as he stood in the shadowed alley beside the hotel, his blood simmering beneath his skin. He clenched his fists, fighting the impulse to lash out. But then clarity hit. Xavier. He must have taken the car to rush Amanda to the hospital.

Relief trickled in, and Klaus allowed himself a slow breath.

He sighed lightly, pulling out his pocket watch.

It was already fifteen minutes past four, and they had less than an hour to make it to Selina's house.

If Xavier didn't return soon, he would be forced to act without him. And that…

Wouldn't really end well for any of them - neither the hunter nor the desperate siblings.

He sighed in exasperation.

Both he and Xavier were just ordinary humans anyway. Perhaps just lucky enough to be born into a family of hunters. All they could do was try their best and leave the rest to fate.

“Hopefully, Xavier returns on time,” Klaus muttered, before pushing open the green door.

Knowing his brother, he felt confident that Xavier would make it back on time. After all, Alexandros had a peculiar hero syndrome.

With both hands in his pocket, he walked into the Azure Hotel.

He immediately noticed the kind receptionist, Klein, was absent.

He must have directed Xavier to a nearby hospital.

After all, Xavier probably doesn't have any knowledge of the nearest hospital to the Azure Hotel.

Hence, he needed a citizen or someone who lives around this area.

And what better person than the male receptionist who just happens to be such a kind gentleman.

TAAAP!!! TAAAAP!!!

Klaus walked past the receptionist's desk, greeting fellow lodgers as he went. He had a knack for fitting in quickly, chatting with others before drifting away just as easily.

Upon entering the room, he closed the door behind him.

A light smile creeps onto his face as he collapses on the bed.

His moment of relaxation was interrupted by a grumbling stomach. Klaus glanced down, shaking his head slightly before sitting upright.

What should I do next?

A thought crossed his mind. Maybe I should go after the siblings. When Xavier returns and doesn't find me here, he'll definitely come looking for me.

But as he pondered, he recognized the risks. There's a high chance the siblings will follow me. Just facing the hunter alone would be burdensome- adding the siblings would turn this into babysitting, not hunting.

He sighed in exasperation, dismissing the thought. He had no desire to court death - not when he still had so much left to accomplish.

Klaus rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He sat in that state for a few minutes, allowing his thoughts to wander into a realm of possibilities.

He glanced at his watch but was left disappointed. — Forty minutes left. And I'm already bored, and starving!

The word “starving” felt like an understatement. He considered heading to a nearby restaurant, but the destruction of the Mac Donald's left him with no choice. The nearest restaurants would require driving since Wahoe is located at the Northern desolate edges of Yansen City. And without my car…

He sighed deeply. With nothing to occupy his time, he decided to steal a moment of respite while waiting for Xavier.

Laying back in the bed, he closed his eyes. At first, it was difficult to drift into a dream state, but before he knew it, he had entered a world where his desires could unfold.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Thirty minutes flew by in a heartbeat.

CREAAAK!

A figure stepped into the room, hands stained with blood and a solemn expression on his face.

Klaus rolled to the side, instinctively grabbing the gun beneath his pillow. The figure that entered was coated in blood.

Klaus raised his weapon, eyes narrowing before he recognized Xavier. He lowered the gun slowly, relief washing over him.

An awkward silence filled the air for a moment.

“Hmm So… Did you manage to get her to the hospital on time?”

Xavier stood rigid, silent for a beat before exhaling sharply. "Well, the doctors saved her. They called it a 'miracle' that she survived such grievous injuries. He said, fists clenched.

“But I beg to differ.”

Things just kept happening, yet he had no idea… He had no knowledge of anything.

He was extremely clueless about everything going on around him. Xavier felt like he was akin to a small dot in the vast expanse of space and time.

H-e he felt… Insignificant.

Klaus's brow furrowed in concern.

Honestly, with those injuries, I didn't think she'd survive. Hope was all I had.

“Well… guess she's quite a lucky fellow then,” Klaus replied nonchalantly.

“True.” Xavier nodded, his expression hardening. "Talking about Amanda. I hope she doesn't mention the possession and stuff whatnot.

“If she's interrogated by detectives, who knows what they'll think.”

“That's true. Why didn't I think of that?” Klaus facepalmed.

Xavier shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. How could you think of it if you were off in your dreamy world.

Klaus sensed the look but pretended not to notice, clearing his throat to speak.

"It's alright. We just have to get to her before the detectives do.

“Not to even talk of the fact that no one will believe in her 'superstitious supernatural reports. They will probably label her a psycho.”

Xavier sighed. Somehow, he couldn't bear the thought of her in that state. It unsettled him, and he could still vividly remember how scared he had been when she was being rushed into the emergency room.

He had never felt fear like that before. Never. What puzzled him was the bond he felt with Amanda- an attachment he couldn't quite understand.

I can't let myself get stressed over it. Since I don't know anything, I might as well wave it off my mind. He tried to convince himself, not that he had any other choice anyway.

Klaus glanced at his watch, then back at Xavier. "Alright, enough talking. We have only ten minutes left.

“If we don't get there on time, those fools might just end up wasting their lives.”

Xavier nodded, moving toward a gray door. He opened it, stopping in front of a mirror as he washed the red liquid from his hands.

Afterward, he rubbed his wet hands across his face, realizing why hunters were warned against getting involved with ordinary humans.

Dad was right after all. It's not about being a jerk. This trauma… it makes sense now.

He remembered Amanda's tear-streaked face as she murmured with great difficulty, “Mum.” The realization hit him hard - the demon had possessed her to kill her mother.

Shock rippled through him.

And what made matters worse. He had felt this pain, and it was all his fault - he believed it was his presence that brought about the tragedy.

And he had a lot of reasons to believe this.

The demon said something about him being on their side, coupled with the earlier attack from the demon he exorcised.

He was more tempted to believe all this happened all because of him.

Furthermore, he had this weird dreadful feeling that his presence might lead to even more deaths.

He wasn't too sure about this. But there was one thing he was definitely sure of.

“I will fight to the very end. No matter what it takes, I will eradicate these demons and save as many lives as I can,” he muttered, clenching his fists as determination ignited within him.

He wasn't so stupid to think he could save everyone. That would be delusional to say the least.

He knew he just had to try his best and leave the rest to… fate. Her.

“Alexandros! Get your fucking ass out of the toilet.

We are running out of time.”

“I am coming!” Xavier quickly exited the bathroom.

“Now… can we get going?” Klaus raised an eyebrow.

Xavier nodded at the rhetorical question.

Both brothers immediately stepped out of the room.

They soon appeared before Klein, who had resumed his duty.

He knew what he had previously done was quite risky and could result in him being fired

His boss wouldn't want to hear anything.

Even if a million people were to die right now. Klein dared to say his boss

wouldn't flinch as long as he gets his hands on the cash.

All his boss ever cared about was money… money and then… Money. There wasn't an end to his boss's love for money.

“Where are you brothers headed to?” Klein questioned smilingly.

“We are heading for a nearby restaurant.” Xavier replied with a smile.

Klein nodded, “Alright. I guess I should be expecting mine then.”

“Sure.” A light smile curled up Klaus's lips.

Klein chuckled lightly.

“You do know I was just joking, right?

I don't joke with my stomach; hence I eat quite a lot before resuming for work every morning.” He further added, smilingly.

“I see,” Klaus muttered in understanding.

Makes sense. Xavier nodded lightly.

He probably won't have the time to eat after resuming.

Though he guessed Klein would most likely have some time off. But as of right now, that was the least of his concerns.

The lives of a few others currently hung on a thread, and they were here busy chatting with Klein.

He frowned lightly, slightly nudging his brother, who immediately got the gist of the matter.

Klaus let out a dry cough.

“Alright Klein. See you later.”

Klein gave a light bow before both brothers hurriedly left the Azure Hotel with quickened footsteps.

Inside the car, Klaus started the car engines before tuning in to a classical rock music.

The tension thickened, a palpable sense of dread lingering in the air.

“Time to save some asses,” Klaus muttered; the sound of tires dragging against the floor immediately rang out before the car busted forth with great speed.

Rapidly vanishing into the distance.

While a faint, dreadful, and ominous sense of foreboding tugged at the corner of Xavier's mind.