It's been a whole week since they had a proper talk. People might wonder who "they" are, but oh boy, it's been painfully obvious to Dominick. He and Marcus have been dancing around each other like two cats unsure whether to fight or flee, all thanks to that last drinking session they had. Talk about awkward.

Dominick sighed as he followed Marcus and Velor to the duke's room. This situation was a real pickle, and he knew it'd be a challenge for everyone to stay calm and sober. For mortals like Marcus, of course, it was going to be even trickier to handle. Poor man looked like he'd rather be wrestling a bear than dealing with all this supernatural nonsense.

As they walked, Dominick couldn't help but steal glances at Marcus. His perfectly combed hair, his stern expression – it was all so... Marcus. Dominick had to resist the urge to crack a joke, to see if he could coax out one of those rare smiles. But now wasn't the time, was it? They had glowing eyes and mysterious blood to worry about. Romance and humour would have to wait.

They arrived at the last stop, the Duke's chambers. Velor raised his hand to knock, but before his knuckles could meet wood, a crash from within sent their eyebrows skyward. The door flew open faster than a drunk's coin purse, revealing Velor's father, the Duke himself.

Well, if he didn't look like he'd just wrestled a whirlwind. The man was panting like a dog in summer, sweat glistening on his face like morning dew. But it was his lips that caught Dominick's eye - stained a shade of red that no respectable wine could explain. It didn't take a genius to figure out the Duke wasn't alone in that room, and whatever was happening wasn't exactly a friendly game of chess.

Dominick's mind raced, torn between cracking a joke to break the tension and keeping his trap shut for once. He settled for the latter, figuring this wasn't the time to test the Duke's sense of humor. Besides, the look on Velor's face - a mix of shock, embarrassment, and dawning horror - was almost comic enough on its own.

The Duke, seemingly oblivious to the spectacle he was making, attempted to straighten his dishevelled clothing. "Gentlemen," he managed between breaths, "to what do I owe this... unexpected pleasure?"

"There is something urgent, your grace," Marcus said, his eyes darting everywhere but the Duke's crimson-stained lips. Dominick had to hand it to him - the man could keep a straight face better than a card shark in a high-stakes game.

"What is it?" the Duke asked, trying and failing spectacularly to appear nonchalant. He was about as calm and unsuspicious as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

"Ah, about that..." Marcus trailed off, looking to Velor like a drowning man eyeing a piece of driftwood. When Velor just stood there, still as a statue and twice as useful, Marcus gave him a nudge that was about as subtle as a tavern brawl.

"Right, something happened in the barn," Velor finally piped up, shaking his head as if trying to dislodge the shock. "Something brutal and... looked too odd," he added, stepping inside as the Duke ushered them in with all the enthusiasm

Dominick's eyes swept the room, taking in the grand bedroom that looked like it had picked a fight with a tornado and lost. Books and small glasses littered the floor near the desk by the window, which hung open, curtains dancing in the night breeze like drunken ghosts.

But it was the smell that really caught Dominick's attention. It was out of place, like finding a fish in a tree. It wasn't the usual scents of a bedroom - no, this was more like... burned wood? Dominick's nose twitched as he tried to place it. Whatever had happened in here, it certainly wasn't your average bit of ducal mischief.

As they all filed into the room, Dominick couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something far more complicated than a simple barn incident. He glanced at Marcus, wondering if his straight-laced companion was thinking the same thing. This was shaping up to be quite the mystery, and Dominick wasn't sure whether to be excited or terrified. Knowing their luck, it'd probably end up being a bit of both.

As Velor droned on about the barn incident, Dominick's senses tingled like a cat's whiskers before a storm. Something was off, and it wasn't just the Duke's poorly concealed panic. No, there was a presence outside, as palpable as the tension in the room.

Dominick drifted towards the window, casual as you please, though inside he was coiled tighter than a spring. The Duke's eyes followed him like a hawk tracking a mouse.

"Lord Dominick, perhaps it would be best to step away from the window," the Duke blurted, his face an open book of worry. Subtlety, it seemed, had taken a holiday.

Dominick glanced outside, catching a flicker of... something. He turned back, shrugging at the Duke with a nonchalance he didn't feel. Oh, there was definitely someone out there, lurking in the shadows like a guilty conscience.

"Continue, Velor," Dominick said, noticing that Velor had paused mid-sentence, distracted by the exchange.

The discussion dragged on, each word adding another layer to the puzzle. No clear answers emerged, just more questions piling up like unwashed dishes after a decadent feast.

Dominick fought the urge to fidget. It was maddening. His senses were screaming that something was amiss, yet he couldn't quite grasp the full picture. It was like trying to solve a riddle with missing clues.

He glanced at Marcus, hoping his more logical friend had found some clarity in this mess. But Marcus looked just as lost in thought, his brow furrowed in concentration.

As the others continued their hushed debate, Dominick's mind raced. The Duke's thinly veiled panic, the mysterious presence he'd sensed outside, the carnage at the barn – they were all connected, he was sure of it. But how? It was like trying to catch smoke with his bare hands.

He suppressed a sigh. Sometimes, being the clever one was more of a burden than a boon. Especially when cleverness wasn't enough to solve the mystery that lay before them.

Still, as frustrating as it was, Dominick couldn't deny the thrill coursing through his veins. Whatever was going on here, it was bound to be one hell of a ride. And despite the danger – or perhaps because of it – he found himself looking forward to seeing how it all played out. After all, a little excitement never hurts anyone, right?

"Dominick, aren't you coming?" Velor's voice yanked him back from his reverie.

"Ah, yes," Dominick replied, shaking off his thoughts like a dog shaking off water. He sauntered towards Velor, only to find Marcus already standing in the hallway

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Marcus's brow was furrowed tighter than a miser's purse strings, and that face - well, it was enough to make Dominick want to stare all day. Not that he'd admit it, of course. He had a reputation to maintain, after all.

Velor, the sly fox, meandered ahead, leaving Dominick and Marcus to fall in step beside each other. Dominick couldn't help but steal a glance at Velor's retreating back. That man knew exactly what he was doing, didn't he? Subtle as a brick through a window, but effective nonetheless.

As they walked, Dominick found himself acutely aware of Marcus's presence beside him. The warmth radiating from him, the faint rustle of his nightclothes, the subtle scent of soap and sleep – it was all rather... distracting. He cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

"So," he drawled, unable to bear the quiet any longer, "fancy meeting you here at this ungodly hour. Lovely night for a stroll, isn't it?" He flashed Marcus a grin, part mischief, part something else he couldn't quite define.

Marcus's response, no doubt, would be as dry as month-old bread, but Dominick found himself looking forward to it all the same. There was something strangely comforting about their banter, even in the midst of all this madness.

As they followed Velor down the dim corridor, a sense of anticipation prickled at Dominick's skin. Whatever lay ahead would change things between them, he was certain. For better or worse remained to be seen, but one thing was for sure - it was bound to be interesting.

Dominick blinked, suddenly realising Velor had vanished. No doubt the sly fox was playing matchmaker. He'd left without so much as a farewell or a wink, leaving Dominick and Marcus alone in the corridor.

Dominick felt a mix of gratitude and exasperation. Sure, he appreciated Velor's efforts, but a little warning would've been nice. Even Dominick, with all his bravado, found himself fumbling for words in the sudden silence.

He glanced at Marcus, acutely aware of the awkwardness hanging between them like a thick fog. His earlier quip about the 'lovely night for a stroll' now seemed to echo mockingly in his head. Smooth, Dominick, real smooth.

"Well," he said, clearing his throat, "seems our friend Velor has urgent business elsewhere. Probably remembered he left a candle burning or something equally dire."

He tried for a casual smile, but it felt more like a grimace. This was ridiculous. He, Dominick, master of wit and charm, reduced to awkward small talk. And all because of Marcus and his annoyingly perfect... everything.

Part of him wanted to throttle Velor for this setup, while another part whispered that this might be his chance. To do what, exactly, he wasn't sure. But standing here in silence certainly wasn't it.

"So," he ventured, "since we're both up at this ungodly hour, care to share your thoughts on our mysterious Duke?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, hoping to spark their usual banter and dispel this uncomfortable tension.

"I believe there's nothing more to discuss at this hour," Dominick felt his heart skip a beat at Marcus's response. That voice, smooth as silk and just as rich, sent a shiver down his spine. And that face... Well, it was doing things to Dominick's insides that he wasn't quite ready to acknowledge.

"Alright, as you wish," Dominick managed, summoning a smile that he hoped didn't betray the sudden ache in his chest. He watched as Marcus turned and walked away, leaving him alone in the dimly lit corridor.

As Marcus's footsteps faded, Dominick leaned against the cool stone wall, letting out a long breath. Well, that was... something. Not quite the witty exchange he'd been hoping for, but not a complete disaster either.

He ran a hand through his hair, chuckling softly to himself. Here he was, the great Dominick, master of words and charm, reduced to a fumbling fool by a few words and a look from Marcus. The irony wasn't lost on him.

Part of him wanted to chase after Marcus, to say something – anything – to keep the connection alive. But another part, the part that was still reeling from their brief exchange, knew it was wiser to let things be, at least for now.

As he stood there in the darkened hallway, Dominick couldn't help but wonder what was going through Marcus's mind. Did he feel the same undercurrent of tension? Or was Dominick simply projecting his own desires onto a polite conversation?

With a sigh, he pushed himself off the wall. There were mysteries to solve, a Duke to question, and who knew what else awaited them come morning. Yet somehow, all of this seemed less pressing than solving the riddle that was Marcus.

Dominick shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. "That was something" he muttered to himself as he headed back to Velor’s room. Whatever tomorrow brought, he had a feeling it was going to be interesting. Very interesting indeed.

Dominick threw open Velor's door, finding the young lord sprawled on his bed, scribbling away in his journal. Velor looked up and grinned, his face lighting up with that same mischievous expression that always made Dominick want to playfully throttle him.

"Velor, you could at least give me a warning before you disappear like that," Dominick grumbled, settling into an armchair and nudging Velor with his foot.

"What warning for?" Velor retorted, swatting Dominick's foot away with a chuckle. "You need to learn to improvise, my friend."

"It was awkward," Dominick groaned, tossing his hair back dramatically.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Velor countered with a grin. "At least you're talking again." He shook his head, amused by Dominick's theatrics.

"Anyway, enough of that for now," Dominick said, his expression turning serious. "There was someone in your father's room just before we entered."

"I know," Velor replied quietly, a shadow passing over his face. "It reminded me of something..."

"The smell of burning wood..." Velor paused, lost in thought. Then his eyes widened in realisation. "My mother," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion

"I see," Dominick said softly, his gaze fixed on Velor. A complex mix of emotions played across his face - a flicker of sadness, quickly replaced by a gentle warmth. It was clear that Dominick was moved by Velor's belief that the presence in the Duke's room was his mother.

Dominick, however, couldn't shake the feeling that something else was at play. This whole series of events felt orchestrated, as if an unseen hand was pulling the strings. The bizarre incident at the barn, the mysterious figure in the forest, the scent of burning wood and the unfamiliar floral fragrance in the Duke's room – it all felt interconnected.

"Anyway," Dominick said with a finality that brooked no argument, "rest. I'll go check on something." He gave Velor a reassuring smile, though his eyes held a steely determination. With a swift movement, he was gone, vanishing from the castle into the moonlit night.

He reappeared at the edge of the forest, his senses on high alert. His instinct told him that something lurked within the shadows, something connected to the events of the evening. The scent of burning wood, so out of place in the Duke's chambers, hung heavy in the air here, a smoky trail leading deeper into the woods

He moved silently through the trees, his heightened senses guiding him deeper into the forest. The scent of burning wood grew stronger, drawing him towards its source.

And there it was - a clearing bathed in moonlight, where two cloaked figures stood in hushed conversation. Dominick paused, weighing his options. Should he reveal himself, or observe from the shadows?

Before he could make a decision, the words tumbled out of his mouth, driven by an impulse he couldn't control. "Why are you here?"

The figures whirled around, their faces hidden in shadow. But as they turned, the moonlight caught their eyes – twin pools of crimson, burning with an unnatural intensity. The very same eyes Velor had described.

A cold dread settled over Dominick. These were not mortals. These were the creatures of nightmare, the cruel, abhorrent beings - the sunspawned