The town was surprisingly lively despite the eerie atmosphere. We walked into a winery in hopes of finding answers—or at least someone who knew something.
It was full of chatter. We sat on the barstools and called out a bartender. He had white hair, slicked back and cold blue eyes. He calmly, silently poured drinks.
"Excuse me, can I ask about something?" I asked with my hand supporting my chin.
"Ask away." His voice was calm and deep.
"About the disaster that happened a few years ago…Do you know something—"
CLANK! The bartender slammed the glass on the counter.
Ciel and I jolted. The sudden shift in his calm demeanor sent chills down my spine.
"…I don't know." He answered bluntly, a little hesitantly.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Hm, you don't sound like you're clueless."
The bartender paused then sighed. He leaned on the counter, face inches away from mine then whispered.
"Listen, whatever happened those years ago were erased from the people's mind so no one would have to live in fear. It's illegal to be shared by those who can't forget. And it seems like you're one of them… Judging by how the vampire is just sitting there, clueless."
I gulped before shoving his face away from me.
"Hold on, then why would a boring bartender like you remember?"
He stared at me in silence before groaning.
"And why would I need to tell you? Just don't go around asking anyone anymore or I'll—"
"The blond boy," I interrupted. "I want to know who he is."
He took another deep huff.
"You just won't listen, would you?"
Ciel looked back and forth from me to the bartender in silent, worried and confused.
With a snap of his fingers, the chatter vanished. The room fell into darkness… save for a floating fire orb.
The crowd—gone. It was just me and him now.
"What did you just do? Where's my friend..?" I demanded, forcing my voice to stay steady.
He cleared his throat before speaking, his eyes narrower.
"How do you remember that?! Where did you hear it from?! You're just a human, right? Surrounded by predators, risking your life just to dig up forbidden information…"
'He's dangerous.'
The bartender walked closer and closer.
"If you tell me your secret, or plans perhaps, I'll tell you mine."
I scoffed, not wanting to answer.
"None of your business."
He sighed deeply.
"I can't just let you go freely, knowing you might have something up your sleeves."
He grabbed me by the collar, his grip tight. So tight I couldn't move. Or maybe it was his sharp red eyes that stared into mine with hostility.
"The blond boy you mentioned, I do know him personally. But that's as far as I'd tell you. Because…"
His face got closer.
'He's… intimidating!'
"…I hate him for killing my own brother."
He pushed me down, then fixed his tie.
"Either way, it's no use looking for him."
I glanced up despite my back hurting from the fall.
"Why?"
The bartender sighed before looking back at me.
"He's dead."
My eyes widened.
'He's… dead?!'
"A death penalty, to be precise. It was decided by his own father. It was a hard choice. He was thrown in the oceans as a sea monster's feed. His body is probably long gone too."
I furrowed my eyebrows as I listened to this.
'If he's dead… then who was in my vision?'
"Argh—," my head twitched.
"I told you what I know," he got closer then bent his body to my level.
"You should tell me yours. What's your secret?"
THUD. My head hit the floor as I fainted from fatigue."
The bartender sighed.
"What's a weakling doing here…"
He snapped his fingers, and reality returned. Ciel was already looking around for me. Ciel glanced at my sleeping body then to the bartender with his eyes narrowed.
"What did you do to him?!" He shouted.
He threw my body at Ciel then pointed at a room behind the counter.
"Stay in that room until my shift is over. Try to leave and you'll be as good as dead."
Ciel growled.
"Why would I—," he suddenly paused when his eyes met the bartender's sharp glare. Ciel smiled nervously.
"A-aha.. Of course…"
—
###
Ciel sat down next to Everie with teary eyes.
"Hngh… master…"
The bartender walked in the room, his eyes glancing at Everie's unconscious body.
"Hey vampire, step aside."
Ciel glanced up. He was hesitant but stepped aside anyway.
The bartender closed his eyes. There was a red aura coming out of his right hand. He slowly shoved his hand through Everie's chest as if Everie's body wasn't solid. Ciel was horrified.
"H-hey— That's too much!"
The bartender kept silent. Not until his hand felt a sudden shock. He pulled it away quickly in panic.
"What the—"
Everie's eyes flutter open—slowly. He stared at the bartender in silent.
"You—What was that?!" The bartender scowled.
Everie slowly got up from the couch he was lying on. A sinister smile formed on his lips.
"M-master..?"
He wasn't moving on his own anymore. Something—someone—had taken over.
He kept glaring at the bartender before grabbing him by his neck. Making Ciel and the bartender jolt in surprise.
"Kegh—" The bartender choked.
"Falén," Everie muttered.
The bartender's eyes widened in shock.
'H-he knows my name?'
Everie then smirked.
"Your brother. Do you know why he died?" He asked. But the bartender stayed silent—terrified.
"It's because he touched what doesn't belong to him."
He got closer, then whispered.
"Should I remind you not to touch this body as well? Because it's mine."
The bartender let out a heavy exhale after Everie collapsed against him.
'W-what… what was that?! That wasn't him…!'