Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 280: Grandpas’ night out (2)

"Zephyr, stop it. You’re scaring Jasper," Orlork said, laughing as he enjoyed upsetting Zephyr. "I came here to give you some company, and this is how you repay me?"

Zephyr wanted nothing more than to cut out Orlork’s tongue, but even then, that wouldn’t be enough to stop the old brute from coming around him.

"Leave," Zephyr said, releasing Orlork. "I don’t need your company, and we are not family." freēnovelkiss.com

Orlork fixed his shirt. "But we are family thanks to our grandchildren marrying each other. I didn’t have any involvement in her picking Xavier, and I made it so that everyone in the Blackthorns leaves her alone. You should be thanking me."

"I know you, Orlork. I know your intentions aren’t so pure. Like everyone else, you are curious about what secrets my family holds. Since your grandson hasn’t shared our secrets with you, it is a good reason for me not to trust you," said Zephyr.

"Hmm. Had I been a little younger and around my father, perhaps I would be plotting to find out your family secrets. I wouldn’t be here with you, but with your granddaughter, who enjoys having another Blackthorn like her," Orlork said, standing up to be at Zephyr’s level.

"I could be very manipulative to get my answers out of her, but I have chosen not to. Not only because it would turn Xavier against me, but I have no use for it. She will be the mother of my great-grandchildren. I cannot have your secret out and her life in danger," said Orlork.

"So, you are protecting her and the lives of grandchildren who do not exist? I do not believe you," Zephyr said, walking away from Orlork.

"Well, it is true. My children think I don’t love them, but I do. I adore my grandson since he strikes fear into others. I want to see what will become of his children. I have no interest in war or gaining power. I want to rest when I am not with the ones I care for," Orlork revealed.

"Since there are no children, you should go back to sleep. I will wake you when it is time," Zephyr offered.

Orlork chuckled. "You would wake me? I trust that you would keep me asleep for an eternity. Besides, Jasper is the only one I can trust to wake me. Though that might change now that my daughter has an interest in him."

"Camilla scares Jasper, and there is a good reason he wants to avoid her. Have you ever made mistakes with your daughter? Like letting her marry the Harrison man?" Orlork asked.

"I raised my daughter well and let her pick who she wanted to be with. Vampires like to say it is difficult to raise their own, so they pass on the responsibility to a loyal servant, but it is not hard. I have never made a mistake like breaking my daughter’s fangs," Zephyr replied, knowing it was what troubled Orlork.

Zephyr didn’t care what Seraphine might have done. He was not taking her fangs from her.

"It is my daughter above everything else. I would never take her fangs since it would be taking her pride as a vampire. She should be angry with you forever. Instead of sitting here with me, you should go be with her," Zephyr suggested.

Orlork tried that already. Camilla was not ready to talk. Until that was resolved, he would not go back to sleep.

"Enough of this. Come with me to the palace," Orlork said, needing a change in scenery.

"If I go to the palace, I am going to where the others rest and kill them. Then to your court for the ones who wanted my daughter dead. You do not want me there," Zephyr replied.

"It is why I want you there," said Orlork.

Orlork wanted to speed up Zephyr’s plans and get rid of the foolish king so there would be news of a great-grandchild sooner.

"You can’t kill them without a holy weapon, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you have one. If you don’t have one, I know where the others are locked away. I can get you right there-"

"Something tells me not to trust you, and I will listen to it," Zephyr said, turning down the offer. He would find his way into the palace when the time was right.

"Listen to me, you stupid old fool. I am not against you here since we are family. Come with me now while I am making the offer. If you come with me now, I will not bother you again. Now you move," Orlork said, shaking his head at Zephyr.

Orlork followed Zephyr out of the cave. "Despite your age, you act like a child."

Zephyr didn’t bother to respond to Orlork.

"One day, our great-grandchildren will be seeing me as their favourite, and I will not put a good word in for you. Must we walk to the palace?" Orlork asked, already regretting his decision.

Orlork preferred to fly to the palace, but Zephyr was more interested in taking a stroll.

Orlork was well aware that Zephyr was trying to annoy to the point of no longer wanting to go to the palace. It was almost working, but Orlork pushed through it.

The pair walked in silence, taking in the quiet night scenery.

Orlork wished he knew how long they had been walking for. Zephyr truly was a child.

"What now?" Orlork questioned, following Zephyr as he went off the path. "This is not the way to the palace."

"I am aware. There is something I found the other night, and I need your eyes to confirm if it is what I think it is. You saw a lot during the war, and you have books containing the history of this kingdom. Do you remember most of what you saw in those books?" Zephyr asked.

"I studied those books just like every Blackthorn should have. Why?" Orlork asked, curious about what Zephyr found.

The palace was now forgotten.

"Here," Zephyr said, stopping in front of a tree. "I’ve walked this path before when I wanted a peaceful stroll, and that wasn’t there a few days ago. What does it look like to you?"

Orlork knew the mark well. "It looks like what dark witches use when they want to access black magic. Why here?" Orlork wondered, looking around for other markings. "They are playing with fire again."

"I don’t sense a spell was done here. Someone might be going around drawing markings for the fun of it, or whoever did this plans to return to finish off what they drew. The king bothers witches, so perhaps it has something to do with him," Zephyr said, hoping it was so.

Orlork stared at the marking and soon realised his mistake. "I was wrong. This is the mark of a demon. The two languages are similar, but this one belongs to a demon."

Orlork only knew of it because his father had a run-in with a demon who was interested in sharing very little about the underworld.

Orlork looked at the mark again. "So, a demon did this? The gates of the underworld are closed. Demons are not among us."

"When there is great evil, a demon might manifest and become part of this world. Normally, they need to attach themselves to a host. Vampires wouldn’t make good hosts, and it would be rare if they found a dark witch. A human would be best," said Orlork.

Humans were always easier for demons to trick.