Chapter 61: Investigating the case
Kaelric’s POV
"There’s a case that has been presented to the school council," the headmistress announced as she walked into my office.
"What’s the case all about?" I asked, not wanting to get into any school case, especially not this time.
"It’s a case involving vampires; we don’t know how true this is, but it needs immediate attention." She paused and looked at me knowingly and hesitatingly before continuing.
"Knowing that you are related to the Alpha king, you can put in words for us to him, if the suspicions are proved to be true."
I dropped the pen I was twirling in my hands. I didn’t want to meddle with school affairs or the council affairs either, but when it comes to vampires, I have an irresistible urge to end them.
Maybe because I was born a beast that hunts them, I never chose this part. I’m dreaded by my own kind and used by them to annihilate their enemies.
"He is half Dravari, Liara, so be careful when you play with him." I have overheard my aunt tell my cousin, Princess Liara, that one time we were about to go out to play.
That display hurt me. And I find myself still wondering to this day why they use me but still fear me.
"I’ll be waiting for you to get back to the council," she said, calling me out of my thoughts before turning to leave, then stopped in her tracks, "It will be much appreciated if you concede," she then left silently, leaving me to my thoughts.
I was curious to know what this was about, and I was also nonchalant about why they always wanted to associate with me only when they needed me.
Sometimes, because I was a prince, nephew to the king, other times it was because I was a Dravari that could help fight the kingdom’s enemy.
Even my existence in this Academy was a duty call. I was tasked with monitoring recent events. Recently, vampires were spotted near the academy grounds.
I just found out that a student was a hybrid when it came to reaching the academy. And now, is there a vampire case in the school council? Could it be Aria?
Although I hated vampires, I had special feelings for the half-breed Aria. I’ve totally forgotten about my betrothal, Andria, whom I never met.
She was appraised several times by my uncle, the Alpha king, but I’ve never had any reason to see anyone who was arranged for me.
The student council elections were fast approaching, and now this case.
I slowly tidied my desk and made my way to the headmistress’s office. I would be taking up the case.
"I want to hear what the case is all about in detail," I announced as I entered her office.
She let out a sigh of relief, nodded and gave me a satisfactory smile. "I’m glad you conceded, the matter at hand is very grave and has been giving the council so much worry," she started.
"It was early this morning that I got a call from one of the students, Alpha of the Silvernight pack, Zade. There was an emergency involving two of our students," she spoke in a very low tone, almost inaudible.
I was getting so impatient. I didn’t need a back story; I wanted to know where the vampire was spotted and how to get there, and not about some emergency. "What about that?" I asked, furrowing my brows.
"The name of the student was Aria and her friend Becca," she said, ignoring the impatience in my voice.
Immediately I heard her name, I felt my heart jump out of its rib cage. The case was becoming intriguing; I hoped nothing had gone wrong with her. And why didn’t I feel the mate bond when something was amiss?.
"They were found passed out at the dungeon in a casino; vampires had beaten them until they passed out before the Alpha successors and Zade came to their rescue."
I was enraged. Why hadn’t I been there? Now they get to play knights in shining armor for her. I would have snapped those vampires into different body parts.
I was angry for so many reasons. "So why do you need me for this case?" I asked, getting agitated.
"Well, the incident had been said to be planned and organized by another student in the academy, who happens to be her campaign rival in the upcoming student council elections," the headmistress explained.
"What’s their name?" I asked, ready to get to work. I couldn’t believe that a student in this academy would go as far as making a deal with the underground enemy just because they want to win an election.
"The prime suspect is Tracy; she has been said to have frequent confrontational altercations with the victim," she explained, now twirling the pen in her hands.
"I’m going to take up this investigation and also the questioning and trial."
When it comes to Aria, I felt a need to be protective, and not being there even before the incident triggered me even more.
I stood up to leave, then she said, "The victims are still healing, and the hearing starts immediately when the victims are ready. Investigations can start before the hearing."
Hearing her refer to my mate as a victim made me want to tear the perpetrators apart.
"I’ll make sure to do a proper investigation, and if Tracy is actually the perpetrator, she will have to face the consequences of her actions. I don’t care about her father’s role in his pack, because I’ll make sure to demote him." I said, anger flowing through my veins.
"She could have been framed also; the actual perpetrator might have known about her rivalry with the victim and had decided to capitalize on that," she explained, "When approaching a case like this, we have to look at every probability."
"Hmm, you can trust me on that," I reassured her, and then left the office.
I was aware that the headmistress was not aware that I was a creature with a kin sense. If she knew that I was a Dravari, she wouldn’t talk in such a doubting manner to me.
I could read her fears even before she uttered them; she feared that the academy might be in danger, but she masked it well under a facade of a firm voice. It takes only someone who sees within to detect her fears.
Aria was in danger, and my wolf was restless.
I summoned the Alpha of the Silvernight pack and the Alpha successors, who were there at the time of the incident. I needed to start a proper investigation immediately, because this issue might not just affect the Academy but also the kingdom.
I’ll be reporting this incident to the Alpha king; he also needs to inform the Alpha in charge of the military stronghold. There is an impending war.
As soon as classes were done for the day, the Alpha successors came. I was surprised that they arrived on time, seeing that they were my rivals.
"You sent for us. What’s the urgency?" Aven asked with an uncomfortable look on his face. I could tell he wasn’t pleased to be in my office, but he had no other option.
I raised my right hand, offering them seats, but they had already chosen different spots in my office to sit.
"You made a report to the headmistress early in the morning, and the report raised so much concern that..." I said, directing my gaze towards Zade before Tristan cut me off.
"We made the report to the headmistress, so why do we need to answer to you now?"
I ignored his impatient tone and continued. "Your report has raised concerns that need investigation." I paused and turned to Aven.
"Laying our differences aside, you will need to inform your father of the recent happenings. His stronghold is getting porous; there must be a link within that somehow connects with this Academy."
He looked at me with an unreadable expression, but I could tell what he was thinking. He hated taking orders from me, but he knew that I was right on this one.
"So tell me what you know about the incident and why you suspect who you suspect," I continued, redirecting my gaze back at Zade.
"I overheard my flat mates Wayne and Lucas discussing a business they were to carry out in the casino. They sounded suspicious, so I decided to follow behind them to the casino the following night, to know what the suspicious business was all about."
He paused and gulped, allowing me to digest the information, then slightly nodded to be sure I was following.
"Go on, I’m all ears," I urged him.
"I overheard them discuss Aria’s abduction. I tried to prevent the abduction after listening to the conversation, but Aria, being who she was, was very adamant. She can’t stay at my place because the abductors are there, but she wouldn’t stay at theirs either," he said, pointing towards the Alpha successors.