Chapter 39: Three Reasons (Part 1)

Barry: "You want answers, you say?"

Kais: "Yeah, that's what I just told you."

There is a knife at Barry's throat and I am the one holding it.

Barry: "Tch!"

He clicks his tongue but doesn't show any intention of speaking. It's irritating but I need to put up with it rather than losing myself to emotions.

Sona: "Do I need to remind you about what that knife does?"

Sona looks at him threateningly as if to remind him of what she had said just a moment ago – that this knife is imbued with spiritual energy and will cut the connection of a ghost with rest of their body essentially destroying their existence.

Barry: "No, I remember it very well."

He says in an irritated tone.

Kais: "Then talk."

I say as I press the knife on his throat.

Barry: "Hahahaha! Hahaha!"

He, however, laughs.

Kais: "What!?"

I just can't understand this bastard. What is he laughing for? I know he knows he can't get out of this situation unless he tells us the things we want to know and yet, he is laughing.

Barry: "Well, never mind."

Kais: "Don't you dare 'never mind' me."

Barry: "Don't get so worked up, dunce."

Kais: "You – don't call me that."

Anger and frustration are the two most prominent emotions inside me right now. I want to bash Barry's head in.

Kais: "Stop dodging the question."

Barry: "Since when did I start taking orders from you?"

Kais: "Tch!"

I click my tongue.

Kais: "You bastard!"

I can't stop myself from kicking him in the face and,

Kais: "Huh!?"

My hand, the one which wasn't holding a knife to Barry's throat, gets wrapped by vines.

Sona: "Control yourself. Don't let your emotions take control."

I realize only when Sona words it out for me that I was about to do something foolish once again.

Kais: "Yeah, I'm sorry."

Thanks to her though, I didn't.

Kais: "Now please let go."

I say in a much calmer tone than I had a moment before. Sona complies with my request and releases my hand.

Barry: "That was something."

I and Sona both glance at him.

Barry: "Didn't know you two had such a friendly relationship."

Sona: "That looked friendly to you."

Barry: "Certainly, you stopping him so he would not do something that he would end up regretting – was a very friendly thing for you to do."

Sona narrows her eyes.

Barry: "I can't imagine you would do something like this for everyone."

Sona sighs as she hears what he just said.

Sona: "I suppose I do value my childhood memories. Which is why, I don't really want to hurt you either, so the one who will be hurt in your place will be your partner."

She says as she turns towards Ro and the vines wrapped around him suddenly get tighter. Ro tries to endure the pain but one can clearly see that he is suffering because of it.

With a sigh, Barry speaks,

Barry: "Well …"

Ro: "Tch!"

Barry: "If you want answers, then ask your questions."

I feel doubt in my mind as I hear that.

Barry: "If I think your questions are things I can answer, then I'll try."

He adds to his statement, which only ends up annoying me.

Dragon: "Well, that sure took some extra time, didn't it?"

He says while continuing to stand at the place he was.

Dragon: "Hey Sona, could you undo this contract now. It's only really dangerous for you after all."

Sona sighs as she looks at him and says,

Sona: "Fine. Just don't move until I tell you."

The dragon nods. Since her left hand was being used to control the mole spirit, Sona raises her right hand. She made it so her palm would be facing the seal.

Sona: "Okay then,"

Under her breath, she mumbled chants that I can't understand even though I can hear them because of my clairaudience; the ability to hear what normally can't be heard.

Sona: "Now, you are free to move."

Dragon: "I am? But the white marking are still there."

Sona: "Of course they are. Those are physical markings. The spiritual energy, however, has left them."

Dragon: "I-I see."

The dragon cautiously moved from his place and got off the markings. All of our gazes got fixed on the markings, but nothing happened.

Seeing that, the dragon closes his eyes and sighs.

Dragon: "Well, I guess that's that. I was really worried for a while there."

He says as he opens his eyes and looks at Barry.

Dragon: "I can do the task of keeping that knife on his throat so you focus on asking the questions."

He, obviously, says that to me. However,

Kais: "No, that might be dangerous."

Dragon: "You don't trust me?"

Kais: "It's not about trust. I have known this man well enough to know that he is trying to think of a way to escape right now. I am a psychic so I can pick up on anything he might try to do. That's not the case for you though."

I state my reasons for not letting the dragon do this job. Hearing that, the dragon folds his arms.

Dragon: "I see. That's quite the problem, isn't it?"

The dragon says while looking at Barry.

Dragon: "Well then, let's get on with the questions."

I nod. Sona nods. The dragon nods. As we three confirm to each other, Barry looks at me with narrowed eyes. I look back at him.

Kais: "First of all, tell me again who you are working for?"

Barry: "The Vampire Kingdom."

Yes, that's completely true. I am using all the methods I have of detecting lies. All of them tell me it's the truth.

Kais: "Why?"

Barry: "Well, there is more than one reason."

That is also the truth.

Kais: "Then start naming those reasons."

Barry: "Fine. One reason is that I was ordered to do so."

Kais: "By whom?"

Barry: "The vampires. I had been associated with them because I am the brother of Valdis, the queen of Vampires."

Kais: "Yeah, about that, what the hell does it even mean?"

I had heard that before but how could he be her brother?

Barry: "Exactly what it sounds like. I am her brother, you are not. I think you should be able to figure some things on your own."

I can take a guess. I am not her brother but he is, so we are not really brothers. But then, what relationship do we have?

Barry: "I was adopted into your family so I started treating you as my brother, though I would tell you that was not a coincidence."

It wasn't a coincidence. That's not a detail I can ignore.

Kais: "What does that mean?"

Barry: "It means that I was sent there to act as your brother by the ruler of the vampires."

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