Chapter 323

THROB!

Ashley had a sudden feeling in his chest. Deep within his very soul he could sense that something was wrong. His master was in trouble. It made it difficult to breathe as he felt the pain from his master's soul to his own. There connection was warning him that his master was in danger...

Thud.

Ashley jumped down from the merchant cart that he had been resting inside of. He had been watching over the prisoner, Elas. Master had ordered him to do it and Ashley was not one to refuse his master's command. He simply could not refuse commands because it was the rule of their bond.

Things were different when he sensed his master was at risk. Moving quickly he fled the cart and went straight for the Maroon Inn's entrance.

"Master... Hold on..." Ashley muttered out loud under his breath as he spend through the Maroon Inn as fast as he could.

Following his instincts Ashley went straight towards the direction of the room which the guests were gambling. Looking around swiftly he saw no sign of his master in the room. Though he caught sight of Prince Leo and Sebastian who were seeming worried.

"Ashley!" Prince Leo called out for him. Annoyance built up inside him due to how worried he felt about his master. Unwanted interrupts made him want to snap on the prince. It was clear that the prince was not watching out for master very well. His opinion felt useless to Ashley right now.

Ignoring the prince, Ashley continued to move among the crowd as he followed him from behind, replying to the prince with, "I do not have time. Master is in danger."

Prince Leo quickly replied while following him with Sebastian, who seemed almost completely unfazed by Vorbuk's disappearance, "He was with another guest while gambling before he suddenly vanished. I only stepped away briefly to take care of Seb-!"

"Do not push the blame aside onto others!" Ashley shouted at him while a few guests cast glances in their direction, he lowered his voice, "You left him alone. That is on you."

"Should we inform Captain Cory?" Prince Leo debated out loud about asking the pirate captain for help locating where Vorbuk had gone.

Ashley did not want help from the pirate, "I will take care of it. Do not use the pirates more then necessary. They are still unable to be trusted."

Sniffing the air casually; Ashley tried to lock onto his master's scent. Paying close attention to his connection to Vorbuk. He could sense that his master was not far.

Is he... down? Ashley felt like the connection from his master was coming from deep under the mansion. Down? Is that really the answer, master?

Prince Leo could see that the vampire was very distracted and acting very emotionally. Not understanding what it felt like to be bound to a master and servant contract. He did not understand the depth that the servant was able to sense their masters condition. The vampire could sense that his master was in a dangerous situation because he could feel that connection weakening.

"Hah.." Sebastian sighed deeply to himself while they both argued over the situation they were in. Knowing exactly where to find Vorbuk would seem suspicious. If they knew he was able to locate him so easily it would become a problem.

"Where are you going again?" Prince Leo asked Sebastian when he noticed him walking away on his own. It felt like he was babysitting a child during the worst time.

Sebastian glanced back at the both of them as he replied, "Things are not going to get better if we waste time arguing. I am going to help look for him."

"We need to go downstairs. There must be a basement or some other floor beneath our feet." Ashley explained where they needed to go. The only problem was trying to locate a way down below the Maroon Inn. Though he had a feeling what was beneath them. It was not his first time inside Drethia Kingdom. As a vampire he had been born in Drethia Kingdom and understood their way of life.

They both went in the same direction as Sebastian. The three of them looking around for any signs of Vorbuk. Prince Leo was even keeping an eye out for signs of Kaiser, the vampire they had been talking to before he left them alone.

It did not take long for Sebastian to slowly lead them to a door not far from where Vorbuk had been gambling with Kaiser. Unlocked. They were able to push the door open and Ashley went in first.

From the sight of the stairs leading down Ashley had a bad feeling. He knew what kind of place it was probably leading them to as the other two followed him down the stairs from behind. Each of them were on guard in case they were caught in any unforeseen situation. It was impossible to know what awaited at the bottom of the stairs.

Prince Leo froze at the sight of the mortals at the bottom. They were being treated no better then cattle. No, perhaps, they were treated worse. He had no way to interfere in what was going on down there. It made him even more uncomfortable being aware of that fact.

I was right... I do not like this one bit. Ashley thought to himself when he realized for certain that the Maroon Inn had an underground food supply. Treating mortals like this was not uncommon in Drethia. It was known as the Maroon Inn, not for the roses that decorated the landscape, for the fresh supply of blood for the vampires of Drethia.

THROB!

Ashley got a bad feeling again. Something was wrong with his master. He did not care if the other two could keep up with him. Running as fast as he could he made his way down the long path filled with cells of mortals. The last thing he was worried about right now were those irrelevant to him.

Coming to a stop he looked around and saw no sign of Vorbuk and Kaiser. Kneeling down to place his finger in what looked like a warm pool of blood. With his fingertip covered in the blood he raised his hand back up. Tasting the fresh blood with his tongue.

Master... Ashley could recognize his master's blood instantly. His entire body shivering with both anger and worry. Where have you gone? At this rate there will be no choice but to get the pirate captain involved to help.

He could hear the footsteps of Prince Leo and Sebastian catching up to him. They would be here soon to ask if he had found anything. Remembering that Prince Leo had mentioned another vampire with his master earlier he thought about it. Pondering the thought of someone working against his master.

The cold look in Ashley's eyes as he thought about tearing Kaiser apart when he found him made Prince Leo freeze instantly when he caught up. If one could read Ashley's mind at that moment they would have been even more terrified. Ashley showed his fangs as he grit his teeth together.