Chapter 8: Into the Monster’s Den

Shin nodded to the couple, the woman clinging to the man's arm as he offered a handshake. Even from afar, Shin sensed their dark auras, a chilling echo of his clan's massacre. A knot of unease tightened in his stomach, a primal warning he couldn't ignore.

He masked his reaction with a polite smile, though the woman's lustful gaze and the stench of death filled him with disgust. Ignoring her stare, he focused on the man, his mind already cataloging every detail of their posture, their expressions, and the subtle undercurrents of their interaction.

"Welcome to my home, Sheenrayu Geetsunae. I am Thomas Lichtenstein. I've heard this is your first mission," Thomas Lichtenstein said, his voice a carefully constructed baritone, smooth yet with an undercurrent of something that Shin couldn't quite place. He gestured to the woman beside him. "And this is my wife, Magdalene."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sheenrayu," Magdalene added, her voice a melodic purr, though her eyes held a coldness that belied her words.

Shin met Thomas's firm handshake with equal strength, a silent challenge. He kept his gaze steady, his crimson eyes locking with the man's, a silent exchange of respect, or rather, an unspoken challenge for dominance. Thomas, amused, released his grip first, as was customary among nobles, a subtle acknowledgment of Shin's power. Magdalene followed with a graceful curtsy, her movements fluid and practiced, like a dancer trained to captivate.

"The pleasure is mine. I'm assigned as your bodyguard, to serve and protect you," Shin stated, his voice a low, steady rumble that resonated with an authority beyond his years.

At his words, Thomas let out a hearty laugh, the sound booming through the hall and bouncing off the polished marble, his amusement clear and perhaps a bit too performative. He clapped Shin on the back, the gesture almost condescending. "With your stature, you must be one of the Guild's finest. I see the Easterners aren't as barbaric as my friends described."

His mocking tone and subsequent laughter confirmed their intent to ridicule him and his homeland, to paint him as an exotic curiosity rather than a skilled professional. Shin remained neutral, denying them the satisfaction of a reaction, his face an impassive mask.

Thomas, regaining composure, nodded approvingly, his gaze sweeping over Shin as if assessing a prized animal. "You will do. But you are alone. Are you certain your skills match your demeanor?"

Shin met his gaze calmly, his eyes burning with an inner fire. "Though this is our first meeting, my skills are adequate. The Guild trusts me, and I will protect you."

Thomas patted his back harder, the force of the blow testing Shin's balance and resolve, a blatant attempt to assert dominance, like a slaver inspecting his purchase. Shin held firm, recognizing the gesture for what it was: a power play.

"Why don't we show you around the manor?" Thomas suggested, the invitation laced with a hint of something darker, a veiled threat perhaps.

Shin nodded. "Understood, sir."

Thomas grinned, pleased. "It's a long walk to your quarters. You may roam, but be present when we call. Understand?"

"Understood."

Thomas's grin widened, his teeth flashing, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Well then, let's get started."

As they moved, Shin subtly scanned the room, his heightened senses taking in every detail. His eye caught something familiar between the ornate books and grand paintings, a shadow that seemed to writhe with a life of its own. The halls stretched, lit by crystal chandeliers that cast long, dancing shadows, the scent of incense failing to mask the underlying stench of decay, a cloying sweetness mixed with the metallic tang of old blood.

Shin's senses sharpened, noting the servants' dull expressions and mechanical movements. Their eerie silence filled the air, broken only by the soft rustle of their footsteps and the distant echo of their own voices. It was as if they were ghosts, trapped in an endless loop of servitude.

Meanwhile, Laverna, leaving the bathroom, paused at an unfamiliar voice echoing through the corridor. Her fox ears twitched, picking up snippets of the conversation.

"Bodyguard... Protect... Of service."

Another bodyguard? she thought, clenching her fists in frustration. They always disappeared after a few months, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and a growing unease within the staff.

Yet, something about this one intrigued her. An unfamiliar energy pulsed around him, a raw power that resonated with a strange familiarity.

Silently, she followed the voices, moving with a grace that belied her lithe frame, peering around a corner to see Thomas speaking with the newcomer. The bodyguard was shorter than Thomas, but his presence was more imposing, commanding attention without uttering a word.

He had an air of quiet strength, like a coiled spring ready to unleash its power. His skin was fair, almost luminous, his black hair sleek and flowing to his shoulders like a silken waterfall. His eyes, bright crimson, were sharp and intelligent, scanning his surroundings with a precision that spoke of a warrior's training.

For a moment, he seemed to look directly at her, his gaze piercing through the shadows as if he could see her hiding there. She held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest, melting further into the darkness as his eyes lingered for just a second before moving on. Shaking off the unease, the unsettling feeling of being seen, she crept closer, darkening her presence, becoming one with the shadows as she observed the interaction.

Thomas and Magdalene played their roles well, their cheerful facade masking whatever dark thoughts churned beneath the surface. Laverna knew them too well, their smiles were as sharp as daggers, their words laced with hidden meanings. No doubt, they had already determined his worth, calculating how best to use him or dispose of him.

Based on his stature alone, Magdalene would likely take an interest in him, her predatory instincts drawn to his raw masculinity, a dangerous game that would surely provoke Thomas's jealousy and rage, sealing the bodyguard's fate before long. Laverna had witnessed this deadly dance before, the tragic cycle of desire and destruction that played out within these walls.

Yet something about this one felt different, though she couldn't place why. He carried himself with a self-assuredness that was both intriguing and unsettling.

She watched as the group disappeared from view, Thomas and Magdalene leading him deeper into the labyrinthine estate. The grand corridors seemed endless, filled with relics of past generations and the ghosts of forgotten tragedies.

Massive portraits of previous Lichtensteins, their faces stern and unforgiving, lined the walls, their painted eyes seeming to follow any who passed, their gazes filled with cold, unsettling sentience. Some paintings had been brutally slashed, the canvas ripped apart, their subjects unrecognizable beneath the deep scars of a blade, a stark reminder of the violence and madness that lurked beneath the veneer of nobility.

Shin noticed the small details that spoke volumes: uneven floorboards that creaked underfoot, faint scratches on door frames hinting at hurried escapes or violent confrontations, the occasional smudge of dried blood near the baseboards, a macabre tapestry woven into the very fabric of the manor. This place had secrets, dark ones, buried beneath layers of opulence and tradition.

Magdalene, ever the gracious hostess, linked her arm with Shin's, her touch light but lingering, a subtle invitation that sent a shiver of unease down his spine. "I do hope you will find your stay here pleasant, dear Hunter. There is much to see, and so much we can offer someone like you." Her voice was a silken purr, laced with a seductive promise that Shin found both repulsive and intriguing.

Thomas said nothing, his smile faltering for a moment, his jaw tight with barely suppressed anger, a silent warning to his wife and a possessive claim on his new acquisition.

"I am here to do my duty," Shin replied smoothly, his voice firm and unwavering, carefully removing her hand from his arm with a polite but decisive gesture. "And I take my work very seriously."

Magdalene's lips curled into a smirk, a flash of cruel amusement in her eyes. "Oh, I like this one. Let's hope he lasts longer than the others." Her words were a veiled threat, a chilling reminder of the fate that awaited those who displeased the Lichtensteins.

Shin didn't miss the implication, nor did he miss the sharp, possessive glance Thomas shot at his wife, a silent exchange of power and control.

Laverna remained hidden in the shadows, her heartbeat steady but her mind racing, trying to decipher the enigma that was the new bodyguard. Something about this one was different. He wasn't like the others who came before, the naive and easily manipulated pawns who had walked willingly into the Lichtensteins' web of deceit. Whether that would be a good thing or a death sentence remained to be seen.

She waited until they disappeared around a corner, their voices fading into the oppressive silence of the manor, before slipping away, returning to her mundane chores, but for the first time in a long while, she found herself wondering, her thoughts consumed by the enigmatic Hunter.

Would this one survive the darkness that permeated this place?