CHAPTER 173: THE CRESCENT HALL

Kaelric’s POV

She was so persistent, but with the look in her eyes, I could tell there was more to this than just finding sniffing around.

"Aria, why are you insisting on doing this? Tell me the truth, or you aren’t leaving with me," I said, turning my back to her.

"Liara was my friend and a good one at that. She is under some manipulation; someone is feeding her lies about our friendship, so she feels like I have been a bad friend.

Sir Kaelric, this is no ordinary kind of manipulation or illusion, to make an Alpha of her caliber fall for it," Aria explained.

She has a point. Aria still loved Liara, even though she tried to conceal it. I think that’s why she is always on her case.

I couldn’t help but admire her devotion to friendship, especially the one with Liara.

"Just brace up, it might get a bit dangerous. We are dealing with a risky situation here; therefore, you have to be aware and ready at all times. Remember all I have taught you during combat classes; we might be dealing with rogues. I wouldn’t want you to breathe a word of this out to anyone."

The way she looked at me said everything. Aria never asked for permission unless she had already made up her mind to disobey.

I could tell from the stubborn tilt of her chin that any refusal from me would only make her follow from the shadows instead.

I sighed, pressing my palm to my temple. "Fine," I muttered. "You can come."

Her lips curved into that half-smirk she knew irritated me. "Oh, finally. The great Sir Kaelric allows me to breathe the same air outside school grounds."

"Don’t push it," I warned, striding ahead. "You follow my lead and do exactly what I say, when I say it."

"Of course, Your Highness," she teased, feigning courtesy.

The title made me pause mid-step. Her words were playful, and I have not seen her this excited for anything before. I shrugged and moved ahead, and she followed behind very quickly, until we were standing side by side.

The day was beginning to set gradually, and it wouldn’t be nice if Liara or Jackson were actually reported missing.

"You look very worried, you may know one or two things I do not know," she said, brushing my shoulders with hers, in a playfully curious way.

"Well, I’m trying to find out, students of Ashwood are missing, and they are my responsibility to take care of. That’s enough reason to be worried."

"And Jason?"

"Jason’s case is different, Aria. Stop pushing it."

"Ok, if you say so," she replied, nodding her head, but she still looked disturbed and unsatisfied with my answers.

"You still haven’t told me where we are headed," she said after a while.

"Crescent Hall," I replied simply.

She blinked. "The museum?"

"Yes," I replied, this time turning to face her, hoping she would keep shut a bit for me to think.

"The museum," she repeated, as if the word itself offended her logic. "I mean, a museum is a safe place, Sir Kaelric.

What could Liara and Jackson possibly be doing there? Staring at paintings and pretending to have deep, romantic conversations about wolf ancestors? They don’t even seem like the kind of people who would appreciate such things...Ok, except Liara has influenced Jackson," She rolled her eyes.

"If they’re not having fun with foolish mate-bond activities, then what..."

"Just watch and see," I cut in, hoping that shuts her off. Aria was unusually chirpy today. Was it because of the whole scandal thing, this whole thing happening now, or is she actually anxious?

Something in my tone must have made her fall silent, though she still muttered under her breath. We reached the gates of Crescent Hall in minutes.

"Well, we are here," I announced.

Her face looked a bit frightened, but she quickly hid the expression.

"This is very strange, Sir Kaelric, don’t you think so?" she asked, frowning her face lightly.

"What is strange?" I replied.

"Everywhere looks empty, too empty for an ancient museum, the first museum in the kingdom," she replied.

"Have you ever been here before?" I asked her.

"No, I haven’t, but I read from history that ’the crescent hall’ was the first ever museum to be created."

She was right. This museum used to be one of the busiest centres in the kingdom, until after ’the slaughter night’. The night when the vampires raided the museum and killed almost every wolf in the museum, until the Dravaris intervened.

Even the guards who usually patrolled the courtyard were nowhere in sight, and it wasn’t even dark yet. This was actually strange; something was definitely wrong.

I pulled out my phone and dialed him again.

"I am there," I said quietly. "At Crescent Hall."

Static crackled for a moment before the voice responded, low and urgent. "Good. There’s an entryway the public doesn’t know about. Go down the main corridor and stop by the western archive. You will see a bookshelf engraved with the words ’History of the First Bloodline’. That’s the door."

Aria tilted her head. "A bookshelf door? How original."

"Quiet," I muttered. "He is still on the line."

"Seems like you have got company, this is a risky mission and company isn’t needed, especially not a she-wolf," the voice said.

Aria rolled her eyes, mouthing off inaudible words.

"Not a she-wolf that isn’t capable, this one you already know her capacity, now drive straight to the point, and stop wasting my time," I replied to him, and Aria chuckled.

"Listen carefully," the voice continued. "Don’t touch it yet. The entrance is always guarded, although the guards aren’t the typical uniformed type; they appear to be ordinary tourists. Therefore, check before you move. One wrong step, and they will raise the alarm."

"Understood."

"And Sir,"

"What is it? Go on," I replied, the urgency lacing my tone.

The man exhaled sharply through the receiver. "Keep the she-wolf closer to you, don’t let her off your side. This is risky. Code for the shelf is IV-7-13. When you push the bookshelf a little, it will turn, revealing a door where you need to input those codes. Be careful, sir, good luck."

The line went dead.

I slipped the phone back into my coat pocket and started down the corridor. She followed closely behind. The museum was dimly lit, offering a mix of Gothic, modern, and antique settings.

"So," she whispered. "We are breaking into a museum just before dusk, because of a missing princess, and a rogue prince who might be having fun wherever they are right now. Sounds like something straight out of a bad horror novel."