Josef watched the view outside as the carriage took them to their next destination.

He feigned indifference, but sensed Amalia's agitation, perhaps much more than she realised.

For the man it was no big deal, he knew how to handle this kind of situation, it had happened to him more than once.

If necessary, he was perfectly capable of calming a young damsel's anxieties.

It might very well have been their destination that made her like this, but Josef recognised the effect he had on the girl.

He had already noticed it at the ball.

The fact that he had gone to his new client with Amalia in tow had certainly opened more than one question and, despite himself, he was more comfortable with it than he had originally thought.

If people believed he was simply interested in spending time alone with the girl, then no one would ask questions about his movements. And a spicy love story was definitely more interesting than a perverted stranger walking around asking for more details about the brutal assault on the poor unfortunate girl.

He would never have thought it, but Amalia was his best excuse. That's why he had finally decided to take her with him on his way to his new commissioners. In this way they would continue to feed the myth of the excellent tailor dedicated to the art of seduction for profit.

The funny thing in these situations was that he never went out of his way to seek the charms of a lady, it was always they who found something in him, for some reason unknown to him. Perhaps once he might have understood certain interests, but not now.

One fell in love with a pretty face, but he highly doubted that anyone would ever choose someone who had nothing to offer as he did.

"I hope I didn't make you too uncomfortable in front of the other counts, but I thought it was a useful hack to conceal the true ends behind our walk."

Amalia shifted her gaze outwards. "Of course. I guess it's better for my parents to think I've gone mad over a little infatuation, too."

Josef smiled at the slight blush that contoured the girl's cheeks.

It's good that she's so cooperative. It will make things much easier for me.

He was also quite convinced that Amalia did indeed have a small infatuation towards him, but he didn't voice these thoughts aloud. The girl was already tense enough as it was, there was no reason to agitate her further.

"The plan is to visit the Keriyaks and the young men who had found the body. Are you ready?"

"I don't think so." Josef laughed.

"Don't worry. I have faced far worse things than these and always survived, you will see that I will bring you home in one piece!"

"How are you going to convince them to tell you about her? I mean..."

A sly smile appeared on Josef's lips and Amalia fell silent. The carriage stopped shortly afterwards. Amalia made to get out, but he stopped her.

"Permit me to escort you." And he held out his hand to her.

The girl hesitated for a brief moment, but then agreed to the man's request. A light breeze swept over her as she descended, while Josef cast a brief glance in the distance.

What was that cold chill he had suddenly felt? But nothing apparently strange caught his attention.

"Josef?" Amalia whispered as she saw him suddenly tense up.

"Nothing. Come." And he headed unceremoniously towards their destination.

"Are Mr and Mrs Keriyak at home?" Amalia was astonished. She hadn't thought he would use such a direct approach. How could he be so sure they would welcome him?

A man appeared in the doorway. "What do you want?" He asked diffidently.

Amalia broke into a cold sweat as the man's gaze squared her. What if she knew who he was? She swallowed with difficulty.

"Someone who could help you shed light on your daughter's death."

The girl turned to Josef, astonished.

What was he doing?

"We don't need any more troublemakers, let us..."

He made to close the door, but Josef was quicker, forcing it shut and preventing it from closing.

"Your daughter was a poor peasant girl, that's why her case was dismissed without much explanation, but you and I know perfectly well that she was murdered, and that monster should die." No answer from within. "I know what people tell. The terrified look, the strange wound on her neck. But I still haven't heard anyone mention the blood-red ramification on her skin... Or am I wrong? And maybe at least one of his wrists was broken."

Still stony silence on the other side.

Even Amalia understood that Josef had succeeded in his intent, but... How had he done it? How could he have known those things?

"So, can I come in?" He urged the man. The door opened, "Just for a moment." "Sure, we'll make do."

"How do you know these things? We've tried not to divulge any more details than what those stinkers have been spreading to the four winds..."

"I have seen other cases where bone fracture is also often present. I know this may sound strange to you, but I am perfectly aware of what I am saying. I would just like to know if there are any other details you can give me. Anything else."

"Who the hell are you?"

Josef laughed. "A tailor with a passion for mysterious creatures. That is enough information for you."

"You can bring justice for my Aloysa?"

"If it's the last thing I do. Could you tell me what the girl's last movements were and where she was found?"

The man stiffened. "For that you should ask the guys who found her, you know..." He took his head in his hands.

"Don't worry about it. I thank you for your time."

The man glanced at the pair again. "Hold on to your girl, don't let her end up like my little girl."

Amalia and Josef stiffened.

"Of course, nothing bad will happen to her. Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Amalia murmured, still shaken by the fact that the man had thought she and Josef were together.

She thought Josef would contradict him. Instead he had merely dismissed the man. She also agreed that it was much easier to leave things as they were than to explain the situation. She wanted to ask Josef if he knew where they were heading, but she guessed he did.

After what he had told Aloysa's father it was natural to believe that he knew much more than he was letting on, and yet... Those words kept hammering in her head.

Blood-red ramification. Broken bones. Other similar cases.

What did it mean?

Were they things he had really seen on other occasions or was it a story he had made up on the spot? Who was Josef Jäger really?

"Amalia?"

The girl was torn from her thoughts.

She saw Josef extend an arm towards her.

"Will you favour?" She hesitated, but finally could not resist the temptation to be more in touch with him.

"Otherwise the man will no longer consider us a couple of sweethearts?"

No answer came.

"Sometimes it is much easier to let people believe what they want than to explain the facts to them."

"It means I will receive no explanation for what you said earlier."

Josef was once again surprised by the girl's prompt reply. He turned his gaze in her direction and saw her intent on looking down.

"Josef are you sure we should go arm in arm? I feel... watched."

The boy laughed.

"They admire your beauty."

The girl sighed.

"I wouldn't be so sure."

He shook his head, chasing away that memory.

Why was it returning at that very moment?

He closed his eyes briefly.

Because Amalia was the only girl who had been able to take him by surprise since she had left him.

"But that's ok. I guess a man full of mysteries turns out to be much more fascinating."

"Actually... I hope you never have to deal with my secrets, in fact no one ever has to deal with them."

"That's no good, keeping it all inside doesn't do any good at all. It only leads to a slow wear and tear of body and soul."

"But sometimes there is no choice."

"No."

Amalia agreed. Sometimes you were nothing but lonely beings adrift on a desert island where no one would ever join you.

The talk seemed to have reached an impasse as Josef continued to feel deeply uncomfortable.

And not because of Amalia. If he had to be honest, he had found himself in far more awkward situations.

He had the feeling that he was being watched.

And he knew perfectly well that his senses hardly ever failed, but he also knew that he couldn't turn around and reveal that he had noticed anything.

And, if it was a creature of the night, he couldn't even voice his doubts to Amalia. They would have been heard. He only hoped it wasn't contemplating attacking him. The poor girl didn't deserve to be forcefully catapulted into that world of horrors.

"Josef, here are the two boys!"

The man winced upon hearing the girl's voice and cursed himself. It was very likely that someone would notice his reactions.

"Good." He approached cautiously, but in this case it would be much easier to get the desired information.

"Are you the ones who found the girl's body?" The two winced.

"Again with this?"

"Don't you have anything else to talk about?"

Josef ignored the complaints of the two. "I would like you to take me to where you found the girl."

The two boys exchanged a look.

"Come on, you still have to go to the forest to chop wood, don't you?"

"We would rather not go back to that area, it was quite interior..."

"How much do I have to pay you to get what I want?" The two exchanged another glance.

"Well?" Josef asked impatiently.

"Are you also bringing the girl?" Josef cast a brief glance at Amalia, but she was quicker. "Of course I'm coming too! I knew that girl..."

What? Josef thought confused.

Since when did you know her too?

But he did not ask questions aloud. The important thing was to reach the scene of the crime.

"As you wish."

They led them to their destination and explained how they had found the body, then left, leaving the two to their speculation.

Josef shortly after they left pulled a notebook out of his bag and began to draw the scene.

Amalia approached in curiosity, but without asking anything. She sensed an incredible tension in his body; she was afraid that at the slightest hint he would pour it all over her.

"It's getting late." Blurted out the man at one point.

"I've taken some information, maybe I'll come back later, but I'd better take you back. It is not safe to linger long in the middle of the forest."

Amalia didn't object. The anxiety she perceived in his voice made her think there was some problem.

When they had gone far enough she came out into the open to examine the scene of the crime as well.

Her blonde hair illuminated in places by the light shining through the leaves.

That Josef wasn't bad if he could sense her presence, but there were things a mere human couldn't.

An unusual glint under some bushes caught his attention.

A tiny ruby.

She looked around furtively.

It couldn't really be him, could it?

03/11/2022

Good evening, today I chose to add Maria's drawing, even though she is not too present in this chapter, I drew her a lot of times before I was satisfied and maybe I'm still not XD

The ramification I mention in this chapter are an invention of mine, I needed a vaguely intelligent element to add to the classic marks left by the canines. But, since we are talking about imaginary creatures, I think I can do whatever I want lol.

Remember that Edward Cullen used to sparkle.

Spoiler: my vampires don't sparkle.