The group stood at a quiet area of the beach. Ben was walking around, digging at the dirt and pcing a few markers around. Bryon stood far away from the shore underneath a rge umbrel that shielded him from the rays of the sun. Nico and Li were nearer to the beach picking up a few items strewn across the shore, Vio id on a folding chair, enjoying the rays of the sun on her pale skin. She was even adorned with a rge, brimmed hat and sungsses.

  “Why are we here?” Bryson asked, looking at the tents that had been set up. Apparently they were going to stay the night here, much to Bryson’s surprise.

  “Because Keddrick is coming to find Lady Vio and expecting a trap to be pced, so we’re going to set a trap that he hopefully won’t expect.” Ben said.

  “That’s stupid.” Bryson said as he picked up a smooth looking seashell from underneath the umbrel.

  “Yeah, well best idea we have right now.” Ben said with a shrug as he continued dig small holes into the dirt.

  “So this thing your going to do is going to work right?” Vio asked.

  “Lord Bryson’s teacher believes so. So as long as we set this up properly we should be fine.” Ben said.

  “What is this thing anyways?” Bryson asked as ben continued to dig around them.

  “A barrier for undead. It’ll stop any undead from entering or exiting.” Ben said.

  “Is this thing going to be done anytime soon?” Vio asked lifting her sungsses and looked at Ben with her heterochromia eyes.

  “Just about.” Ben replied as he dug another small hole.

  Vio gave a bored sigh, “So we’re going to stay here until night?”

  “Yeah, wait. How are our parents allowing this?” Bryson asked.

  “I told mother that we were staying somewhere else for the night. She said alright.” Vio said.

  “That’s it?” Ben asked.

  “Mother let’s us do what we want.” Vio said matter-of-factly before getting up from her chair, “Since I have nothing better to do, I may as well head into the market and purchase a few things.” Vio said getting up from her chair, “What do you want for dinner?”

  “I’ll eat anything.” Ben said with a shrug.

  “Just get something edible and enough to feed everyone.” Bryson advised.

  “Any snacks?”

  “Uh, chewing tobacco if that’s alright.” Ben said.

  “Sure, Bryson?”

  “Chips? Also lemon iced tea.” Bryson asked, “Oh and some sour candy.”

  Vio nodded, “I’ll head off now.”

  “I’ll come with you.” Li said as she and Nico returned to the group.

  “We cleared the shore up.” Nico said thumbing over to the direction they came from.

  “Absolutely not.” Vio denied immediately.

  “Oh come on, you’re going to need help getting the tobacco. You aren’t old enough.” Li said.

  “I’m Vio Coldwater, I don’t need to worry about my age to get what I want.” Vio said pinly.

  “You still need help to carry the stuff back.” Li countered.

  “Sir Nico can help me.”

  “Actually, I need him for something else.” Ben said.

  “I would rather you not join me.” Vio said face turning into a slight grimace.

  Li gnced over to Bryson who looked back at her quizzically. The two shared a silent conversation for a second before Bryson relented with a helpless shrug.

  “Just say yes Vio, it will make everything easier.” Bryson advised.

  Vio squinted at Bryson with pursed lips and pondered for a moment before giving a begrudging sigh, “Fine.” She said as she flipped her hair and walked off.

  “Ah.” Li said as she bounded after her.

  “What do you need me for anyways?” Nico asked Ben as the two girls left.

  “I need you to help set up the trap for the ghoul.”

  “In the shrubbery, right?” Nico asked pointing at a small clump of foliage a further away.

  “Yeah.”

  “Alright.” Nico said as he walked over to the foliage.

  “Hey, I have a question.” Bryson said to Ben.

  “Shoot.”

  “Why are you being so helpful?”

  “Because it’s my job.” Ben said with a chuckle.

  “But you don’t need everyone here. You can do this alone.”

  “It’s easier with help.”

  “True, but why do you want to become an actor?”

  “Because I’m tired of being a hunter. It’s painful and dangerous. Plus I’ve done my fair share. I want to do something I want.” Ben said.

  “And that’s acting?”

  “Hey, I was good enough to get a gig here. This is my st job, once I kill the vamp, gonna start acting.” Ben said with a happy smile.

  “Why don’t you quit now?”

  “Because I have a job to do. I’m not gonna endanger people because I want to do something else. I took this job and I’m finishing it.” Ben said seriously, smile disappearing, repced with a look of a man with a duty to uphold.

  “That’s very noble of you.”

  “It’s always been my motto.” Ben said simply.

  “Still, I appreciate you protecting my sister.”

  “Nothing to it.”

  ***

  “Sooo, what is going on with you?” Li asked innocently to Vio as they were making their way back to the beach. They had purchased their items and were carrying them back.

  “Would you please shut up. A commoner shouldn’t be talking to me like that.” Vio hissed at the girl over three years her senior as if she was an annoying brat.

  “Oh come on, there’s nothing better to do than talk right now. Besides a noble shouldn’t be vampire hunting.” Li pointed out, “This is better than walking in silence.”

  “Honestly I would find that more preferable.” Vio groaned.

  “You Coldwaters sure like to be silent.”

  Giving Li a tired look, Vio asked, “You started talking to me after we purchased everything so I couldn’t just walk away, didn’t you?”

  “Yep.” Li said unabashedly, “But seriously what’s wrong?”

  “I have no idea what you’re referring to.” Vio deflected looking away.

  “Bryson mentioned how those simple charm spells don’t effect Coldwaters but you were affected.” Li said, probing for a reaction.

  “Don’t know what you’re talking about.” Vio growled, quickening her pace. Unfortunately for her, Li kept pace with her.

  “Hey, I’m being nosey for a reason. Bryson’s worried about you, and if you can be charmed again like that, he has good reason to.” Li said, genuine concern in her voice.

  “It won’t happen again. It was just a weird situation when it happened.” Vio said, shifting uncomfortably.

  “What kind of weird?”

  “You almost sound like you care.”

  “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Because you should hate me.” Vio said ftly.

  “Why?”

  “Because I fired you initially.”

  “You remember.” Li said in surprise.

  “Of course I do, why else do you think I don’t like you?”

  “Well, I’m not a fan of yours if that’s what you’re asking. But Bryson likes you and I like the kid, so yeah I’m going to help you.” Li said.

  “Why are you always so informal with Bryson? He’s your lord and master.” Vio asked with a huff, trying to change the subject.

  “Because we both know he needs people he can actually talk to.” Li answered, “Besides you aren’t compining when I talk to you like this.”

  “That’s because I already don’t like you, never talked to you while your working… and you are trying to help me. So you get a pass. For now.” Vio said begrudgingly.

  “So could you tell me what’s wrong, so it would be easier for me and everyone else to help?” Li asked.

  Vio gave a small sigh, “Try not to tell the others this for now and I’ll tell you something.”

  “I said everyone.”

  “Deal or no deal?”

  “Deal.”

  “My mother is not Duchess Coldwater, but a former servant of the household. I am a bastard, my parents know, I think Gareth does as well, but no one else.” Vio expined.

  “Oh, okay…” Li trailed off, unsure what to say from this new information.

  “So I am sensitive when it comes to my bloodline and lineage.”

  “Right. But how does that have anything to do with the vampire?”

  “Around a few years ago, actually, around the time I fired you I began having strange bouts of anger. Almost unnatural hatred, for things that bothered me.” Vio said.

  “Why fire me then?”

  “Because you are a poor commoner with little experience who works for my household much like the dy who birthed me.” Vio said looking at Li like she was an idiot for asking.

  “Do, do I even look like her?” Li asked hesitantly.

  “No and I had no idea of your upbringing yet, which was why it was weird how I snapped at you so badly.” Vio said before taking a moment to add, “Though you were bad when you worked for me, I don’t know why Bryson still keeps you around.”

  “I’ve gotten better.” Li said mely, “But wait, how’s this have anything to do with the vampire?”

  “After this, every once in a while, I would have these bouts of anger. Then on this trip, it hit me again.” Vio said as they now reached the sandy beach and were now walking down it, “This time it was a bit different. I felt as though I didn’t belong here and wanted a way out. I guess that’s why it was easy for me to listen to the vampire.” Vio said solemnly.

  “How are you feeling now?”

  “Better, but I’m not sure why I even felt that way so strongly.”

  “You feel like you don’t belong?” Li asked feeling sorry listening to her.

  “Occasionally, but never like this, it felt like I was a different person.” She admitted before giving a shake of her head in annoyance, “Why am I telling you this?”

  “Because you need to vent?” Li offered.

  “Maybe. Whatever, don’t tell anyone about this.” Vio said as they approached the group, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine once this vampire is gone.” She assured.

  Walking over to Bryson, Vio handed him his food and quietly commented, “I can see why you keep her now.” Before walking away.

  Bryson looked at Vio in confusion before looking at Li, “What happened?”

  Giving a small shrug Li said nothing before walking over to hand food over to Nico, leaving Bryson perplexed.