SPELLBOUND

The shores of the crystal lake that was once teeming with women sitting together, chatting away and children noisily running around chasing after each other were now empty. They did not see a single shadow of their company. The women, the children… no one was there anymore. It was as silent as death.

Evie's heart was immediately filled with dread as she frantically looked all around the area again, praying that her eyes were simply tricking her. Or better yet, they were the ones tricking her. Maybe they had seen them coming and were just hiding somewhere before jumping out from their hideout to give them a surprise? Evie could only desperately hope that was the case, but her heart was already banging out an unsettled rhythm. Something was wrong here. Where are they? Just what in blue blazes had happened here?

The vampires immediately jumped down from Silver's back and spread out to investigate the entire area, looking for any clues and if they could find anyone from their previous party still around. While the men were searching, Evie and Zanya stayed on Silver's back.

After a quick search of the entire area, the vampires then gathered again and Evie and Zanya finally climbed down from the dragon. There was fear evident in Evie's eyes as she stood before the men, staring at each of them in turn. Each time, she would land her gaze on one person, heavy and full of expectations, and all they could do was gaze back at her helplessly while giving their reports with sombre moods.

"No one is here anymore Princess..." Samuel said, causing Evie to catch her breath.

"But please don't worry Princess," Zolan added as he rubbed his chin with his thumb. "I don't think that something bad has happened to them."

"Are you… are you certain they're alright?" Evie asked. She also wondered how did he know for sure that nothing happened to them. What was it that Zolan knew that she did not?

"We couldn't find any signs of struggle, princess." Zolan said. "Even though they are only women and children left here, don't forget that they are vampires. Thus, they would certainly be able to fight when facing any dangers and when they have to. Most especially since there are all those children with them. In fact, an ample number of those women are really good in combat style fighting. But there is no sign that any fight had broken out here. So, I am guessing that there must be another reason why they are all no longer here."

"So, you're saying they willingly left on their own?" Evie questioned Zolan.

"Yes, Princess." Zolan's reply was quite confident.

"But… why? Why would they? Where would they go? Do they even have any place else to go to?" Evie could not understand. The duchess had promised her they would wait for her and the men there. And as far as she knew, they do not have anywhere else to go. Dacria, their home, was already destroyed!

At that moment, Luc and Reed also joined them. The two went in to check on the cave that was leading back to Dacria, the route they had used during their escape.

The men both shook their heads at Evie. "We couldn't find any signs that they used that route as well." Luc reported. "But we saw footsteps leading to the outside of the Middle Land. And still there is no evidence of any fight that happened even outside of this place." Both their reports seem to coincide with what Zolan had said earlier.

Evie somehow relaxed a little and let go the breath that she did not realise she had held back when Luc and Reed came to report on their findings. She had the dreaded thought that perhaps it was the orcs that had reached them while she and the men were still in Crescia. She could console herself now that at least it was not the orcs! Evie thought. But the question still stands… are they alright?

"I don't understand why they left this place. Wasn't this place supposed to be the safest for them since nothing could approach them and harm them in this area here?" Evie said. "The duchess promised me that she'll wait. And she knew full well that it was very dangerous for them to go back to the Northern Empire."

"You are right, princess," Zolan agreed, "I don't think the duchess is stupid enough to lead everyone out of the land."

"You mean someone took them away from here and they just quietly followed?" Evie's tone was incredulous as she found that highly unlikely of the duchess.

When Zolan nodded, Evie's brows were creased hard in utter confusion. Again, she could not think of any sensible reason why would they willingly follow anyone out of this protected area. Unless the person who found them was…

Evie's heart skipped a beat before speeding up at the thought. She looked straight at Zolan but then she questioned herself again. If it really was him, the vampires would certainly follow him wherever he leads them. But then again, if it really was him, why he did he not come for her or wait for her?

Everyone was silent. Zolan was glancing at Evie when he realized that the two of them had just thought about the very same thing. However, just like the princess, there was also a huge question that is ringing in his head about that theory. Thus, he found himself in the same predicament as the princess – where he could only ponder silently in his mind and not say anything out aloud for the moment.

"What are we going to do next?" Levy broke the silence and Evie looked at Silver.

"We will ride Silver and head back to Dacria." Evie said and after the men agreed, they all climbed on Silver's back again.

When they reached Dacria, the clouds were already dark and overcast, and the rain was pouring heavily. They realized that the clouds and rain will only appear when the dragons set out from the Middle Land. There were no rain nor clouds when Silver appeared at the magical lake.