More Than Human

Chapter 27

After a few hours of combing through very similar crime scene photos I felt the need for some fresh air. Henry offered to escort be round the manor grounds also voicing that he needed to get out of the house. I graciously excepted his offer and he led me out the back into the large grounds and gardens. We walked in silence mostly as he occasionally pointed out a plant that his sister had planted, apparently she loved gardening too. Then we reached a small pond with a bench beside it.
I sat on the bench and asked "Henry what happened with the killings? I've never heard about any of that, I feel like I should know."
After staring at the house for a moment he sat beside me and answered "Alistair would not want me to be the one to enlighten you on the subject. Why don't we talk about something else? Hmm?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Come on it maybe important to the case," it frustrates me that Alistair would keep anything like this from me.
"Dear child, he keeps things from you to protect you. Which I suggest you respect," I huffed unsatisfied with Henry's response. He glided to his feet and walked round the pond so he was facing the house while looking across it. "This isn't good, I will say. We lost many all those years ago and there's many of my own kind willing to get revenge who have seethed in silence and your kind." I joined him looking at the house too when he took my hand and pulled me so my ear was to his mouth, "I will say one more thing. You are stained by the scum that attacked my home." He whispered then breathed in deeply, "and I mean this as a compliment, your scent is divine."
I pulled away and began walking back to the house, "that's not a way to charm a lady." I could hear his chuckle as I kept my focus on going back to the house. Why were vampire men like this? Rolling my eyes I made it back to the house and into the study, Alistair was talking with Lily when I cleared my throat.
He looked up with a small smile "everything alright?" He asked.
"Yep, but I think we can get going" I quickly said earning me a curious look from both Lily and Alistair.
"Okay," he turned to Lily "thank you. Let Henry know we've gone and that we're be back soon with hopefully answers." He stood up packing up the bulked out files of photos into the brief case. Lily passed him the book she was holding which he tucked into the brief case too. "Right let's get going, we've got a hotel room about ten minutes from here." I bid farewell to Lily and we headed out to the car.