Blissful Bite ─ Venti x reader

9. ; POWER OF CLUES

The evidence I had collected wasn't a lot. There were only limited hints to it so far (which wasn't too fortunate for me). Overall, I had a few theories to debunk, like the fact that Diona could have been a vampire, but she wasn't. I was shocked when I stumbled over the idea late at might while taking notes of my observations of the behavior.

The girl was too sweet and in the end she didn't match the description. My heart pounded too heavy it was uncomfortable with the discomfort that rose in me, and once I had found out she was innocent, a stone tumbled from my heart. It was quite the relief because she was sympathetic.

Another thing I debunked last night was Diluc's alibi.

He sneaked outside at night. Yes, maybe he was a vigilante of the night, but there wasn't any witness for every night. He could do anything at that time, from illegal activities to just sleeping.

I was outside doing some adjustments to the food rations and noting them down, with handwriting that wasn't all too bad. I narrowed my eyes at the list when I noticed an apple was taken. (At the time, I thought there was a rodent at work, but it was just Venti who had snagged an apple)

Diluc went inside to get his lunch, but besides that, he would disappear occasionally when I worked with him. I began to question it and suspect his behavior.

Diluc had asked for my help-I accepted despite Venti's concerns about my leftover injuries. Why wouldn't I? I didn't want to take their "help" for granted in the public eye, and it tugged at my conscience to be useless.

It felt like being stuck in a cage when I couldn't do anything.

My eyes stuck on something, a light paper was loosely crumpled in the pocket, and sticking out between the darkness like day and night. I quickly looked right and left, Diluc wasn't present. I swiftly moved past his coat and snatched the paper out of his pocket.

I tried my best to remain quiet as I sneaked behind a barell. The crumpled note I discovered peaked ky curiosity, I unfolded it as soon as I was out of sight, hidden away.

V 2
BM 1
H 8

MTG norcha am9

A few footsteps halled past me. My heart pounded in my chest. It might as well explode was all I could think . I looked at the paper a last time. A brief glance before I rolled into the bush. red hair. I would've recognized that red hair 10 miles against the wind.

Diluc.

Fuck... I'm so done.

I shielded my mouth from letting out a yelp. The hot breathing filled with panic wasn't helping at all. Adrenaline pumped through my body, and everything seemed to blur. All I could do was stare at his intimidating figure.

Red crimson hair like blood and a dark cloak-a monster with a familiar face. My breath hitched.

"What are you doing here?" Diluc asked. And kneeled down to pick up the paper. His gaze lingered a little longer on the paper. Was he suspicious? Screw this...

Why did I have to land in these situations? Why couldn't one thing go along smoothly?

Diluc stood up and grumbled some words along.

He hadn't seemed to notice.

I let out a sigh that relieved my lungs. I crawled out of the bush, I starred into the horizon, and I had never had time to look at the sun longer than a few seconds.

--

I pushed myself through the wing door, and I saw Adelinde, a loyal servant to Diluc, who funded the shelter.

When would this end? It had been barely 2 weeks, and I hadn't made as much progress as usual. I wasn't able to ace it that simply. This was different. I was undercover. Anything associated was all a delusional dream I'd rip myself out from sooner than later.

There was no time to get comfortable. I had to continue going forward. There was no such thing as an escape route. It was crap. I had to find the lead to escape this delusion and turn my back on it.

Klee and Albedo had taken their temporary leave with Sucrose by now.

I had to admit that children becoming a prime suspect of being vampire's was shitty, but I didn't hesitate to clear it up.

Children would've been monitored in any case. Adults were a different case.

I turned around when someone grabbed my shoulder, I looked at them. It was Venti, the nice guy who had been more than welcoming me, who I grew almost a bit too friendly with. I gave in despite all my alarm clocks telling me not to.

Comfortable didn't mean safe.

"Oh.. oh.. Y/n, did you?" he looked at my wrist, and I starred at him. I was taken aback by his assumptions. He stared at me without saying a word. He was disgusted by the assumption he made perhaps. A wolf in sheep clothing and a stray at the same time. In his mind, I must've been a monster, a vile thing.

"No, they're not," I stated irritated, "blood marks are a myth."

His eyes went wide.

Shit, I just lashed out on him. I was screwed if I'd keep that up. I shook my head, "I'm sorry.." I mumbled, not true, but anyways, it was my job, and my pride could take that.

The mission was superior to personal matters.

"Blood marks haven't been sighted in a while. People aren't as stupid as to show off their arms anymore and thorn bush cuts or similar look a lot like those." he sighed.

"How'd you know I was hurt in a thorn bush?" I asked.

"Oh, just a feeling, a lucky guess if you will." he brushed it off. This was weird, but I didn't pick on it further. It's not like it would lead me somewhere.

"There are many vampires out there with blood marks, humans as well." he shrugged, "it's interesting how this world of Teyvat chooses to mark those who kill with painful blood marks."

What if there's more than one? A shelter like this could be the residence of many. I could fulfill my mission beyond expectation if I find out who between the leading ones woaew definitely vampires to exceed anything I've done before. Not that it was my concern as for what would happen to them. They were part of my problem, the reason my parents and many people suffered.

I didn't consider it before, and my first solid suspect was Diluc. Anyone associated like Venti could fall under the radar. Venti was just a loose thought squirming in my head, but Diluc has been working towards my suspicion when he easily carried the barrell-yes someone like him probably could, but he was injured if I remembered correctly and it didn't seem to fit the humans physical capacity to carry something heavy as that.

"Painful?" I echo.

"That's what is said about them."

he added, and I nodded. What was said in books wasn't reliable either, but people love to carry the dark and pain stained stories with them as though they were their own.

I didn't think of it before, but come go speak of it, this whole concept seemed close to what Diluc could fit into. This was a very immature thought. One that didn't have enough evidence yet, but he regained strength so fast, had a generally strange attitude to him (stereotyping here, but he's not helping his case to behave suspicious) and most importantly there was history between him and sir Kaeya that I had to uncover.

--✧･ﾟ: ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆
RAINEE's NOTE;
So what do y'all think? Any theories on what will happen? or predictions :)? Oh, and christmas is soon (I'm not religious, but I love the holiday because they're free days to spend with my family<3)

And well, technically speaking, maybe I'll upload something for Christmas:>