26. Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Evengi

I find myself wondering how one goes about bringing down a criminal empire.

Slowly .

As I hold out my hand to clasp Natasya's father's I decide that such a thing must be done slowly. First, I need to gain Natasya's trust and convince her that this is the right thing to do.

With the pain of losing my own family still fresh on my heart, I know that I cannot make her go through that as well. I would only succeed in getting her to hate me forever, and I can't very well save her soul if she hates me. No, I have to make this something that she wants. And if I'm to do that then I will have to play a long game.

Staying by her side and biding my time.

But that doesn't mean that I have to like it. The more I learn about her father's criminal doings, the more disgusted I become. To lead a group of assassins?

Natasya assures me that those assassins weren't the ones to kill my family, but it makes no difference to me. To kill for money is a heartless thing.

Natasya's father eyes me, his gaze is deep red, a telltale sign of his vampirism. He is a cunning man, and it makes me wonder if he isn't seeing too much as he looks at me.

Toward the front of the inn a bard is singing the legend of Lord Taliz, but back in the kitchens we have ample privacy as Natasya begins running through the introductions to her family.

"This is my papa, Elwis the Eel," Natasya says resting her hand on her father's arm. He finally pulls his gaze away from me long enough to smile at her.

I will admit, even knowing that they were a lot of vampires, sorcerers, and murderers, her family is nothing like I expected. For one, her father is a Lower Elf. His people usually consider themselves superior to everyone else living in Ruskhazar. They look down on the Highlanders and outright despise the Higher Elves. They occasionally tolerate Lowlanders, but for the most part stick only to their own kind.

And even then, from the outside it appears that there is not much love felt between families. But Elwis not only seems to dote on his family, also has a member from each of the divided peoples of Ruskhazar.

His wife Vala, who Natasya introduces me to next, is a Highlander. She's a tall woman with short red hair that she wears adorned with a few small braids, in the manner of her people. She's the one who owns the inn. It makes me wonder how an innkeeper ended up married to an assassin lord, but I suppose I'll learn the story eventually.

Natasya steps toward a girl who has thick brown hair that she wears swept back. Despite the fact that the girl's hair is brown and Natasya's is fiery red, their hair carries the same soft curl. Their features are also extremely similar, with them both having strong brows, full lips, and a slightly turned up noses. This must be Natasya's twin.

"That's my Bronwyn," Natasya's father's ghost says just as I draw that realization. "She was always the better of the two, at least she knew when to keep quiet."

I clench my jaw slightly, refusing to look into the corner of the kitchen where he is standing just behind a Lowlander cook, dressed in a stained white outfit with an unsettling glint in his eyes.

"This is my twin Bronwyn," Natasya says, unaware that her father already introduced us.

Bronwyn eyes me up and down, twisting her mouth as she studies me. I flex my fingers as I force myself not to squirm under her gaze.

"You're certainly not what I expected my sister to bring home, but if you make her happy, I suppose you are fine by me."

The double edge of her statement is clear, if I make her sister unhappy then she will have a problem with me. Something tells me, that's not something I want to happen.

A young man pushes off from where he was perched on the large wooden table in the kitchen and offers me a charming smile as his ruby red eyes twinkle. He has white hair and pointed ears speaking of a Higher Elf heritage. That's something that we will have in common, I suppose.

"I'm Wilder," he says, his hand is cold as it clasps mine.

A vampire.

I smile as I turn to the final member of the family. This one is a full-blooded Higher Elf with gray blue skin and glowing eyes, although these ones glow red. Her white hair is swept up in a bun and she's dressed all in black.

"And this is Corallin," Natasya says.

The other sister is also a vampire, and if I recall correctly an assassin as well.

She doesn't say anything, so I don't bother either. Instead, I turn my attention back to Elwis the Eel and nod my head. "And I'm Ivan Fyodorov."

"I'm aware," Elwis says ominously.

"But please call me Evengi," I continue, trying not to allow him to phase me.

Vala smiles, warming the room immediately as she steps forward. "Our Natasya has already told us so much about you. We're ecstatic to meet the man who has stolen our girl's heart."

"Not stolen," Natasya says with a laugh as she slips her fingers through mine. "Willingly given."

I straighten at that, her words warming me to my very soul and reminding me of the importance of my task.

Saving this exceptional woman who I have come to love from herself and from her family's clutches.

I notice Elwis watching me again, his face is expressionless so I have no idea what he is thinking, but I'm certain that I wouldn't like it. He's a cunning one, it will not be easy to do anything without him noticing. But for Natasya I would take any risk.

Vala tells the creepy looking cook to serve up the best venison and I find myself smiling and attempting to make nice with Natasya's family.

For now, I will play my part and bid my time to win over Natasya's soul. After all, it turns out I'd do anything for that girl. Even put up with both her fathers haunting my every step.