Lucas and Belle stood up from their seats, thanking the magistrate for his kind work which was after Lucas had shown him the seal and then the clerk to leave the office. Once the couple had left, the clerk turned to look at the magistrate and ask,

"Was the seal real?" the woman still had her eyes looking at the door where the two visitors had left.

"Very much real," answered the magistrate, his face hardening and his eyes meeting the clerk's eyes, "Go let the others know that someone is trying to dig the dead man's body."

The woman nodded her head, she blinked once and her eyes turned to slits. With another blink, her eyes turned back to be seen as a human. She left the office, leaving the magistrate behind who looked at the file that was opened to see the name of the councilman in there.

Lucas and Belle who were on their way to the next town to speak to the magistrate met up with the man but that person sent them to another magistrate and Lucas wasn't blind to not look at the pattern that was going on in here. Every magistrate was passing them to the next one as if they had no clue. Some genuinely looked as if they had no clue.

"Maybe the magistrate's don't know about it?" asked Belle to Lucas.

"I find it hard to believe. The magistrate's know, whoever is sending us to the next one while not answering with whom George was working with," Lucas looked at the people who were walking past them.

"Let's go back to the inn and rest," suggested Belle as it had been hours since they were outside.

"Tired?" he asked her, "You were so eager to find out about George's death, on what happened to him," he had a questionable look in his eyes.

Portia didn't know what she was doing here going from one office to another when she had no interest in this George. He was not her friend and she didn't know him. All she cared about was Lucas and her. They could be doing something much better with their time than wasting here, looking for someone who was long gone and would not return.

She sighed, trying to make sure Lucas would not get an ounce of doubt about who she truly was, "I did. I wanted to find and understand so badly at first, but I feel like we are going in circles. Going to his house, George, I just remembered the memories I have had there, and it makes me sad after what happened."

Lucas pulled Belle in his arms and patted her back, "If you don't want to do this, we can go back to Bonelake. We don't have to venture into something you are going to feel uncomfortable with. I am here with whatever decision you make, but maybe this will give you the closure of not having ever to wonder what happened to him."

Portia wanted to say no, but somewhere there was a pinch of doubt that Lucas was testing her. Did he find out that she was not Belle? But then if he did find out about her, he wouldn't be here with her but back in the land of the dead, searching for Belle. She didn't have a reason to worry for now, but then she said, "Let's keep looking."

Lucas gave her an assuring smile, "It might look like a long search right now as if you are running in a circle it will be so worth it when you come to the end of the conclusion. And like you said before, George's soul will rest in peace knowing how much you tried to get back and visit him."

Portia smiled back but internally she wasn't smiling. They decided to head to the next magistrate, knocking on the door, they stepped inside.

"Good day, Sir!" Lucas greeted the man, "We are here to inquire about something. Would you mind giving us some answers?"

The man looked at both the visitors and nodded his head, "If I have an answer to it, I will be sure to give it. Please sit," the man waved his hand to the chairs that were in front of his desk, "What is it that you would want to know?" asked the magistrate with a friendly tone. Compared to other people they had visited so far, this man appeared to be someone who looked as if he would help them.

"We were wondering if you know about Councilman George Clifton. He died months ago and we wanted to know if we could find out more about it," said Lucas.

"Councilman George had died in the massacre that took place in his house, isn't it?" asked the magistrate with a thoughtful look, "He killed his parents too."

Lucas frowned and shared a look at Belle. Portia was only acting along, but she didn't know much of the details that had taken place in the past. All she had to do was act in front of him like how Belle would normally do.

"You didn't know that?" asked the magistrate, his eyes darting between the two of them.

"We heard that he died under execution in the council which was why we wanted to see what he had done," Lucas twisted the whole scenario that had the magistrate widen his eyes and the man laughed.

"I assure you it wasn't the council who killed him but he was killed because of corruption and killing his parents in the process of it," answered the magistrate, "This is top information, but there has been a substance that has been creating corruption in the vampires. One pinch of it is considered to be strong enough to corrupt the body. You should be careful about what you eat in the land of Valeria. You never know when you will consume it," he smiled, looking at them.

Lucas knew it that it wasn't a piece of advice from the magistrate but a warning, a subtle order to keep their nose out of this little case and believe what was being told to them.

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