Author's note: This is from Seraphina's point of view

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Duke took a minute to remember where the so-called landslide was. He led the way over the clearing, and we entered the forest. It was not far from the mansion, only a few minutes of walking.

Of course, there was no landslide, but we found hidden among bushes a door that was cracked open.

The stairs led underground, and we lit up an old-fashioned torch to see our way.

Just like the rest of the house, the place was looted.

The smell inside was stale and I was confident that something died inside. Duke scrunched his nose, but he didn't comment on it.

The stairs stopped on a wide landing where a busted table and two wooden chairs were. And one pile of cracked wood might have been a bench some time ago. I assumed that this was the place where the guards were sitting while watching over prisoners.

The grimy hallway provided access to ten cells on each side and other than rusty chains that were bolted to the wall, dry grass, and a few rats who scrambled to hide in some rags on the floor, we didn't find anything else.

Whoever came here before us, emptied this place from anything of value.

If there was an underground passage between here and the mansion, the entrance was concealed well. Ah, another mystery for me to explore! Or maybe for Krob.

We got out of the dungeon, and I noticed a depression in the grass. It was from the opposite side from where we came, and the grass was parted in such a way like it was a path someone took recently.

"Duke?", I called. "Does someone live in the area?"

"Not that I know. Why?"

I pointed at the path and his eyebrows shoot up questionably.

"It could be from an animal." He didn't think it's anything important.

Part of me hoped to reveal some mystery, or maybe find a treasure. So far, we came out empty-handed. "It could be… but we should investigate. Right?"

Duke shook his head helplessly, but he agreed to my foolish demand.

Duke and I held hands and followed the barely visible path through the forest.

Occasionally, we would lose sight of where it leads, and more than once I thought that it doesn't lead anywhere, but then we will see it continue a bit further.

I've lost the track of time as we made our twists and turns between the trees, and I started contemplating that we should return to the mansion. Maybe Duke was right, and it was an animal. Some animals take the same route frequently, causing the grass to shift in this way.

All thoughts about going back disappeared when a small cottage emerged among the trees.

Duke and I glanced at each other, and we both nodded in a silent agreement to inspect it.

It was worn out and if not for the recent patchwork on the roof, I would think that it's abandoned.

Duke held me close to him as we made a wide circle around the cottage and other than several paths created by frequent walking, we didn't see any other signs that someone was living in there.

"Let's check if someone is inside…", I suggested and I saw Duke frowning while looking at the door.

A second later, the door opened with a loud creaking sound, and an older man appeared.

His head was full of gray hair, and his face was wrinkled, but his eyes were full of life, and he was standing straight, like a young man in his prime. His shabby clothes didn't do much to conceal his impressive physique.

He was either not old, or not human, and he was definitely not afraid of us. Actually, he looked upset, like we are not welcome.

I wondered if he is a random guy, or maybe he was here to keep an eye on the place, in case Mateo or someone else of interest appears.

I could just suffocate him and get the answers I'm looking for, but I thought to try talking first.

Before I could say anything, he spoke in a gruff voice, "You are trespassing."

Duke's body jerked toward the man, and I was confident that he was about to stand in front of me protectively. Just as Duke moved, I gave his hand a squeeze to let him know that I will handle this.

With one glance, he understood my intention.

Friend or foe, Duke should keep a low profile in order to avoid being recognized.

We didn't expect anyone here, but if the guy is living in this isolated house, it's no wonder that no one spotted him.

"Hello", I said cheerfully. "We are not trespassing. We are the owners of this land."

The man frowned and his eyes darted from me to Duke a few times before he asked, "Are you here to make a hotel?"

"No. We want to fix the mansion and make it our home.", I responded.

"Not everyone can live in that place.", he said menacingly.

"Are you here to ensure that no one moves in? Are you responsible for chasing away the previous owner?"

His expression flashed with a variety of emotions, and I knew that I was right. He even looked behind us, probably to ascertain if it's just me and Duke, and I guessed that he was thinking if he can kill us without anyone noticing us missing.

Well, if he thought that his little act will scare me, he was up to a surprise. I can suffocate him before he moves. Unless he is a teleporter. But it's me and Duke, so even if he makes a move against one of us, the other one will take him down. I can guess that he will see Duke as a larger threat, so he will probably attack Duke first.

But I hoped to avoid a fight. This man was here for who-knows-how-long, and he definitely had stories to tell about this place.

"We are not just anyone, mister.", I said. "I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Seraphina Mezzanotte."

The old man's brows furrowed as he stared at me like I'm growing a second head.

I smiled smugly. "Based on your expression, I assume you heard about my father."

"Father?"

"Aldus Mezzanotte."

"I didn't know he has children.", he mumbled, confirming that he knows I'm associated with Aldus.

"My father was a friend of the original owner, and we thought it's a pity to let this wonderful place disappear into ruins. I'm the new owner and we will start fixing up the place. Where does that put you?"

"I always lived here.", he said.

The realization hit me. "Are you from the Bluemoon pack?"

He confirmed with a nod.

Ah, a werewolf. How lovely! If Duke has his wolf, this man would be his subordinate.

The reports said how the surviving members of the Bluemoon pack scattered, and this land was supposedly werewolf-free because no one dared to come here, even after the Bluemoon pack fell apart. There were some rumors about how the land is cursed, and the fact that this wonderful mansion couldn't find an owner and it degraded into ruins, supported that superstitious nonsense.

"What's your name?", I asked.

"Pio."

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