BLACK MASK [MxM]

4. Guess the Secret

"Why are you walking so fast? Are you being chased by wolfed?"

In the palace corridor full of servant flies, Rory pauses his hurried footsteps when he hears Arsen reprimanding. Obediently he bowed his head. Unlike in the city, Rory's manners were completely different at the palace.

"Young master."

"Where are you going?"

"I want to gather the guards assigned to deliver the news to all the clan leaders. Master wants to have an important meeting."

Arsen frowned.

"This is about the attack on the palace yesterday, Master may have discussed the heightened security measures."

In addition to the loss of many guards beaten to death by Nero, the prison was also broken and the rebel fugitives in the past had fled. His father must be so busy right now that Arsen's intention to request Lavi must be delayed.

"Are the elders coming?"

"Important meetings are always attended by the elders. They have an important role as counselors among them."

"Counselor, huh?" Arsen mumbled gloomily. "It is more appropriate to say they are a sort of legal council whose orders should be filled."

Rory moves his eyes. "Lavi will also participate in the meeting."

"Why?"

"He was one of the eyewitnesses at the time of the attack and confirmed to be in contact with Nero, maybe we can get some more information about the perpetrator."

Arsen smiled and smiled. "I'll tell him."

Rory looked at him. "Do you knows where Lavi is? Since morning no one can find him."

"I locked it in my room."

Rory's face was instantly stiff, knew Arsen a long time ago letting him know that his young master was easily obsessed with something.

"Please don't torture him, Young master. He's injured."

Arsen looked straight, imagining Lavi's face, talking after a while. His voice was mild yet dangerous. "Why? You afraid I might destroy him?"

If Arsen was the definition of a dominant sharp man, then Lavi was a cold-blooded man whose eyes seem to hold a grudge. Both are just as stubborn. He's afraid the two of them can't get along well.

Before Rory could answer, Arsen patted his shoulder. "No need for you to think."

The blonde haired guy walked lightly into his room, his mood was so good, he even hummed a happy song on his lips. Now there's no smell of dribbly blood in the courtyard. The guards seemed to be working hard to soften with dry soil, sowing like flour.

After getting information about Karna directly from Kiril's mouth, Arsen felt there was much more to reveal. According to Kiril's description, Karna Adikara was a rebel twenty years ago, along with other rebels who conspired against the slaughter of the small clan, but the man was eventually defeated and put into the palace jail.

But when it comes to the relationship between Karna and Lavi that's still a big question. Arsen still would not talk openly about it to anyone.

Lock clicks heard as Arsen pushed the door. Lavi was sitting with a somber expression on his bed, and he seemed oblivious to Arsen's presence, and then surprised to hear Arsen snapping his fingers. The guy is so cute.

The plates on the table weren't touched and the food wasn't warm anymore. "You're not eating?"

"Why are you doing this to me? What do you want?"

Arsen had responded with half a jest. "I told you I wanted you to be my servant. I don't think it's hard for you to comply. I won't treat you harshly, I'm a kind person."

Lavi had nothing to say as an answer, and he was consumed with feelings of inadequacy about the way the blond-haired man thought.

He didn't even expect his facial expression to be a delicious meal for 'the hawk' in front of him.

"You shouldn't have made that expression. If you feel anger for being hurt by your enemies, I will help you get revenge."

"Don't say it as if you knew me." Lavi guiled.

"Why not? If I didn't know, I'd go around the world until I got some answers. Or if you want to say what's on your mind, I'll listen it."

Lavi's face shows slight changes. "Let go of my hand first. I'll tell you a story."

"No."

"You don't believe me?"

"No."

Uh. Ok. Lavi began to feel hot and simmering in his head.

"You may be powerful, but I'll only bow to my Master. It doesn't matter what on my mind, now I don't want to tell you," he said arrogantly.

"Oh, one loyal pet dog, I see."

There was a silence among them.

They stared at each other for a time. Two different kinds of stares. At that moment a red spray appeared on Lavi's cheek, right under his watery eyes. Arsen squinted as he touched the guy's forehead.

"You're so hot." Arsen's masculine voice was thrilling. It can even shake a room until it cracks like an earthquake.

"Get your hands off me."

Lavi was pushed down onto his back, his legs folded back in pain from the sudden movements. But before he could complain, Arsen's face had appeared very close in front of him.

"Where are you going in such a weak state? Why are you being hustled by time?"

Lavi didn't answer.

Arsen peeks at Lavi's wrist have lesions around the handcuff. Guessing that Lavi must have tried hard to get away, but failed because this bond was so solid. Suddenly Arsen arranged Lavi's position to lie comfortably. The touch in his body made him feel shivering.

"I'll let you go as soon as you've recovered," said Arsen.

"I'll die if I'm here for days."

"You're right. If you don't eat, you'll die. I'll tell the servant to bring you warm food."

Lavi clenched his teeth.

A few of the servants came by half an hour later carrying a wide variety of food, seeing all the food was making Lavi nauseous. His stomach churned. He even started to feel like he had no appetite.

Arsen took a bowl of lotus soup. "Sit down, I'll feed you."

Lavi looked away.

"You're making this difficult for you, Lavi. If you want to go, you must first have strength. Weren't you so confident clench your fist at me? Tell me where you're going? You looked like you were going somewhere that night, if only you weren't badly hurt."

For a man with a stern face, Lavi had no idea that Arsen was more chatty than he seemed. His heaving voice came to his head.

"Is it because you're rushing to see your relatives?" Arsen glanced at him as he asked the question, and then continued, "Do you really want to meet Karna?"

Not so obvious, but Arsen noticed a slight change on Lavi's face.

Lavi's fist floated forward in reply, Arsen had a high sense of speed and immediately seized his hand. That time, Arsen was wearing only a short black shirt. His arms and shoulders grew stronger and clearer at close range.

Not giving up at this point, Lavi's feet under the blanket were lifted high behind Arsen's body, almost on his back if only he had not been thrown back into the bed immediately.

The blonde's hand was on his neck. Choked him.

The voice came into his hearing sensor, cold, "Like I said, I wouldn't force you if you didn't want to tell me."

For a moment, Lavi's body stiffened. His hands were clasped above his head, feeling slightly sore and numb. Perhaps he is still very weak at the moment, his vision is clouded by shadow. Hard to breathe.

Lavi look up a little. This throbbing pain felt around his stomach wound. It gets painful and sting. He gasped.

He heard Arsen cursing.

"My reflexes are because my senses are sharp." Arsen explains, release him. "Don't confront me because my mood could get worse."

Lavi blinked.

Coughing.

He held his throat, almost forgot to breathe again. His eyes began to lose focus, his body curled up like a ball. It wasn't until a long time passed that he managed to breathe properly.

Arsen flipped his body over carefully.

"Tell me, Lavi, if I solve your problem successfully, will you do as I say?"

Lavi glared at him. "You confidently want to solve my problems, but you don't know anything."

"What good is the information I get if I don't understand anything?" Arsen shrugged his shoulders, rifling through his jacket' pocket of cloth on the chair. "Apparently you're not worried that I know that Karna is your relative—or even your brother. He's a fugitive here. You think you're pretty smart?"

"You want to blackmail me!"

"It's called teamwork, Honey."

In fact Arsen was just talking gibberish about Karna and Lavi's relationship, seeing how Lavi's face was when he said it, it was much more clear.

Arsen was right; Karna is Lavi's brother.

"I'll know all your matters, what you want to let me know and don't want to let me know. I'll find it all. I'll know it all!"

"No matter how much you seek, you will find nothing."

"Whatever you say. I bet you won't run away because I know your secret."

"I can escape at any time."

"Try me."

Handcuff released. Lavi's wrists are really chafing because of that thing. He didn't know how strong he was pulling it, because there was blood pouring out on the small wound. Then his hand was pulled out until he sat perfectly. The soup spoon has flown in front of his face, ready to go in. Arsen pointed at the spoon with his chin and didn't want any rejection. Fortunately, the lotus soup the kitchen maid made was truly delicious when it came into Lavi's mouth, which was savory and the bristle so mixed, made him enjoy it.

When Arsen's hand scooped up the soup again, Lavi pulled the bowl roughly. "I can feed myself."

The mood changes around them too quickly. Arsen thought Lavi would fight again and escape. Arsen was prepared to the risk, he would release him if Lavi tried to leave once again. But it seemed that Lavi suddenly became obedient in the blink of an eye, though he still didn't understand what was on the guy's mind right now.

And the meeting of the clan leaders was finally held the next day, and there has been an hour since the beginning, the elders and a few others have gathered in the palace hall. The place was hot as if the temperature were rising at a high point with no cool breeze.

Davion Bathara who had been focusing on listening to their arguments finally cleared his throat. He glanced at his clan adviser for a moment before uttering his opinion on the announcement to arrest Nero for the islanders.

Nara clan's leader raised his hand, the round table that surrounded them reflected the light of tiffany's lights on the ceiling toward the man. "I don't agree with that announcement, My Lord. Wouldn't that cause a conflict between hunters? I'm afraid they're going to kill each other just to get Nero, considering the price was offered."

Davion listened carefully.

"With the announcement of his pursuit, Nero will easily detect our movements. Nero must have chosen to strengthen his guard and chose to hide safely."

From those two firm denials, Davion secretly agreed. His hands were intertwined so closely as his focus expanded in another direction. Then his eyes turned to the red-haired man who was the leader of Agura clan. "What do you think, Mazin?"

The man gave him a small smile.

"I think what Mr. Halian is saying is correct, My Lord. Nero was a brilliant criminal, he could even disguise himself as whatever he wanted without finding trouble. Just to avoid the hunters, he could easily camouflage himself to trick us, couldn't he?"

"It's best we don't arouse suspicion, My Lord." Askara clan's leader had his voice. "Aren't Nero great fighters? It's best if we send a swordsman to arrest him. I was very hesitant about the decision of an announcement—which in other words allows the bottom-dollar bare-mad fighters to intervene and get nothing in return."

Renjaku Askara—Davion knew the young man well. Before plunging into the rule of the clan, the man was his student in a fencing academy. At a young age the man had even become a skilled swordsman and had the confidence to train soldiers—including his son.

"As Mr. Mazin says, Nero can be whoever he wants to be. What was the point of him wearing that black mask? Hiding his face, right? It is better to keep a watchful eye on those around us."

The air feels really hot since Renjaku said that.

"What I mean is; Nero may well be the one around us—one wandering about the palace unnoticed."

"I agree with your analysis, Renjaku," said Nituna, the only woman among the three elders. Renjaku bowed down. "Davion, decide another strategy that you might be thinking of right now. We don't have much time. Nero is now definitely after the Iron Prison in the Agura clan territory, we will prevent more prisoners from escaping by capturing Nero immediately."

Davion nodded, staring at the elders with a firm face.

"I shall assume our conversation of the proposed pursuit of Nero is complete, we shall not resort to that strategy. However, more importantly, before Nero's capture, I intend to mobilize a massive army of every clan's men to search for escaped prisoners and—"

That Davion line was incomplete because the door to the hall was slammed open with such force. The attention of all persons was quickly taken by a haughty figure who walked with his back to the light from the door, as if he were shining. Suddenly a chair was pulled up and he sat on it. His foot was on top of his other.

Everyone was silent shocked.

"Oh, is this the man you're about to take your place, Lord Davion?" Nituna who first spoke, in a cold tone.

How dare he misbehave in front of the elders!

Davion ignores that sarcasm. "What are you doing here, Arsen?"

"I represent Lavi for this meeting. Please continue the discussion."

"Where's Lavi?" A deep voice came from one of the other men, who was also Kiril's grandfather Penn Askara.

Arsen seemed undaunted when he answered, "My sweet manservant is wounded. Do you mind if he's absent?"

tbc.