Checking the guards if they were still present here, they met them who appeared to give them clipped answers. 

"When was the last time that an attack took place here?" Damien asked one of the guards. 

"Almost three months ago, Sir. We have been having people listen to us by following rules."

"What kind of rules?" Damien asked him, standing outside the magistrate's office while leaving Penny with the magistrate.

The guardsman replied, "We have asked them not to leave the village after six o clock. The church bell rings every morning and in the night to ensure that everyone hears it. With every bell in the morning, they step out after we make sure the area is free and clear of any suspicious activities."

"And what if the witches or deranged vampires attack? Don't tell me you have made friends with the witches," Damien tilted his head in question. 

"No, Sir, we," the guardsman paused, his expression freezing for a good moment that even made Damien raise his brow. He brought his hand forward and snapped his fingers for the man to continue speaking, "We usually check the forest. There have been no witches who have been spotted here."

"What if I said I was a witch disguising as a pureblooded vampire?" Damien asked the same guardsman. 

The guardsman opened his mouth to say something but no voice came out, his mouth moved and as it moved Damien's eyes zeroed in on it to see what the man was trying to say, 

'S-save us. W-we have been tr-aped.'

The guardsman who was next to the one who had moved his mouth snapped his head and the one moving his mouth stopped like a statue. 

Damien's eyes furrowed and then he said, "I think I will need to get you both an honorary mention by Lord Alexander for your remarkable work here," for still being alive and not be killed yet, thought Damien to himself. 

The second guardsman bowed his head, "Please don't mind lowly men like us. We are here only to help the lands and to make it a better place."

In the meantime, Penny, who was sitting along with the magistrate, stared at him. Every time his eyes went to meet hers he smiled at her queasy before his eyes darted left and right again. She could tell clearly that the man was worried about what Damien wanted to do with the guardsmen of this village as he had taken them out of the office to speak to them. 

The man didn't appear normal. By front, he looked like a vampire but in truth, she could tell something was amiss which she couldn't point her finger yet right now. 

Why...Penny questioned to herself as she stared at him. 

"It seems like you have something to ask me," the man said after a while that made Penny blink at him. 

"Why do you say that?" she questioned him. 

The magistrate smiled at her, leaning forward and pulling his chair along with him, he said, "You keep staring at me as if I have done something to you, Councilwoman Vivian," this brought a smile on Penny's own face. 

She had only been staring and his question was why she was staring before he himself was agreeing that he must have done something. Right now the man was only trying to behave cool and calm like a murderer would to cover a shred of evidence and blend into the crowd to not let anyone know what he did. 

"Have you done something? If you haven't done anything you shouldn't bring it up in the light. They say it's equal to hitting your feet with your own hammer."

"I don't think I have heard about it," said the magistrate, "By the way, after last night, one of the councilmen arrived here in the office. When I inquired about the files that you and councilman Damien came here for, he mentioned how you were on vacation and haven't gone to the council for nearly four to five weeks now."

So he had inquired, or was he bluffing? Asked Penny to herself. 

"I love to work, Sir. It is what keeps my mind occupied. What keeps your mind occupied?" Penny leaned forward from her own chair. Placing both her hands at the desk and smiling at him coyly. A seductive smile formed on her lips and she could see it working on the man. 

"Mine?" he asked her, his voice falling a few octaves below than what he was speaking with earlier. 

"Yes," her hand went to reach the crystal stone of gla.s.s that was placed on top of the parchments to hold it down from any possible wind. She rotated her hand around it, playing with it just like she was trying to play him right now, "For someone who has been working so hard to protect the village here, you must be a very busy man. Doesn't it get difficult for you?" 

The man looked at Penny, his red eyes staring into hers. He couldn't deny it but this woman sitting in front of him was beautiful and s.e.xy. Her green liquid like eyes staring at him in concern that he hadn't found anyone to do it for her before. 

"It sometimes does but we need to follow the orders that are given out by the higher members. To have a better life for everyone."

"What a hardworking man you are," Penny placed her hand closer to him by letting go of the gla.s.s. 

Before the man could place his hand on the woman's hand that was lying freely on top of the desk, the councilman arrived back inside. 

"Mr. Magistrate. I will be taking two of your men to the Delcrov's mansion to give an honorary award for being brave."

"What?!" the man looked at him alarmed, "No," he refused the offer quickly.