BLOODY LOVE'S
Chapter 12's

“You really saw it, Honey?” Renata asked quietly, gently rubbing the back of Jose's hand.

“Yes, I did see it,” Jose said tensely. Now he looks at Marco. “Uncle says I should wake Uncle up when I see something."

“I said you woke me up when you heard something,” Marco corrected ketus. “Why are you so hard to set up, anyway?”

“If I don't look out with the binoculars, I won't be able to wake Uncle. What does Uncle wish for? I came to Uncle's room just because I heard a horse?”

“Already, already,” Edgar mediates. He close his sleep pajamas, a little feeling cold—not because of the cold but because of the uncomfortable feeling. “I've already told Gerald and some other servants to check out the steward's lodge. If true said Jose—“

“I said right," cut Jose. “I saw it clearly! The figure was sniffing at the table where Higgins. There was no illumination there, so I only saw a black figure, but it was clearly human! And he sniffed!” He shuddered himself remembering what he had just seen.

After seeing the suspicious figure, Jose was still gawking for a while in front of the window, then he immediately ran to Marco's room in the east wing of the house and woke the man up. Marco calls the waiter to wake Edgar and Renata. Then Edgar sent some servants to check the steward's lodge. Meanwhile they were all waiting in Edgar's warm and bright study.

Marco was by the window facing the front court, crossing both hands in front of his chest. His face looks serious. To his right, two meters from where he stood, Edgar and Renata sat on the sofa, hugging each other by the waist. Renata looks pale.

Jose was on a separate sofa, next to his mother. His face was hopefully anxious as well as a little scared. Various questions raged in his mind.

“What do people do in Higgins' cottage? Why is that guy sniffing the table? What is he looking for exactly? Is that really human?” Jose voiced his thoughts.

“What do you mean by last question?” ask his father wonder. “Do you see any signs or what from him?”

“Man does not sniff,” is Jose.

“You saw his nose? Her face?” search Marco.

“No.” Jose was disappointed. “I told you, it's dark in there .. My binoculars can't catch. If only there were candles or what as a ban. I didn't see anything, but his movements were clearly sniffing. He's like looking for something—like a dog looking for something with a scent.”

Marco looked grim. “Hopefully he can be arrested.”

“What is he really looking for in our house?” Renata asked in horror. His long hair was straightly draped over his shoulders. He was wearing only sleeping clothes under a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.

Edgar rubbed his wife's back, trying to calm down. “We'll know in a minute, honey, we'll know. You don't have to worry.”

“But three times he came home!” Jose Menukas, met with a sharp glare by Marco.

“Three times?” Renata glared in horror.

“We will catch it,” cut Edgar firmly. “True, right, Marco? You can definitely catch him, right?”

“Of course. You don't have to worry, Dik.” Marco smiled soothingly. “Whatever he is, we will arrest and imprison him. Easy."

Everyone in the room looked at each other, then Edgar nodded at Marco. Marco turned his head at the door and exclaimed, “Come in!”

Gerald went inside, leaving three other servants behind him. When the door of the room was closed, silence enveloped the people inside. Jose looked at his mother, Renata looked at her husband, Edgar looked at Marco.

“How, Gerald?” Marco was the first to speak.

Gerald was a large-bodied man with sideburns and a bushy beard filling his face. He rubbed his big, hairy hands into the green flannel vest he was wearing and shook his head. “Not found anything, Mr.”

“Jejak?” ask Jose quickly.

Now Gerald rubbed his long brown hair, then shook his head again. “Nothing.”

“Perhaps because it is dark, so it is not visible,” suggested Jose while glancing at his parents, then moved on Marco. “She must still be around here!”

“Tracing each inch of our land,” Marco reigns.

Gerald looked cold, but said nothing.

Jose caught the unsettled look, so he added, “Better for a group. Two or three people.”

“And make a big gap?” marco's cold and cynical. “One-one, all split. Don't miss a single cent.”

“That's a danger!” refute Jose. “What if they get attacked?”

Marco looked at Gerald, moving his chin to drive the man away. Gerald nodded and walked out of the room. The back door closed in a slow thumping sound. After Gerald left, Edgar stared intently at his son. He said, “What do you mean just now, Jose?”

“What?” reply Jose wonder. “Did no one see? They're scared! And night is indeed a danger now.”

“You can say it after Gerald left,” Marco riled up. He drew closer to Jose, stretched out his hands on both arms of the sofa, towering in front of Jose. The young man pulled his head back in horror. Marco continued in a cold voice, “You are my nephew. Never argue me in front of others, let alone in front of a waiter.”

Jose gulped. His eyes flashed stubbornly as he did not feel guilty.

“Understanding?” insist Marco. His eagle eyes were still shining sharply. Jose had to nod.

“We are family. Even if you disagree with my opinion or have different thoughts, it should not be shown to others,” added Marco, greeted by a nod of Edgar.

On the contrary, Renata was not too happy to hear that. He glared irritatedly at Marco, then waved his hand at Jose and said casually, “Other times be careful when talking, Jose.” She turned to her husband and asked slowly, “So, who exactly is the intruder? It's getting scary.”