BLOODY LOVE'S
Chapter 7's

“I never said there was a vampire." Marco shrugged his shoulders, walked back to his desk. “You said that.”

“But I've denied,” Jose said tired. “It's hard to believe there was an incident like this in Bjork. At first we just thought the kids were moving to another, more modern city. Or maybe they eloped with her boyfriend. Until then the lost are increasing and we realize that this is not just a phenomenon of teenage rebellion. The lost ones begin to develop. It was just the girls, then creeping into the boys.”

Marco looked at his nephew. “That's how, we did it.”

“Because of indifference.” Jose turned. “If you look again, the beginning of all this is our apathy, society. We underestimate the symptoms of missing people. Just consider it one of the other trivial things that are no more important than the price of wheat. Only when the existing statistical numbers increase, we become confused.”

“Is that?”

“Yes, the root cause of all things is apathy.”

“I really wish you would come at least once to the Discussion Building.”

Jose reopens his candy wrapper, pensive. “I don't want to. Why go there if you just want to fight? We can go down the street and roll up our sleeves.”

“Not a fight but a discussion,” Marco felt the need to correct as one of the pioneers made the building.

Jose is lazy to argue. He returned to their original topic. “So, what are the doctors saying about this? Uh, doesn't that mean the doctors actually know what hit Bjork?”

“Only your uncle Rolan knows.”

“And just now Uncle said only Uncle, Dad, and Inspector know!” exclaimed Jose, who was immediately greeted with a sharp hiss from his uncle. “Sorry,” he's sluggish. “So, who else knows?”

“Consider Dr. Rolan. It's a terrible thing, Jose. Not just anyone can know.”

“Ya, yes.” Jose rolled his eyes. “Uncle will tell me what happened to Higgins and the three people found?”

“I tell you to keep quiet and take care of yourself,” whispered Marco while tidying up the order of the book on the table.

For a while all that was heard between them was a paper book clashing against another paper, as well as a pile of thick books.

Jose snorted, knowing that his uncle would not tell him anything more. He stood up, picked up the candy from the glass jar on the table, and left after saying excuse me.

As Marco's door closed behind Jose's back, he remembered that his original intention was to ask about Sir William.

***

Jose arranged the six pieces of candy he had snatched on the window frame. He had been curious about Sir William, but the problem of blood loss was more disturbing to his heart. He wanted to know what was really going on in this town.

Police patrolled more tightly each evening, people were missing and some were found to have lost blood. How could everything that was lost actually also lose its blood? And their way of dying is the same as Higgins? Jose was horrified at himself being enthusiastic instead of frightened. Unexpectedly, he received all the information just now quite calmly.

Was it because he had seen the dead Higgins himself?

While he was busy thinking, the phone in his room rang loudly. Jose picked up the thing without thinking and greeted, “Halo, with Argent.”

“Jose!” greet Maria. His soft and tall voice was his own distinctive style. “You're cured? How you doing?”

“Cured?”

“Yes, what did you hurt?”

Jose frowned in surprise. “I don't hurt.”

“Hmmm .. Last time I came to your house, George said you weren't feeling well!”

“Eh? Oh!” Jose patted himself on the forehead, cursing himself in the heart. He completely forgot the reason for asking Mary to leave. He had even forgotten that Mary had come today. “Yes, I was sick,” he said. “Mmm, fever symptoms only, anyway. Why?”

“Just ask how you are doing. You were a little weird yesterday.”

His best friend's voice sounded really sincere, making Jose ashamed to have refused to meet the girl. “Thank you, I'm fine, really. You came all the way this afternoon just for this?”

No answer for a few moments. Then Mary continued while whispering, "Yes. Just for that."

Jose listened again, but Maria did not continue. "You don't sound all right" he said. "Why?"

"I think I'm going to the Discussion Hall this afternoon" Jose said at last, in an attempt to interest Maria. He did not like the moody tone of the girl's voice. "Your father goes there often, right? You know the schedule?"

Fishing succeeded. Maria sounds interested. "You?" tanyanya, overcome the buzzing sound of the phone. "To the Discussion Building? Waw! Is there anything that interests you?"

Jose recalls that his uncle said, Sir William often rants on the unsettling there. He was interested in finding out what made his uncle angry. "Well, last time I was sixteen."

"And you made a fight room!" Maria chuckles. "I still remember how you ran out being chased by many nobles and their bouncers!"

"Forgive it" said Jose in embarrassment. He was still always ashamed to remember his teenage years where he messed up here and there, feeling the most intense just because no one dared to go by the name of Argent. "Uncle Marco kept insinuating me for not hanging out there. And Dave brought me back today, so I'm gonna take it. Who knows if something's interesting."

"Dave's? You mean Lord Dominic?"

"certain. Which Dave is it?"

"A good combination. The runaway and Don Juan." Mary laughed again. "Don't make trouble there."

"No, Ma'am," joked Jose, relieved to hear Maria's tone of voice as usual. "I'll call you from the police station if I get in trouble. You're gonna vouch for me, right?"

"Silly," Maria chuckled again. "You won't need my assurances, Uncle Marco will come right away if you're in trouble."

"I think he's gonna throw me into the cell."

"Omong empty. Well, I hope you're having fun there. Give my regards to Lord Dominic."

When Maria hung up the phone, Jose dialed another number he had already dialed out of his head. A waiter answered him, then forwarded the call to the person he was going to, Dave.

"Is there a problem, Jose?" ask Dave directly, because Jose doesn't usually call.

"What time is the meeting at the Discussion Building?"

There was a soft sound of weirdness. "Four o'clock in the afternoon, ended at seven o'clock in the afternoon, when the police patrol began ferociously. Are you finally interested?"

"I'm finally interested" Jose agreed. He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Did Sir William routinely go there?"

"Ah." Dave's naughtiness turned into laughter. "I understand your motives."

"Whatever you think, it's wrong. I was just curious" said Jose.

"Sure, sure. Who wouldn't be curious about the popular Sir William Bannet?" Dave said it in an understanding tone, but Jose knew the man was making fun of him. "He comes sometimes and sometimes he doesn't. Unlike someone I know, I'm not obsessed with, so I don't have Sir William's schedule."

"I'm not obsessed."

"I didn't say your name, did you feel?" Dave's getting louder. "I was curious about this man. Only he who can make a Jose Argent finally crawled slowly to life. Jealousy knows no bounds."

"I'm not jealous," Jose started to get caught off guard. "I have never heard of a Sir named William Bannet. I'm just curious."

"And you want to strip her naked in the Discussion Building?" Dave clucking. "But you're right, I'm also curious. Everyone strangely accepted his presence and title, but if there was someone named like that, I would know. You know I'm close to the technocrats?"

Jose nodded, but then realized Dave would not be able to see it. "Then?" continued. "You're making sure?"

"Yes, I'm asking my friend to check on DeBrett's. I should have gotten news by now. We can talk about it later when we meet. If he's a fake, I want to know what he wants."

Jose smiled faintly, already guessing Dave was moving quickly. "We met in front of Pierre's shop?"

"Agreed," said Dave lightly. "See you later."

***

¬apatism: indifference/stupid attitude.

¬technocrat: scholar/professional/experts

¬DeBrett's: a book that lists the names of nobles