Chapter 63: Tracy’s denial
Kaelric’s POV
The next morning, I woke up with a start. There was a lot to handle in the Academy before reporting back to my uncle to ensure the kingdom’s safety, and time was ticking very fast.
I wished I stayed in one of the school staff residential areas, it would have been easier for me to get to my office on time, but for some reasons best known to my father and uncle I was made to stay in the town, a little bit far from the Academy, so I needed to be faster, if I wanted to meet up with what I had to do for the day.
I dragged myself into the small office space in my apartment, opened the stockpiles of incidents related to this incident, and compared and contrasted.
The vampires are sending a secret message, and their messengers are strategically placed. One of them is a student, and this case is more than just an election rivalry; it’s just a distraction, and I must get to the root of it.
I packed the information I could get from my office, dumped it into my briefcase and hurried off to Ashwood.
Before the first bell rang for classes, I penned a quick message and had it delivered to Tracy. The message read: Tracy, report to my office after classes for a private chat.
By the time classes ended, I was already waiting. Papers were spread across my desk, reports I had pieced together from the surveillance footage the night before.
She walked in with casual grace and a somewhat seductive stance, staring right into my eyes, and then she winked at me before grabbing the chair in front of me and settling into it slowly.
"Go back and close my door," I ordered her, ignoring her postures and suggestive aura. She did, and I gestured to the chair across from me. "Sit."
I didn’t want her in front of me.
She crossed her legs neatly, feigning calm. "You summoned me, Sir. Kaelric?"
I had told you to either call me Sir or Alpha Northsphere, didn’t I?" I reprimanded her, folding my hands over the papers, before continuing.
"Yes. I’d like to know a few things about your recent activities. Nothing too troubling if you’ve got nothing to hide."
Her brow arched, and I could sense the disapproval in her gesture and slight anger in her countenance, but she nodded. "Go ahead, ask."
"You are contesting for the new student council elections, right?" I asked, twirling the pen in my hand, ’I’ll start with the easiest and most intriguing questions, and then move on to the tough ones.’
"Yes, sir, I’m," she said, excitement gracing her face.
"Who do you think is your greatest rival in the election? I asked, watching her body movements.
It took her a while to contemplate whether to speak up or not before she voiced it out, "Only Aria is a worthy rival."
"And if you were to harm her to win the election, will you do that?" I was naked, staring her right into her eyes, and she averted her gaze, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
"Although I hate her guts, I wouldn’t like to harm her to win, I would want her to watch me win," she replied coldly, avoiding eye contact.
Then I leaned back in my chair, narrowing my eyes at her. " Look at me," I ordered her. "What about your recent visit to the casino?"
Her expression froze for half a second before she gave a small laugh. "Casino? I’ve never been to a casino. You must be mistaken."
"Mistaken?" I echoed, my voice calm, my hand already sliding a folder open. "Interesting, because the surveillance footage says otherwise."
I turned the monitor’s screen toward her and pressed the play button. The footage rolled, her figure, draped in a long hooded gown, slipping out of the Academy gates and later, emerging from the casino doors.
"That’s not me," she said quickly, shaking her head. "Anyone can wear a gown like that; it could be any student or even a teacher."
I enlarged the frame, freezing it when the hood shifted just enough to show her side profile. "Still not you?" I asked, my tone sharp.
Her lips parted, but no words came.
I zoomed further, pausing at the moment she adjusted the gown as she walked. The mark on her leg flashed clear as day. A birthmark. Impossible to miss.
"Is that not the same as the ones on your leg?" I asked as my lips curled up in a smirk.
Her eyes widened, panic flashing behind them, but she pressed her lips together and crossed her arms as though that would shield her from the truth on display.
"Would you like to deny it again, Tracy?" I asked, my voice low and cutting.
"That proves nothing," she snapped, but the edge of her voice betrayed her.
"Oh, it proves everything," I countered. "And now, you’ll explain why you were there, who you met, and what business you had with the vampire who nearly cost Aria and Becca their lives."
She looked confused for a split second, then she asked, "Is anything wrong with Aria and Becca?, I thought something else made them miss classes, probably the Alpha successors."
"You know, even you can’t believe what you just said. The Alpha successors were in school today, so it can’t be them keeping Aria or Becca from coming for classes," I retorted.
Her head shook violently. "I had nothing to do with that! I swear it. Yes, I... I went there, but it wasn’t for what you think. I never plotted against Aria, I never..."
I slammed my hand against the desk, silencing her. "Then what were you doing there, Tracy? Sneaking out in disguises, meeting with strangers, and now denying it until the evidence drags you into the light? Tell me why I shouldn’t believe you’re the root of this conspiracy!"
Her words tumbled, broken, defensive, filled with denials and half-formed excuses, but none of them held weight against the footage glaring back at her.
"Enough," I said coldly. "Your answers will be judged where it matters most." I stood, calling out to the security personnel stationed outside. "Take her to the detention room. She will await trial before the school council."
Her eyes widened, rage and fear mixing in her expression. "You can’t do this to me, Sir! I didn’t hurt her!"