Chapter 4 - Negotiation

When he opened the office door, everyone’s eyes poured out in unison, and Ben thought he was going to work too diligently these days. It was clear that people would look at someone who didn’t come to work often but now went to work for several days in a row.

Ben went up to the inspector’s office pretending not to care about the pouring gazes.

As he pushed the glass door, he saw him talking on the phone, so Ben sat on the chair opposite him and waited for the end of the call.

He hung up a little later and turned his head toward Ben.

“What happened? I thought we were done talking about O’Donoughue yesterday.”

“What’s over?”

Ben spat out with irritation as if he had heard nonsense.

“I thought about it. Is he really trustworthy?”

No matter how hard he thought about it, it was hard to believe.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you really feel anything? His mood is never normal.”

“Humans are born like that.”

“That overwhelming atmosphere comes from a normal person? You know that something is different.”

Feeling frustrated because he couldn’t properly explain what he felt, Ben nervously scattered his head with his palm. He habitually chewed his lips to relief when he was annoyed, but he just kept his mouth shut. There was no way to know if he really didn’t know or if he was just trying to move on because he didn’t want to know.

“I looked it up, and his parents lived in Romania, and you know where Romania is, the place they call their last hometown.”

“That’s not enough to doubt him.”

The inspector shook his head to ask him to ignore it. Because he was such a high-ranking official, he felt like he wanted to cover up all his doubts.

Ben couldn’t sleep at home yesterday thinking about Miller’s existence. The more he thought, the closer his doubt came to be a conviction. Miller O’Donoughue was too suspicious.

“Enough?”

Ben nervously raised his voice a little bit and said in bewilderment.

“A man who can hide his presence like that? I’ve never seen someone like him before. I felt his presence just before he touched my body.”

“Like now?”

“Yes. Like now-.”

Ben stopped moving his mouth and turned his head to the sound. Miller stood there holding a long black umbrella with an expressionless face, as if he was wearing a mask, just within reach, less than 30 centimeters away.

He looked as if he had been there from the beginning with a well-dressed suit and an umbrella.

Ben’s face was filled with an ominous feeling that slowly rose from his toes.

Damn it, again . It hadn’t been five times yet, but he always came right in front of him. Whether it was a perfume or something else, the unique scent penetrated his nose. He was distracted when he recognized the smell.

Unconsciously, Ben reached for Miller’s neck slowly. He spread his index and middle finger neatly and went to the back of his neck, which was exposed over a wrinkleless collar.

Cold skin touched the tip of his finger.

The pulse was beating lightly under the skin like last time. The regular physical activity to indicate that he was alive.

Watching the bold action, Miller pushed his finger carefully with his hand. In an unspoken warning to stop, Ben slowly put down his fingers. Even if he died tomorrow, he had no doubt about it. It was weak as if it was about to stop, but it was definitely beating. He was alive.

Even though his behavior a while ago was very rude, Ben didn’t apologize and stared at Miller. Miller didn’t say anything special, but it turned out that he felt bad.

A tightly pulled thread appeared between the two as if it were about to break. In the end, the inspector couldn’t stand the awkward air and said with a cough.

“What’s going on?”

“I can’t get a hold of him. What on earth did you do with the cell phone?”

The cell phone he left in his drawer yesterday flashed Ben’s mind as Miller spoke as if he was criticizing him.

“I gave it to you to carry it, not to decorate it in your drawer. There was a fourth victim you were so worried about, and I couldn’t contact you.”

Hearing that there had been a fourth victim, Ben let out a short sound of pain. It had been an obvious mistake. He knew that a fourth one could happen, but he couldn’t prepare for it because he wandered around in vain.

He left the cell phone in the yard desk drawer on purpose so that he wouldn’t tell him what to do. He went to his apartment and searched for the O’Donoughue’s home. He searched in Romania but he was annoyed because he didn’t find anything.

At dawn, he came straight to the yard because he thought the only way was to ask the inspector who could know something if he didn’t find anything elsewhere.

However, he got nothing from the inspector, ran into Miller, and had a fourth victim. He felt so pathetic that he could die.

When he entered the office in the morning, he guessed the gazes were because he had gone to work often, but it was because of last night’s incident.

Ben said nothing and rubbed his forehead. He was in trouble. Nothing had worked out since the annoying night he met Miller. Miller was also annoyed at Ben, who didn’t say a proper apology and seemed unwilling to do so.

“I’m going to take this opportunity to make it clear that I’m grateful for your help that day, but I don’t want to work with someone I don’t trust either.”

Standing straight, Miller stared at Ben, grumpy and determined as if he had revealed his nature.

“But I’m not as stubborn as you are. Even if I hate it, work is work. Can’t you tell the difference between your personal matters and work?”

It felt as sharp as a blade. Ben could not refute any of the disregard and criticism that was poured on him.

He spent time digging behind Miller, so he couldn’t know or stop the incident from happening. His shoulders were sunk because of his incompetence. He had to apologize, but he couldn’t even open his mouth because of his pride.

Just as initial investigation is important in general crime, so was this. There was a stark difference between actually seeing the scene and not. If he had moved alone as usual, or if he had the cell phone from damn Miller, he might have been the first to see the scene. Then he would have been able to chase them by the smell.

Ben licked his lips out of regret.

“If you know now, I hope there won’t be next time.”

Miller finished talking and turned around coldly.

As he left, Ben stared at the innocent inspector and rushed out. He didn’t forget to stop by his desk and take the palm-sized machine out of the drawer before leaving.

Ben rushed out of the building and grabbed Miller’s wrist as he tried to get into the car parked in front of the yard. No, more like he tried to hold onto it.

Miller turned around the moment he was caught.

Ben’s brow narrowed due to his act and quickly avoided physical contact.

Miller looked at Ben with a suspicious look on his face. Feeling offended by what he had just done, Ben looked into Miller’s eyes for a moment. The chilly blue eyes and the mysterious gray eyes stared at each other.

In Ben’s view, Miller had more than one or two questions.

“Let’s eat. It’s on me this time.”

After staring at him for a long time, what Ben said was completely unexpected. A little embarrassed, Miller looked at him. Ben made an impression on him and he tried to guess what he was up to.

“Now that I know there was another victim, let’s talk about work. I won’t do that anymore.”

Ben shook the cell phone that he had taken out just before he came out. Like a blade, the metal cell phone reflected in the sunlight through the clouds.

After talking, Ben signaled to follow and started walking ahead.

Miller followed him silently. Perhaps on purpose, Miller followed Ben a step back. As he walked a few more steps, Ben looked back and said.

“Don’t follow me.”

“But I don’t think you’d like walking next to me.”

“Then take the lead.”

“How will I know where we’re going then?”

Even though he was right, he was annoying when he said it. Ben bit the bottom lip and talked in a mixture of irritation.

“Just come to my side.”

Miller came to his side without saying anything else and then asked while walking.

“Why don’t you let me follow you?”

“Because I feel like I’m being chased.”

When asked a question he thought he would not answer, Ben did answer at request, and turned to the right alley. It was a Chinese restaurant.

It was small and full of unique spices. There seemed to be nothing special. Miller sighed at Ben’s sense.

“Well, most of the things are edible.”

Ben ordered noodles, fried rice, and some dim sum without even looking at the menu, and then stared at Miller.

He was still in a bad mood when he looked at him. However, he thought he would get used to it if they worked together anyway, so he gave up a hundred times.

“Did you think I wouldn’t eat them, so you wanted me to eat them?”

“I’ve seen them eat before, and I know vampires can eat human food.”

Miller’s eyes sparkled with a look of interest.

“It seems like you didn’t know.”

Although Ben sounded a little sarcastic, Miller took a sip of water silently and carefully put down the cup.

“What else do you know?”

“The fact that their skin is white as it always lacks nutrients. They have a unique body odor, and a good appearance to attract humans. They can be active during the day if they’re not under the sunlight directly, so they wear long sleeves or carry an umbrella in the summer, just like you.”

Ben spoke quickly and Miller was still listening. Ben finished the talk with his eyes opened.

As if waiting to finish the next moment, the server put the food on the table, but neither of them touched the food.

“I just carry an umbrella around because of the volatile weather in Britain. I really hate getting rained on.”

Miller moved his chin slightly to say nothing.

“ They have to take enough rest if they move during the day, they can eat human food, but it’s actually not good for them . They want blood. It is said that they must drink every two, three or four months, but actually just six is enough. Some can endure even longer if they have long lives, so they eat in moderation like snakes. They ‘re the most dangerous. We rarely know what they think, so we don’t know when they ‘ll turn around, just like you, Director Miller O’Donoughue.”

Ben slowly scanned his lips and spat out one more suspicious word about Miller.

It had been less than 30 minutes since he refused to do so. Miller looked at Ben, who was apparently in doubt, and Miller stared at Ben’s bright blonde hair, which was shaken by an old heater turned on in the store. The sun-like hair didn’t match the gloomy streets of London even in this old, gloomy store.

“Anything else?”

Miller calmly questioned Ben’s words without showing signs of displeasure.

“There’s one important thing. A vampire must suck blood during sex, so they can’t refrain from doing it. That’s why there’s a lot of sexual assault.”

“It sounds like you’re not sure.”

“I’ve seen the scene, but I’ve never experienced it myself.”

Miller, who was nodding his head at Ben’s words, moved the chopsticks with his hand and took a dim sum to his mouth. He took a bite, chewed it thoroughly, swallowed it, and opened his mouth again.

“So, how do you tell them apart?”

“There’s no such thing. I just know. I was born that way.”

“A dhampir.”

Ben giggled as Miller spoke.

“So there’s someone who knows that funny name.”

“I really didn’t know that Dhampir was out there.”

Miller said while making eye contact with Ben. Ben rubbed his lips.

“Why?”

“Isn’t a Dhampir born between vampires and humans?”

Ben nodded at Miller’s question. He had an unwelcome mix of blood. No, they didn’t have blood, so it was ambiguous to say that he was mixed.

“Since it had sex with your mother, you would have been born, and in your words, your mother would have been bitten by a vampire, and your mother would have died, because if she were alive, she would have turned into a vampire.”

Miller pretended not to know and said, in theory, whether Dhampir could be born. Ben opened his mouth slightly, shaking his head to a certain degree.

“I don’t know the details. My mother fainted, and when she was found the next day, there were only signs of rape. Someone might have saved her before sucking up all of her blood.”

“So how did you know it was a vampire who did it?”

“She saw it.”

“What?”

“Long fangs, just before she passed out, in the dark.”

Miller, who listened to Ben, looked lost in thought. Seeing the fangs means that the vampire who tried to attack Ben’s mother also tried to suck her blood.

Then there was only one conclusion. The failure of sucking the blood to a vampire meant that their life was in danger if they didn’t avoid it immediately. Life was the only important thing for an ordinary vampire to give up on at the moment of intercourse.

He didn’t know if he was actually killed, but what was certain was that Ben was looking for the vampire who assaulted his mother.

Miller, who was trapped in his thoughts, felt Ben’s gaze and raised his head. As if to read Miller’s thoughts, Ben’s blue eyes stared at Miller’s face.

“I heard you use a unique weapon.”

Miller intentionally turned the topic as if he didn’t want what he thought to be caught.

“There’s a lot of people who are interested in my weapon these days. Let’s stop and talk about work. So what’s your plan?”

As if he didn’t want to talk, Ben looked at him and Miller’s eyebrows frowned again.

“I found the target, but he rarely reveals his nature. I’m just guessing he has been around for about 400 years, because organizing that on a large scale like this is something that young people wouldn’t even dream of.”

“So?”

“You can just pretend you’re chasing the minor ones as usual.”

“Am I the bait?”

“You’re right. You’re obviously a threat to them.”

He didn’t know if Miller knew, but vampires couldn’t kill him like if he was a human.

“Yes. They will probably try to lure you in. That’s why there are so many pending cases these days.”

Miller kept talking while making eye contact with Ben.

“Pretend to be caught in the net. If you are in danger, he will reveal his identity.”

“What about the price of putting me in danger?”

“The vampire you’re looking for, I’ll find him.”

“That’s not bad.”

In particular, he didn’t have any lingering attachment to this life, nor to this work.

There was nothing to say even if they sat down more, so Ben got up after drinking another glass of water for the last time, and Miller talked to him.

“Are we good now?”

“There’s no reason we aren’t.”

Ben, who responded lukewarmly to the question, added one more.

“If my sense really is really wrong.”

As he picked up the bill and stared at Miller, Ben pointed at the table with one hand and approached Miller.

“Do you know why I keep doubting you?”

Miller stared at Benjamin’s face without saying anything.

“You’ve never clearly said, ‘I’m a human being’. even though I doubt you this much. And this smell you have.”

Ben lowered his head slightly and took a deep breath near Miller’s neck, acting as if he was inhaling the smell.

Watching the arrogant provocation, Miller reached out his arm and grabbed Ben’s golden back of his head. He did it so that he could not move.

Surprised by the sudden action, Ben rolled his eyes and made eye contact. Then, Miller’s lips touched his. Ben spaced out for a while when something other than the lips touched his mouth. His body odor seemed to fill up from his lips to his lungs through his nose..

Miller moved gently and carefully, put strength in the table, and, distracted by the soft movement as if he were savoring the ice cream, Ben quickly came to his senses and pushed Miller.

Ben said, wiping his lips with his hands with a swollen face.

“What are you doing?”

“I just showed it. According to you, I should have the desire to suck your blood right now, do I look like that? Ah, or maybe you are just not attractive.”

Miller, who spoke sarcastically, stood up and said, stealing the bill that Ben had in his hand.

“I’ll pay for it in exchange for the kiss.”

Miller said the word kiss on purpose. And once again, he laughed at Ben’s face, which was filled with embarrassment.

Ben’s stomach boiled up when he parted ways with Miller and returned to his apartment. The thought of being teased filled his mind.

I can’t believe this. I can’t believe this. I really can’t.

If it weren’t for work, he would have broken all ties with him. An unfamiliar vibration was felt on his thigh. He put his hand in the pocket of his pants and felt the damn cell phone.

“Yes?”

“Ah, there’s something I forgot to say.”

The voice coming through the phone filled Ben’s throat with nausea.

“What is it?”

“Go with Aidan tomorrow.”

“Why there?”

“Have you forget? You’re chasing the minor ones.”

“I haven’t.”

When he responded as strong as he could, he heard a low laugh over the phone as if he was so happy.

“I’ll help you when I get there.”

“I’m hanging up. ”

He thought he had heard everything he needed.

A little later, it was Ben who looked at the phone and made an absurd face. Who in the world is this kid? Miller hung up first as if he was offended when Ben said he would.

He was so irritated when the phone hung up that Ben stared at his phone in his hand and bit his lower lip as it was his habit.