Zayn walked through the endless corridors that twisted and turned into each other, each one slightly different from the other but more similar. It was a palace that was specially designed this way. There were places that were hidden so well that it would even take years to find them.

He had slept so well last night; he didn’t have the headache too. Maybe today would be better than the other days. Zayn walked into his office and started working on the unfinished documents from yesterday.

Few minutes into the work there was a knock on the door. “Good morning, your majesty. “Louis greeted as he walked in with a stack of papers in his hands.

“These are the details of all the servants that were living in Viscount Darcy’s mansion. There is nothing unusual about any of them, they all are either orphans or have lost their family recently, moreover all of them are poor.”

Zayn looked at the stake and picked up the first one.

Anne. was written on it.

“Anne, 24 years old. Lost her parents when she was 18, has been working at the mansion ever since. She neither had a marriage or boyfriend from what we know, and she was never pregnant either. “Louis explained as Zayn looked at the documents.

“So the child isn’t hers, right? “Zayn looked at the next page in the stack but it was of another servant. “No information about the child? “

“There are no records of the child even in the village registry. I have sent some knights to ask around about him, we can interrogate the maid too”

“Ask her why she has the child and how did she get him. Once you finish the interrogation tell me the details. I will come by after my work here is done.”

“Yes. I have instructed the head maid to keep her in her chambers itself. I’ll send someone now to escort her to the interrogation room. “Louis bowed his head and left the room.

Zayn looked at the page containing all the details of Anne , she looked like a normal human and did not have any extended family nor money . so it was impossible to hide the tracks of a child or her information. Moreover why was she raising a child that was not hers. And how was Viscount Darcy allowing it . could it be that the child was somehow related to the viscount?

But the energy surrounding him didn’t feel bad . Its more complicated then Zayn initially thought.

Zayn kept the stack aside and started working on his documents again. He really needed to change few laws regarding the blood drinking from humans. His father had turned a blind eyes to all the torture and Harassment that Humans were facing in the territory, but it was a high time to change that.

Zayn was busy with his work when he suddenly could smell a unique fragrance in the air. It was subtle but refreshing and somehow made him feel relaxed. Zayn closed his eyes for a second and unconsciously took a deep breath. There was this energy too, and it was close.

Zayn stood up from his chair as his feet walked outside of the office as if they had a mind of their own. Until now Zayn would have done everything to stop if he felt any negative energy or danger. but whatever he felt was far from that. So he walked through the corridors until he felt as if the source was just a step away. Zayn stopped in front of a closed door. Whoever or whatever this was, it was right behind this door.

Zayn opened the door and there was nothing. It was guest bedroom but it was empty . Zayn’s eyes moved around the room until , he could see a small lump on the corner of the bed. His feet walked his towards the bed before any other thought could cross his mind.

And there he was. The child from yesterday with big green eyes and curly mop of brunette hair that were spread on the pillow like a spider web. His cheeks were not chubby but they were slightly rounder and had a rosy tint on them. His eyes were closed and lips a little parted. His both the hands were closed in a fist. One was resting on the pillow and other was on his chest.

Just seeing that child made Zayn feel a plethora of emotions that he didn’t even think he ever felt or would ever feel. He could not understand most of them but one thing was clear. He had seen this child before, it felt as if he knew him somehow. Zayn sat on the side of bed just few inches away from the sleeping child.

 He would protect this child. He doesn’t think he can do anything else. Zayn snapped back to himself as soon as the though entered his head. What was he thinking? What was he doing? It felt like he was in a trace. He had to make sure that this all wasn’t a trick to kill him. Zayn’s hand slowly moved to touch one of the fist that rested on the child’s chest . maybe he can read his mind. He doesn’t know anything about the child. He did not like reading minds until and unless it was absolutely necessary , it took a lot of his energy but it had to be done today.

Zayn’s hand stopped in the midair. The fist was so small and pale . what if he hurt the child. Zayn shook his head . no . it had to be done. He softly placed his two fingers on the backside on the child’s fist . his fist was so small that , the two fingers covered it completely. His hand was soft but thin. Zayn could feel the bones. The child was malnourished.

But that were all the problems to be solved later. First he should look into the child’s mind. Zayn closed his eyes as he extended  his magic to read the mind. The magic went out but bounced back . Zayn tried again but the same thing happened.

Just what was this child ? even his magic was not working on him. Zayn was about to take his hand away when the child stirred a little , his fist opening and closing once before he caught one of Zayn’s finger in his own . Zayn was shocked as he became still as a statue . his eyes trained on the child’s face. The child moved his head a little, his mouth closed for a second before it opened slightly as the child yawned.

His fingers tightening on Zayn’s finger.

A moment later the sleepy green eyes opened and looked at Zayn.

“ Zozo ?” the child mumbled before a smile graced his lips and before Zayn could react to the new name , he had  an armful of Toddler jumping and hugging his tight.