Now I understood Markus's behaviour, and after what I'd heard, I was filled with pain for him, because his brother was gone! No, not just gone, but gone!

– It's okay, don't apologise: it's just that I'm a bit woozy today too» I replied. – Oh, my purse! Imagine, I was buying a ticket and suddenly I realised I'd left it here!

– It must have looked quite funny… I'm sorry, I have a phone call. I'll just be a minute. – Markus took the phone out of his jacket pocket and walked to the other end of the room.

– I know you: you're Markus's best friend! – I chirped to Brandon.

– Yes, I am. We met at your sister's wedding» he smiled a beautiful smile.

He and I chatted about nothing, remembered how Markus had mistaken which finger Mariszka should put her wedding ring on, and laughed quietly about it.

– Would you stop bringing that up every time? Somehow all our wedding guests only remembered that embarrassment! Brandon, I'll see how you act during your wedding! – Mariszka said with a laugh.

– I guess you'll just have to dream about it» he laughed. – I prefer to be a forever bachelor!

Markus returned. It was obvious he wasn't happy about something.

– I'm sorry, Brandon, this damn thing is messing up all my plans! – he turned to his friend. – Just a streak of bad luck!

– Come on, I understand» Brandon said, patting Markus on the shoulder.

– But it's embarrassing to have you come all the way from your estate to see me» Markus said sadly.

– It was nothing. I got to see my best friend, and his lovely wife and her sweet little sister» Grayson said with a smile.

– Where are you going now? – Mariszka asked him.

– To the estate.

– Can you give Misha a lift to Oxford?

– Oh, no, I don't want to bother anyone! – I was immediately embarrassed.

– You'd be honoured if you let me drive you. – Brandon smiled at me.

– Then don't be mad at me for talking all the way» I agreed, but I was embarrassed at being so blatantly sold out.

I said goodbye to my sister and her husband, but I was still uncomfortable with today's situation: the memory of Markus crushing the glass in his hand and the conversation I'd overheard about Cedric's fate kept me on edge.

Brandon and I got into his black Bentley with tinted windows and drove out of London. It seemed to me that, after his conversation with Markus, Grayson had become pensive and was frowning his handsome, high forehead.

We drove in silence: Brandon must have been so deep in thought, or Markus's story must have shocked him so much that he couldn't talk. I, too, was far from reality, thinking about Cedric's fate. Had he fallen in love with the wrong girl? But that's impossible! Why did she displease the Morgans so much that they even interfered in their son's private life? And how dare they? Cedric is not a green guy like me, but an adult, wise and very strong vampire! Why did they hide Viper? Where? Her vampire parents would be looking for her, and maybe they would cause a scandal for the whole vampire society: it's unheard of to hide someone else's daughter somewhere!

I wanted to find out what the Morgans didn't like about the vampire, and I hoped that Markus's friend would clarify the situation for me. After all, he knew Viper too.

«Wait. How am I going to ask about this? I'm pretending like I didn't hear her and Markus talking!» – I grudgingly remembered, but I mustered up the courage to take the risk.

– I think Markus is kind of weird today» I said casually.

– I didn't think so» Brandon said. – Did he scare you?

– A little. When I said that Cedric had told me to go to Oxford, he crushed his glass of blood with his fingers. – I shrugged, shaking off the memory. – And he had that face… Very sad, even scary.

– He's in a lot of trouble right now. My poor friend is lost, but I think things will change soon.

– Do you think he'll be cheerful again? Markus was always such a joker, and today I don't recognise him.

Brandon didn't say anything, but his cheekbones sharpened. It made me feel a little creepy, and I knew he wasn't in the mood for a long conversation, but I couldn't pass up such a great chance to learn about Cedric's girlfriend and himself.

– Mariszka said that Cedric had gone to Russia… I wonder if he's coming on holiday? I'd like to chat to him and brag about going to Oxford, as he advised. – I was hoping Brandon would crack and tell me the truth.

– As I remembered, Cedric had said when he left that he wouldn't leave for another ten years» Grayson said.

I was surprised to see that he'd lied to my face. And if I hadn't heard with my own ears that Cedric had disappeared, I would have believed that smooth lie.

– Yeah? It's a shame. Maybe he's in love with someone else and that's why he's doing this? – I asked innocently.

– Cedric? In love? – Brandon let out a mocking laugh. – He's not even three hundred: he's too young to be in love.