Frankenstein stared at the intrinsic coffin as if he expected the inanimate object to give him an answer as to why it was even here. He looked at the bed once more.

The empty bed.

Frankenstein frowned. He could sense the Noble's energy, as if he was still in the room. But it was muted, as if there was a slumbering beast in the deep crevices of a cave.

He hesitated before reaching out and brushing his fingers against the ornate stone. After the lack of any sort of malicious curse or lighting bearing down on him for touching the unexplained object, Frankenstein stepped back to get a better look at it. It was no ordinary coffin. This coffin was fit for a lord. No, a king! It wasn't even made of wood, but rather, polished marble. Was that gold on the edges? And the ornate cross! Such detail!

Frankenstein admired the designs on the coffin. Even during his travels, he had never seen such an elaborate attention to detail. It took his breath away and only filled him with curiosity.

Where did it come from?

Frankenstein continued to stare at the coffin. Then, nudging the it with his foot, he said "Hello?"

Nothing answered him.

For the first time in a long while, Frankenstein felt immensely foolish. With an embarrassed cough, he ran his hand through his hair and looked around the room. Well, opening the coffin seemed like an obvious way to get some answers. However, the very thought almost startled him. If he could sense Raizel's energy, then did that mean the Noble was inside the coffin?

It would explain Raizel's sudden disappearance and the sudden appearance of the coffin.

After determining that the coffin was safe to touch, the next problem was deciding what to do with it. He couldn't keep a coffin up here! He needed this for patients! And even with his modified strength, lifting the thing seemed like it would be difficult, especially if there was a body in it. (Not that he thought Raizel's body would weigh that much. The Noble looked to be dangerously thin).

He shuddered at the thought of a Noble's body in there. Was this some sort of burial? But Nobles did not leave behind a body!

Well, there was no way that he could leave it. He was tired of the constant running, and he had finally managed to feel secure in this little village. Besides, he really could not leave a question unanswered.

Still, how did he feel about having a Noble staying in his home? At least, he assumed that the Noble was still there in that coffin. If not, then Frankenstein would have been walking on eggshells around that coffin for nothing.

After staring at the coffin for several long minutes and trying to observe it without disturbing the possible occupant, Frankenstein concluded that it would be best to ignore the thing for now. His initial thought (and temptation) was to sit in a chair and further observe the coffin, but he concluded that it would be pointless; not to mention creepy if Raizel was sleeping in there.

An awareness filled his senses. With a frown, he glanced at the doorway that led from the spare bedroom. He sensed multiple movements heading in the direction of his home. Firm and relentless, the group was persistent in this storm.

With one last glance at the coffin, he left the room and closed the door behind him. Descending the stairs, he clenched his fists. He could not sense any hint of malice, but that did not necessarily mean that the group heading for his home held no ill will for him.

Through the pounding of the rain, he could detect the sound of someone banging on his door. He waited for a moment, silently counting to ten under his breath before striding towards the door. The impatient person outside was knocking a second time before he opened the door.

A blast of cold wind swept in through the door, chilling Frankenstein. Blinking against the water droplets dripping on his face, he held the door close to gaze at the multiple figures outside. Neither relief nor trepidation filled him once he recognized his late-night visitors.

"Keit," he said. "A little late, don't you think?"

The tall blond man sighed. "Frankenstein, I am aware of the late hour." He stepped forward, his presence leaving no room for argument. "May we come in?"

Frankenstein glanced at the gathered men outside and slowly nodded. Moving aside, he watched as Keit and his five guards gathered into the small kitchen. He tried not to grimace at the growing puddles on his floor. Closing the door, he sealed off the bitter chill.

He watched as the men stood in his kitchen and noticed how their gazes kept flickering around with wariness. Keit was the only one that did not seem on edge, yet his stiff shoulders told of an alert warrior.

Frankenstein broached the silence. "What brings you and a gathered force to my home?"

"An intruder was spotted near the outside walls," Keit explained. "When pursued, the intruder fled. It is believed that he slipped into the village."

Frankenstein raised an eyebrow. "An intruder in this weather?"

"He was spotted before the rains hit," Keit stated. "It is believed that the intruder is injured." He surveyed the small area. "It is possible that they would have sought refuge."

Frankenstein understood the implied message. "I did have a patient," he said with a careless shrug. There was no doubt in his mind that Raizel was the intruder that they were searching for, but he was unwilling to hand him over. Still, Keit and his companions looked determined to search the area, and he really didn't want to forcefully stop Keit because of the assistance Keit had offered him when he first came to the village.

"Do you mind if we look around?" Keit asked.

Not like he should refuse them. Again, he shrugged. "Go ahead." His sharp gaze fell on their muddy boots. "But remove your shoes."

He received incredulous gazes from everyone but Keit. Unflinchingly, Keit slipped out of his boots, and after a moment of hesitation, his men followed suit. Only then did Frankenstein's glare subside.

As they romped around his house, he tried not to flinch. He hoped, if they were insensitive enough to go into his modest laboratory (he had a bigger one safely hidden away) that they would take care not to mess up his jars and notes. He also wondered what they would do should they come across…

"Frankenstein, what is this?"

…. that. The coffin.

Biting back a sigh, he went up the stairs. Keit and two of his men were in the spare bedroom that he reserved for patients, few as they were.

Keit shot Frankenstein a look. "What's with the coffin?"

Frankenstein casually stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Like I said. I 'had' a patient."

The two men suddenly looked uneasy while Keit frowned. "Was he a lord or something?"

Ah, so Keit noticed the intrinsic gold details that only a prince could afford on his coffin. Another shrug. "He came prepared."

Keit's frown deepened. Looking at his men, he sharply nodded. "Open it."

Uneasiness formed in Frankenstein's stomach, yet he bit back the retort building up in his throat about disrespecting the dead. Instead, he watched with growing curiosity and apprehension as the two men struggled to pry open the lid of the coffin.

He blinked in surprise when he noticed the two guards struggling to open it. Surely the coffin of the lid wasn't that heavy to lift! Even Keit had to get involved to assist his men. He knew Keit didn't keep slackers in his guard, yet these able-bodied men were struggling with the Nobles' coffin.

However, their efforts were enough. With a 'snap' and a 'hiss,' the lid lifted. Frankenstein could not take his eyes off of the object as he wondered what he would see. Never mind how he would explain this situation to Keit, he just wanted to know what a Noble needed with a coffin.

The lid was removed. Inside was Raizel, though only Frankenstein knew who he was. He appeared to be sleeping if it were not for his still chest. Frankenstein's throat closed up. Did that mean Raizel was indeed dead?

Taken aback by the Noble's appearance, Keit and the two guards stared in awe at Raizel's unusually dainty features.

One guard scoffed. "He looks like a noble boy."

Frankenstein glared. "You are disturbing him."

Keit recovered himself. "Right." He snapped his fingers at his companions. "You two, close that lid." While the two men struggled to place the lid back on, Keit approached Frankenstein, his tone hushed. "He does not appear to be the man we were searching for."

Frankenstein glanced at him. "Why?"

"The man we are searching for is heavily injured." He nodded to the coffin. "This man only seems scrapped up." His eyes were heavy, and Frankenstein realized that Keit would still be searching for this intruder, even though Frankenstein knew where the possible intruder was.

"Thank you for your time," Keit said as he led his men out of the room. "I apologize for barging in at such a late hour." He glanced back up with a frown. "Frankenstein, if you notice any unusual activities, please let us know."

He nodded as he escorted them to the door. "Yes, of course I will. Thank you for your concern." He opened the door and pointedly stared down at everyone until they left. "Don't forget your shoes."

Keit spared him one last glance as he pulled up his hood before Frankenstein closed the door once more. With a sigh, he rubbed at his forehead. He was not surprised that the Noble seemed almost healed. Nobles did have amazing healing abilities after all. Still, what was an injured Noble doing this far out?

Alone once more, Frankenstein glanced up the stairs where the spare room was.

He frowned. Now, what to do with this Noble?


Keit is a character from the short story "Noblesse: Rai's Adventure." He was called 'Kate' in the webcomic, but he is addressed as 'Keit' on the wiki.