The Curse Of A Stranger's Gift 17 A Message

Zheira couldn't help overthinking about Vladimir's attempt to keep distance. She didn't know what game he's playing or why he's doing such a thing, but she has an inkling idea that it was somehow connected to her being sick two days ago. When she woke up that day, she felt her grat.i.tude towards him rocketed to its highest peak. However, she became worried about the way he was sweating. His lie was so obvious as well. Just like the old times, she would never understand him unless he explains his side.

"I mean, if he didn't like treating me, he could just say so. It's not as if I'll force him to do such a thing," she complained when she saw another letter on the table with her breakfast. It was an explanation where he was, and it'd always been I'm off to fill my soul. As if she believed it. All she could think of was that he's doing his best to ignore her.

She looked left and right. "I know you're here, okay? Let's stop playing hide and seek. I never really like that game. If you're angry, at least give me a hint why. You're making me nuts!" she yelled, believing that he'll hear him. He'd always complained about the simplest scurrying in her room, which proved her a.s.sumption about his heightened senses. Plus, the breakfast has always been ready every time she wakes up. Not to mention the creepy feeling that someone's eyeing her from somewhere.

When no one answered, she sat on the stool while stomping. She grabbed the fork and pierced it to the pitiful hotdog, imagining as if it's Vladimir's head. "I'm going to hurt you when I see you." The corner of her eyes was then filled with tears. She'd never felt lonely more than ever. It's not that he's always talking to her, but his presence was enough to make her feel that she's with someone. That somehow, there's one person who stayed beside her despite her flaws. Right now, she couldn't feel anything but emptiness.

Breathing heavily, she wiped her tears. "Fine! If this is what you want, then I'll respect your decision." Her voice broke. She couldn't help feeling as if she'd been abandoned twice. First, her adoptive mother and now, Vladimir. At least, her mother has a concrete reason to do so, but she just pinpoints Vladimir's purpose of doing this. Did he really hate her that much?

Her finger tapped on the table as she ponders over the days they were together, trying to find a possible reason for Vladimir's act. Looking back, she always p.i.s.sed him off with training. He's even walking out each time she did a mistake, saying that he didn't want to watch his stupidity. Yet, he did not react this way. No, there must be other reasons. Something might have happened while he tried healing me. It's the only thing she could think to be possible. The question was as to what it was.

An echo of laughter made her look back. It was coming from the air itself and she couldn't pinpoint its origin. Somehow, the thickness of the voice was so familiar. "Who are you?" She tried stopping her knees from shaking but she couldn't. Whoever it was, it's clearly not Vladimir.

"Me?" a c.o.c.ky voice asked. "I'm the mighty Louise, Zheira. Nice to finally meet you." He jumped from the ceiling and offered his big hands. He's wearing a gray cloak and its hood was dangling on his back. A cheeky smile was plastered in his lips.

Zheira moved back in rattle that broke the stool. Her scream echoed when her back hit the cold tiles. She closed her eyes and groaned as the impact knocked her breath out of her.

"Oh! That must have hurt a lot." He sw.a.n.g his hand to the side while cackling with her state.

Zheira was struggling to catch her breath. An unwanted s.h.i.+ver ran down her spine when she remembered the serial murder case a month ago. She'd forgotten all about it and just by looking at him, it all started coming back in a flash. Those images of death lingered in her mind for weeks, hunting her even in her slumber. Fortunately, the training distracted her. She's so tired that those nightmares started ebbing away.

Louise offered his hands once more. "Here. Let me help you. You look so pitiful lying in there." There was a sanctimonious smile drawing his face.

"I—I don't need your help," she whispered before lifting herself. Her back was crackling as she moves.

"No, no! I insist." He grabbed her wrists. The moment their skin touched, a spark crawled to it. Louise's brows creased. He tried tugging his arms but it wouldn't budge. A wild gasp issued from his throat when Zheira's eyes turned to a lighter shade of gold. It was so mesmerizing that he couldn't take his eyes away from her.

Slowly, the image started floating from the gold crystals in Zheira's iris. It brought a flesh pain in his heart, but even when he wished to divert his gaze or closed his eyes, he couldn't do anything but watch the image filming in her irises.

There were three vampires surrounding Louise. They were all wearing a gray cloak and pinned to it was a s.h.i.+ning crest of the castle, which means he's facing the elite guards.

"Wh—what did you do to my father?" he yelled as tears streamed down his cheeks.

The taller man scoffed, "We punished him. You got a problem with that!" His voice was deep and it pierced Louise's soul.

"Why did you kill hi—"

The smaller one kicked him in the s.h.i.+n with all his strength. It knocked him to the ground with blood drooling out of his mouth.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll crawl to your home and cry like a little whiny baby." The pet.i.te one grimaced.

Louise's irises dimmed to a shade of darker red. "I—I will kill you." His brows knotted as he clenched his fist. Sweats streamed profusely from his forehead as he focused all his energy on his body. It didn't take long before a figure out of himself emerged to the ground.

The Elite guards gasped, moving back as the figure tripled itself. Louise's clones growled, showing off the white sharp edges of their teeth. They crouched and readied themselves for an attack.

Before any of them could react, a p.r.o.nounced figure prowled from the shaded part of the trees. Every step it took, the ground shook. They all held their breath when they saw the lion-like face of the king.

"This is enough!" His voice was so serene for a big man. Yet, it made the Elite shook involuntarily. "It's a shame that my guards are fooling around instead of doing the tasks I gave them. Tch. Tch." He shook his head.

Without a second thought, the Elite's knees. .h.i.t the ground. They were all apologizing, bending towards the ground and begging for their pitiful lives. Louise, on the other hand, was busy keeping his clones alive. If the king retort to killing them, he would die fighting.

"I don't believe in second chances. You have served your purpose. There's no s.p.a.ce for you in this world." He sliced his hand in the air and a red-like string slashed through the Elite's body. Their excruciating shrieks filled the air before cracks danced in their skin. In a blink, they all shattered into pieces. Their fragments hovered in the air for a moment 'till it became ashes that were whipped by the wind.

Louise's eyes widened. He started shaking from head to foot when the king started to walk towards him. His eyes shut tightly. "I—I did no—nothing wrong!" he said as firmly as he could.

An evil smile carved the king's face. "Calm my child, you've got nothing to worry about. Here." He offered his porcelain hands. "Let me help you."

Reluctantly, he accepted his hand. The moment their hand touched, he felt the atmosphere changed. His hand was so familiar, but he could not point it out. When he looked up, he found himself shouting. The king's hair grown to his shoulders. Its strands were as gold as the sun's rays. It didn't take long before the face contorted into a softer complexion.

He moved back when the king became a woman she'd never have seen. Those mesmerizing gold irises troubled him too much. In the corner of his eyes, he could see walls building itself, caging them to its terrain. He tried moving back but sparks were crawling to the lady's hand, connecting them to each other.

"W—who a—are you?" he whispered with his quivering lips.

A cold voice other than the girl echoed. "Kindly tell the king not to command a weakling such as yourself to come to fetch me up."

It was then that Louise realized who the girl was and where he is. "What the h.e.l.l did you do to me?" He glared at her. Zheira's eyes blinked before her knees wobbled, making her collapse, but before she could hit the ground, Vladimir catches her.

"Leave this instant!" He pointed to the door. "Do not wait for my patience to ran out."

Louise wanted to argue more, but he couldn't find words to say. He didn't know how a mortal could do such a thing. It seemed real. It's like he's back from that dreadful past. He could even feel the sting in his back and in his stomach. Like it just happened today.

"B—before I leave, I want to relay the king's message, your majesty. He wanted you to stop isolating yourself in the corners of Volioirae. You belong to the castle and your throne is waiting for your return."

"What if I don't want to?" he challenged, brus.h.i.+ng Zheira's hair gently. She's lulled into a deep sleep.

Louise's looked at him pointedly. "You'll witness the death of the mortal you cherished."