Third Person’s POV
“Are you ready?”
His attention was caught by his mother’s question. They had just stepped out of the car and were heading towards their private plane.
“Yeah. I’m born ready,” he replied, earning a laugh from his dad who was walking beside his mom.
His mother let out a sigh, a mixture of concern and happiness visible in her eyes.
“I hope that everything will be okay now. I didn’t want you to meet under these circumstances. But I know that this is the right time already,” his mom expressed with concern.
“I’m sure that you two will quickly get along. Both of you have stubborn heads,” his father said with a shrug.
A smile formed on his lips. Truth be told, he was also excited to be with her again. But at the same time, he was furious about what had just happened to her.
“Well, I guess there’s no turning back,” he said seriously before they finally boarded their private plane.
***
Nicole Jane’s POV
I feel so calm, so relaxed and peaceful.
It felt like my body was weightless. I almost didn’t want to open my eyes and just stay in this state of deep sleep. It has been a while since I last felt this way. Even for a brief moment, it feels refreshing.
I recognize that voice. I cannot be mistaken.
“Nicole, my daughter, we missed you.”
That voice. It has been a long time since I last heard that voice!
I slowly opened my eyes, and there I saw my parents sitting beside my bed.
I couldn’t speak immediately. I even pinched my cheeks just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
I am alive. Thank God.
“Darling!”
My mom immediately came to my side and embraced me. I was stunned while trying to recall everything that had happened.
Then it hit me.
Mikan, whom I considered a friend, turned out to be an enemy. And I still couldn’t understand how she became Marcus’ daughter. Also, the battle we had against Marcus. As far as I remember, our fight with him came to an end.
But Dave... Dave!
“Darling, calm down. Everything is okay now. Don’t cry.” Mom gently rubbed my back while Dad tapped my shoulder.
I still felt weak, so I held onto Mom tightly. But I couldn’t help but feel sad and tearful when I remembered Dave. He doesn’t deserve what just happened to him.
He’s a kind man. It’s a shame that I didn’t have a chance to thank him, at the very least. In fact, he turned out to be a truer friend to me compared to Mikan.
We were separated from each other when we suddenly heard a loud bang on the door. Our attention shifted to whoever entered.
“Babe! You’re already awake!”
Kyle rushed towards me. I could see a mixture of joy and concern in his eyes before he tightly embraced me.
If I’m not mistaken, I’ve only been asleep for a day. But it felt like I had slept for a long time already.
I’m feeling a whirlwind of emotions right now. I thought I would be separated from him again, and he from me. I thought the past would repeat itself.
But hell, no. We will not let it happen again.
He was about to speak again when the room suddenly filled with noise and screams.
“Sister, you’re awake!”
“Thank goodness you’re awake.”
“We thought you’d become a sleeping beauty!”
“Princess Nicole!”
I wiped my tears away and smiled at them. I glanced at my friends. I missed their chaotic and noisy presence.
“You guys are so dramatic. She only slept for a day,” Vince said with a smirk. What else can I expect from him?
I saw Steph roll her eyes at him, but Vince ignored it and looked away. I really hope they go back to how they used to be.
“Hey! Be careful, you two!” Kyle glared at Rei and Miley as they suddenly jumped on me.
They laughed at Kyle’s reaction. My ever-protective prince.
“It’s fine. I’m okay already,” I assured him, and he just snorted, while the two princesses stuck their tongues out at him.
I then turned my gaze to my parents, who seemed deep in thought.
“Mom, Dad. Did you arrive awhile ago?”
That made them look at me. “Oh, my dear. Honestly, we’ve just arrived. When Kyle informed us about what happened to you, we immediately decided to come home. We’re supposed to be your protectors, but we couldn’t even protect you.” Mom’s voice was filled with concern and sadness.
As much as possible, I didn’t want them to get involved in the trouble I was facing. But I know too well that they will not let what happened pass.
“You’ve done enough. You’re not at fault or lacking in any way.” I reached out and gently squeezed her hand.
“Oh, by the way, Nicole. Your mom and I just need to go through something quickly. We’ll come back right away.”
Dad walked towards me and kissed my forehead. I just nodded at them. Perhaps they had something to attend to regarding their business, and they just waited for me to wake up.
I looked around. I was happy to have the opportunity to see them again.
I just hope that everything will truly be fine this time.
***
“What happened after I lost consciousness?”
We’re here now in the dining area, and we just finished eating. I’ve been wanting to ask them since earlier, but they never gave me the chance. We’ve just been chatting, but whenever I attempt to ask, they change the subject. I know they’re just concerned, but I also want to know what happened after.
Kyle’s parents are with us as well. They came to visit as soon as they found out I was awake. After everything that happened, I just realized that they are my parents’ friends whom they invited to my debut. That’s why they look familiar, and I just couldn’t remember it at that time.
They’re just looking at each other, seemingly unwilling to speak. I sighed and focused my attention on the guy beside me.
He just smiled at me and held my hand. He squeezed it as if to say that everything is alright now.
“Marcus is dead, and we’ve eliminated all of his followers who were there. Finally, we made it. We can start a new life now.”
I nodded. I witnessed that event myself.
But I couldn’t help but hope for one thing.
“H-how about Dave?” I asked, my voice almost trembling.
I saw his jaw clenched. “He’s gone.” He looked away from me, and his eyes darkened. “But we discovered that he’s a damphyr. A half-human, half-vampire breed. He didn’t turn to ash during those times. But we did what was necessary as per his request.”
I held back the tears welling up in my eyes. I knew the answer already, but I don’t know why. It’s as if I still want to hear the opposite of what I expected.
But the biggest question in my mind is...
“How about Mikan?”
That made them turn towards me.
From what I remember, Dave put Mikan to sleep while he was saving me. He was supposed to go back for Mikan.
But he died.
“To be honest, my dear, until now, we have no idea if she’s alive or what happened to her. After the battle, we searched for her throughout the area, but we couldn’t find her,” the queen answered.
I just nodded. But I still couldn’t help but worry.
“I saw Dave put Mikan to sleep, so he could free me. And I believe that the effects of that wouldn’t wear off so quickly on her. So, it’s impossible for her to wake up immediately and leave that place. Unless...” I pondered on what might have happened.
“Unless someone helped her,” Vince said.
“Right. But even if that’s true, we still shouldn’t be completely at ease. Even though Mikan is just a normal person, we still don’t know what she’s capable of. There’s also a possibility that there might be someone else who escaped from Marcus’ followers and is just observing around,” Kira added.
I furrowed my brow. “How about Mikan’s adopted parents?” I found out that Mikan actually grew up with the people who adopted her.
“They both died. They were there when the chaos happened. They were killed by some of our protectors. It shouldn’t have come to that, but they fought back,” the king explained.
Suddenly, I felt a wave of sadness. Mikan had already lost her real family, and now she lost the family she recognized. I’m sure she’ll harbor even more anger towards us now.
I sighed. But there’s still one more question that keeps on bugging me. “Wait. How did she become Marcus’ daughter?”
Miley was about to speak when Mom and Dad arrived. But it’s not them who caught my attention.
But the guy who’s standing next to them.
He’s wearing a black v-neck shirt, black denim pants, and black sneakers. Oh, well. I guess he loves black.
He’s about six feet tall, I guess. Well-muscled and fair-skinned. Actually, just like me.
Then his eyes and nose. They seemed familiar, but I couldn’t understand why.
“Who is that guy?” I blurted out.
“I guess, we need to leave first,” Kyle said.
I was about to stop him when, in a blink of an eye, he’s no longer in front of me. My other friends are the same.
Steph, on the other hand, excuses herself as well.
Okay. What’s going on?
“Darling.”
I’m confused as I shift my gaze between Mom and Dad. I’m too confused about what is really going on here and who the hell is the guy with them. He has a strange aura that I can’t explain, and at the same time, it feels like I’m comfortable around him.
Weird? I know.
I was surprised when Mom suddenly pulled me, along with the man beside them, towards me. I furrowed my brow because I really didn’t know who he was.
“Um, who is he, Mom?” I asked again.
Mom let out a sigh, and I was left dumbfounded by what she said next.
“Nicole, we would like you to meet your older brother, Gino Parker.”