Nicole Jane’s POV
I woke up because of the light hitting my face. I realized that I forgot to lower the curtain last night.
Speaking of last night, I immediately sat up as I remembered what happened. I scanned the room with my eyes, hoping he was still here.
But he’s nowhere in sight. Until my eyes landed on the folded paper on my bedside table.
My hands trembled as I reached for it. I hesitated whether to read it or not.
But in the end, my desire to know its contents prevailed. I swallowed hard before finally opening it.
Babe,
By the time you read this, I would have already left. I’ll be gone for a few days because we’re needed at the palace. So, I said goodbye last night because I’m leaving, not because I want to break up with you. You silly girl! What makes you think that I’ll let go of you just like that? I never once thought of losing you. I won’t allow that to happen even if you’re the one who pleads!
I shook my head. Even in his letter, there’s still criticism and possessiveness.
I continued reading.
Please always take care of yourself. None of us are there to watch over you. So, please, don’t be stubborn!
I rolled my eyes. I don’t need someone to watch over me. He’s just paranoid.
Don’t worry too much either. Because I assure you, I already have the answers to our questions when I come back.
And always remember, I love you.
— K.E.C.
After reading, I looked up and saw my reflection in the mirror, smiling. I can’t believe that I was smiling right now because of the prince of vampires that I used to hate.
I was startled when I remembered something. I reread the beginning and end of the letter.
Babe.
I love you.
Damn.
I could feel my heart racing. It felt like it could disappear from its place at any moment. What if I hear those words from his own lips?
But I fell silent when I suddenly remembered the scenes I witnessed last night.
Could it be that I’m just having a nightmare while awake? But why does everything feel so real?
I shook my head. It's probably because of extreme tiredness and stress that my head started to ache, and all sorts of thoughts entered my mind during those times.
If that didn’t happen, our kissing session with Kyle would probably have lasted longer—
I froze and involuntarily covered my mouth.
He kissed me. He kissed me! My first kiss was already taken away from me!
With a smile, I hugged my pillow and looked up, widening my eyes when I saw the time. I almost forgot that there’s school today because Kyle has consumed my thoughts.
I almost jumped out of bed and hurriedly got ready. I finished getting dressed when suddenly there was a knock on my door. But because the royalties were not here, I knew it’s Mikan.
I cautiously passed through myself one last time before grabbing my bag from the top of the bed. Hurriedly, I made my way to the door and opened it.
“Good mor— Mom? Dad?” I gasped the moment I saw them.
They both smiled at me, but they seemed teary-eyed, which I couldn’t understand.
“Oh, honey! We missed you!” They hugged me simultaneously, taking me by surprise.
It was only then that I realized how much I missed them too. They weren’t like this with me before, so it felt like I wanted to cry out of extreme happiness. I had long prayed for them to embrace me like this, and it was finally granted when they brought me here.
“What are you doing here? Why didn’t you even tell me that you were coming?” I asked as soon as we pulled away from the hug. As far as I knew, they were still in another country.
“It’s a long story, honey. For now, you need to come with us.” Even before I could speak, Mom suddenly pulled me.
“Wait! Where are we going? I still have class!”
Dad looked at me with a smile. “You don’t have to worry about anything anymore, my daughter. We have already informed the headmaster of the academy and even your teachers that you will be absent for a few days.”
My mouth hung open in surprise at Dad’s words. “What? A few days? Where are we going and what’s happening?” I bombarded them with questions, but they didn’t say anything more. They were both acting strange, and I was starting to feel nervous.
As we stepped out of the dorm building, I saw Mikan waiting as if she had been waiting for a while. She looked in our direction and greeted me with a smile. “There you are. I’ve been waiting for you—” She paused when she turned to Mom and Dad. “Oh, hello! Are you Nicole’s parents?”
Mom and Dad just stared at Mikan. I didn’t know if it was just my paranoia or if I really felt tension among the three of them.
Mom suddenly smiled, but there was something off about her smile. “Yes, we are. If I’m not mistaken, you’re Mikan? Nicole mentioned you to us when we called her once.”
“Yes, that’s me. Nice to meet you.” She glanced at me, and her look seemed to be asking for help because my parents were still staring at her.
“Mom! Dad! Stop staring at her. You’re creeping her out!”
They turned to me. “Oh, sorry about that. She just resembles someone we know,” Dad chuckled.
“Nice meeting you too, dear. But we need to go ahead as we still have something important to attend to. We have already informed the headmaster, and we hope you’ll take care of her with her studies that she won't be able to catch up on once she gets back.” Mom gave her a hopeful look.
Mikan nodded. “No problem. I’ll take care of her when she returns.” The sound of the bell echoed around us.
“I have to go now. Our classes are about to start. Take care!”
We waved at her and watched as she ran off.
“Where do we need to go? Is it really that important that I have to come along?” I kept pestering them as we continued walking.
“Unfortunately, yes,” they both answered.
I fell silent.
When we arrived at their car, they immediately ushered me inside. “Where—” I couldn’t finish my sentence as they suddenly covered my mouth with a handkerchief.
“W-what...” I gradually started feeling sleepy. I couldn’t believe they would do this to me.
“Just trust us, honey. Everything will be okay. No matter what you discover, just always remember that we love you, and we’re still your parents,” Mom said in a gentle voice.
“And now is also the right time for you to finally meet your fiancé.”
Those were the last words I heard before sleep completely overtook me.
***
Miley’s POV
“Such weaklings!” I chuckled as we stealthily evaded the soldiers searching for us.
“You’re something else, you know that? Now let’s go before they spot us.”
I was taken aback when Kira suddenly held my hand. He’s the one accompanying me in the search for my older brother. I’ve been really worried because the sun had already risen, and we still hadn’t found him.
I shrugged him off immediately, causing his eyebrows to raise in surprise.
“Do we have a problem? Are you mad at me? Because ever since we came here, it feels like you’ve been avoiding me,” he said.
I bit my lower lip, feeling the sadness in his voice.
I couldn’t utter a word because I didn’t have an answer to his question. Lately, I’ve been feeling strange whenever he approaches or touches me. Yet, I get annoyed when he treats me like a child. Because I want him to see me as a grown-up lady and not a kid that he used to pat on the head anymore!
He just stared at me, waiting for my response. Until we both turned our heads towards the portal because we sensed someone approaching.
I furrowed my brow when I saw an unfamiliar car with a man and a woman inside. “Who are they? Are they one of the protectors?”
“No. I know almost all the protectors of your family and ours. I’ve never seen them here before,” Kira answered seriously.
“Really? But how did they manage to enter the portal then?” No one can enter this kingdom unless they are one of our family’s protectors, or has been personally invited by us with our blessing.
“Yeah. That’s why we need to make sure that they’re not enemies.”
I nodded before we discreetly followed the car until it stopped right in front of the palace.
The passengers all got out at the same time. The man opened the back seat, and I gasped when he carried an unconscious woman from there.
Until her face turned towards our direction. We were so shocked to see who she was.
“Sister!”
“Nicole!” Kira and I exclaimed simultaneously, almost in a whisper.
What the hell?
I felt my eyes turn red and my fangs extend. I was about to attack the people who took the person who seems like a sister to me already when Kira suddenly held me back.
“What?” I glared at him.
Instead of answering, he just looked back in their direction. Filled with anger, I turned my gaze back towards them. That’s when I noticed Mom and Dad, smiling as they greeted them.
Don’t get me wrong. I trust my parents so much. I know they wouldn’t do anything harmful to Nicole or even to my brother. But because of what’s been happening, I feel like I want to believe what Kyle said, that they’re really hiding something from us.
What’s really up with them? What’s really happening? And what’s their connection to those people? What did they need from Nicole, and where was my brother?
I calmed myself first and slowly returned to how things were before. We couldn’t hear whatever they were discussing because it seemed like something was blocking it from reaching our hearing.
We simply observed them until they entered inside. As they completely disappeared from our sight, my eyes widened as I remembered something suddenly. “Kira... do you think...”
He balled his fist, then stood up. His face was void of any emotion. But I know that he’s worried and confused too. “Yes. It seems like what Reiri saw is about to happen soon. That’s why we need to do everything we can to prevent it.”