Nicole Jane’s POV
I’ve been staring at the ceiling for a while now, contemplating whether I should even go to class or just stay inside my room all day
It’s been four days since Kyle planned the surprise for me to see my parents. Kyle also accompanied me to the airport on Monday to send off Mom and Dad. After that, we went straight to the academy.
I woke up early this morning to bid farewell to Kyle and our friends because they have plans for the day. But since then, no matter how hard I try, I couldn’t fall back to sleep.
“Nicole, I’ll be going to the palace. The king summoned me. I’ve already informed our teachers that I won’t be able to attend today. Are you okay staying here?”
Steph startled me when she suddenly spoke. She’s been staying with me in this room for a few weeks now, but I still haven’t gotten used to her sudden appearances or when she speaks out of the blue.
“Yes, of course. Don’t worry. I’ll just stay here in school, and I’m not going anywhere.” I smiled and winked at her.
Worry and doubt still lingered on her face. So, I took the initiative to push her out of the door.
“Go now. The king might be waiting for you. I’ll be fine here.”
“But—”
“Bye!” I waved goodbye at her, then slammed the door shut.
I couldn’t help but smile. I feel overwhelming joy knowing that I am surrounded by people and vampires who want to watch over and protect me.
But seriously, I can manage. They had their own lives and other obligations too. They didn’t need to revolve their lives and time around me.
I laid back down. The bed seems to be pulling me back in.
I glanced at the wall clock. It’s only 6:30 in the morning. Maybe I could still take a nap.
I was about to close my eyes because I was finally starting to get sleepy, when suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
I took a deep breath. Who could possibly disturb me this early in the morning?
“Hold on!” I rubbed my eyes before standing up and heading towards the door. “Who is—” I opened it wide, but I didn’t see anyone. I stepped outside and looked around, scanning the area, but there was no one, not even a vampire in sight.
“What the hell is that?” I was about to close the door again when I noticed a folded piece of paper in front of it.
I don’t know why, but suddenly, I felt a sense of unease. I remembered the first time I received a letter with unpleasant contents.
I quickly picked it up before entering and closing the door. I went straight to the bed, and there, my hands trembling, I unfolded the paper and read its contents.
ENJOY WHILE YOU STILL CAN. BECAUSE ENDLESS SUFFERINGS AND PAIN WILL COME YOUR WAY ONCE WE MEET SOON.
***
“Mikan! Where are you going?” I shouted loudly, as Mikan hurriedly left the classroom as soon as the bell rang.
She took a step backward towards the door and shouted back, “I have some important things to do. I won’t make it to class later. Bye!”
I was about to say something, but she left completely. I slumped down and stared at the whiteboard in front of me, feeling lost.
Kyle and the others left as well. Steph was also absent. And now Mikan too?
I wonder what important thing that woman will do?
I have a strong feeling that it’s related to whoever she was texting earlier. She held her phone the entire class and was only texting.
But there’s one thing that’s bothering me now. I’ve been trying to guess who the letter sender is since this morning, but I can’t come up with an answer. I really can’t think of anyone who could have sent it.
Except for Marcus Croven. I can’t think of any other enemies besides his clan and his followers. But I’ve known him for a long time already.
But Dave is an exception, of course. Because he’s definitely not one of them.
But it’s stated in the letter that I’ll be getting to know him soon. I wonder when that day will be.
I was taken aback by a sudden thought. Could it be that the one responsible for the previous attack and the sender of the letter are the same person?
I let out a deep sigh. My head hurt from thinking too much. I had no one to talk to about this matter and I didn’t want to add to the things Kyle is already dealing with.
I packed my things and was about to leave when I suddenly remembered the hooded man I saw at the supermarket.
Who could he be?
I instinctively held my stomach as it suddenly growled. Well, I guess I need to feed myself first. I’ll think about it later.
***
“I knew it. You’re here.”
I lifted my gaze from the book I was reading when someone suddenly spoke.
After our class earlier, I headed straight to the library. I was sure I would just go crazy thinking while rolling around on the bed if I went straight to the dorm.
A smile automatically formed on my lips upon seeing him. It was as if all my worries and anxieties melted away as soon as I saw him.
He’s really handsome, despite the deep frown on his forehead as he looked at me. I wonder what his problem is.
“So, you’re here. Have you been here for a while?” I asked after closing the book I was reading. I immediately returned it to its place.
They left this morning to gather more information about Marcus and everything related to him. I wanted to go with them, but they insisted that I should stay here. They said it’s too dangerous.
I chose to remain silent. Even though I wanted to remind them that I also possess strong power, and they have nothing to worry about.
“Well, sort of. Aren’t you with Mikan today? And where is Steph? She’s supposed to be with you all the time.”
We started walking, and I just smiled at the library guard before we finally stepped out.
I shrugged. “Mikan hurriedly left after our third class. She said she had something to attend to. Steph, on the other hand, was summoned to the palace early this morning.”
I paused for a moment, and I flicked his forehead, causing his eyebrows to furrow. “One more thing. Steph doesn’t need to be with me all the time. She has her own life, and I can take care of myself just fine.”
I don’t really need a protector. What I want is for Steph to live a somewhat normal life and not burden herself too much with her obligation to me. She’s still young for such responsibility.
He sighed and pinched my cheeks. “Fine.” Then he wrapped his arms around my waist.
I couldn’t help but smile. It’s just a simple gesture, but it never fails to make my heart skip a beat.
“What happened while you were out?” I asked, looking at him intently, hoping to hear some good news.
He shook his head. I also felt the sudden tightening of his grip on my waist.
I held his hand and gave him an assuring smile to calm him down. He smiled back at me before kissing the top of my head.
We proceeded to the mansion and only then did I realize that it was already evening. However, the two of them still hadn’t returned.
We found the others in the living room. Miley and Kira were engrossed in conversation while Reiri and Hiro sat at opposite ends of the long sofa, seemingly unfamiliar with each other. I wondered what could be the problem between these two again.
I shook my head. Even if they didn’t say anything or denied it, I knew what the outcome was going to be.
I scanned the room and noticed that someone is missing.
“Where’s Vince?” I asked, and that finally made them acknowledge our presence.
Miley seemed so engrossed in the conversation while Reiri seemed lost in her thoughts that they didn’t even notice us earlier.
“I don’t know. He said he had something important to take care of,” Reiri replied absentmindedly.
I smirked. Could it be that he only went to look for or visit Steph?
“Sis! I missed you so much!”
I just stepped back as Miley suddenly hugged me.
“It’s not like you didn’t see each other this morning,” Kyle said with a frown, trying to pull Miley away from me.
“Oh, come on, big brother. Yet earlier, you were the one who couldn’t wait—”
Miley couldn’t finish what she was saying because Kyle quickly covered her mouth.
“You’re so noisy. It hurts my ears.”
Miley just grinned when he let it out. He sat next to me again and the hair on my body almost stood on end when he suddenly squeezed himself against my neck.
“My princess smells so good.”
I gasped as he started kissing me there.
What is this vampire doing?
I feel like my face is turning red because of what he’s doing. Especially when I hear loud and simultaneous uneasy coughs around me. So, I quickly moved away from him.
“What’s the matter?” he asked with concern.
I just gave him a glare. But the fool just gave me a wink.
“It’s getting hot in here. We’ll just leave so that we won’t disturb anyone anymore.” Hiro forced a smile.
But before I could even throw a pillow at him, he quickly made his way out.
“Don’t worry. We won’t be back for a while. So, feel free to do whatever you want here,” Reiri said with a smile before hurrying out as well.
I just tapped my forehead when I noticed Kira and Miley slowly walking out.
“Where are you two going?”
Miley just flashed a peace sign at me. “Go ahead and do make my future nephew and niece, okay? I’ve been wishing for that for a long time. Bye!”
I was shocked, and my eyes widened, so they quickly ran away. After a few moments, I aggressively confronted the vampire responsible for all of this!
“You’re really annoying! It’s because of you’re PDA!”
Kyle tried to distance himself from me as I started pinching him on the side. He deserves it! Various thoughts were running through the minds of those four, that’s for sure.
“What did I do?” he innocently asked while trying to avoid me.
“What did you do? You’re seriously asking?”
Perhaps if I were still a vampire, my fangs would have emerged due to extreme irritation.
“Hey! Stop that! Or else...”
I glared at him but continued pinching. “Or else what?” I raised an eyebrow and asked.
He smirked.
I gulped. It seemed like I needed to run out as well because I didn’t like the look of that grin of his.
I was about to turn around when he quickly pulled me closer to him. I felt my throat go dry because of what he said next.
“Let’s make a baby.”
I held my breath. We just stared at each other intently. Then slowly, he moved his face closer to mine. With that, my eyes instinctively closed.
But they flew open after a few seconds when I felt his lips touch my forehead.
“Kidding. There’s a right time for that.” He rested his forehead against mine.
Several minutes passed, and he decided to take me back to the dorm since the night was getting deeper.
“Goodnight. Sleep well, my princess.” He smiled, then kissed the tip of my nose as we stopped in front of my room.
“Goodnight. See you tomorrow,” I bid him farewell before finally entering my room. The smile on my lips almost never faded.
But my smile soon faded as soon as I saw a folded paper on my bedside table. I knew that this was different because I kept the letter I received earlier on my cabinet.
I hurriedly moved and opened it.
LOOK TO THE RIGHT. LOOK TO THE LEFT. WHO IS RIGHT AMONG THEM ALL AND WHO WILL BE THE ONE THAT WILL LEAVE YOU BEHIND. ANY IDEA?
I dropped the paper I was holding onto the floor before scanning the surroundings. I never expected that the enemy would be able to enter my room.
So, there’s a big possibility that the enemy is just wandering around. That’s why I need to quickly identify who this person is before they take any steps that could endanger others.
***
Someone’s POV
“Aren’t you tired of this? You know what, sometimes it is not bad to say no and do what is right.”
I looked at him in disbelief. Clearly, he didn’t know what it feels like to lose someone you love, that’s why he always speaks to me that way.
“If you don’t want to help me, then just stay out of it. We don’t need your help anyway. You’ve never really supported him anyway,” I rolled my eyes.
“Is that so? Then, what brought you here?” He gave me a confused look.
I crossed my arms. “Because I have an offer that you can’t resist,” I answered confidently.
His eyebrows furrowed. “And what is that?”
I smirked and explained everything to him. He listened attentively, and I could tell he was already reconsidering it.
But I didn’t expect what he said next.
“Maybe I don’t know what you’ve been through. But believe me when I say that we share the same fate. I’ve also experienced losing someone. What’s worse? It was because of him. So, you can’t blame me if he won’t get any support from me. Yes, I’m sad because they’re gone. But that doesn’t mean I can sacrifice others just to make myself whole again.”
I was stunned for a moment. There was a part of what he said that confused me. “What are you talking about? What does he have to do with their deaths? Didn’t he—”
I couldn’t finish my sentence as he spoke again. His words further confused me.
“You still have a chance to change your decision. Rest assured I’ll always be here for you. Especially when the day comes that you finally see the truth.” Then he vanished.
I was left speechless. I still couldn’t believe what he said.
But what I’ve learned won’t change my decision.