Nicole Jane’s POV
I tried to move my body, but I couldn’t. I tried to open my eyes, but I feel so tired. I want to speak up, but I’m too weak. Most of all, I don’t know where I am.
Oh, hell. Where am I anyway? Why does it feel so creepy?
Then the realization suddenly hit me.
Mikan
Slowly, my eyes started to open. My vision was blurred at first until it finally became clearer. And the very first thing, or person rather, that comes into my sight is none other than her.
“Why?” That was the first word that slipped out of my mouth.
My eyes started to water, but I blinked it away. As much as possible, I don’t want to think of her as an enemy. But I know that I’m just fooling myself. The truth is already slapping me hard now, right here in front of me.
She stood up from her seat and slowly approached me. The Mikan that I used to know is far different from the Mikan that’s now staring at me with a blank expression.
“You know what, Nicole, it’s just this simple. I hate you, the royalties, the pureblood clan and most especially...” She looked at me angrily, and I could feel the anger she’s harboring. “Your clan.”
I furrowed my brows because of what she said. I can’t remember doing anything wrong, neither my friends, Kyle’s family, nor my own family against her.
“What do you mean? I don’t understand!” I shouted at her.
She laughed demonically, which sent chills down my spine. There are so many questions running through my mind right now that she needs to answer. I was too shocked and confused about what the hell is really going on here.
She’s about to speak when the door suddenly opened. It revealed the only person I despise and wouldn’t want to see in this world.
“Oh. I’m glad that you’re awake already. Did you have fun talking to my daughter?” He stood beside Mikan and tapped her shoulder.
I saw the sparkle in Mikan’s eyes as if she suddenly became happy. It’s as if she was a child greatly praised by her parents.
As for me, it felt like I was drenched with cold water. I couldn’t even blink my eyes because of what I heard while gaping.
Daughter
Confused, I turned to Mikan. “You’re his what? But how...” I almost whispered my question to her. I don’t know why, but I feel extremely weak now.
“Are you feeling weak? Don’t worry because soon you’ll rest forever! Alongside your valiant prince, your impending wedding won’t happen!” His irritating laughter echoed in every corner of the room I was in.
Damn you, Marcus Croven!
He won’t stop until he obtains our powers, mine and Kyle’s. Until he prevents our hearts from uniting.
Now I realize that once again, the metal that controls my power is in my hands. Damn this thing! Where did they get this kind of equipment? Perhaps this is also why I feel weakened.
“You take care of that one, my dear daughter. I need to prepare everything. Today is the appointed day.” He laughed mischievously before finally leaving.
I raised an eyebrow. What did he mean? Appointed day?
When he’s already nowhere in sight, I looked at Mikan with pleading eyes. I know and believe that she isn’t evil. I can feel it whenever we’re together. I know that all of her actions are genuine and true.
“Mikan, please. Let’s talk about this. We’re friends, right? The royals were your friends as well, so why? Can you please explain to me? You’re not his daughter, right? I know that he’s just lying,” I calmly asked her.
I was waiting for her to come closer and help me. For our friendship to prevail over whatever Marcus is telling her.
But she just smirked and shook her head. Gone was the sweet and innocent Mikan I know. “Do you really think that we’re friends? That they’re my friends? How pathetic and assuming you can be.” She rolled her eyes.
“But—” I couldn’t continue my sentence as we heard consecutive gunshots and chaos from outside.
Right at that moment, I know that I will be saved.
I suddenly smiled. They never disappoint me. Because no matter where Marcus takes me, they still manage to find me.
“Oh, shit! Let’s go.”
I was surprised when Mikan abruptly pulled me up and dragged me outside. If only I wasn’t handcuffed!
But as soon as we stepped out of the door, someone immediately blocked our path. Just seeing him lifted my spirits.
But wait. If Mikan is really Marcus’ daughter, then they’re...
“Stop this already, Mikan! When will you wake up and realize that dad is just using you?” he angrily shouted.
Mikan gave him a disdainful look without flinching. “You know what, Dave, I pity you. Can you just mind your own business? If you have no intention of helping, just go away! We don’t need you, like I said before!”
She pulled me again. But before we could get far, Dave suddenly appeared in front of us again.
“Sleep well, my dear sister.”
I gasped as I saw him inject a syringe into Mikan’s arm. She slowly let go of me as she gradually fell to the ground unconscious.
“Mikan!” I was about to rush to her side when Dave stopped me and quickly removed my handcuffs.
“Let’s go. We are running out of time. Just trust me, and I will get you out of here.” His eyes and face were filled with sincerity.
“But Mik—”
“Mikan will be fine. We just need to make it in time, so we have to hurry.”
He extended his right hand to me. Though confused about what he meant, I accepted it without hesitation before glancing at Mikan’s motionless body on the floor.
“I will come back for you. I promise, everything will be alright.”
With that, together, we ran away to face the real fight.
***
Third Person’s POV
KYLE’S eyes were in a deep shade of red right now. Every attacker and obstacle in his path were effortlessly thrown aside, or even decapitated and their hearts ripped out.
He was consumed by a fiery rage, especially since he still couldn’t see where Nicole was.
But he paused when he saw Marcus heading in the opposite direction. It seemed like he was chasing after something and in a hurry. It turned out that his father was right behind him, so they nodded at each other and discreetly followed him.
Aside from declaring this war, it looks like he’s up to something they didn’t know about.
DAVE and Nicole quickly emerged from that abandoned building. They fought off the rogues that blocked their path together.
But they were taken aback when they finally exited and saw the battle raging on both sides. Nicole wondered how everyone ended up there, including the king.
Dave immediately hid her behind him when he spotted some enemies heading in their direction. Dave was about to attack them when Nicole beat him to it. She stopped time and attacked each one of them.
After finishing, she muttered, “Thanks for protecting me, Dave. But I can manage myself.”
Dave nodded before ruffling her hair.
However, Nicole knew in her mind that she shouldn’t rely too much on that kind of power, as she might weaken quickly like the first time she used it.
Her eyes quickly searched for Kyle, but Dave swiftly pulled her towards another direction.
“We need to hurry.”
MEANWHILE, Reiri and Hiro fought together against the oncoming enemies. Hiro used his strength and speed, while Reiri is backing him up. Reiri didn’t know why, but she was surprised by what she was witnessing. She knew where the attacks were coming from and what their enemies’ next moves would be.
“Your special ability is impressive too. It looks like you might be my hero instead of me defending you,” Hiro complimented.
Reiri quickly averted her gaze to hide the blush on her cheeks.
“It’s just you who didn’t appreciate it at first.” She smiled while skillfully evading the enemies that kept on attacking her.
Hiro stared at her for a moment before grinning. “Well, just for now.”
Reiri’s smile suddenly disappeared, and she frowned. He would never let himself be defeated.
BECAUSE of Miley’s hypnotism, some of their enemies have become their allies, and they themselves willingly eliminate their comrades. Meanwhile, Kira is using his teleportation ability to remove each enemy’s heart.
But because Miley was too busy with what she was doing, she didn’t immediately notice an enemy approaching her from behind, carrying a dagger.
“What the!” Surprised, she turned around when she felt something hit her. There she saw a stain of blood on her dress.
“Don’t worry. I’m just always on your side,” Kira said with a smile as he crushed the heart he was holding tightly in his fist.
Miley just sighed and started fighting back. Two is better than one in this fight.
STEPH fired her gun one by one at each of the fledglings attacking her. Her bullets hit the enemy’s heart directly without fail.
But their numbers were increasing too much. Steph quickly dodged an attack from one of the enemies. However, because of this, she lost her balance and fell to the ground. She also dropped the gun she was holding.
“Shit!” Due to the severity of her fall, she had difficulty moving her right leg.
She almost vomited when she saw the enemy in front of her, drooling with its two long fangs exposed. She didn’t want to die that way, especially not because of that low-class vampire.
She glanced to her right where her gun had landed. However, it was too far for her to reach immediately. She looked back in front of her and just closed her eyes when she saw the enemy getting nearer.
It seemed like there was nothing else she could do but accept her end.
But to her surprise, she didn’t feel anything at all. Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw four vampires floating in front of her.
She then looked right in front of her and smiled upon seeing Vince. He had always been her savior.
“Don’t assume anything. They’re my enemies too. That’s why,” he said, making her smile even more. Vince and his pride.
No matter what he says, she still believes that he saves her. He just doesn’t want to admit it. And because of that, she’s hoping that their friendship still has a chance to be fixed.
DAVE and Nicole continued running when suddenly someone blocked their path. It was Dave’s father right-hand man, Raphael, standing there with six rogues.
“You go ahead, Nicole. I’ll follow. Go find Kyle,” said Dave.
Nicole nodded and quickly ran away.
“What’s going on with you, helping that girl?” Raphael gritted his teeth.
Dave smirked. “That’s none of your business.”
“If that’s the case, then you leave us with no choice, young master.” They all charged at Dave simultaneously.
Dave sighed and confidently faced them.
“Perhaps you’ve forgotten that I am Dave Croven. The one and only powerful damphyr alive up to this day.”
NICOLE stopped running as soon as she reached the forest and saw the familiar back of the man she loves, engaged in a fight.
“Kyle!” she called out to him. He immediately turned and quickly approached her.
“You’re here.” She almost cried as he got closer.
But for the nth time, she’s caught and fooled again.
“Of course, I’m here, my dear princess.” He quickly changed his appearance, and her whole body trembled at the sight of his repulsive form.
“You have nowhere else to go, Marcus. It’s better if you stop now.”
They both turned to the one who speaks and Nicole felt a surge of courage when she saw the king. Her tears involuntarily flowed when she saw the man she loved standing beside him. His eyes were extremely red, and his long fangs were exposed. And she knows that this time, he’s real.
“Kyle,” she whispered, but she knew he heard her. Suddenly, the wind blew stronger, as if a storm was approaching.
Marcus laughed loudly and shook his head. “Even if you kill me now, I assure you, you’ll never find peace in your lives!”
Almost all of the enemies around them were gone. They were gawking in their direction. The royal guards were all pointing their swords towards Marcus’ spot. Even the guns of the protectors and the arrows of the vampire hunters.
All of it was aiming to kill him.
Then Marcus pulled out a dagger and was about to stab Nicole. But Kyle quickly rushed in their direction and knocked Nicole aside. The dagger was supposed to hit Kyle in the back. But to their surprise, someone caught it.
“Dave!”
Marcus dropped the dagger he was holding and was about to escape when arrows began flying through the air and the consecutive shots of a gun echoed.
Nicole Jane’s POV
I couldn’t hold back the tears that were falling one after another, and I quickly went to one of the people, or vampire, whom I considered a friend.
“N-Nicole... I made it. I-I protected you.”
I was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions. Anger, fear, and anxiety. I can’t lose a friend right now.
He was about to speak, but I just shook my head. “Don’t speak, okay? We will save you.” I signaled Kyle to carry him, but Dave just shook his head.
“You don’t really remember me, don’t you?”
My crying intensified when blood started coming out of his mouth. Although I was confused about what he meant, his life was more important now.
“Don’t speak. Just hold on.”
“I’m the boy you defended against the bullies in an ice cream parlor. I’m the boy who helped you when you were kidnapped. I’m that boy who promised to protect you no matter what happens...” he said with a smile while blood continued to flow from his mouth.
In an instant, everything from my childhood suddenly came rushing back to me. The young boy who would appear out of nowhere and then vanish. It’s like every time we would meet, we could talk, but I never even knew his name.
I couldn’t believe that I was staring at him. He was the boy I had been searching for these past few days. The man from my dreams.
“And now, I am content to disappear from this world because I know that you are happy, and I have fulfilled my promise. Just please be happy,” he said with a smile, gently wiping away my tears.
Slowly, he began to close his eyes, and his fingers slipped away.
“No! No, Dave! Please, hold on!” I continued to sob until I gradually started feeling tired. I saw Kyle’s worried face, but then my vision completely darkened.