108ADRIA’S POVAfter Lucien left, I had cleaned up the dishes, and arranged the house, while smiling to myself because it felt like we were married already.When I was done with all the cleaning, I sat in front of the television, which was tuned in to the news channel.“We’re not even in the morning. Why is this playing?” I asked, searching around for the remote controller. “Where is it? I thought I saw it earlier.” I said to myself, as I got up from the sofa to search for the remote. “Did you fall?” I asked, bending to check underneath the center table.My hair fell over my face, and I tucked it behind my ear, and just then, my phone rang. I turned, and looked at it.A silly smile crept on my face as I walked to it. I wondered if it was Lucien, but alas, it was my mother, and I giggled at my stupidity.Why did I even think it was Lucien? Was I already missing him?“Hey, mom.”“Hi, honey. How are you doing? You seem to be moving already. When last did I see you home?” She teased, and
109ADRIA’S POV.Staring at Lucien continued to make matters worse, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted to squeeze him and watch his eyes pop. My eyebrows furrowed, and I tried hard to control the insane urge.I felt a clash of feelings arise in me. Confusion, fear, and anger.Why was I angry at Lucien? There was simply no answer to the way I felt. Then Lucien turned to me, smiling, but his smile ran down immediately he saw me.“Adria.” He called, and just like a light was switched off, I regained my control. The heat turned cold, the tension in my fingers left, and the stiff feeling in my neck, coming from trying to hold myself back, was released. “What’s wrong?” He asked, and I began to take in slow and deep breaths.“I… I don’t… I don’t know.” I said, staring at my fingers.“You… you were looking at me like you wanted to kill me just now.” He said, turning to face me, by adjusting on the sofa.“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”“I’ll need you to explain.”“It felt… it felt like a k
110ADRIA’S POV.Lucien was backed into the wall by the force with which I had attacked him, and also due to the shock. He had not been expecting the attack, and neither had I.I wanted to ask if he was alright, but I kept on squeezing his neck.Lucien got a hold of himself, and pressed down on my wrists, so hard that it hurt. I took off my hands, snarling, preparing to strike him, but he blocked it skillfully.Kill… kill… kill.Those words echoed in my head repeatedly, and everything I saw was bathed in red. I wanted to sink my claws into his neck, and feel his warm blood rush between my fingers, and run down my elbows.“Adria!” Lucien called when I threw myself at him.He caught me, and held both my hands, turning me around, so my hands were tied behind me.I snarled, and raged as he continued to call my name. His voice irritated my ears, and I wanted to rip out his voice box.He called my name once more, and unbelievably, I lifted my legs like an acrobat, spreading them wide, and t
111ADRIA’S POV.No. Stop. Don’t, Adria. Don’t do it…I cried within, but watched helplessly, as I pushed the door open silently.Upon seeing Lucien laying innocently in bed, resentment filled me. Good thing that he didn’t lock his door. That way, I’d get to him quicker.I walked towards him stealthily, and immediately I got to him, I flashed out my claws, and brought them down hard. Lucien’s eyes flew open, and he rolled away, landing on his feet the minute he was off the bed.My claws dug into the bed, and tore out white foam viciously.Lucien, who was still a little shocked, took out his claws, and I bared my fangs at him in a snarl.In a single bound, I climbed atop the bed, and flew at him, leaping out to get to him.He took hold of my right hand, and I used the other to try to hit him. I feigned hitting him in the tummy, and changed my direction at the last moment, managing to hit his face.He flung me to the floor, and I landed hard on it, but it only made me angrier. I snarled
112ADRIA’S POVWhat’s wrong with this? I thought in my mind. Why were the letters suddenly switching positions? I closed my eyes tightly, and opened them once more.Same problem. I shook my head hard, and pushed my head close to the paper, but it didn’t work.“Uh… som… something’s wrong with this.” I called out when the letters refused to stop swimming. My exam couldn’t fall into a ditch, just like that. My reading couldn’t come to naught due to swimming letters.“What’s wrong?” The professor asked me, and I got to my feet rather loudly, causing everyone to get distracted.“Something’s not right with my paper.” I told him hysterically, with my eyes glued to the papers.The professor made his way over to me, and checked my papers.“What exactly is not right with this paper, Adria? I see no defects whatsoever.” He replied, handing my papers back to me.I checked the papers once more. They were still swimming. I couldn’t read a single word. My eyes went open and shut several times, and
113ADRIA’S POV.“I think someone should step up, and do the talking.” My mum urged, when the both of us remained silent. “Lucien came to ask how you were doing, Adria.” She added, going to Lucien, and taking a package from his hands. “I’m guessing this is for Adria?” She asked him, and he nodded.He did care about me. He really did, so why wasn’t he looking for a solution like I was?It gave me weird ideas.“Adria and I have been having some intense clashes.” Lucien finally spoke, as my mum handed me the package he had brought, which smelt of chamomile.“Intense?” My mum asked, going back to her sofa.“Yes. We both get hurt, each time.” He added, and my mum placed her fingers on her forehead.“This was what you were avoiding, right?” She asked slowly, and Lucien nodded. “But how did this happen? If the vampire in her is clashing with your wolf, does that mean…?”“She has drank so much blood that she’s generated a certain awareness of herself. I’m a potential enemy to her now, so I ca
114ADRIA’S POV.I was stunned. How dangerous could it be that only two people survived? Out of almost twenty-three people my mum knew went to the land of the Dreaded, she only heard of two returning?What in the world happened to the remaining twenty-one?The whole thing felt scary to me, but I already knew in my mind that I wasn’t going back. I was going to go to the Land of the Dreaded, and return with Lucien by my side.“Just two. No one else.” Mum added, and I sighed. I could see why she was worried about us going. If my daughter were to go somewhere as scary, and dangerous too, I would be scared out of my wits.“Trust me, Mrs. Williams. We will make it back.” Lucien reassured her, and she took a deep breath.Thereafter, she looked at me.“Assure me your exams will go fine if I give you this chance to fight for your love.” She said, and I nodded vigorously.It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off me. Days ago, I hadn’t known what exactly to do, and it made it feel like a h
115ADRIA’S POV.By the time I got to Lucien’s house, he was already prepared, and was waiting for me.“Hey.” He said when he opened the door, but I greeted him with a sigh. “Come here.” He added, with a smile, and pulled me into a hug.“I just have a lot on my mind right now.” I confessed. “I would have loved to go to Daniel’s aunt’s wedding in Paris, but I don’t even know if I’ll survive this.”“You can still go. When we make it back in time. Maybe in three days, we’ll arrange for you to fly to Paris. I figure you can get the invitation on your own?” He asked, and I chuckled.How was he confident enough to make plans?“Sure I can get the invitation on my own.” I replied, trying to reflect his positivity in my voice.“Let’s stay optimistic, Adria. Don’t think of the bad side.” He requested, holding my shoulders, and I nodded.“Being optimistic might be the only way we can survive this.” I replied, and he nodded.We shut all the doors, and windows in his house, before taking a cup of
127ADRIA’S POV.I took it out, and happiness flooded my heart. The happiness I had felt when I had received it.The fact that those memories could be happy memories that I wanted, brought tears to my eyes. I couldn’t remember. Why? Why was I feeling so happy just by seeing a tumbler?Then, as I kept on studying it. The memory had become clear. Lucien had given me the tumbler. I turned to him wondering why he would give me a tumbler, smiling when we were enemies, and then, I recalled his name.With the recollection of his name, everything suddenly hit me like a blast. I recalled lots of faces, and everything about me. I became myself.How had I lost control, and killed those helpless humans? How?And why was I about to kill Lucien?“Lu… Lucien.” I called, but it was so hard to speak. My throat was dry, and unused. He looked at me with relief, and joy flooding his eyes, and I tried hard not to break down.“Lucien.” I called again, and my breath came out in hitches. My hand found his fa
126LUCIEN’S POV.With the speed of lightning, Adria appeared to me, staring at me, with lasers in her eyes. The wolves made to attack, but I held up my hand once more.“No interruption.” I instructed, and Adria struck, trying to slash my neck, but I dodged, and took hold of her hands, turning her the way I always turned her, whenever we fought.“Adria!” I called, but she easily broke out of the lock I had her in, and managed to slash my right arm.It was a deep gash, but that did nothing to me. I was already healing. She thrusted, and I parried. We carried on with that pattern for a long time because I didn’t wish to hurt her, but she became even more violent.“Adria!” I called once more, but she didn’t budge. She raised her claws to slash my neck, but I bent, and wound my leg around hers.She fell backwards, but made it to her feet quickly in a backward roll. “Adria!” I called again, trying to bring her to her senses, but she was too restless, and too fast.It was obvious she was st
125LUCIEN’S POV.I wasn’t the only one, who felt it. Everyone felt it. The wolves, Lycans, and the vampires too.The odd sensation that filled the air. Like something was coming.They all paused one after the other, looking around. So did the wolves, and the Lycans.And it felt like I already knew what was happening, but was too scared to admit it.The vampires on the right began to part, and about half of them bowed, while the other vampires looked irritated.Out of their midst, on the clear path formed, after they all separated, came Adria.The white dress she was wearing was tattered, and covered in blood, but that did nothing to diminish the aura around her, and it didn’t stop her from being beautiful.She walked confidently with her eyes red, and flaming.Her dark claws were out, and longer than I remembered. They looked like they could claw out the human heart in a matter of seconds.It felt like she commanded the air. It hung around everyone, with a feeling of doom. She had fi
124LUCIEN’S POV.“I’m thinking the same thing as you are.” Zayne said, confirming my suspicions.“You think Adria’s the one behind the missing people?” I asked, looking around for the remote controller.“Exactly what I think, and as for the rebel vampires… We’ve finally heard news of them.” He added, and I stopped my search for the remote controller.Watching news I had missed out on, was no longer important at the moment.“Tell me. What are they planning?” I asked.“They are creating an army large enough to defeat all the wolf clans, and humans, together.” He answered, extending the papers embodying his research.“How is that possible? How big would an army have to be to defeat the wolf clans, and humans alike?” I asked, taking out the papers, and skimming through.“A thorough investigation has been done. They’ve sought for vampires all over, and they’ve also turned some humans who have a strong will to kill. As we speak, they’re getting stronger in numbers, and enslaving the vampir
123ADRIA’S POV.I was being sincere. I was tired of fighting, and fighting endlessly. Before it ended in the death of one of us accidentally, I wanted him to close his eyes, and kill me.That was the solution we’d been ignoring. He didn’t want to kill me, with his hands, so he’d been avoiding it.“You’re someone I know as brave. It’ll be over very soon. I’ll rise again, and even if I forget you, my heart won’t forget the face it beats for. When I come to terms with who I am, and accept that I love you, things will be alright again, so please, Lucien. Please…” I begged, still holding his hand to my neck, but he withdrew it, and sighed.“How do you expect me to kill you with my hands…?”“Just do it! Do it! I’m sick of our clashes repeating itself over, and over. Aren’t you sick of it too?” I asked, getting to my feet, and looking at him straight in the eye.“Damn, Adria. We need to think.” He said, placing his hands on the wall next to him, and bowing his head.“We’ve done all the thin
122ADRIA’S POV.I felt sad, and distraught. What thick darkness was threatening to cover our light?Athena went back to tending to Lucien’s arm, and I watched her.“So, what have you come here for?” She asked softly, dabbing ointment on the wound.“Um… we keep on fighting each other. I’m a vampire, and he’s a werewolf.” I replied, watching her intently.“Of course, you keep on fighting each other more than the average wolf, and vampire would fight.” She replied, dropping the wool, and ointment.“Why?” I asked, and she got up from her stool, placing a hand on Lucien’s shoulder, and holding his arm with the other.“Because you both are the strongest of your species.” She replied, setting Lucien’s arm straight, in a single motion.Lucien didn’t make a noise, but the way he squeezed up his face, and looked away, suggested that it had hurt.“What a fine young man.” Athena replied, and moved to me, starting with my head. “You’re the daughter of the vampire Queen. A pure-blooded vampire, an
121ADRIA’S POV.Hope flooded my heart like never before, and we began to make our way, towards the shore. Lucien still couldn’t move his arm, so I had to take him all the way out of the water.Finally, I got out of the water, and pulled him out too.We panted hard, and looked at each other, with sparkling eyes.It had been done. We had survived it. At least that was if there were no more obstacles for us, on the way to Athena’s house.“I think we made it. Athena will grant us a safe path home, after she answers our questions. Lucien! We actually made it!” I squealed, and threw my arms around him.“It’s still too early to celebrate. Let’s get there first.” He replied, stiffly, and I immediately withdrew from him.His shoulder was swollen.“Lucien, did you…?” I was asking, and he began to walk away.“It’s not my first time having a dislocated shoulder. It’s fine. I’ll set it straight.” He replied, dragging himself, tiredly.“Hey. You… you shouldn’t have… you shouldn’t have covered for
120ADRIA’S POV.Fear gripped me hard in my chest, as I watched the large creature. Never, in my life, had I ever seen a creature as large as that.The worst thing about the giant octopus was that it seemed to have eyes everywhere on its body.“Damn.” Lucien muttered, and immediately turned around, pulling me with him. “Swim.”I began to swim, but it was hard. Already, my stomach hurt. The leaves, and cloth Lucien had used to cover my wounds had slipped off, and I wasn’t supposed to be in water, with such a would.Swimming forward was our only option because the water didn’t let us get anywhere near the shore.Just then, a large tentacle landed right between Lucien and me, with a large splash, and we were both driven apart by the force of it.I landed on another tentacle, and my heart threatened to burst out.“Adria! Use your claws!” Lucien said, as I began to rise out of his reach. I got up from the slowly rising tentacle, and tried to jump down, but another tentacle caught me, and w
119LUCIEN’S POV.Things were beginning to get worse. I didn’t know if we could outrun eagles when we were running at human speed, and I feared greatly for Adria who was injured.“Let’s run!” I whispered frantically, even though the eagles didn’t need to hear us to chase us.We began to run, and she winced continuously as she did. Honestly, I was also scared. Not just for myself, but for her. Even though I had promised her mother that I’d bring her back safely, the thing that scared me most was losing her.When she had been dying from my slash the other time, it had felt like the whole journey had ended, and I had lost her, but thankfully, I was able to save her.“Can you run? Will you get on my back?” I asked, holding her hand, tightly.“No, I would rather not slow you down. Besides, if those eagles sweep down low, I’ll be injured first.” She teased, and we continued to run. It was harder because we had to climb, though.Had it been on level ground, we could have been a bit faster. T