45ADRIA’S POVAlthough I was grateful to see her fighting for me, it was a little weird to hear her call me her friend. We barely knew each other, and even though she had said it just to get the girl off my back, everyone would expect us to hang out together and I wasn’t sure how my friends would take that.You know, among friends who’ve been together for a long time, it’s kind of hard to let someone new in.“I shouldn’t mess with you? You’re hilarious. You come to school one day and decide the smartest kid in college is your best friend, who doesn’t want that? Well, let me tell you, Adria here has people she mingles with so I’d suggest you should be the one to sulk somewhere and not to mess with me because you do not know me at all and the first thing you’d want to know about me is that when I get real angry, I get real violent!” The girl shouted, and I saw Monica’s face turn red.“What!?” Monica shrieked.“Monica…” I called softly, rising to my feet and putting a gentle hand on her
46ADRIA’S POV“Why do you think so?” I asked her immediately and she sighed.“I do see him take a lot of girls into his house. At first I didn’t suspect him. I thought they were all going to him for tutoring, but thinking of it, they were too much for tutoring. Everyday is a brand new girl going through his door or coming out, and they’re always female. So, when I saw this post, that was exactly what came to mind. I think he’s the one that’s been talked about.” She explained, staring at her phone which was still in my hand but I found it quite hard to believe.There was no way Lucien was juggling students. I rarely saw him with any other girl except me. He felt for me. I saw it in his eyes. Although I knew that was what girls who ended up being played always said about the guys who had deceived them, I just couldn’t believe it.Lucien couldn’t lie. He wasn’t that kind of person. Even if he truly had girls going in and out of his house, it was probably for tutoring. Yeah, he was hands
47ADRIA’S POVI wasn’t sure what her stare meant but it felt like she wasn’t pleased with me hanging around with Monica. The last time she had asked me about Monica, I hadn’t really said much like we were close so she was probably thinking I was friends with Monica and refused to tell her or she thought Monica was taking up my time and I wasn’t really hanging out with them.Well, Monica wasn’t at fault for that, Lucien was.Immediately I thought that way, I felt guilty. I was the one at fault for not being able to split time between my friends and my boyfriend and now Stacy looked like she felt Monica was the one secretly taking up my time even though she had known her for only a week.I wanted to signal to her but she looked away and the car sped off.My hands found my phone in the pocket of my jeans and I immediately dialed her number but her phone was switched off. Did Stacy really think I would trade her for Monica or choose anyone else over her?“What’s wrong?” Monica asked, and
48ADRIA’S POVWhy were they all boys? I couldn’t see a single female there. Were the only females there? Monica strutted confidently across the cubicles searching for the seat we had been given and I watched as the boys all stared at her.“Here.” She said, turning to me with a smile as she pointed out our cubicle with a smile.“Oh.” I let out softly and received my share of stares from the boys seated in the cubicles.We walked in and sat, and I dropped my books on the table.Monica brought out pens, highlighters and lots of snacks.“You can’t eat in a library.” I told her immediately, bringing my voice to a whisper.“Come on. I’m not a kid. I won’t drop crumbs.” She said with a charming smile.“Why are there only boys? Is it a male library or what?” I asked, still in that low tone and she smiled.“I also don’t know. I think this room was just given out. The rooms are locked until they are needed.” She explained, flipping open her textbook but I didn’t understand what she said nor di
49MONICA’S POVI immediately left her contacts and erased all traces of me being there, then I took a few pictures and handed her the phone.“Send them to me.” I said with a smile and she checked the photos.“You like them or you want to take more?” She asked, still staring at the photos.“No, I’m fine with them.” I objected, and she started to make the transfer.“There’s this new genre of novels that I started to read. They’re really fun…” I started, making sure I watched each and every of her facial expressions.“Really? What genre is that?” She asked, still busy with transferring the photos.“Werewolf.” I answered, and she handed me my phone.“Done.” She said with a smile. “Werewolf?” She added, and I nodded.“What do you think of them? Think they’re real?” I asked, tucking my phone into my back pocket.“Well…” She said, scratching her hair and then a lovesick smile crossed her face. “I think they’re real. I think some of them probably walk among us.” She replied, and my smile fad
50ADRIA’S POVShe had also said she had seen girls going to and coming out of his house on several occasions. I seriously didn’t think it was Lucien but this post was just too speculative.Could Lucien really call a girl to his house? In all my times in his house, I had never seen any girl in his house. Could Monica be exaggerating? Probably he only had a few girls come over for tutoring sessions. They could have asked the way I had asked and if he refused them, they’d be suspicious of our relationship, but then the girl who posted this probably had something against Lucien. If she was really implying it was Lucien, then she definitely had something against him.She had posted anonymously. Why didn’t she post and let everyone know who she was? Of course it was so they wouldn’t ask her who the professor was. If they asked her and she said it was Professor Lucien, the news would go round and Professor Lucien could confront her, but if she was anonymous, she could easily ignore the comm
51ADRIA’S POVI felt Monica was wrong because I had never seen Lucien drinking blood and he had never told me anything about having to drink blood. Even in the novels and movies, werewolves were never known to drink blood, only vampires drank blood.“Wolves are such scary creatures. They shouldn’t be trusted. They lure those little girls at the perfect time, collect their blood and send those girls home and those girls don’t know their lives are getting destroyed.” She continued, but I shook my head firmly.“I think you’re confusing the two creatures together. Vampires and wolves may share certain similarities but they are very different. Wolves do not drink blood.” I insisted and she gave a frustrated sigh.“Do you mean to tell me my granny lies? She doesn’t lie. She always says the truth and she met one in her days. That’s why she knows so much about them.” She said aggressively and I stopped in my tracks.“Why are you getting annoyed. I think it’s my choice to believe whatever I w
52ADRIA’S POVI stared at the message for a while, unable to take my eyes off it. It was simply shocking. Whoever sent the text message knew who Lucien was and the person was likely threatening her, but then who could have sent such a message? Who could it be that knew Lucien? Or could it be one of the vampires that Lucien had told me he was chasing after? Were they aware of our relationship? Why did they send the text to me?I knew I had to get across to Lucien somehow and warn him about the risk of his identity being exposed because everything about the message just seemed threatening.“Who are you texting while we’re enjoying our movie?” Stacy asked, hitting my phone and I turned it off.“Nobody.” I replied, but she snatched my phone and threw it into her bag.“No phones, no messages. You’re to ficus on the movie as you will give me a feedback on it.”“Yes ma’am.” I replied robotically and we continued to watch the movie. It reminded me a lot of the day I had watched a movie with
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