94ADRIA’S POV“Stacy.” I called, still unable to process what she was doing, so deep in the forest.Why was she in the forest? “What the heck are you doing here!?” I asked in fear, as my heart began to pound hard.Her eyes filled with tears, as they trailed from my face, to my hands. She blinked once, and staggered back. Her mouth seemed unable to close, and she placed a hand on her chest.She saw me for who I was already.Her lips started to tremble, and she staggered backwards more. She couldn’t seem to tear her eyes off me.“Why are you…?” I began to ask again, but she screamed loudly, all of a sudden, and fell to the floor. She continued to scream, and I made to go to her, but suddenly stopped. There was blood somewhere.I stopped where I was, and my nostrils flared dangerously. Where was the sweet scent coming from?“Please stop, Adria! Please, you’re scaring me! Okay, I’m going to believe these are… these are… Aaaaaaaaaah! Someone help me!” She screamed, turning around, then tu
95ADRIA’S POV.Did Derek know it was Lucien? Did he leave me to deal with the trouble of Lucien catching me sucking a human’s blood? No way.Derek couldn’t do such. We were friends. We hunted together, we went everywhere together, and drank blood together, so how could he just leave me just like that?Thinking back on the events of the night, I recalled Derek had sniffed something, and had raced for it, telling me he’d be back.I closed my eyes, and shook my head. He was probably going to return, and search for me.“It’s obvious.” Lucien replied, still holding on to my hand, as he led me out of the forest, and as we walked, I sensed a presence—Derek’s presence to be precise.He was watching us, I just didn’t know where he was watching from. He had seen everything, and had not interrupted, had not helped.I couldn’t even say a word, I just began to cry afresh. He was my friend. How was I to believe he wasn’t good? How was I to believe he had never considered me as a friend?Lucien dro
97ADRIA’S POV.How could she suddenly tell us to stop talking? Why would she need a break? Since when did friendships need breaks?I had changed? Was that why she wanted us to stop talking? I thought we had talked about it on the night she saw blood on my jacket.She had said we’d go through it together, yet she was leaving me?I was finally ready to be the caring, and loving Adria I had once been before Derek came into the picture, and she was pushing me away?I walked to her briskly, catching her hand, then pulled her into an empty class.“You said we’ll go through it together.” I confronted her, as she managed to snatch her hands away from mine immediately we went through the doors of the empty class.“Yeah, I know I said that, but this is too much. It is too much, Adria!”“What is too much? You haven’t really waited to see the change since that night…”“Oh, I’ve seen it, and you know what I think? I think people really don’t know what they’ve got until they’re gone. Maybe when I’
98ADRIA’S POV“Just jump! Do you think you’re the only ones bungee jumping today!?” Stacy shrieked when the guys took much longer than they were supposed to.“Okay, wait!” Tommy shrieked.“We’re going to jump now. Okay… we’re jumping.” Daniel shouted, and they began to move towards the edge slowly.“Just shove them!” Stacy shouted to the staff behind them, and they laughed a little. “Other people want to jump! Shove them!” Stacy shrieked once more, and I bent over laughing.“We’re going to do this!” Daniel said, but they weren’t moving.“Alright. This is how you guys play, uh? I’m filming this! First thing in the morning, you’re going to see yourselves being scared ladies, and maybe even better screamers!” I screamed, holding up my phone, and Stacy giggled.“Damn you!” Daniel shrieked, and flung himself, and Tommy off.“Woah!” Stacy shouted, jumping in excitement.It was epic as the boys screamed, and I had it all filmed.“Damn, damn, damn, damn! I’m going to put some good music on t
99ADRIA’S POV.My heart thrummed loudly in my chest, and I tried to take in deep breaths.Derek’s handsome face had never been scary to me since the night we became real friends, but at the moment, his handsome face looked like that of a vampire in a scary movie.It suddenly felt like he was the only vampire between us, and that he was going to gobble me up.I brushed his hand off my mouth, and my breath came out hard.“What are you doing?” I hissed, but he simply looked around, and in a single bound, he swept me off my feet.I screamed, but my scream was cut off, as a large amount of air whooshed into my mouth, causing me to choke.Derek raced quickly along the streets, bounding up the buildings.In seconds, we were in the air, jumping over buildings, but no matter how I called his name, he didn’t stop. He kept on jumping from building to building, and keeping my heart in my throat.I knew I was supposed to be scared that a vampire was running off with me somewhere, but because I kn
100ADRIA’S POVI took hasty steps away from her, but my eyes couldn’t tear away from the blood on her shoulder. It was just too much for me to take in.I gritted my teeth hard, and balled my fingers into fists. No, Adria, you can’t! You can’t!No!At that moment, I hated myself for the powerful urge I was resisting to drink from her.It seemed like something was about to erupt from my belly, something monstrous. I was on the verge of exploding.“You know you want it. Have it, and stop being a weakling. Whose welfare comes first? Yours, or some random girl you don’t know?” Derek asked, with his hand stretched out in the direction of the girl.I wanted to tell him to keep his mouth shut, and that he had no right to take a random girl, and ask me such a stupid question.Of course, she mattered more than I did, at that moment because I couldn’t die, but she could. I was going to survive that night no matter what, but her survival depended on me.I had decided to join Lucien in saving the
ADRIA’S POVImmense joy exploded in my heart, and I couldn’t help but watch her as she ran.I followed her carefully as she ran with all she had, and I didn’t stop following until she walked into a house, knocked, and knocked while looking around frantically.A guy opened the door, and when he saw her, he knocked her head.“What are you doing out this late? Parties again?”“Xander. Cut the crap. Let me in.” She said shakily, brushing past him.“Mum, dad! I request you to ban Asha for three weeks!” The guy shouted, holding her neck, and shaking her affectionately, as they walked in, and closed the door.My smile grew wider because I knew I had prevented the grief that would have befallen that family. If they suddenly heard she was missing, or dead, they would all cry, but I had prevented their tears from falling.Through the windows, I saw a middle-aged woman setting the table for dinner, a man playing with a baby on a sofa, and a young girl reading a novel.I saw Asha pass by the wind
102ADRIA’S POV.The kind of rage filling me was like none other. It was such a rage that drew tears to my eyes instantly. My fingers balled into fists, and my nostrils flared as I looked at the sad atmosphere in the class.“She didn’t come home last night. Her parents said that… that was unlike her. She never spent a night out, even when invited. She…she also wasn’t home this morning, so her mother came to school this morning to ask the teachers, and some of us who were around if… if… if we saw her.” Stacy said, trying to hold her tears.My lips quivered, and my vision was blurred as large tear balls formed.What wrong did Halsey do? She was just quietly living her life. She never upset anyone or got into fights. Angry tears fell down my eyes, and I couldn’t help the flow of emotions I was feeling.“She… she was reported missing a few minutes ago.” Stacy concluded, and my breath came out shaky.“Excuse me.” I managed to say, and stormed out of the class.Damn Derek! Damn him! How dar
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