Camper had called when he went to the roof and told him about the situation of things back home. He was so angry to find out that the people were protesting against Avril. Against Avril. They were fucking protesting against Avril. How dare they? What in the world were they thinking? That he could be stupid enough to not know what was good for him? Virgo Vampires they said. Well, he did not blame them. The rumours were that he was attacked by them before they sent him on exile. The people probably thought he was that weak and was going to be attacked by a human they sent.He wouldn’t have cared if it was any other person. But if what they were doing had any negative effect on Avril… he wouldn’t care if there were his people or not. No one should hurt Avril and survive it.Speaking of that… what had happened to Ñiraka? He had left her there to rot, but he had to do something about that her case. He would do something about her case.Dakar started the car again and drove straight ahead i
Avril still had the sleeping mask on.“You’re back?” she asked.“Yeah. But—” he looked at the terrible mess in front of the huge gates created by the protesters “don’t open your eyes yet,” he said. He did not want to explain what created the mess.Dakar drove into the open gates of the Palace and did not stop in front of the huge Palace but drove straight to his own quarters. He stopped in front of his palace and looked over at his side.“You can remove the mask now,” he whispered.She took it off her head gently and immediately looked around only to see everywhere quiet and empty.“What were you expecting?” he asked with an amused laugh.“I don’t know. I thought I heard some commotion with you throwing a tantrum,” she answered with a shrug.“The car is soundproof. You didn’t hear a thing. Also, I did not throw a tantrum. Come on, let’s head inside.”He stepped out of the car and waited for her to do so without being a gentleman. That kind of pissed Avril off.“Be a gentleman, Dakar,”
“Dakar,” Camper whispered to him and he looked to his best friend.Before Camper could say anything, the Alpha cleared his throat.“This meeting was called this urgently because of the unexpected protest that occured just outside this Palace less than an hour ago. We have not had a protest in ages, and the sudden occurrence of this one is a mystery that needs to be solved immediately,” the Alpha spoke up.The throne room went silent.“Why is there a sudden revolution against the human concubine...who is just a concubine?” the Alpha questioned.“Alpha, it is quite certain why there is a revolution against her. She is human, just a human that should not even be allowed to infiltrate the air of the Royal Palace of Remus. Yet, she is rubbing shoulders with the Crowned Prince and even gallivanting with him around and outside the kingdom,” Nobleman Pietro, Minister of the People blurted out.Dakar sat still in his seat, not even sparing the nobleman a glance.“The people are scared. We just
Again, Dakar did not seem to notice what had happened. His eyes were sharp and clear as he stared at Camper.“Do you feel... fine?” Camper asked and took a step forward. Dakar heaved a sigh and crossed his arms.“No,” he gave an honest answer. He looked behind him at the massive grey palace, then shook his head.“I need to go see Fiorella,” he stated and walked past Camper.“You are not going to tell her about the new—”“I can't. Alpha ordered not to. I can't break it or stop it from happening.”It was obvious he did not like the idea at all with how he was trying to hide his agitation as he spoke.“Do you sincerely trust this girl? I mean, do you?” Camper inquired.Dakar stared at his best friend for long seconds.“I don't know,” he answered and began to walk away. Camper ran after him.“You don't know what happened or what she truly got into those two years. Maybe she's not...I don't know. Maybe not who you really knew back on the island.”Dakar ran a finger through his har. He had
Camper gulped when Avril stepped into the living room from the garden behind, Verona at her trail.“Hey, you're back,” he hailed, donning his beautiful smile which made her smile back.“Yeah. I suppose you already know though, considering you're likely seen Dakar,” she responded and crossed the distance between the both of them. Verona casually slumps on the sofa nearest to her and palms her forehead, her red hair falling over before she shoved it behind her ears.“I didn't know he brought you. He was supposed to...come back alone.”“Why is that?”Camper knew Avril was already suspecting the issue at hand had something to do with her. So he wasn't going to give her something to think further on.“The way he wanted this ‘outing’ with you, I thought he would run right back to the human world just to complete y'all's little vacation,” he teased and Avril huffed with a smile.“Oh please, you make it sound like a honeymoon.”“Isn't it, though? I bet there's a little Dakar budding to life i
Dakar frowned deeply.“And why are you just telling me now?”“What matters is that I let you know. Now, what is going on with you?”Dakar kept silent.“We are going to the facility today. You have to fix those people before word spreads abroad. And secondly, I'm doubling the watch over the human girl.”Dakar's eyes flared.“Why?” he thundered across the room.“I have word that the aura around you is spreading to her. More trained guards from the Academy are being dispatched to her as I speak.”“You don't have to do this. Fiorella is...innocent.”“I would have believed you if you yourself was even sure of what you spoke.”Dakar ran a hand through his hair and nodded.“But this better be over with soon. If you don't find anything with her in a few more days, back down.” His own voice was more of an order than a request to his father and he gulped down after realizing it. But his father did not say anything regarding that.“We are going to the facility now,” the Alpha said and stepped do
Avril had totally lost track of time in the white walled room with harsh florescent lights. Her eyes dulled from crying too much and for lack of sleep. Glancing down at her hands, they were stained with dry blood and handcuffed to the large concrete table in the room.She gulped down dryly, and looked around the room once more for any possible entrance or exit. The walls and ceiling were pure white, smooth and straight with no visible space of a door, window, or outlet. Where had they led her through to abandon her in that cell then? Was it even a cell? Or a room there were going to leave her to starve to death?She adjusted her bottom on the hard and cold concrete bench she was sitting on and laid her head on the platform in front of her.“Dakar,” she muttered and swallowed the lump in her throat. She had cried his name more than a hundred times since she woke up handcuffed to that platform. But he didn't come, no one came. She didn't even know how she got there and only remembered h
Nana wiped a face towel over her face as she finished preparing the muffins and slid them into the oven. She stepped out of the small kitchen in the cottage she lived with one other human girl, and entered the courtyard. The cottage was of stone, and had flower vines creeping by the sides and disturbing the opening of windows.It was a cloudy afternoon, and the cold was unbearable. Nana never knew the importance of the sun until she got to this side of the world where the sun would hide under a few clouds and the god of cold would breathe over the the land.“Ah, remdangit!” she exclaimed the way Remusians always said it. She was supposed to mow the lawn this week, and despite how small their lawn was, she hated mowing it. But nevertheless, Nana did. Afterwards, she returned to the kitchen and removed the muffins from the oven. She would have set her lunch already to eat without her cottage mate, but she needed a shower after all that work. Just as she was about to turn to her room, Ch
“No! No! Give me those!” she screeched and flew at Camper who didn't move an inch. But before she could reach him, she was blasted off into the cage Avril's friends just vacated. Camper hurried over to Prince Dakar.“You came right on time. They've hurt Avril,” Dakar said. Camper looked at the white fog and clenched his teeth.“Verona will help. She's coming. They are coming.”Dakar nodded and took one of the clear crystal balls and lifted it up.“Camper feels emotions more than anyone else can. Which is why he's a playboy, he enjoys the pleasure a hundred times than an average person. And when someone is overexcited, or is hiding something where they've channelled all their protective information... Camper can trace where all those emotions are headed,” Prince Dakar said as Athena began to rise.“Where your treasure is stored, there will your heart be,” Camper recited. “While you were busy flirting and trying to make him take you there on your garden floor, he was looking deep into
Avril had only just slept for a half an hour when she heard a masculine scream pierce through the serenity of the room. She jerked awake, causing a terrible headache to erupt in her head. The scream continued on. Obviously, that person was in deep agony. She rubbed her weak eyes with her weak fingers and realized this agonized person was right there on the floor in front of her. Then she realized it was Dakar.“Dakar!” she screamed and ran out the bed, only to fall on the bed because of how numb her legs were. She groaned but crawled on foura to where he lay. His scream and cries were terrible. She grabbed his arm but he shoved her off as he continued to twist and contort in pain.Avril burst into tears when she noticed he was bleeding from his nostrils, mouth and ears.“Help, please!” she tried to shout but no way her voice could be heard above his.She crawled back to the bedside, grabbed the pitcher of water and tossed it over him. He stilled immediately and lay unconscious. Avril
“Gently get the girls to wake up. We're leaving. Pick up everything. Leave no personal belonging behind,” Dakar warned strictly. The two men nodded and darted into their room.“Where's Verona?” Avril asked.“I'm here,” she replied and showed up too. Verona looked agitated and vigilant.“I can't believe I was such a fool to bring you all here,” Dakar said to himself and looked her he could slap his own cheek. The candlelights were enough to show the look of regret on his face. He held Avril's good hand and led her out while Verona also darted inside the room. The others were already frantically moving and packing stuff.In less than ten minutes later, everything had been packed as affirmed by Camper. They then quietly started out without a word or sound from anyone.They got to the throne room which was empty and dark too. Instead of them to go through the main entrance, Prince Dakar turned them to a different direction. He tugged gently on what was like a door and a secret passage ope
Athena plastered a too wide smile on her face as she smoothly walked towards them like she was gliding and not actually taking steps. Her outfit was all gold, blending too much with the throne room itself. If her visible skin and hair were also gold, she would be invisible in the hall.“Pleased to meet you again, Athena,” Prince Dakar said with courtesy. Athena turned her full attention to him as she stood a few feet away.“Ah, my handsome nephew. You look amazing despite everything you've been through. I guess strength and good looks runs in the family. How is your father?” she asked and cocked her head to the side.“He is doing very well. Sends his kind regards,” Prince Dakar answered. Athena grinned and moved closer to him. A little bit too close. She looked up into his eyes and tucked loose hair behind his ear.“When this is all over, I would love to see his final look,” she said then grinned again.Avril frowned but quickly tucked her face right. What did she mean by ‘his final l
Prince Dakar got up, then jerked his jacket by the lapels to get it aligned with his body. He took a deep breath, relief flooding in that Avril was not dead. And she was right at the other side about to come over. He heard a feminine gasp like the one had made and made a quick turn to see the person who had come out. But he was disappointed to see the slim, black friend of Avril. Chidi. She wasn't crouched down like he was, but she was standing straight and breathless.“Are you all right?” he asked as she stood rooted to the spot, oblivious to him standing there. After he spoke, she raised her eyes abruptly and saw him. Then she looked back at the innocent look archway.“Congrats. You got out. Come over, let's wait for the others,” he said again and walked a few feet from where he was standing. Chidi followed silently and leaned against a tree with her eyes closed. Dakar was tempted to ask her what she saw, but he didn't want to intrude. Chidi however surprised him.“T saw Avril fall
The Porta Metus was situated in a vast region of land that was very mountainous. Solid, smooth rock was the ground and scorpions could be seen tittering around. Flying, giant bee-like creatures swarmed about and scared the living daylights out of the traveling group.The gateway itself was an archway of smooth grey rock that began on the ground but went over to cover the small bridge. There was a deep ditch dividing the rock terrain, and earthy terrain.“We have to be very careful. The Porta Metus is the archway. It doesn't come up this time of year so I'm worried about you all. The Porta Metus brings out your greatest fear. Between you and your greatest fear, only one will make it out. To reach your destination, you must defeat your greatest fear against all odds.”After Prince Dakar's information, everyone stared still at the harmless looking archway of rock.“What if you do not have a greatest fear but just little little fears?” Xiao Wéi asked.“Then I consider that person the luck
“What in the world are those thing?” Nana yelled amidst the screams. The horses that were at the far end of the cave startled up and began to neigh and thump around.“Stealth wraiths. Half-dead creatures but more dead than alive. Which means you can't see them. They're very rare!” Camper shouted out.“How do you kill what you cannot see?!” Avril shrieked as Camper sliced through the air again and black blood poured out of nothing.“They are as cold as ice. You feel their chill and strike,” Verona answered as she trotted to the entrance to assist Camper. The rest shifted back but didn't lose their guard. The horses were causing a scene on their own and Avril instinctively ran over to calm them down. It didn't work.A cold chill was taking over the entire cave, the entrance had turned into a battle ground. Camper and Verona were fighting invisible, shrieking creatures that seemed to be pushing them backwards and not the other way around. Whatever does things were, they were plenty and t
They trespassed through the Soot Forest, as Camper had called it, for five hours straight. They only rested at most ten minutes while standing because of the human girls who were not as tire-proof as the wolves. Avril and her girls even surprised Prince Dakar. They didn't tire as easily as other humans.“One more hour and we'll be out,” Camper announced to the group.“I hope there's a place we can sit our butts down?” Nana grumbled.“Well, I see sitting your butt down is very important to you. Seeing you carry a lot over there of course,” Xiao Wéi joked and the girls burst into laughter except Verona who had not smiled since the journey began. As was usual of her.“If we don't sit soon, I'm afraid I'll lose all my assets,” Nana replied. Avril slapped Nana's butt.“Nope, you're still good even if you walk the whole day,” she teased and Nana butt-kicked her. Avril wasn't expecting that move and it pushed her, making her feet unbalanced on the ground. She yelped as she felt herself desc
Avril laughed loud again and everyone rushing food at the table looked over at them. “Is there a comedy show going on there, Fiorella?” Verona asked grudgingly. “Are there any tickets left? I need a good laugh also,” Nana spoke and Chidi elbowed her. “Don't mind them. Just talk and laugh all you want. You're not bothering us,” Chidi said and glared at Nana who shrugged. She looked away and her eyes caught Camper staring at her friend in amusement. He had his fork twirling in his salad as he stared at Nana. “It's going to be too obvious that you like this girl. Put that face straight,” the new guy ordered with a frown. Everyone at the table frowned except Camper who smirked at him. The way he spoke was so authoritative and haughty. Who was he? Avril's laughter rang up again but nobody looked back at them this time. “Why are you all looking at me like I said something bad?” he questioned. “That's because you sound like a nagging mother. It doesn't suit you,”