Chapter 12 Vision

"Um...you're his....fiancé?" The word tasted rough in my mouth. It was weird saying it out loud.

"Yes." Liliana smiled. "As in the person, who's supposed to marry him. Which one is he anyway?" I winced and looked at the twins in pity. It's really a shame. One of them already has a fiancé and she can't even tell, who's who.

Ren let out an irritated sigh. When he saw me looking at him, he looked scared. "Whatever you are thinking, it's not what you think." His voice sounded a little shaky and I could not understand why. Liliana took notice of the twin beside me. "Oh. I guess you're Ren. Come here, sweetie!" She squealed and moved between us to grab Ren's arm. Custard yelped and snapped at her legs when she accidentally stepped on his tail, but before he could do any more damage, I immediately picked him up.

"Liliana, now is not the time. Let go of me." Ren grumbled trying to take his arm back.

Watching them made me pity Ren. Sure, Liliana is pretty, but not being able to recognize him is just wrong. I do believe that the twins deserve to be engaged to someone, who can actually tell them apart. Someone, who can accept their childishness not just their looks. Dan came up beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "My brother may be dense, but he will only love one. Well as soon as he realizes it." He smiled sadly.

"Wait what?" I asked. It was one of Dan's weird monologues again.

"Lily, I assume that you just arrived? You haven't met the Queen?" Dan asked.

Liliana took one glance at Dan and her lips went pale as she drew them into a thin line. "U-um. Yeah I just got here." She was avoiding eye contact and started to fidget as she and Dan started to have a small conversation with each other.

At that moment Ren took that opportunity to speak into my mind. 'You won't believe this, but Lily actually likes my brother and not me'. He said and I gave him a weird look. He was finally free of her grip and went back to my side and whispered, "Long story. I'll tell you later."

"What?"

"Ren! Come on and introduce me to the queen." Before Ren and I could talk more, he was dragged away by Liliana.

"Alright." Ren seemed annoyed at this and when they passed by Dan, Ren grinned wickedly and grabbed his brother.

"Brother, why don't you come with us? Liliana would love it if you could come." At that he earned a stomp on the foot from his fiancé.

"Have fun! I'll keep the princess company." Nate suddenly pulled me towards him as he waved goodbye to the twins and their childhood friend. Nate looked amused and satisfied when he saw both the twins reacted violently, but could not do a thing since Liliana was dragging them. "Oh man. That was so funny." Nate said, whipping a tear from his face from laughing. When he caught her staring, he immediately switched back to his flirty self. He smirked. "You know, it's never too late to choose me you know. I could make you happy."

"I could make you cry if you don't stop."

"You are so cute. I feel like I'm being threatened by a potato." He chuckled, seemingly amused with himself. "You are so adorable that you can't even tell when a person likes you."

"Who likes me then?"

"Me."

"Lies."

"I wouldn't give you Cloud if I didn't." He muttered. Too low for me to hear.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing." He sighed and turned to me. "You know what I think? I think you have selective hearing."

"No I don't." I denied.

"Oh really? Then what if I tell you that I like you?" He grinned devilishly at me.

I stared right back at him. Not even fazed. "Nah. You can't be."

Nate's eyebrow twitched in annoyance, but he immediately whipped off with a force smile. "What if Ren likes you and he's your soulmate?"

"It can't be. He said it himself that we are best friends."

"Maybe he just doesn't realize it." At that he started snickering that I couldn't hear what he said after. "That Dan will kill me for sure if Rose will actually believe me." He laughed.

"Dude, what kind of idiot do you take him for?"

Nate laughed even more. "Oh man. You have no idea what an idiot that mutt is." He sniffed and whipped a tear off of his face. "Everyone must have realized it by now, but you guys. Oh man. Well I guess it's for the best. Gives us all a fair chance."

"What?"

Nate pointed a finger at me as if to prove a point. "See. Selective hearing. Like if I say that what if PRINCE Ace will like you romantically?"

"I will punch you and I am not kidding." I deadpanned.

"What if prince Fred likes you?"

I gasped in delight and started to grin like an idiot. "You really think so? I mean, come on~!" In my embarrassment I slapped Nate's arm and I saw him pouting and hand moving like a puppet as if mocking me.

"Blah blah blah. Fred Fred Fred. No Nate. Even though I was always there for you." He murmured.

"Stop acting like a kid, Nate."

"Oh stop acting like a kid?" Suddenly his face became serious and inched his face close to mine. "If you want me to stop being a kid, then I might show you my....possessive side." His eyes and voice changed at the last part. Like a psycho claiming someone. I gasped and took a step back.

Nate's expression turned back to normal as he chuckled. "See, Princess. I can stop acting like a kid, but I'm pretty sure that you wont like it. I mean, I could lock you up so no one would dare lay a finger on you and only I can visit you."

"Dude, you're sounding crazy. Go away."

Nate gasped. "Rosalie Amber Stan! You hurt my feelings!"

"Nathaniel Denver! You are scaring the crap out of me!"

"Touché." He laughed and started sniffing the air. "Hey, I wanna go take a shower. I assume you do too. Want me to carry you to your room?"

"Nah. No thanks. I can manage." I said.

"Then I'll walk with you." He said and hummed happily as he walked beside me. Custard was happily walking beside me when all of a sudden he collapsed.

"Custard!" I yelled in worry. He was whimpering in pain and his little paws were shaking violently. I immediately kneeled beside my familiar and began stroking his fur in comfort, but as soon as I did, a flash of pain erupted in my head. I fell to the floor unable to breathe from the pain.

"Rose!" Nate caught me before I fell and kneeled on the ground while still holding me in his arms. "What's wrong?"

Instead of answering, I started to cry and clutched my head even tighter, unable to answer his question. My actions seem to be clear to him. "Come here little guy." He gently carried the whimpering Custard and placed him on my stomach. After that he carried us into the castle. "I don't know what's going on, but I'll be here. Hang on please." He sounded panicked and I can't remember how long he was running or how far we were when he started screaming at the servants to move away or call the queen. All I know is that the pain, it was like eating my head. I started to shiver. "You're heating up. Damn it. Hold on. We'll get help. I'll get help!" He started screaming. "Move! Open the door. Move it! I SAID MOVE!" I heard a loud bang of a door bursting open when Nate kicked it.

"Ready the bed. Fast!" He ordered and I could feel him setting me on it when the soft sheets touched my body. "Rose, wait for me. I'll call the queen." But I did not want him gone. I was scared of what was happening to me. I grabbed onto his hand and squeezed it tight. I was scared. Scared and in a lot of pain. Nate gently squeezed my hand back as if he understood me. "You! Get the queen and hurry. I don't like yelling orders or repeating myself. Go NOW!" At his words I heard the scurrying of feet out of the room.

I screamed again. Images were flashing into my mind that I do not understand. My body was heating up and I was sweating, but I was also cold. Nate patted my head gently. "Hang on, Rose. If it hurts just squeeze my hand as hard as you can, I wouldn't mind." Despite my unknown fever I could hear the shiver in Nate's voice. I dared to open my eyes and I saw a vampire sweating with worry in his eyes.

I managed a weak smile. "Are you.....crying?"

He returned my smile. "Are you turned on with me now? Not wanting me to leave your bed?" He joked, but I can tell that it was a weak attempt to lighten the mood. Custard squirm beside me. At that same moment, I smelled blood. Nate's eyes widened. He placed a finger under my node and when he brought it into view there was blood. He bit his lips and his eyes were glistening when he returned his look on me. "Rose." He whispered. "You can't leave me too." He squeezed my hand gently and brought my hand to his face as if pleading.

A new wave of images hit me and my head started ringing again. I screamed even more. Nate got up and held me in place as I started thrashing like crazy on the bed.

"Where is she?" Footsteps. And then there was the queen. Behind her were the twins, Lily, and PRINCE Ace.

"What happened to her?" Ren kneeled beside me on the bed bringing his face on the same level as mine.

"I don't know. She suddenly dropped and clutched her head." He said weakly as he moved aside to let Ren take his place. "Is there anything we can do to help?"

"Call all the doctors from the village. Immediately. This is an emergency." The Queen ordered a servant.

It was getting harder to breathe. All these images, I don't know what they mean or what they are. I see two light colliding with each other over and over. I hear screaming. An animalistic scream. Where is this coming from?! I started screaming as well.

"She won't need a doctor." It was PRINCE Ace. "Just dump her in a bathtub."

"What do you mean she won't need a doctor?" Ren demanded.

"Ren I-" Lady Liliana, his fiancé, started but was cut off by a menacing growl from Ren.

"Shut up!" He growled. His eyes changed their colour and his eyes were becoming inhuman as well. "She's in pain. I know you don't like her but to let her suffer this much and throw her in a bathtub? Are you a monster?!" This was a new side of Ren that no one has seen before.

"Brother, calm down." Dan chided him. "I know you're worried and so are we."

Ren let out a low growl as he tried to calm himself. Despite my weak state I reached out and touched his face. "Calm down or I might deck you. All your screaming is making my head hurt." At my touch he started to calm his breathing. Slowly, his animalistic side subsided and he looked human again. He gently touched my hand that was on his cheek and started pressing it. He was like a little puppy asking for a petting.

"Are you done? You did not let me finish." PRINCE Ace said irritably. "Her condition was the same as mine. Remember, her powers were locked up for a long time, and it was only recently that she obtained whatever her powers are when the little mutt came." He said looking at Custard.

"So what are you saying then? We should separate Rose and Custard?" Dan asked.

"No..." I said weakly. I don't want to be separated from Custard. Familiar or not, this little guy was the sweetest boy I have ever known and throwing him out....I mean where would he go? That seems so cruel.

"We can do just that." Ace said. "But for a Tamer it might kill her too since we don't have much knowledge about them aside from books. I propose that we cool her off in the bathtub. As for her growing powers I suggest letting the earth absorb some of it."

"How do we do that?" Asked the queen.

"I might be able to do that. I can manipulate the nearest tree in this room to reach out to her and absorb the abnormality in her power."

"But there aren't any trees here."

"Then we do it in the garden. There's a pond there."

"Got it. Let me just-" Nate began to move for me but Ren was faster. A look of disappointment flashed on his face.

"I got her." He said and gave Custard to me and carried the both of us. Everyone hurried out and went to the garden. Ren gently placed me in the pond and I shivered even more. I elevated Custard a bit so he would not drown, seeing as how little he is.

"Whatever you're going to do, do it fast." Ren pleaded.

PRINCE Ace quickly moved beside me and placed both of his hands on the soil on either side of me. "Since we're outside I can manipulate the underground roots. It's much better this way." I could feel the vines and roots underwater wrapping themselves on Custard and I. Ace was watching me closely and when I was still in pain he took a dagger and made a small cut on my finger.

"ACE!" Everyone shouted all except for Ace and I.

"It's PRINCE!" He yelled seemingly annoyed and glared at everyone - yes even the queen. He pointed the dagger at them.

"And I told you all countless times that it's PRINCE Ace! And to inform you all, her body is not like the elves who have earthly connections. Her powers can only be absorb through her blood. Do you all understand? Or do I have to let you all experience it with a bigger wound?"

"You guys can handle this. I'll leave my niece to you guys." The queen murmured seemingly scared of the PRINCE holding a dagger.

"I cannot believe he just threatened the queen." Nate murmured.

"He should be in prison right now." Dan said. "Ren is so much better, Rose! Keep that in mind that he's not holding a dagger." Dan yelled.

"Ren, he scares me!" Liliana hid behind Ren.

"Go away, Lily." Ren shoved Liliana away.

While they were murmuring about Ace and his dagger, Ace made a little nick on Custard's paw too.

"Look at him with the dagger. I think he likes it."

"Does he always carry a weapon with him? What a psycho." At that last comment I heard them all scream in terror.

"He threw the dagger at us. He's insane!"

I was starting to get a little light headed as I closed my eyes and laughed at them teasing Ace and his method. My pain was almost gone and the more that I felt better, the closer I got to a deep sleep, dreaming of the images that were suddenly clear with the absence of the pain.