The party was a disaster. Everyone was in panic as security measures were being held. I couldn't even move. I wouldn't, because I was already overwhelmed with fear. Someone did this to get to me. What did I do to deserve this?
"Come on, Rose." Ren squeezed my hand and that brought me back to my senses.
"Get her to my office. It has wards and only those who do not have an urge to kill can enter." The queen was suddenly at my side and placed a hand on my tear ridden cheeks. "You will be safe there. I will meet you once this is settled." She smiled weakly.
I don't know what she's planning to do by staying here. Why doesn't she come along? What is she going to do? Murder the culprit?
"You heard the queen. Let's go." Nate gently pushed my back and urged me to follow Ace. My heart was hammering in my chest so fast that I couldn't even hear the shrill of panic as we left the party.
We finally arrived at the queen's office and I did not even feel the least bit safe. Ren opened the door and ushered me in.
"What the f&*^!" Immediately Nate and I turned to see PRINCE Ace and Ren stranded just outside the door.
"What are you guys doing? Get in here." Nate didn't seem annoyed. He looked amused as he looked at the two princes.
Ren grunted and started banging at an invisible wall. "I want to, but as you can see I cannot!" He started punching the wall in agitation. PRINCE Ace, on the other hand, simply rubbed his temples as he watched Ren trying to break the invisible wall.
"Calm down. If you, won't the more you can't get in." He said.
"The queen did say those who have an intent to kill cannot enter." Nate says. "Tell me. Do you guys want to kill someone?" At the mention of kill, I started to tense and wrap Nate's coat tighter around me as if it can protect me.
Ren saw my movement and his eyes hardened even more. "I want to kill whoever did this to our men. And to whoever is threatening Rose's life." He says and gives PRINCE Ace a look. "You also want to kill who's responsible for this, don't you?"
PRINCE Ace did not even look at him as he let out a sigh. "I just want justice for the murder. That's all."
"Really?" Ren asked. "Then if you want justice, why can't you enter then?"
"Because I chose not to. No way would my feelings be affected because of her." He says and simply walked in without any effort.
"Damn know it all." Ren huffed. Then he started to let out a really long sigh, which I assume is to calm himself and NOW he was able to enter.
The numbness from my adrenaline has finally caught up to me and I stumble on the ground. Nate caught my arm and gently helped me up to sit on the couch. "Geez, Rose. You're not a vampire but your fingers are cold as ours."
"Oh sh!t!" Ren let out a curse as an invisible force threw him out of the room. I immediately sat up in surprise and wondered if an enemy had somehow infiltrated the room. I was powerless at this moment and the only thing that I could do was to cling to Nate. As embarrassing as it looks I don't want to be mauled to death by our invisible enemy. Nate started to chuckle beside me. "Relax, Rose. Ren just went into murderous mode again so the room kicked him out."
"Rose!" The queen suddenly barged in the office carrying Custard with her. The queen handed me my MIA familiar since the ball started. Custard happily jumped on my lap and started to nuzzle my neck as if to give me comfort. "Are you doing okay my dear?" The queen gently touched my cheek and I had to hold back tears as I nodded. "You must keep your familiar with you. Always. He might not look reliable but he will protect you. And he can."
"Why were they after me?" I whispered. Ignoring the fact that my so-called familiar, who is now sleeping on my lap with his belly exposed, can protect me.
"We don't know that for sure. But whoever it is, I assure you that we will protect you. You can see how bloodthirsty the twins are." The queen now pointed to Dan and Ren, who are still stuck outside.
"Sorry, but you cannot blame me for what I am feeling right now." Says Dan as he clenched his blood smeared hands. "And my queen. I am here to inform you that we were able to capture one of the rogues. Suppose to be two, but the other one committed suicide before Prince Frederick could stop him."
The queen finally stood up. "And where is he now?"
"In the lower cell. Prince Fred casted a spell on him that so he cannot commit suicide.
"And did you find anything?"
"Yes. It seems that they were aware that if they were captured and were forced to talk that the only person that they could talk to was their target."
"No! Absolutely not." Ren growled and punched the invisible wall. "No way we would let them lay their filthy eyes on her after they threatened her."
I don't have to be a genius to figure out that they were referring to me. "So we have nothing. No other information other than the fact that they want to kill me and.....talk to me?" I asked.
Dan sighed. "Unfortunately yes. And he only wants to talk to you. No other person in the room. But don't worry, Rose. We will find another- "
"Then I'll do it." I said.
"No! Rose, you have done a lot of stupid things and this will not be one of them." Nate suddenly looked at me straight in the eyes to let me know how serious he was.
"For once I agree with the other princes." PRINCE Ace mumbled. "Especially with the a lot of stupid things part."
"Ace, don't start with me." I warned him before I pleaded with the queen. "Please just let me do it. Just bind him with chains so he can't hurt me. And I'll talk to him at a far distance."
"My dear, I cannot risk that. I thought I lost my blood relatives forever until you came-"
"Oh don't you start with that because you kidnapped me." I reminded her.
"But it cannot be a coincidence that it was you that I have to kidnap. It was your fate to let me kidnap you."
"Seriously. That sounds so disturbing." I commended. "But I have to do something."
"Rosalie. I told you that you are forbidden and that's that."
When the queen raised her voice, Custard stirred awake and jumped off of my lap when I got up. "I am sorry. You may be the Queen and my great great whatever aunt, but my life is being targeted not yours. And I want to know - why one way or another." I started to walk past her.
"Ace, if you would be so kind. Please." As the queen spoke, Ace suddenly grabbed me by the shoulder to stop me.
"Hey, let go of me!" I yelled. Custard seemed to be agitated and started barking at PRINCE Ace. When Ace did not glance at him, Custard lunged and bit him by the leg. Ace grunted.
"Somebody do something about this dog or I will." He warned. Nate took action and grabbed Custard off of Ace. "That will leave a mark." Nate says eyeing Ace's bloody leg.
"Hold her still." The queen commanded as she stood in front of me.
"What are you doing? I am doing us a favor!" I told her as I tried to headbutt Ace from behind to no luck. He was too strong and my only ally was being held by Nate. "Please. Let me do this for myself." I pleaded. The queen only looked at me sadly.
"My dear, you have the spit fire of my brother-in-law." She says sadly. "And that is what got him killed. And I will be damned if I let any one of my family die again. Now. Go to sleep. We'll keep you safe." The last thing I remembered was her opening her palm and blowing blue powder on my face. And then I went to sleep.
By the time I woke up, I was in my room. Locked up with Custard. I couldn't get out and walk around in the castle. Nope. I was a prisoner. Sort of. But every now and then I get visitors. Servants bring me food, clothes, then clean the room. The princes would visit me too, but I refused to talk to them. I wouldn't even look at them. They would just sit somewhere in my room and talk about how they are helping the queen figure this all out without risking my life. But every time they come I know that they have no luck cracking the captured rogue. I know that they are just worried for me, but how can they do that when they don't even know what the enemy plans to do to me. Or why they want me dead.Three days passed and all I did was read and play with Custard. I also figured out that Custard liked ear scratches. Not to mention that I discovered that we have a physic link. I discovered this when I
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" Nate suddenly appeared at my side. I did not respond. My eyes were too focused on Custard chewing at the mist of air surrounding the man as he screamed. Nate cussed beside me. "Rose, make him stop.""I-I don't know how." I stuttered. My eyes flew to the man in the cage. He was trembling in fear. And to be honest. I am too. "Nate, I don't know how!"Nate saw the panic and fear in my eyes. His eyes softened and he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Try to stay calm. Then command him. He should listen to you."I turned to Custard who was still chewing the life out of the rogue. "S-stop." I commanded. Custard's ears only flinched, but he did not stop."Try again. This time make it sound like a command and not a request."
"Rose, wakey wakey! Time for trainey." Ren and Dan sang happily as they knocked on my door. I was a bit grumpy when their knocking did not stop. I got up and glared daggers at the door. Custard was stirring beside me, not happy to be woken up either. I rubbed sleep from my eyes when the twins suddenly burst into the room and I screamed bloody murder when they decided to open the curtains.I hissed like a feline and hid under the sheets. Custard must have sensed my distress and was on full alert. When he saw no danger, he just gave me a look that says 'seriously?' and went back to sleep.Well at least he's alert."Rose, the sun is barely rising. And you are not a vampire. You are a tamer so act like it." Ren says. I couldn't see him through the covers but I could sense that he was smiling.
"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.
I dreamed of blood.A drop of blood falling onto a cup. As it rippled a new image formed. A light and a dark figure growling at each other. The darker figure stood tall, towering the lighter figure. The darker figure snarled and lunged at the light. The smaller figure went underneath and tackled the dark figure. I heard them snarling at each other.I was confused, but the more I tried to focus the more clear the image became.The darker figure had the front body of a lion and the back body of a goat. It has two heads. No three. At the very front it has two heads. A lion, with it's fangs smeared with dried blood, and the other a goat, it's longhorn sharp and erect. It's tip has a bit of flesh on them. The other head was at the back. Or more likely to say the tail. The snake head was hissing and snapping
"This is not it. This chalice is made out of stone and not wood." Nate sighed as he placed the book that Ren had back into a shelf."Prince Nathaniel." PRINCE Ace glared at him the moment he caught Nate shoving a book on a random shelf. "If you do not know where you got that book, then you should just leave it on a desk and let the bookkeepers handle returning it.""I'll..." Nate trailed off and took the book from it's shelf. "I'll go hand it over to the librarian then." He took off rather quickly and quietly.I decided to look at the other shelves. My mind staring blankly at all the titles before me. It's like I can read but the words don't make sense. It was after my talk with the queen that we decided to do some research about the wooden chalice. No one has heard of it, but they didn't doubt me eith
"Y-your highness, I sincerely apologize! I didn't mean to interrupt. I saw your highness here and thought that I should bring some snacks so...." She hurriedly placed the tray on the table, bowed and ran. "Congratulation your highness!" She yelled before I could stop her and clear the misunderstanding.Dan howled in laughter and clapped his hands like a seal While Ren's face was bright red in embarrassment. I fear that it will be a hot gossip in the next few days."Oh my what a show.""I agree. I guess this is the new norm? The girls confess to the guys since the guys are all wimps." It was Lilliana, who was suddenly sitting beside Dan and eating a macaroon. Upon noticing that Lilliana was beside him, Dan choked on his tea.Serves him right for drinki
"Nate, any more running and this training will do me more harm than good." I panted. It was 6am. Freaking 6 AM! I want to sleep more instead of running for who knows how many laps already.Nate slowed down a bit and was running backwards to face me. He wasn't even breaking a sweat. He simply gave me a teasing grin. "Rose, you do know that you only did 5 laps, right?""Only...five you say?" I glared at him despite how tired I was. "You're saying that as if running five laps is normal.""It is.""Admit it, Nate. You're just here to torture me.""You should be thankful that I volunteered for you. Aside from Ren, who is currently busy with planning his twins' farewell party, there is PRINCE Ace you know. Or would yo
“I see.” Sophie, the seer that I met a long time ago when I went to Hazel, laughs. “Now do you believe the prophecy?” “He is rich, I have to tell you that.” I joked and laughed along with her. Sophie has become a close advisor to King Fred. She was the last seer in the lands and is now being taken care of. “So, is my guess right?” I asked hopefully. Sophie gave me a look as she nodded. “Congratulations, Queen Rosalie. You are - ” She was cut off when Custard lets out a yelp. ‘Master master! Arcielia keeps on pulling on my tail.’ Custard whimpered as he sat on the floor with his head and ears down. “Sorry, Custard.” I said before I fixed a look at a young girl. Her hair is as dark as her father while her eyes are as blue
The guy lets out a scream as his other friend pulled him away from the stranger, who was now standing in front of me as if shielding me from my two attackers. “Leave. Or would you like me to break your jaws and feed you that...glass thing that you are holding?”Glass thing? Does he mean the can of beer? But it’s not even GLASS!“You two aren’t moving. Would you like me to break something else?” He asked menacingly and started moving forward. The two immediately ran away in a haste the longer they continued to look at the guy.As soon as they were gone, I looked at the man warily. His back was still facing me that I can’t even tell what he looks like at the moment. “Thank you.” I blurted out.The moment I spoke,
****2 Years Later in The Human Realm****I was bouncing on my toes as I waited for my teammate to pass me the baton. I was already at a pretty slow pace in order for her to be able to hand it over to me.“Please, Rose. Hurry!” My teammate pleaded with me.I gave her a reassuring smile as I got the baton in my hands and began to run. My mind focused on my own path. As soon as the wind hit my face, nostalgia suddenly hit me and I feel as if I was running in a different with different people. One was a red-head and the other one was a brunette.Despite the crowd in the background, all I could hear were the cheers of these two imaginary men.‘Go on, Rose. You can do it.’
“LOOK OUT!” Ace came forward and shielded me. In the process, Ace’s arm got a second-degree burn. Ace winced in pain as he immediately removed the sleeve on that particular arm.“No…” I whispered. Horrified at what I saw. Then I turned to glare murderously at Camille. “It was you, wasn’t it? You set him free!”Instead of looking guilty, Camille had a crazed look in her eyes. “Nate is mine. He is mine. If it weren’t for you then I would have become his queen!”“Nate and I are not in that kind of relationship!” I told her. “And he doesn’t belong to anyone!”But as hard as I tried to convince her, it seemed like Camille couldn’t hear any of it as she just screa
“Ow!”“Camille?” I gasped as soon as I saw the fairy princess emerging from under my bed with a swollen eye from my hit. Can’t say I don’t regret it. “What are you doing here? And why are you in my room?” I demanded.“Give me that!” Camille charged at me with her eyes fixed on the chalice.“Hey! What are you doing?” I moved my hand back, the one that was holding the chalice as Camille continued to charge at me with a crazy look in her eyes.“That’s what they wanted, right? Just give it to them!” She yelled at me and attempted to grab it this time with flames igniting from her hands.“You don’t even know what this is. Ba
Everyone was quiet as we all let the information sink in. When I thought about it, it all made sense now. Luke was the one that we were looking for. The only thing is, he is not exactly a traitor, just controlled by something that he cannot fight.“Hang on, who attacked Luke in the greenhouse?” I asked. “I mean, the place was basically a mess.”“He did that to himself,” Stella says. “As soon as he realized that Ferius was looking and hearing events of what was happening, he put himself to sleep to purposely stop Ferius from knowing of our plans. But upon realizing this, Ferius tried to take control over him. That was why the dose of the sleeping potion that he took was too much as to put him in a temporary coma.”“I see.” Ace and I exchanged a look.
‘Princess, focus!’ I felt Viex slumping down when the supply of magic that I was giving him was cut off. In that brief moment of weakness, a few rogues were able to catch on and started targeting us instead. I got down from Viex as he was still trying to recover from the unstable magic. Custard and I managed to handle a few of them with our backs facing Viex to protect him. ‘Princess, behind you!’ Viex yelled as a warning. When I looked back, I saw a leopard pouncing at me. Custard blocked its path but the leopard didn’t fully reach us when a hood figured appeared, landed on the leopard’s back in midair, and plunge his blade to its neck. As they both landed on the ground, Ace took his hood and pulled me until I w
I woke up early the next day as we all started to prepare ourselves. But I, on the other hand, woke up especially early because I wanted to make sure that everything was settled. Plus, I was getting nervous about all of this as well that I just can’t get a few more minutes of a shut-eye. I already have my shirt, chainmail, vest, trousers, and boots on. Now, I was contemplating wearing the gloves that Eltur and Darem gave me, but I decided against it as it would only hinder my grip on my whip. As I got out, I noticed that Nate was outside of his tent as well and just doing a few stretches. He must have heard me stepping out because he looked back with a tired and nervous smile on his face. “Hey. Good morning, Rose.” He greeted me. “Morning, Nate.” I greeted his back as I held the tent open for Custard and
Nate and I headed for the larger tent in the area. He told me that it was where all the royals are supposed to gather for the briefing.Nate opened the tent for me go to inside, but before I could even enter, I heard two familiar voices behind me. “I almost cried. You look so much more independent compared to the last time that we saw you. I just hope that you really are what you look like from the outside.”It was Custard who first reacted. He lets out a howl and ran behind me. ‘Master Ren!’I turned just in time to see Ren picking Custard up on the ground as Custard showered him with adoring kisses. The twins were humbly wearing plain shirts like what we usually wore in training. And judging by the looks on their faces, I can only guess that t