15 - Goodbye

Javier

She’s not leaving me.

Hell damnation, she just isn’t. Even if she wanted to, our bond won’t make her to. It won’t allow any of us to live with it. Not telling her that though…

She was going to learn…

“Is that everything?” I arched my brow asking her. Delilah went for shopping with Claudia and didn’t even know about my companera leaving. She’d be so disappointed on finding out.

“Yeah, I um, returned the stuff you bought except the undies… I guess.” Maya replied.

Her face seemed shy from the mention of that, cheeks reddening. It was really cute.

“I don’t mind, they’re your stuff now. The princess is entitled to a myriad of luxuries,”

“That’s nice, but I’m not that anymore, am I? This union was fake…” she stated, with half a chuckle. “…we should get going, Javier.”

“I’m not taking you, snowflake. I’m still in the process of learning how to drive well.” I smirked at her, saying. “Ambroz is.”

I helped her lift the little bag, watching her startled expression. “Oh…” she trailed.

“Did you take your blood bags?” I asked, with mockery laced in my eyes.

“S-sure…I’ll um, get someone to transfuse them with some excuse.” she replied, with a pout. I glanced at her jet-black hair, which was like a Goddess’. Her transformation was giving her a look far from the innocence she previously emanated.

I walked through the door first, studying how my companera gave her room a last glance before stepping out. Maybe she did need space…

My darkness wouldn’t let her go away for too long…

“Maya!!” someone yelled, blaring a horn as we stepped outside.

My hands moved to cover my ears from the amount of noise Ambroz made. The royal guards also covered their ears too, which was quite funny.

“Seriously?” I scowled at him, as he came down from the car with a hand sweeping through his strawberry blonde hair. Ambroz gave me a wink, which made me growl.

“Have we met?” My mate asked him.

Ambroz answered by wrapping her in a hug. “Of course, you weren’t well so that doesn’t count. I’m Ambroz,” he said.

My fists snapped impatiently at him. I pulled the neck of his shirt just at the back to separate him from Maya. Even though he was a family man now, the playboy scenes I witnessed him act for centuries was imprinted in my damn head.

“Easy, easy,” I murmured.

“Dude, really? Was just getting to know her?”

“It’s okay, really,” Maya smiled at him, shaking him. “I’m Maya,”

“You are really beautiful, M-a--“

“We can get going now!” I exclaimed, pulling Maya’s petite hands in my large ones. I dragged her along with me, escorting her to the car.

“We? Didn’t you say you had an urgent business to attend to while I drop her?” Ambroz asked.

“That.Could.Wait.”

I seethed those words, opening the passenger’s door for her to walk in.

“I could as well open that myself, you know. I’m not some baby--"

“Enter the damn vehicle, chiquita or I swear I’ll…” I thought carefully about my last words so it didn’t scare her. “…sing to you like a raven bird.”

“Man really! Was that supposed to be funny?!” Ambroz chuckled entering to drive.

“Shut.Up.”

Maya got in the car. I looked around the palace cautiously using my darkness to search for any dangerous objects linked to car. When there was none, I got in.

“Woo-hoo! It’s gonna be a long drive!!” My best pal, announced.

Maya was mysteriously silent afterwards, which felt entirely strange. She slept on my shoulders unknowingly after a couple of hours passed.

“Here.” I gave the phone I got for her, as soon as she woke up.

“What? Why?”

“You need it. I’m not accustomed to new technologies but I’ll try adapting because of you,”

Her hands shakily took it, with a suspicious look at me.

“Fine, fine.”

…

Maya

It seemed Javier wore himself out, because the minute I woke up he slept. I watched as his posh heart shaped lips stared back at me. In spite of his powerful and strong aura, he had this beauty of some Korean prince commercial.

This was angelic. It was really something that one could notice this only when he slept.

“Maya…” I heard him trail from his sleep. I arched a brow as to why my name was in his dream. Ambroz was about to say something when I whispered that he should shush it.

“Need you, baby. Don’t leave me.”

I swallowed in hurt as he added those words. My hands clasped around his palms, drawing nearer to him.

“You won’t… right?” Javier sleepily added.

A pang of guilt occupied my chest that instant. I inhaled and exhaled, with nothing to reply him with.

In another life, Javier.

If things maybe happened differently… no abduction, no forced marriage, no blackmailing.

“I’d consider, maybe.” I seethed, untangling my hands from his. I shifted to the edge of the right-hand seat, looking out the window. Just like in time, Ambroz played, ‘The One That Got Away’ by Katy Perry from the car radio.

“I will…” I added subconsciously.

Staring at the tall trees made me get a déjà vu feeling. It was the same one I had back at the orphanage when I looked at the trees. Asking myself questions like…

Was there a place for me somewhere in this world? Would I die soon like those people the natural disaster took before the world ended? Why did I survive out of those people? Was I indeed special or a piece of crap who got lucky by chance?

“We’re there.” The car screeched, to a halt, as Ambroz said.

“We are?” I repeated. Javier opened his eyes, waking up from his sleep.

I had described the forests to them, knowing there was no road of anything sort to drive into. Lots of bushes grew overtime, covering paths due to the abandonment.

We got down instantly. I took my bag which Ambroz helped me carry this time.

“How far does this go?” Javier asked, staring ahead into the forest.

“Just a few walks and I’m at my district. It’s not far--"

“I remember!” Ambroz exclaimed. “We were here centuries ago, Javier.”

“Huh, really?”

“Yeah, remember those evil merchants who sold slaves making the mistake of trying to capture us?” he asked him.

“Cithara. This is Cithara, I remember now!” A glow lit up Javier’s face as he recalled it.

“What about it?” I asked, not understanding.

“Long story, you have to go now, cupcake.” Ambroz said.

“I give the pet names!” Javier growled.

I chuckled at the scene, coming to a realization. This…all this, I was going to miss it. Had to leave though. Had to…

“This is goodbye, I guess.”

“Yeah, Maya.” Javier gave me a short hug, while Ambroz shook me like Javier said he should.

I moved to go, walking away with my little bag in my arms. I stopped in my tracks, feeling some stinging sensations in my bite mark. I sniffled, ignoring it and looking back.

“T-Thanks both of you…” I trailed, before walking deep into the forest.