Chapter 2: The boy in the forest

Sharmaine collected all the wounds and pain, her face a little pained. The Mohini family made it impossible for her mother and her to see each other, every day Sharmaine's mother suffered to the extreme, because she fell in love with humans and gave birth to Sharmaine. Sharmaine was a sin that she could not deny.

Sharmaine wiped away her tears. The girl who did not belong to the human world, the girl who was despised by vampires. Since Sharmaine is an immortal, she exists in this world without a purpose. Sharmaine has only her mother, her mother is her only relative, no matter what, Sharmaine has to save her mother from the Mohini clan, which has made her mother suffer.

Standing in front of the tombstone, Sharmaine slowly put down the chrysanthemum. In front of her was her father, he had left this world for twenty years, he died the same way that humans die. Sharmaine couldn't do anything, she was forever young but she didn't belong to any world.

"Father, I'm useless." Sharmaine bowed her head.

“I can't protect my mother, I can't die like a human, but I'm not as strong as a vampire either. You are just an existence that doesn't belong here."

Sharmaine is heartbroken, she has an immortal life, she has to watch her mother suffer and watch her father die of old age. People often dream of immortality, but the price of immortality is watching loved ones gradually disappear. She used to have friends and relatives, but they all disappeared one by one, resting in the eternal place.

"I'm confused, I don't know what to do myself, Dad, please tell me."

There was no answer, only the sound of the wind around.

"Don't worry, I will protect my mother and your wife with everything I have."

Sharmaine has lived alone for twenty years, she does not dare to be friends with anyone, does not dare to have feelings for a person with a finite life. Sharmaine is like an outsider of everything, she quietly watches the world change. If she is not strong, no one can help Sharmaine in this life.

"Sharmaine, you've always been that stupid, haven't you?" The voice rang out.

Sharmaine turned around, and the old woman in the black robe walked over with a cane. The gentle face, the white hair, the wrinkled skin, everything foreshadows an approaching death. Sharmaine wanted to run away but heard the woman speak.

"I know, you're not human, humans don't have an immortal life like you."

"I'm sorry."

This frail old woman had been Sharmaine's best friend in high school, the two girls grew up together, spent their youth years together but didn't grow old together. Sunny looked at Sharmaine, a gentle smile appeared.

"In my eyes, you're always beautiful and kind."

Sharmaine took Sunny's hand: "Thank you for not being afraid of me." Sharmaine left the place where she grew up because of the secret of immortality, parting with everyone close to her, but when they left this world, Sharmaine was still in a corner praying and sending her farewells.

Sunny saw her husband in the distance. Today, Sunny's family also visited the grave, unexpectedly meeting Sharmaine here.

"My husband knows your face, Sharmaine, hurry up."

Sharmaine longingly hugged Sunny. The price of immortality is the pain of leaving everything familiar. Sharmaine used to cover her face, suddenly heard Sunny's voice: "Sharmaine, I know you are not such a self-deprecating person and don't smile like that, I hope you can be happy. Every difficulty you face is only God's desire to test you."

Sharmaine returned: "Thanks, Sunny."

The child ran to Sunny's feet: "Grandma, who is that girl?"

Sunny took her granddaughter's hand: "As a friend of yours, come on, we need to do a lot of work today." Sunny's gaze followed the direction Sharmaine had left, this meeting was probably the last time she saw her childhood friend. Sunny would never let Sharmaine know, she had known she was immortal since Sharmaine was forty years old, her beauty was still the same as in her twenties.

--

The forest filled with fragrance, Sharmaine looked up at the blue sky. Sharmaine's eyes were closed, she was praying for something. Suddenly Sharmaine heard the noise, she curiously followed the sound.

A boy about eight years old was sleeping under a tree, blond hair like a ray of sunshine, skin as white as porcelain, lips as red as blood. The baggy clothes didn't suit his body, Sharmaine approached, he didn't wake up, he was fast asleep.

Sharmaine's hand reached out, her eyes appeared contemplative, her lips pursed. In that moment, Sharmaine unintentionally smiled, this smile had not been seen for a long time, but when she met this boy, Sharmaine smiled again.

The boy in his dream felt someone's hand touching his hair. The boy slowly opened his eyes. The girl in front of the boy smiled at him. Black hair brushed past his hands, touching soft skin. The boy unconsciously stepped back on guard, who was this girl? And who are you?

Sharmaine sensed his concern and withdrew his hand, sitting across from him: "Hi, I'm Sharmaine Halley."

“Sharmaine Halley?” He replied to her words.

“Yes, my name is Sharmaine, and you, what is your name?”

The boy looked at himself and lowered his head, seemingly thinking: "I don't know." The boy's mind was completely blank, without any memory or understanding.

Sharmaine pointed to the necklace around the boy's neck: "Your name is Augustus Stephen."

Augustus looked at the necklace around his neck, on which was engraved the word Augustus Stephen. Augustus also sensed, this seems to be his name. But Augustus has no memory, wakes up to see a black-haired girl, surrounded by trees, small himself.

Sharmaine smiled, she extended her hand to Augustus: "Look, little Augustus seems to have lost his mind, if so, I will raise you?"

Augustus doubted: “Are you going to raise me?”

Sharmaine nodded: "You're only about eight years old, got lost again and passed out in the woods, waking up with no memory at all. For the time being, just to keep you safe, I will take care of you, until you grow up or your parents find you. Then I'll let you go."

Augustus looked at the girl, sensing the harmlessness from Sharmaine: “Are you sure you're a normal person? What's wrong with your mind?"

“A weak girl like me, what can I do to you?”

Augustus thought, right now his head hurts so much that he can't think much, all memories are hazy. This girl, though strange, did not make Augustus disgusted and wary.

Can an eight-year-old child have these thoughts?

Augustus reached out and grabbed Sharmaine's skirt: "Okay, I'll stay with you for the time being."

Sharmaine looked at Augustus's attitude, is this the attitude of living off?

“Are you going to change your mind?”

"I'm afraid you'll change your mind."

"Then I'll stay with you." Augustus said unconsciously.