Chapter one hundred and twenty three. Anastasia's POV. The dining room is lit with dull lights in the colors blue and red, spread out such that they give the room a sensual sense and, at the same time, a beauty that captures my attention. Apart from that, the dining table seems weirdly long, with just two chairs arranged so that they are vertically opposite each other. Then, there are foods spread out on the table. I wonder how I'd pick the apple in the middle of the table. As I watch the decorations, I allow myself to calm down, knowing that tonight would go well. I didn't talk much with Hillary about it, so I don't know what could happen. By the way, there are people in the room. Apart from the vampires at the door, guarding that spot, I see chefs setting up the table. Almost done. I wonder if there are also vampires. Soon, they are done, and in no time, the guards open the door. My eyes shift there almost instantly when I hear the soft creak. There is Nicholas, gracing the ro
Chapter one hundred and twenty four.Anastasia's POV. Nicholas is watching me with a facial expression I cannot decipher, but I know he isn't being a dickhead at the moment. I continue with my food, while he has stopped. Since we've been here, I've noticed he's drinking more from the stainless cup in front of him, being held mildly by two of his fingers around the handle. I think it may contain blood. And strangely enough, it did not freak me out. I drop my fork and focus on him. "Are we starting a conversation or not?"He scoffs, his lips being lined to the left. "Well, can I not appreciate your beauty, Anastasia?""Well, if you waste my time, you'll find this face not sharing its beauty with you." I say back, almost instantly, and he chuckles lowly. He shakes his head at me afterward. "The way you act is very stubborn. It's befitting.""Perhaps we can start by learning what you mean by that?" As much as my statement may have sounded, I am trying to ask him when he's going to tel
Chapter one hundred and twenty five.Anastasia's POVA few minutes pass before he asks me a question: "How did you feel when you knew you were my mate? And by that, I mean, when you really understood what it meant to be a vampire's mate, my own mate?" Why did I sense a great form of possession in that last interrogative sentence? Or maybe it's just my mind playing a trick on me...I hum, not exactly knowing how to answer a question as such. "Well, I don't know." And till now, I have no idea how I'm supposed to work with that...And you know, there is a long list of many obstructions that this has. First, you are a being who doesn't die. I do. It can't even work. You won't age, but I would, and it would not even make any sense. Second, I would never want to be with someone who has a lot of enemies and who has also killed people that I cherish. It means I am gaining more enemies and I have nothing with which to protect myself. Plus, I cannot have my children already having people who wan
Chapter one hundred and twenty six. Anastasia's POV.Nicholas is next to me, his eyes checking at me through the corners, and I smile at myself, inwardly of course. I acted as though I didn't know. As a vampire, he could know that I know, but as long as he isn't talking about it, I don't care. Soon, we arrive in front of a new door. Nicholas opens the new door yet again with his mind. "I see it's something of the norm here." "You all don't know how to open doors with your hands?" I ask with a little sarcasm in my tone, and he chuckles. "Well, well," is all he states as he smiles. "Please..." his voice trails off again as he stretches his hand forward for me to take. I squint my eyes with hesitation before heading in, but then, after a few seconds of staring into his eyes and noticing that he's only just smiling at my childish act, I walk inside. This space is dim, with a few scented candles spread out. I wandered my eyes around, not seeing much, but at least I was able to see a
Chapter one hundred and twenty seven. Anastasia's POV. Do you remember that time when you were typing on your phone and you needed your hands to dry so you could type faster, but then that's when you'd start feeling the sweats coming on and you'd try to control them, but it would be impossible? And the more you fight against it, the more your palms have reason to want to sweat the more. Funny for someone who is a writer and is a palm-sweater, if that makes sense as a meaning for it. Anyway, what happened in my thoughts is exactly what happened to Nicholas. Although, now, he is leading the way to my room. He walks beside me, his eyes gazing downward. I feel somewhat judgmental about his feelings, more like I may have caused them. I mean, I did prompt him to act like that, but if I learned anything tonight, it is that he really does not want to hurt me, at least not physically. We are close to the hallway, and around the corner is where the door to my room is. Oh, yes, back to what
Chapter one hundred and twenty eight. Chapter. Nicholas's POV. It is two weeks, three days, and five hours after the dinner with Anastasia. My monster and I, as much as we never agreed on what happened that night, and despite my annoyance at him for losing control and almost drinking from her when we both know he cannot control it, we are glad that, in a sense, we have been able to make her see us as something other than a demon, which she used to believe before. Now, I am in my room, awaiting the arrival of my brothers. The Brother's Feast is tonight. It is finally here. It is finally happening tonight. By the way, Enit'ayanf is still here, so I am not bothered by him. And to be honest, I know the others would arrive early except for Cornelius, Raven, and Cyrus, who are bosses of their own and like to give me some pain in the ass. I have worn my wooden trousers and put on the black shoes. I am wearing the shirt when the door opens. My sense of smell took over, and without e
Chapter one hundred and twenty nine. Anastasia's POV. I can't help but think of how he could have gotten in contact with me. I mean, this phone isn't supposed to reach anyone else but the vampires around me, and not even just any vampire around me, but the one I am familiar with, so this is just a great shocker that he could reach me. I placed the phone close to my ears again, and this time I could only hear his hard breathing. It made me guess he is very pissed, like, palm-twitchingly pissed...at me? Who knows? "Cole Hunter?" I sound more like I'm affirming than asking for confirmation, and I have a low voice. "I see you have refused to use the object given to you, and tonight is the night these dead beings ought to die. Finally, you have cast yourself as one of them, Anastasia, and for that, I am deeply ashamed of your existence. You're a traitor to everyone in your race, and you must know that. With that said, if you're never allowed to be seen with any human ever again,
Chapter one hundred and thirty. Nicholas's POV. My legs dive through the air, my body heading towards the scene of the fight. At this point, in my mind, I knew I'd had enough with Cole Hunter. I won't let him bother me again, and at this stage, I have a way to achieve that. And that's also why I'm trying not to let Anastasia know anything about it, as I know that if she found out, she would want to stop me. Anyway, arriving at the scene of the fight, I soon sense that Hillary and Enit'ayanf are already diverting their attention from my behind. They are heading to find Cyrus and Raven individually while I focus on Cornelius. Sooner than later, I see his vehicle in the distance. As fascinated and astonished as I am by thr fact thay I cannot snell his scent neither can I connect with him because of the content infused in the air, however, I make my way towards hin and arriving there, once he sees mu presence, the idiot smirks. "And how did you find me, brother?" He smirks even hard
Chapter one hundred and forty four.Anastasia's POV. Rare. This is the first time, I will see the birds so close that they flap their wings to keep them in balance near the closed window. Their chirping sound along with the wavering of the trees and blaring horns from the distance awakens me fully and that's when I notice the uncomfortablilty that the birds are in. Smiling to myself as I sit up to take a close look at them from the inside, I carefully open the window. I savour the beautiful skin of theirs. Beautiful. So beautiful.A bird from the crew, all of the sudden, flies over into the room and in my attempt which is involuntary to help myself out from the shock it gave me, I let out my hands and unintentionally hit the bird away, letting it fall down outside. The others flies away, surely in fear."Oops, sorry bird. I didn't mean to. And thanks for being my new alarm." I call after them as they fly away. God, it's morning. The gym I'm suppose to go with Carl. I rush out of the
Chapter one hundred and forty three. Anastasia's POV. Monday comes quickly, indicating my first day at Franklin regional senior high school. I make sure to wake up before mom comes knocking on my door as if she wants to yank it off. Taking a quick shower and other morning hygiene routine in the same hurrying mode, I start to dress up in a simple plain blue shirt; black rough jeans, coupled with a light makeup.I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I look appropriately to my age of seventeen, having silver grey eyes — rare in my family since dad has brown hazel eyes, while mom has amber — that looks a bit too big to fit inside my small socket; beige warm undertone skin, rhyming with my darker shade of blonde hair and light blonde eyebrows and lids. The mirror easily captures my figure of five feet, four inches. I turn to the bed, checking the time from the alarm clock next to the lamp, who's figure is resting atop the cabinet. It's seven-thirty and school will be starting in abo
Chapter one hundred and forty two. Anastasia's POV. "I felt the same as you when I knew them at first. The way they behave; the way they don't talk much, especially the guy, yet girls fall at his feet. I'm quite sure he doesn't even talk to them before they invite him to their bed. Their hospital baffles me as well, they always have this repetitive sets of people that patronize them for blood bags. It's a weird thing, but don't worry, I don't think they bite. More also, their hospital is approved by the government. You would forget them, existing in weeks more." Shade says to me, glancing at me through her natural, long lashes every now and then. "They'll soon appear as a shadow to you."I don't think I can forget them, the guy particularly, as he's like a stain I can't wash off. The way he looks at me at the walkway, I can still remember it. It is as if I'm seeing the same scene unfolds right in front of me again, and again, and again. "Maybe. How are your parents Shade?"She smil
Chapter one hundred and forty one. Anastasia's POV. Three weeks has passed and life hasn't been so fair to me. For Shade, her project is going fine, meaning fate is supporting her unlike me, who's sadden almost every time. She's submitted the atheistic portrait and it's pending, I think she'll get result of her success tonight which is the time the company gave to respond back to her. Mia, on the other side has changed completely— she and Shade are bossom best of friends. They spend time together than with each of them with me. Not that they wouldn't, but I haven't been paying much attention to them. I'm busy on offering my end of the bargain — finding out who Nicklaus Original is. And I don't care about distancing myself from my friends at all, finding Nicklaus hidden identity is my main priority. And I can't explain the obsession. It's like a charm— if that makes sense.When the bell rings, startling me as I'm brooding over my plans of discovery for today, totally not hearing al
Chapter one hundred and forty. Anastasia's POV. The conversation with Ylfa was, what's the word?, not very inspiring, and I do not think I would want to discuss anything further with her. I can tell it is unintentional, but when I am around her, she makes me feel like I am a mistake. As though it were my fault that I was back here,Fine, I do know that I'm a danger around them, but it wasn't my fault that Yaya Luna brought me back here. I am not being selfish here. And if need be or anything occurs, I will try my very best to make sure no one gets hurt because of me. And, oh, by the way, I almost forgot, but I brought the pistol Cole Hunter gave me. Actually, it wasn't intentional, but because of the meeting, I had put it in the trouser of the clothes I was wearing, and when Luna Daciana came to take me, I figured I did not need to put it down. We may need it on the way, and funny enough, I forgot again that it was with me until I changed this morning. I never thought I would use i
Chapter one hundred and thirty nine. Anastasia's POV. In a few minutes, we arrive in front of the door to my room. I smile at Luna Daciana as I turn to face her. By the way, I've been touching the pendant since without even noticing, as the tingling sensation would come in occasionally. At this point, I believe that it isn't coming from my head anymore, but I don't even think of complaining to her. "So, I guess I should leave you to your own space." She says, and I nod my head, affirming her. "Thanks, again, for today, and I'm so happy to be here, regardless of all that I said earlier." I refer back to what I said back in the storage room. She rolls her eyes as she waves me off with her left hand. "Don't sweat it." And with that, she clears her throat and takes one step backwards, away. "Sleep well, Anastasia.""Nighty night, Luna Daciana."She pouts. "Nah, we aren't back to doing that." What do I say? "We are Ana-mates." When she says that, I laugh. Does that even make sense?
Chapter one hundred and thirty eight. Anastasia's POV. My hands are tapped by someone else's, and I wake up with a gasp. It was more like bolting from the bed, actually. To be honest, my senses are actually at their peak here, and I can't say it's my fault. I mean, I'm literally still in danger and scared of whatever could happen to these werewolves and she-wolves just because their Luna decided to add to their plan, changing everything. Absolutely everything. I sigh and place my left hand on my chest when I see that it is Luna Daciana. "Sorry. "You know, I haven't gotten much sleep lately." I tell her, and she nods with a small smile on her face. I actually admire her understanding of my emotions and abilities as a human who's not supernatural like she is or any other of them are. I had dozed off earlier, and she's just waking me up. I now remember that she wanted to discuss something with me, and I'm guessing that's the reason why she had woken me up. By the way, I'm even glad
Chapter one hundred and seven. Anastasia's POV In the last few minutes since we've been here, resting, I have come near the fire to warm myself up. There is no snow falling here, but the cold is not comforting at all. By the way, there is a lake across from where we are sitting, and it's also bringing in mosquitoes around here. Anyway, apart from that and the cold, I think I'm a little okay. My mind is even at rest from all the running since yesterday night. At this point, a part of me believes that we cannot be found by Nicholas's men any more. We have distanced ourselves from the kingdom a lot. I caught Luna staring at me for the second time, and I think I just should speak out right now. "Why are you staring at me like that...or sort of glaring?" I ask a question, and she chuckles almost instantly. She isn't trying to lie, and she isn't, as she only finds it funny when I don't. I'm rather frowning, confused. "I am glaring at you." "That is offensive to say, right?" I say m
Chapter one hundred and thirty six. Nicholas's POV. As vampires, we are gifted with the power to bend some forces of nature. It didn't always used to be there until the time when the witches and wizards went into extinction. Most of us believe that we were gifted with these powers to show that nature still exists. Show that magic was never made so it can go into extinction along with the creatures meant to wield it. Anyway, I'm using this now for my own choices. Breathing in strongly, I run inhumanely towards the beach. My feet, because of the height of my speed, rove up heavy gusts of wind into the air. And the more I increase my acceleration, the greater the gust. Then, reaching the ocean, I head into it and begin swimming. I am not weakened by the change in gravity. My muscles help me move through the large body of water as though I am still on land and running towards something. In no time, I reach the ground of the water, and then, settling on its surface, I position myself