(Kate)“DID you receive the flowers, sis?” I remembered Terrence asking me before via phone call.I embraced the bouquet of yellow roses and nodded even if I know that he couldn’t see me at the moment. “I did, but what are these for? It’s not like it’s my birthday today-oh, wait.” I stopped and glanced at the calendar that I hung on the wall when I realized the date today. “It is indeed our birthday. I’m sorry, Terrence. I forgot again. I just came back from a mission. I didn’t notice the date.”We treated the day we were found by the nuns as our birthday. Between us, Terrence had always been more thoughtful. He would always send me flowers during days like this.“It’s okay. I understand.”I bit my lower lip. We were both busy. And yet, he still remembered. “This is so embarrassing. I didn’t even get you a gift again.”He laughed. “I told you it’s okay. You don’t have to buy me anything. For my birthday gift, can I just make a request instead?”“Anything, Terrence. Anything at all. Ju
(Zachary)THE SPELL had been lifted. Unlike the first time when Kate got emotional in the rose palace, tonight, there was no rain. The wind was calm and gentle. Silence filled the air. No one was moving, including the guests and the owner of the manor, as if they were afraid to create even a little sound that would distract her.Kate remained staring at the knight’s face. We now knew who he was. We had heard their conversation; we heard them weep for all the lost times. We had witnessed their final reunion. Terrence may be using another person’s face and body, but we clearly saw him break down.We saw how the siblings shatter. The royal family died a tragic death. Kate was now officially the last surviving member from the Gregory clan. They were all victims of the century-old war between the witches, hunters, and vampires. The twins were the ones who loved each other the most in this world, and yet, they ended up pointing their swords at each other. All we could do was watch from afar
AFTER confirming the witches’ location, I did not waste time anymore. I kicked the steel gate of the two-storey house where the witches had been hiding and immediately set their hideout on fire.I heard them shriek. The furious warriors broke the door. We found the witches in the middle of casting their spell, all of them were sitting on the floor. They formed a circle and were holding each other’s hands while chanting but Jonathan and Damon were quick to throw their swords at the witches’ heads.Despite the two witches who died, the chanting did not stop. Instead, their voices became louder. The warriors’ ears bled, but none of them stopped from marching forward.I allowed these little devils to live before. I gave them mercy when they begged me thinking that they could not do any harm to me and my people anyway. It was just recently when I discovered that they were the ones backing up Dimitri’s disciples.Showing them mercy was my mistake. That same mercy I gave them had bounced bac
I OPENED the bathroom door and saw Kate throwing up all the food she had eaten at the restaurant. The morning after we went in the witches’ den, she invited us to go to the beach. I obliged; I was somehow relieved that she didn’t lock herself up in our room.Mira was also excited because it was our first family trip together.Just like before, we didn’t use any of our magical prowess. I drove the car with Kate on the passenger seat and Mira on the back. The warriors followed but they kept a low profile and made sure to put a reasonable distance between us as they fulfill their duties.The three of us watched the sunrise together. Kate was even smiling as she created a sandcastle with our daughter. And when lunch time came, we ate in the closest seafood restaurant. It looked like a normal day.Except that it was not.Kate tried all the menu in the restaurant. She had eaten more than she normally did. She listened with a smile to Mira’s stories about our date in the amusement park. She
Three months later…(Kate)THE VIEW was worth it. Terrence’s grave was located on top of the hill along with our parents. I’d seen it from below, the colorful flowers which could only be found here. There were nine petals in each flower and every petal had a different color. I heard they bloom all year round and give off this amazing scent.The hill was a two-hour climb. I didn’t use my abilities because I wanted to climb it through my own efforts.I lit three candles in front of their tombstones and sat on the grass. I only gained the courage to leave my room and visit them all today.I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it yet. I thought I would need more time. I thought it would still hurt so much.But this morning when I woke up and found Mira and Zachary sleeping by my side, I remember smiling for the first time after three months. When I opened my eyes and saw them, I no longer felt cold. Instead, I began to feel warm inside again.Unlike me, I knew that Zachary and Mira had been
THE WEDDING was only a month away. We could no longer postpone it. The Council had given us enough time already. Even if Zachary was the king, he could not afford to stop it anymore. The ministers were rushing the wedding because of the crowning ceremony. It would follow right after the wedding.The public also feel obligated to put me-Dayanara and Valentino’s heir-to the throne, and to officially recognize Mira as the kingdom’s princess.I’m currently sitting on the bed and was reading the wedding details when Zachary had stepped out of the bathroom wearing only his white robe. He was busy wiping his hair when he caught me staring at him. He smirked before he sauntered towards the bed.It had been a while since we had a time like this together.Back then, even if Mira was in school and he came home early, he didn’t do anything beyond giving me a hug and a kiss on the temple. His monthly rut had finally stopped although I knew he still had needs.How many times did I see him going to
“HOW was the boy?” I asked, my heart was pounding. “Please tell me that he’s okay.”Jonathan smiled. “He is okay, your highness. I talked to the school director and according to him, the princess managed to come back to her senses on time. She had him drink her blood. I heard that the boy is doing fine now; he had recovered faster than usual because of her blood. Still, the princess must be shocked that’s why she ran away.”I was not aware that I was holding my breath while waiting for Jonathan’s answer. Mira had not fed again ever since living in the city.“I grew up in this city, your highness, so please trust me when I say that what happened was a normal occurrence to young vampires,” Jonathan assured me as he glanced at me through the rearview mirror. “We are all immortals here, there was no way the princess could kill her friend through feeding alone unless that boy is a human. They would study about that in their next lessons.“Not to mention that the princess acted fast and too
I CLENCHED my hands as I stride inside the castle. We made a rule the day Mira accidentally fed on her classmate to make sure that it would never occur again. And I thought we were already clear on that matter but as soon as I finished trying my wedding gown, I received news about the father and daughter duo.I think it was time to break their tandem.Zachary had volunteered to personally teach our daughter about feeding.I didn’t want Mira to get used to feeding on her classmates and friends. I didn’t want her to lose control again and to hate herself for it again. We agreed that she would only drink through the blood bags.It had only been a few days since we set the rule and now, I heard that Mira fed on a black rose and her wonderful father allowed her to do so.I didn’t need to search for them anymore. The two walking disasters were already in the living room. I was so furious that I wanted to hit Zachary in the head and lecture Mira, but I stopped when I saw the duo kneeling on