Ragnor came into the house after half an hour and covered her with a blanket and went away again. Clara woke up and was surprised to see she was covered with a blanket. She tried to recall at what time she had gone to pick up a blanket. Her body ached badly from squeezing herself onto the small sofa. She had slept on the sofa as she could not sleep in the big bed without Ragnor. With her aching body, she headed for the kitchen. The usual aroma of food she smelled in the morning was not there. The kitchen was empty. Her gaze moved to the stove and she imagined Ragnor standing there making her breakfast. She opened the cabinet and made herself some tea with toasted bread, that was what she was good at preparing. She sat behind the dining table alone, eating in silence. The whole house felt suddenly too big. It was empty and extremely quiet. The food in her mouth didn't have the taste she loved so much. She was not sure how he did it, but this was not how she liked it. He was not ther
"Why, why must you be a vampire" she cried. "I am lonely without you. I love you but I am also scared," Clara broke down crying. She knew this wouldn't happen if Ragnor was around, but she was also afraid of what could happen to her if he allowed him back into her life. Ragnor did try to bite her one time. What if he grabs her like that again in the future and this time decides to bite her? Who will save her? The more she thinks about it, the harder she cries clutching their portrait which she was holding close to her chest. Back in the forest, Andrews, after hours of walking in the forest, had made it to the roadside. He stood there, drenched in sweat and dirt, trying to stop any car that passed by for help but they kept ignoring him. His current appearance makes him look suspicious. "Hey, please help" he shouted at a truck driving towards him. He waved his hands in the air trying to get the truck to stop but it drove past him missing him by a couple of inches. "Wow! I need a r
Clara was not exactly sure where she was going but she just kept walking. She was not sure how long she had been walking but she saw a nearby bench and went to sit on it hugging her knees. From there, she watched the people going about their routines and cars passing. "Hey, are you alright?" Clara heard a voice which seemed to be far away. She put her feet down and held her head in her palm with her elbows resting on her knees. "Miss?" she heard the voice again. She felt this time the voice was inside her head, so she shook her head helplessly in her hand as she covered both ears with her hands. She jumped out of fright when she felt a hand tapping her back. "I am sorry to have startled you but are you okay?" came the gentle voice of a woman who was in her mid-forty. The woman was casually dressed and had her hair parted in the centre flowing down her shoulder. She was wearing a spectacle. Clara looked at her with dull eyes and the woman sat down next to her on the bench. The wo
"I don't think......" Andrews began but paused before he could complete his statement as he remembered that Jessica was a vampire and could smell Clara if she was around. How did he forget that? He was momentarily surprised but snapped out of the mood immediately and started thinking of possible places Clara could have gone to. "She was broken. She may have wandered off," Andrews said to Jessica "I will find her," he quickly added and left the house. Jessica returned with the driver back to the hotel. She immediately informed Princess Siku about Clara's disappearance. Andrews, after roaming the streets till afternoon, returned to the hotel planning on what to tell Jessica and Princess Siku. "How could Clara disappear like that or the prince came for her?" Andrews thought as he entered the hotel and headed for Jessica and Siku's room. Back at the villa, Clara opened her eyes and jumped seeing the man lying next to her. She pushed far away from him and eventually got out of bed. S
"You are safe my love, at least for now," Ragnor whispered hiding in the garage of Vivienne's villa. Ragnor sneaked out of the compound knowing Clara was in a safe place but he stayed in the neighbourhood to watch over her. He had become a wanderer, walking on the streets during the day and spending the night on the roof of the house where Clara slept.At the hotel, Andrews had returned without Clara and no news of her whereabouts. He knocked on the door, after concluding what to say to get himself out of trouble. He entered when he heard a voice inviting him to enter. Andrews entered the room and closed the door behind him and came face to face with four eyes staring at him. He swallowed knowing the wrong words may cost him his life. In silence, the two ladies stared at him awaiting his explanation. Beads of sweat formed on Andrews's forehead. He placed his hand in his pocket to make him feel better. He attempted to let them know what had happened with the explanation he had planne
Meanwhile, Gabrielle was coming to the dining area, and she heard her mum welcoming the stranger to their home as the stranger's new home. Gabrielle got furious and walked out of the house. She took her bike, put on her helmet, and went out of the compound.Clara acknowledges the kind gesture of Vivienne. After lunch, they both left for the poolside with Vivienne leading the way. The pain in Vivienne's arm had subsided so she ignored it.Vivienne sat in one of the chairs and gestured for Clara to also sit. Once seated Clara began, "Thanks Ma'am, but can I ask a question?" "Sure, go ahead," replied Vivienne with a smile."You don't know me, but you seem to care so much for me. Forgive me for asking, I am simply curious to know why?" Clara asked fidgeting with her fingers.Recalling Ragnor's warning about Andrews and what Andrews did she wanted to be more careful.Vivienne smiled and said, "I know it is strange," She turned her gaze from Clara and was now looking at nothing. Vivienne
The servant looked outside but didn't see anything and returned inside dismissing Gabrielle's words as drunk speech. She sent Gabrielle to her room and helped Gabrielle change into something comfortable before she returned to her room to sleep.Back in Clara's room, Ragnor held Clara in his arms as he watched her peaceful sleeping face. Occasionally she will call his name in her sleep and tighten her grip around him. At about 4:30 a.m., Ragnor carefully pulled himself out of bed and exited the room by flying out the window. "Good morning, ma'am Vivienne," came Clara's sweet voice as she descended the stairs at 8 a.m. "Ah! Someone is in high spirits today," Vivienne said smiling, "Had a good night's sleep?" "Yes. I think the talk we had did me some good. It almost felt like he was still with me. I also had a beautiful dream. It felt so real but yeah, waking up this morning, I knew it was just a dream," Clara replied. Vivienne looked at her questioningly, "You created an image of h
Gabrielle entered the house smiling but she stopped when she saw her mum heading for the staircase."Who or what is making her smile?" Vivienne thought seeing Gabrielle smile as this was never her habit.Gabrielle walked past her mother and went into her room looking angry like always.Vivienne shook her head in resignation. She had seen Gabrielle smiling earlier so why the sudden anger? Vivienne ignored Gabrielle and proceeded to do what she had on her mind.It was six, Saturday morning and Clara was still in bed. Ragnor had already left early hours in the morning before the sun started coming up. "Clara, are you still sleeping?" came a voice after a knock. Clara opened her eyes and squinted her face waiting to hear the knock again to confirm someone was at her door. "Clara, can I come in please?" came the voice again after another knock. Clara sat on the bed and ran her hands through her hair, "Come in, the door is not locked,"Clara was surprised to see Gabrielle. It's been week
Emily, who was standing at the entrance of the bedroom, closed her eyes and began to glow, Clara's eyes widened seeing a glowing little girl at the door. She pulled away from the embrace, looking at Ragnor puzzled."Brother do whatever comes to mind," said Emily."Distract her," Ragnor thought and he changed into his flying form and kissed ClaraRagnor used what Clara liked to distract her. He started glowing and Clara smiled wrapping her arms around him forgetting the glowing little girl at the door as she responded to his kisses. Inside the room, George was forced to protect his eyes and he moved back as the glow in the room became too bright with Emily, Nyota, Ragnor and Clara all glowing together. The glow slowly began to fade and the room returned to its original light. It was almost 5 a.m. and the top floor of the palace glowing, had attracted some people to the area wondering what was happening. Ragnor smiled seeing Clara was now breathing and her body temperature had become w
"I only have one question. Did she want to come back?" Emily asked walking towards Nyota."Yes, she wanted to come back but Emily it was not easy pulling her out of the place," Nyota replied and Emily smiled.While they were talking, Ragnor was just sitting on the bed, in the same position staring at Clara while holding her hand in his. He couldn't hear any of the conversation going on around him. All he could feel was the emptiness accompanied by the immersed pain of the loss of his beloved. George and Nyota led Emily out of the room and back to her room. They sat her down and tried to talk her out of what she wanted to do."Emily, I know you love and care a lot about Aunty Clara but you are not healing a sickness or something, you are using her body as a medium to connect with her soul to pull her back. Emily, you know you can die doing that," George said worriedly."Emily, I know you want to help, but this is dangerous. You don't have a fighting ability; how will you protect yourse
"Please tell me she is still alive," said Nyota whose eyes were still moist with tears.Ragnor sat on the bed looking at Clara who looked more like she was sleeping but her body temperature was cold. George walked towards Nyota and hugged her tightly."I wish I could but we are going to try to bring her back," George said and pulled away from Nyota and looked into her tears-stained eyes."You have connected with her soul before. Ragnor will get the poison out and heal her body. I need you to be strong once he is done. You will call her back," George said."She was not dead when I did that. I am not sure if that will work with her ......" Nyota's voice thrilled off. "She is still not dead. She is like, what we say, in a coma but if we don't do anything she will die for real," George said and inhaled deeply. "Nyota, don't look at it that way. Her mind is still alive and her heart beats faintly. You connected with a soul before, that is more important and you can connect again. For Ragno
"Let me call Ragnor," George said and immediately searched for his phone. Back at Andrews's apartment, Gabrielle was walking down the road carrying her baby at Andrews's command. She could not control her tears and as she walked away from their apartment in the night, she turned to look behind a couple of times at Andrews, who was still standing in front of the apartment watching her back and kept on urging her to go. Killing Clara was like touching the lion by the tail, there was no way Andrews would escape death. He just wanted to ensure no matter what happens to him, Gabrielle and the baby will be safe. Ragnor's roar which was shaking the whole building could still be heard. Hearing Ragnor roar, you don't need a soothsayer to tell you the immense pain he was going through for the loss of his beloved. Inside the building, Ragnor was still kneeling next to Clara's body, uncontrollable tears flowed down his face as he continued to roar into the silent night. His fangs had already
Ragnor sat on the roof waiting and thinking of how to rescue both mother and child.Andrews was pacing up and down his apartment wondering if Ragnor could save his family without him having to kill Clara. Clara is in the palace and for him to go there would be too suspicious and calling her would be equally suspicious. He knew at this moment it would be difficult to get to Clara without raising any suspicion. Back in the palace, Clara was sitting on the bed in deep thought wondering if Ragnor was okay and if Andrews's family was out of danger. Emily was with Nyota asking so many questions as it was her first time visiting the city. George was resting in his room as he was working on some changes they would like to implement in the city. Ragnor had come to the full realization of his power and could control them very well so George was not bothered about what was happening with Siku and Andrews's family. George was certain everything would be fine. Siku cannot walk free this time. Cla
"Please come quick, Siku is, she is, please help," Andrews cried and ended the call."I hope this will get them here faster. Clara, I am so sorry for what I am about to do. Please forgive me," Andrews said and quickly called Gabrielle's phone which Siku answered immediately."Ragnor is coming back tonight. Please don't harm my baby. I will do as requested," Andrews said."Now, that is what I want to hear. You see, things are a lot easier if you just listen and obey," Siku said and laughed. "Since you have been a good lad, I will let you see your wife briefly," she said and put on the phone camera. Andrews saw Gabrielle tied up to a chair, her hair dishevelled and a cloth tied around her mouth. The baby was lying on the bare carpet. Seeing the tears flowing down Gabrielle's face and the baby on the floor crying, he felt a sharp pain in his heart."Please, Princess, I beg you, let the baby lie on a bed or something, it's too cold to lie on the bare floor. I beg you. He is just a child,"
"Gabrielle, where are you? is everything alright?" he questioned "Hello, Andrews," came Siku's voice and the colour drained off Andrews immediately upon recognizing the person. "How did she get into the city?" Andrews thought with eyes widened, concerned about the safety of his wife and child. "Did you miss me?" Siku asked and laughed, knowing from his silence, he was in shock. "Okay, let's not make me do anything nasty which will get my newly purchased carpet stained with blood. Cleaning items are costly in this city," she said nonchalantly "Please, don't harm them, I would do anything you ask of me. I promise," came Andrews's trembling voice. "Now, that is something I like but unfortunately it seems it's too late for you Andrews because there is nothing you can do for me unless you already have a plan that would work," Siku said. "Just tell me what you want and I will get it for you, please don't harm my wife and child," Andrews pleaded. "Ha......ha......ha...... ha," Si
"A couple of days more and I do away with this facade is quite exhausting," Siku thought and proceeded to her bedroom. The next day, Andrews and Gabrielle arrived in the Immortal City with their newborn. Gabrielle was already exhausted from the trip, so once they entered their home, she decided to take advantage of the baby sleeping to also get some rest. Andrews, however, went to the palace to greet the King and inform him of his return. He was just in time as Ragnor and Clara were about to leave for Matara to go pick up Emily. "Welcome back," said Ragnor after Andrews greeted them. "Thanks, my king," Andrews replied and bowed respectfully. "I suppose you left Gabrielle in San Francisco?" asked Clara. "No, I came with her. She stayed back at home to rest. She is very tired from the trip," Andrews replied. "That is fine. Give her my love and tell her we will come to visit as soon as we return from Matara," Clara said. 'Thanks, Mrs Usiku," replied Andrews. "Wow, this is th
"You will come with me. We will fly," Ragnor said and Clara was happy. The next day, Ragnor was in a meeting with some council members and Nyota and Clara decided to take some time to admire the city. The city indeed had changed a lot with the new ideas of improvement. While in town they ran into Siku, Nyota frowned immediately upon seeing her but Clara happily greeted her. "Hello princess," Clara said with a smile and Siku smiled back shyly. "Please, just call me Siku," Siku said and lowered her gaze. Nyota frowned but was shocked by what she witnessed. If someone had told her, that Siku had a twin or clone version of herself with a different mind, she would believe it. She thought looking at Siku shocked. "I can't address you like that; you are still royalty," Clara pointed out and Siku sighed. "Clara, can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" Siku asked, looking at Clara. "Don't worry about it. The past is in the past. It's a new day. Let it go and forgive yourself too