A FEW WEEKS AGO IN AERITH, BEFORE THE GRAND BALL “Come on, follow me.” The four of us fitted ourselves in a steep and narrow path toward wherever it is Thaddaeus is taking us. Minutes ago, I was just enjoying the peace of the night on the balcony when he dragged me, along with Giovanni and Everleigh to go somewhere amazing. His words, not mine. “Just tell me, Thaddaeus,” I asked impatiently while I let him drag me quietly out of the Octavian Palace. Obviously, they wouldn't let us wander around Aerith again by ourselves after that encounter with the filthy vampires in the forest. “Ssh, Luna. The palace guards will hear you.” ”Forget it. I'm not coming if you're not going to tell me where you're taking me.” I took back my hands from his hold and crossed them to my chest. He keeps insisting on not telling because he wants it to be a little surprise. The last time we got to hang out was a disaster, and I have to be the bigger person among us. This guy does not know how much I am tr
"If you want to wish for something, say it out loud while on the verge of a cliff." His voice was like a touch of mellow music to my ears. The view is as beautiful as ever, but I wish l I can just stare at his face instead. A perfect image I will forever hold in my memory. "Is that the reason why you brought me here?" He's near. And we are looking at the same view. I realized that is more than enough. "Words are powerful... but wishes are magical." I smiled and I wished he knows how much I admire his mind. Where do I stand in that vast faculty of your thoughts? Can I ask for just a little place in your memory, instead? "I wish I can stop time." As if on cue, the wind blows gently on our faces. The trees swayed and the glazing sun hid behind the clouds. I closed my eyes and let my mind be blank... be of peace. "Why?" Giovanni. We are still here, enjoying the view from the cliff. His grip circled on me from behind, and me leaning on him. I have always been the kind of someone
Where and when does it exactly start? "They can not be trusted." Is it the moment when Arturo and Dominic told me? "Luna, they can not be trusted." Or when Everleigh did? All my life, in all the dark phases and light, I am surrounded by this family, by these very friends. And to think that I have been sheltered with lies for all that time is one of my greatest driving forces in making this happen. One thing is for sure, I have had enough. If running away from them would lead me towards everything that I want to know, then it would make every regret worth it. I only have myself now. And I have to trust no one. I woke up with a very bad disposition. That dream... was so weird. Or if it was really a dream to start with? There was no single image and I can only hear voices. And it all came from me. From my mind. It's as if hearing my mind talk. "You are finally awake." That voice was enough to completely wake my senses up. It sounded exactly like the voices in my dreams but I
“ARE YOU sure you want to do it alone?” Amadeo’s voice echoed from behind. I sighed quietly and grimaced. This is going to be a long conversation. This got to be one of the most quiet I have ever seen Oakcross. You can hear even the slightest sound crickets make. The wind whispers so silently as if it does not want to wake anyone. There is no single star in the skies, and the moon shines brightest above all. Which I found hilarious and odd at the same time. What is about to happen tonight is far from being peaceful. “I can handle myself, Amadeo.” I coldly answered as I continued combing my hair in front of the mirror. I purposely made my voice sound dismissive in the hope that he can already feel there is no changing my mind anymore and that he can stop. But to my surprise, he even leaned himself on the door jamb and crossed his arms as he continued staring at my reflection with a smirk on his lips. I rolled my eyes and shook my head in disbelief. “You should get ready by now, don
I WELCOMED the wind gushing toward my face as if it was a long-awaited guest and let it tickle the unfamiliar feeling of excitement and nostalgia inside of me. How long was it was since I last rode a wolf? Or being with a wolf, in general. I know it is weird for me to say I missed this but I will let myself free just this once. Free. That has always been the feeling of being with Nero back then. Whenever I am with him, I do not need to hide everything, and that there is no need to pretend. Being with Nero is freeing and fleeting. That is my inevitable truth. I made myself believe that I will only be going to meet him because I have no choice but to do so. Today, I realized that that is absurd. All along, I believed he has his reasons, and I am willing to listen to them. I raised my head when I felt Silvanna stop midway. For some reason, I found myself being alert and suspicious. “What? Why did you stop?” It must be because of my last night’s experience. I thought there is danger ag
What is a vampire’s life all about? One would usually think of blood and immortality, we’re just one supernatural being that consumes blood or flesh of the living, after all. To obtain youth and beauty. Power and aristocracy. As far as I remember, the moment consciousness laid on me, there is only one thing I felt. Coldness. All over my body, from the insides to the outside. It was cold beyond words. The kind of cold that will hold your body still, you are not able to move freely. And it was dark. Very dark and lonely. As I look at Nero, it became clearer to me. When I met him, the affection I never thought I needed was given to me. It was a big mistake, from the start but it feels so right. Nero feels so right. He is warmth. The warmth in the coldness I never thought I needed. “How have you been?” Nero looked at me with the same longing in his eyes and a faint smile. Silvanna is still nowhere to be found and I am not sure if she already knows he’s here. I did not know exactl
"CALM DOWN. They will get here in no time.” My feet stopped from pacing back and forth and looked at Amadeo, who is now sitting prettily by an old piece of wood, hitting a tobacco. I scoffed at him. “How are you so sure? Didn’t you see…” I gulped, “…what just happened to their home?” He puffed a cloud of smoke and calmly answered. “It was not your fault.” “How is that not my fault?” I scoffed in disbelief for the second time. I can’t help but to feel nervous. Nero’s reaction a while ago was the reaction I kind of expected already, and yet it is still nerve-wracking. What if they just left me alone here? What if… he does not want to see me again because of what happened? I looked over at Amadeo and glared. He clearly does not understand. This is the doing of Prometheus Valentin in an attempt to find me. Why he knows where I am planning to go exactly is genuinely freaking me out. There is just no way… he is that powerful. “And one more important thing,” I massaged my temple as I le
"FOC MODO! INVIENET eam!” [ I ran as fast and quiet as I could when I heard their voices approaching the bush I am hiding in. Biting my paled lips to stifle my cries, I felt the immense pain of the wounds coming from the different parts of my body. I clutched the hem of my bloody dress to be able to walk faster, swallowing the urge to scream and whimper. “You can’t die here, Luna. Run.” Even the voice in my head can only whisper. No. I won’t die here. The forest is unbelievably at its darkest tonight. Every wave of the harsh wind screams danger, with only the moonlight to guide me. I can feel my insides slowly dying but my fast pace is unwavering. While running, my eyeballs reddened when I tried to use my clairvoyance. There are fifteen, no, twenty vampires, chasing after me.I clutched tightly to the amulet, my senses