Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Vad’s Point of View

Pieces of chips crackled as the girls munched the fried potatoes and licked the cheese on the tip of their fingers. The crispy fried chips may look the same as what we have on Earth, but it tastes better. We circled all over the round table as they exchanged sassy conversation. They sat with their legs crossed and chin up like a well-groomed lady. It’s something that the current generation on Earth lacks.

The girl with curly hair delightfully spoke.

“Are you ready for tomorrow’s event?”

The girl with round glasses smiled at her.

“Yes. I’m so excited.”

“I can’t wait to see the fascinating fireworks.”

“I’m nervous. Who would it be? The chosen one.”

They giggled and filled the room with laughter. I wonder what they were blabbering about.

I cleared my throat and spoke.

“What’s the event tomorrow?”

They all looked at me.

“Oh, no one told you yet? It’s the most anticipated event.”

“Every 3 years during the full moon, they choose a Demi to enter the gate of paradise above us wherein he or she will become our watcher.”

“I don’t understand,” I said.

“Animies will randomly choose a Demi. They will guide him or her toward the gate of paradise. His or her sworn duty is to watch over us so we can live longer.”

“Ah. So you mean the Demis are the key for them to have a longer life. You are sacrificial beings,” I said.

That’s what it was all about. Animies need mortals to produce babies and offer them to the Gods.

“What? We don’t see it that way. We are not sacrificial beings. Being a watcher is a privilege.”

“In short, they are going to kill you,” I said.

Their eyes widened in shock.

“What are you talking about? Do not say such a word. That’s terrifying. They are not killing the Demis. They are guiding them to paradise.”

I shook my head.

“I can’t believe how naïve all of you could get. Paradise is a representation of heaven, and heaven is above us. When you say they are watching over us from above, it means they’re dead. For the Animies to survive, they have to kill a Demi to extend their life. I’ve been thinking about it all day long, and I think I have solved the puzzle. It is part of the curse,” I smirked.

They looked at me with confusion all over their faces.

“That’s a lie.”

“Don’t make up a tale.”

I stood up and smiled.

“Look at you, ladies. I don’t intend to ruin your innocent faces. I’m also surprised with the idea in my head. It should better not be true,” I said.

I turned my back on them and paused.

“If it is… know that they hid it from you because the truth is hard to swallow.”

I walked in search of Vior. She seems to know a lot of things, and she’s attached to Luxferre. I read through their eyes that they have a certain connection. Their intense gaze tells so much about what they feel for each other.

I went upstairs and glided my hand on the railings of the enormous staircase. It’s wider than what I had in my house before the IIF men destroyed it. They lined rooms with numbers on top of the door. I tiptoed to my feet to avoid producing a sound.

I put my hand on the doorknob and slowly sneaked in. There was no one inside room number one, only a neatly folded blanket and an antique bed. My feet tempted me to enter and find some clues to put the ritual hunting to an end.

I slid my fingers in the drawers of the cabinet. There, I found a stick made of light steel like a wand. It glittered with gold dust and a tiny crystal ball on its tip. There was a small notebook in the other drawer. I couldn’t figure out what they wrote because the letters were unfamiliar.

While I was flipping through the pages of the notebook, I saw a photograph hidden on the 112th page. It was Vior, standing beside a familiar man. They were smiling as he wrapped his hands around her waist. I narrowed my eyes to identify the man.

“Luxferre,” I uttered.

The man beside her was Luxferre. But it’s weird because he’s not a horrifying creature in the photo. He doesn’t have the body of a horse and the wings of a phoenix. He has two feet, looking completely like a human.

Something’s bothering me about it. Instead of finding answers, I have unlocked another question.

“What are they hiding?”

I heard footsteps in the corridor. It’s coming toward me, so I urgently searched for a corner to hide, but I couldn’t find one. My eyes diverted to the window and opened it. Without hesitation, I jumped off the window, not thinking about the height of the fall.

My backbone cracked as I landed and groaned in pain. I couldn’t stand straight as I walked like a drunken man. When I opened my eyes, I saw luminous lights. At first, I thought stars fell down to the ground. But as I looked closer, it was flowers. They were glowing.

I crept through the dark marble path. The place was so magical, like I was inside a storybook. The hair on my entire body stood up as the wind blew a freezing air. There was a fountain filled with flowing… gold? I rubbed my eyes to confirm my assumption.

Before I could get closer to the fountain, I saw two figures on a bench. I automatically hid behind the bush and peeped to see who they were. My eyes went bigger when it recognized who the man was. It was me!—I mean Kylo. What shocked me the most was her guts to let the head of a lady lay on my broad shoulders.

I revealed myself and approached them. It surprised her to see me as she pushed the girl away and her eyes moved urgently.

“You seem to have a lot of time flirting… to a girl,” I said with a straight face.

“Are you kidding me?” she hissed, acting like the idea makes her vomit.

“Who is she?” the girl asked.

“She’s Vad. She’s my cousin.”

“Nice to meet you, Vad. I’m Niah,” she smiled.

I faked a smile and diverted my eyes to Kylo.

“We need to talk… alone,” I said.