The day passed soon. I didn’t even get a chance to spend more time with Lucy before the bodyguards dragged me back to my room. At first, I was stupefied, and then I looked at them in suspicion. They weren’t dragging her away when I was simply moving around alone. Why did they have to bring me away when I was talking to Lucy?!
They perhaps didn’t want me to converse with my sister for long. Who knows what kind of excuse they said to Lucy to bring her on their side. She had always been an innocent girl who could agree with anyone. It had been too easy to fool her! How could they not do this behind my back?
Suddenly, a bubble of anger boiled in my heart. I darted a vicious glare at the bodyguard before I stood on my feet before my room and entered, closing the door loudly on their faces.
They had the nerve to fool my dear sister! After dealing with the lady boss, I would make sure to punish these bodyguards and all those people spreading worthless rumors!
The next evening came soon before I could get a chance to relax. I couldn’t even sleep at night because of how anxious I was the whole time! After weeks of a stupid fight, I was finally going to see him! This time, I wouldn’t hesitate and ask whatever it was face-to-face!
Lucy secretly sneaked inside my room through the balcony and made a silent gesture. “Come with me.”
I nodded and climbed outside the balcony. “Are we going on foot?”
“Yes, the place where he will meet you is near.”
It took five minutes for us to reach the place. The entire time, we were silently walking one after another with my sister leading us. We passed several trees and shrubs before finally she stopped and gestured to me with her chin. “Go there. He’s going to arrive soon.”
I nodded again and pursed my lips before walking past a few trees and finally reached the centre. It was like a small garden filled with metal chairs and a fountain in the middle. There was also a big area for walking behind the chairs circling the entire fountain.
I walked over and sat on one of the chairs, fiddling with my fingers anxiously.
When will he come?
What should I say?
Should I tell him about my plans?
When I thought about it carefully, I felt like I should probably tell him. He was the main person involved. So it was better if I could tell him.
Just as I was in a daze, thinking about Liam in my mind, I heard a familiar husky voice that I hadn’t been hearing for so long time.
“Emily?” The voice was filled with astonishment and surprise. I instantly looked agive to find him standing on the other side of the fountain, staring unblinkingly at me. I got up. Just as I was about to head over to him, used his power to flash over within a few seconds and embraced me tightly.
“Emily…” His whisper sounded close to my ears making my heart beat faster. My legs felt like jelly as I snuggled close to him. My heart that was feeling sore and lonely suddenly filled with warmth I was longing for.
“Didn’t you say vampires can’t use more than one skill?” This was the first thing that came out of my mouth. What was wrong with me? I was focusing on the completely wrong thing!
Hearing me, he let out a deep and sexy chuckle that rang in my ears making me shiver. “Speed is common, but my dad’s specialty is speed, so he’s way faster than other vampires.”
“Oh.” Okay, go ahead! Ask him! What has he been doing all this time? What’s the secret that he has been hiding from me?
But no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t get those words on my lips. Perhaps Liam could feel my internal struggle so he leaned toward my ear and whispered. “I can’t explain to you in detail since someone’s monitoring us, but I have an explanation about why they’d kidnap you.” Then he paused unnaturally and said, “But this shouldn’t have happened now. Why did they hurry?”
“What’re you saying?” I didn’t know what this guy was thinking.
“Listen carefully. I found out the secret thing that the hunters are planning, and it’s big enough to bring misfortune to the whole world if they become successful.” He tightened his arms around me. “… And that this is related to us, specifically you.”
I was stunned. “How?”
Liam hesitated for a moment before blurting out. “They want my blood and the new born foetus for some ritual. I’m not sure what kind of ritual it is, but it’s certainly not something good. I fear…” then he thought of something and tightened his grip on me, sniffing my body as if trying to get away from his negative thoughts by being aware of my presence.
I was stunned, but I forced myself to stay calm and find out more about it. “But what does that have to do with me?”
“Everything. They want the foetus having royal blood of both vampires and magicians flowing in its veins.”
This sentence acted as an arrow piercing my heart again and again. My body froze completely. Not even my tongue could move and try to say something.
Foetus having royal blood in its veins? Didn’t that mean mine and Liam’s child? But why did Liam have to die too?
I had so many questions, but I couldn’t open my mouth. My body didn’t want to react. Tears filled my eyes as my hand went toward my belly, caressing the surface lightly.
“How did you find out?” My voice cracked as I could no longer maintain my composure.
“I had a few spies who were caught later. But before dying, they transmitted this news the night we had our fight. I was afraid I’d make you pregnant, so I tried to stay as far away from you as possible.” He paused and continued. “And I wanted to secretly warn the hunters that I had no relationship with you. And if that would be the case, I thought they would leave you alone.” He paused again and sighed. “At first, I had thought of letting council members take you away, and I’d kidnap you and take you away, changing your identity. But looks like these people were more or less
So that was the reason why Liam acted aloof and tried to deepen our misunderstanding?! I was shocked at this. At least, he could’ve told me about it! This guy! He would just continue to act blindly without even asking if I ever needed this kind of protection. But what was the use of taking such a step? I got pregnant anyway.
Wait, didn’t that mean my child was in danger?!
I trembled in fear.
“I’m afraid we’re too late.” I paused before snuggling closer in his embrace. “I’m pregnant.” The last sentence came out as a whisper that sounded so low that if Liam’s ears weren’t near my lips, he wouldn’t have heard it.
But as soon as he did, he stepped back and looked at me with widened eyes. “What did you just say?!” He continued to stare at me as if trying to see if what I said was a dream or reality.
I bit my lips and nodded. “I’m not lying. I’m really pregnant.”
He stared at me in disbelief. His expression changed every second as if he didn’t know whether he should feel delighted by this news or frightened for my life.
After a moment of silence, he gritted his teeth and hugged me again. “I promise, I’ll save you and our child, don’t worry.” He gently kissed my forehead and whispered, “I love you.” My heartbeat paced at that as warmth flooded my chest.
He swiftly backed away, ready to get out of this place when I caught his wrist. “Wait! When will I see you again?”
He paused for a while and frowned as if thinking hard. “Right here, every eclipse.”
…
I had a hard time finding Lucy after that. When I came back to the hunter’s palace, she was nowhere in sight. Instead, I could see everyone giving me a glare as they passed by without saying a single word.
Why were they behaving like this? It wasn’t like they were on the friendly terms with me, but they weren’t so unfriendly and hateful either. They would always ignore me, treating me as if I was invisible. But this time, every single one of them glared at me. Even the girl who was dancing and jumping around with Lucy earlier seemed to be especially angry as if I had stolen her treasure.
What was wrong with these people?!
I couldn’t figure it out, but I had a hunch that it might be related to the fact that I couldn’t find Lucy. She wasn’t even in her room! I waited for a whole day!
Where was she? Did they do something to her just because she helped me with seeing Liam?! As soon as this thought entered my head, I trembled in fear. I stood up in the middle of the night and dashed out, searching every nook and corner of the palace. I went to all the floors and corridors that could possibly exist, but Lucy was nowhere to be seen. Just when I was about to scream in frustration, I heard a faint muffled voice. At first, I thought it was my hallucination, but the voice continued to come as if someone’s throat was extremely dry. I stopped on my tracks and marched slowly on my tiptoes toward the sound.
The corridor was dark and the room at the end of the path was even darker. No moonlight could enter the place. My heartbeat sped up as I walked ahead with caution. As I stepped near the door, the voice increased and this time, I could make out that it was a female voice.
Breath stuck in my throat as I gulped. What if it was Lucy? As soon as the thought entered my head, I trembled in fear. Tears formed in my eyes as I slowly grabbed the door knob with shaking hands.
Just as I turned it open, a muffled scream entered my ears, making my steps frozen at the door. It wasn’t the scream of a young lady that made me feel frightened. The fact that this voice was very familiar to me sent a chill down my spine. It was Lucy!
I was stunned as my complexion paled in fear. What was she doing here? For how long she was tied inside this dark room? Was it because she helped me? Multiple thoughts room in my head, but I couldn’t do anything about it.
Even though the room was dark, moonlight filtered through the window inside the room, highlighting a curled up figure against the wall. Her hair was scattered all over her face as tears kept falling from her rosy cheeks. Hands were tied behind her back as a cloth was stuffed in her mouth.
My sister looked like a sorry figure that made me drop on my knees in despair.
“Just why?!” I had just reached out to untie when an electric energy blasted out of the ropes, hitting my hands. I flinched and took my hands back swiftly. Fear crowd in my heart.
I instantly wiped my tears and said, “Don’t worry, Lucy. I’ll save you!”
Saying this, I rushed outside the dark room, toward the other side of the palace! I had to find the leader!