Chapter 18

"Lets go?" arrgh what is this game that you're playing, Sage Frost?

But when I saw the three staring and shocked, I immediately wrapped my hand around his waist, he immediately put his arm around me and kissed me.

"Tara, I want to sleep." I snorted with a tired voice.

"Poor girl, let me sleep with you then."

"Tss. You'll sleep on the floor of course!"

"Ouch! Is that I love you babe? I love you too."

"Quit it Sage, there's people around."

"Is this true? He already has a girlfriend?"

"I didn't know he has one!"

"Cris! Did you know about it don't tell me you know then you're still flirting? Oh my God!"

"n-no! .. I -I..d-don't." I immediately smiled because of the confusion in his voice, I am just starting, Crisan.

when I got away I immediately let go and walked away from the sage who was frowning at him, tss. Enjoy a to.

"That's how you say thanks? Well, welcome babe."

"Stop calling me babe, the sagwa." Annoyed I told him and turned away.

That naughty man thanked him and I needed him earlier, tss. I can smell his scent all over my body, damn it!

When I got home, I immediately showered and got dressed, I was annoyed to wash my clothes that smelled like a Jew. Then I immediately read kitchen and drank water, my phone's screen suddenly light up, I immediately looked at that and I was startled by a notif on the messenger, and based from the picture of the sender it was from Selene. Wrinkled when I took it and put my glass on the sink then leaned back and p
opened the message.

Its a link. She sent me a link. I was even more nacurios so I tapped it and brought me to a website.

A news flashed on my screen in seconds.

'A lifeless body of 23 year old woman found in her own room, bloody and wounded. No one can point out who did this to her. She has lot of wounds in her neck a dots, like something pricked on it. '

'A college girl in Console, found dead in a lane, blood strayed on her white dress. She has the same wounds on her neck, like the other Victims has, some police officers and doctors have their own assumptions regarding on what happened to those girls who died with the same wounds on their body. But they can't tell it clear because of things that can't expla-

I never finished reading, I felt uncomfortable reading those when I exactly know what is happening.

Sage.

That's the name flashed on my mind.

Is this what you're telling me? Just to get me back to you?

I tried to ignore what I've read and replied on selene.

'Tell him, its not that convincing'

Then I immediately went up to the bedroom to get dressed, I have to visit my Cafe. I put my jacket on and my black boots as I get my phone on my pocket and my key.

After leaving, I just locked the door and then got on my ducati and pulled it away.

It was already dark when I reached the cafe, but there were still many customers coming here.

Upon entering, I was greeted by the enticing aroma of coffee.

How I love caffeine. My staffs greeted me and I just nodded to them as a sign that I notice their presence, I went straight to the office and brewed a cup of coffee lattè then went to my favorite spot here at the Cafe, on the balcony, it was located in the rare view of the cafe, which is slightly secluded area. With my laptop and a notebook with pen I sat on a single chair made from mahogany.

The night wind touches my skin, I am greeted by dark surroundings and only the lampost around and the cute chandelier in front of me provides light including the lights that are wrapped around the four balcony posts.

Its really nice here, the atmosphere is as light as a cotton. It makes me feel better and I can focus more on thinking and what I'm doing.

Even before I took what I was doing, I heard the footsteps of the shoes from inside.

I immediately sipped my coffee and leaned back then folded my arms while waiting for the person I was expecting to enter when I accidentally came here.

"My instinct is right, you're here."

"Your suspicions didn't go wrong, selene."

I look at her, I wish I didn't.

I rolled my eyes behind my mind as I saw how she dressed up.

She never changes, she also dresses like this since I woke up.

She has the weirdest outfit I've ever seen, well its just based on my opinion, that according to her its her fashion.

A lacey pink dress and a flower cr wown with a pair of pink doll shoes with a ribbon on top.

Yeah, its her fashion. Does she really thinl she's in a fairytale movie? I'm just going to apply for a job at Walt Disney. She's 25 years old, by the way.

"Its look like my outfit annoyed you again, I appreciated Dear very appreciated, you're my brother's thing."

"What did you bring here?"

"Please come back Van."

"* Sigh* How many times should we talk about this? It's been almost a year, that every time we talk that's what you always say."

"Reign I am not doing this because I want you for my brother but for you. You know I know what I'm worried about, my brother always told you about it."

"I don't want to, I don't want to be with a man like him in the same house. Please selene, if you have nothing else to say just leave." Instead of leaving, she choose to sit infront of me. She lost her happy and innocent face, her eyes flicked into red then into blue and back to being black again.

"Don't wait for the time to come when my brother won't accept you anymore, because I know you know what kind of a vampire he is. You run cunningly and stubbornly, of all of us, Van is the one you deserve the most. So I am begging you Reign. I am begging you, don't be so hard and accept that this is your life now, we are part of your life now, you're not a human anymore. And as you take longer to accept that, the venom will turn into poison that will start to make your body suffer. "

"We have our tradition reign, pero kaya iyon talikuran ni van. But you, I don't think you will survive the shit that will happen to you, it may be hard for van, but it will be more hard and painful for you . "

When he said that he immediately stood up and looked at me.

"Please, think about it go back to him and accept the contract."

And then she left me, dumbfounded. I can't find words to say. Damn it, do I really have to do that?

No ... I w-won't.

It was early in the morning when I got home from the cafe. I immediately fell into bed because of fatigue and drowsiness, which added to my conversation with Selene. How many other parts of their family will talk to me? Don"t they understand that I don"t? It won't change the fact that I don't want him.

'But you knew that you'll need him'

My subconscious mind said.

Annoyed, I messed up my hair and covered my face with a pillow.

They can't just manipulate my mind just because of it.

If I suffer then bring it. I'll endure it without their help! I'll stand by it, I've been in hell why should I be afraid and retreat to face hell again?

I woke up in a morning with a bad weather. Heavy rain and a series of thunder and lightning flashes. The beating of the branches on the glass window was almost audible due to the force of the wind.

I immediately went downstairs and fixed the windows. Then go back upstairs and take a shower then get dressed and go down again for coffee.

I browse on facebook for updates, there is a storm and signal no. 2 already in this area, so the class has been suspended at all levels.

Tss. why is it that time has passed. While drinking coffee in my favorite cup, I heard couple of knocks in my door.

Creased when I stopped sucking and felt the knock of someone outside.

I can't sense danger, so I know its not someone who can harm me, not even that Sage frost.

I slowly walked towards the door and opened it.

I was startled by the trembling and wet Katelyn.

"What are you doing here? In the middle of a storm? Are you insane?"

"R-reign .... c-can I sleep h-here? Just f-for now p-please?"

"I'm sorry I don't put anyone else to sleep here besides myself, you can leave now." I was about to close the door when he immediately took my hand, which surprised me.

"W-wait..p-please ... w-I really don't have anything to run ... p-I was kicked out..please reign..n-I'm begging .." In those moments, I remembered myself to her, she reminds me of my old self. I withdrew my hand from his grasp, and I barely waved the door open.

"Come in." her eyes widen, as she made her way inside my house.

He hugged himself and just stood across the couch.
I can see her body trembling even her lips are already trembling.

"Wait here." After saying that, I turned my back on him and went up to my room then took a towel and my clothes then went back to the chin, he remained standing there.

"Here use this, change, there's Cr there in the kitchen you can use it there are tools there" I pointed to a door in the kitchen

He immediately reached for it and bowed slightly to me.

"T-thank you reign." I didn't say a word and turned my back on him, I was about to go up when I looked back at him who was about to enter the cr. I was blown away by the wind and walked down the stairs backwards then went straight to the kitchen, I cooked a fried hotdog and tosino then fried rice and also mixed coffee, I was just serving when he came out of Cr and looked at me.

"Eat." He was obviously surprised by my offer. He immediately came over and sat down, I remained standing and took my coffee I hadn"t finished when he suddenly knocked earlier. He held my hand tightly as I held the cup held by one of my hands. "Thank you, thank you really reign." I immediately withdrew my hand from him. "S-sorry, I forgot." sadly she says. "Its okay, you can thank me without touching me." He went. "I just find it uncomfortable..I'm not used to it." And why am I explaining? tss. "I understand." I made him finish eating first, I sat on the couch in the living room and read magazines. Soon after, she came out and approached me, I motioned her to sit in the single sofa beside the sofa where I am sitting. When he sat down, I immediately dropped what I was reading and looked at him seriously. "So tell me, what happened?" "I was kicked out of us." "And why did they do that?" "You know Reign. I am not the favorite. I am just a nobody in the family, the invisible, the unfamous daughter. They don't even introduce me everytime we have a party to attend, no one knows me as a part of that perfect family .I am just this girl who's carrying their surname.I am just ashley and nothing's more special about that surname.My sister who's the most lovable according to dad, the favorite one told dad a lies that made him furious and sent me out of the house in the middle of storm. I don't know where to go. I don't have real friends, because they know my status in the ashley family. No one accepts me, I have nothing to run to so my feet brought me here, because I know at this time you are my only chance to survive today. I am sorry, I really have nowhere to go. I have nothing else to carry but myself and five hundred pesos. " "What are your plans after the storm?" "I will look for a dorm to rent, then a job. Maybe I will stop studying first. My family won't support me I know that. I know they will cut my connection with them even if my bank accounts are icoclose they especially my dad. " I removed my leg from the cross and folded it and then leaned on the sofa. "What if I offer you a job as one of my waitress in my cafe, with a satisfying salary, plus 5k if you did a great job." Her face immediately became interested. "I'll let you stay here as long as you want too." His eyes widened at what I said. "S-are you sure? W-what's in return?" "I want you to continue studying, and be my personal assistant. You'll cook for me here and you'll do my work in cafe if I'm not around," "Are you sure that's all you want in return?" I even raised an eyebrow at her and grinned at her nervousness, based on her eyes. "Of course not." I moved closer to her and whisoered something made her eyes widen in shock. "I want you to know more about Crisanta Lois Muffin," I just smiled more and later I became more serious. "Everything about her, every step every actions, I want you to note it and report it to me. I want you to know everything about everything including her stinks, I want everything, nothing too much nothing too little. I know you're good about investigating and observing. It's just a small thing for you. You'll be my eye on her. " "m-you can count on it." "Good." "May I know why?" "Let's say, that woman owes me a lot that she needs to pay. And there are also things that were taken that I need to get back." When I said that, I immediately stood up. "I have a guest room next to my room, you can use it from now on." I chased before finally going up to my room and locked up. I am not comfortable living with a human, but I have to do this. I need her now, she could help me to this, to make it easier because I have another problem to face, a bigger problem. That crisants is just a past issue that I want to end, what I face is future and present which is more difficult compared to the woman who is no longer against me now. The next day the weather was better, there was also a class so I hurried to attend, because I was going to pass a cafe to open and as before, I expected the staff to take care of me first while I was away. Katelyn can't because we both have work, whenever I'm not working, she will only be managed there and when I'm not there and someone is taking care of me. She cooked breakfast for me, and for her, I ate quickly and hurried to leave. As for now she's earning my trust. I let him stay at home, I know I can trust him, but even lambs have teeth, I still can't be sure of him. When I opened the cafe, the one I ordered arrived so I went in immediately. My first class was about to start when I arrived so I hurriedly walked down the hallway. When I entered, our instructor was already there. I just ignored her and went straight to sit in my chair, I saw that katelyn was also in the next chair and smiling at me but as usual I didn't pay attention to that. I focused on class until health break came. My instructor call for my name, so I remained inside while my classmates are on their way to cafeteria. "Ms. Mcdemort I have seen your grades and since the prelims you're the top of this class, and I am impressed." "Thank you." "And because of that I want you to be our representative in international academic competition in france." "W-what?" oh come on! I have lots of things to do! I can't be in other country while I am facing chaos in my identity. "Sorry I can't accept it." "but you're our only chance to win." "You have no idea what I've been experiencing right now, I can't accept this kind of responsibility. Don't force me to bear this thing, I don't have time for it, give it to those students who's more deserving than me am. Excuse me. " After I said that I immediately walked out I was greeted by Katelyn's worried look. "A-what did you say?" "Nothing." After I said that I walked away from him. A minute and she's already beside me. She really knows how to pest me. I quietly walked towards the cafeteria and passed by a crowd, I tried not to touch anyone and I also managed to get to the counter. Why are there so many people here its not only one caf here. After ordering, I waited for my food to be served and looked around, then my eyes widened when I saw that the only person I didn't want to see was also inside our café. He really can get everyone's attention without doing anything. If these people only knew what kind of monster that man was, I don't know if they would even get mad at that one. He looked at me seriously when our eyes met. I immediately avoided and my order arrived just in time. "Reign, what's wrong with you and Sage?" I heard Katelyn whisper as she tried to keep up with me, I didn't notice that she had ordered me earlier because I was able to focus on Sage. "Nothing. I don't know him" "But the way he stares ..."
I shrug my shoulder, as I walk towards the corner of the caf, where there are fewer people. I sat there and he also sat in front of me. "Aren't you going to stay away from me?" "No." "Katelyn?" "I am working for you so I'll stick with you." I ignored what he said and started eating. To be continued...