The Last Bloodline

Episode 4: Challenge

THIRD PERSON’S POINT OF VIEW

The sunlight is radiating through the closed ancient window but the cream-colored heavy curtains is preventing the heat enter the room, making the whole place darkened. It's past twelve in the afternoon and anyone who’ll pass by the expensive mansion may think that the owner is oblivious about the time. But not really. 

Inside are the two man standing from behind of the heavy curtains. One is wearing his street style outfit with a grin smile on his face while the other man is wearing his usual formal attire, both hands are on his pocket. No emotions can be shown on his handsome face.

It's not that they doesn't want to see the view but they can’t stand the heat coming from the Sun.

“Are you really going to go abandon me here?” The man on his street style outfit spoke, his voice begging. His right hand is holding a glass wine whilst his ocean blue eyes are looking directly on the closed heavy curtains, even he could not see what is the scenery outside. 

The man beside him shrugged, “You can come with us, Duke of Santinel.” 

The guy who was called Duke of Santinel smiled widely. “That's great! I've already packed my clothes. And it’s Daniel, your highness.” 

He sneered because he can’t pull in the informalities, he grew up this way-addressing people of how they should be called. And the Prince can’t believe how this dorky Duke used his empathetic side to control him, again. His plan of is leaving the place with his brother is fine not until this cousin of theirs wanted to come, too. And although it's not his thing to live-and-go but their is something going on in the Prince’s mind. 

His curiosity is craving and he needs to satisfy it...

“Just don’t do something stupid when I'm not around,” the Prince warned. He definitely know this guy. The Duke of Santinel is a man full of nasty plans. He always play around with his little fire and use other’s emotion to get what he wants, just like what he did to him awhile ago, he used his controlling emotions skills. 

“The first enchantment will be held tomorrow, will you come?” Daniel spoke his words. He pursed his lips.

The enchantment Daniel is talking about is the first minor spell they need to cast together with the other Enchantors. It’s just a short spell but needs full cooperation before the final and major enchantment. It is their ritual since then, and that is the reason why their given power overflows. Tomorrow night is the first and it'll last for seven days before the full moon. 

“I won't,” the Prince said in finality. 

“But the Elders' will expect you as the 1st Prince! It will be the first gaze of half moon tomorrow night, you should...” Daniel's voice automatically piped down as soon as he look at him with his deadly eyes. 

“I’m busy and besides, the 2nd Prince will come.” He shoved the curtain aside, letting the sunlight touch his skin. Daniel growled as he swiftly stepped back and avoiding the direct heat of the sun.

“Will you please close that damn curtain!” Daniel blow his burning arm but the man just look at him like it's a normal thing then he let his hand go off of the curtain. 

The three of them has been together for a long time so they know when to and when not to piss one another, especially him. 

“What if the Elders’ ask the reason why you didn't come again? You know it’s against the rules and you'd been doing that since-” 

“f**k off, Daniel!” He shouted as his dead emerald-green eyes turned into grudging pale gold color and his face darkened. Daniel gulped with the sight that the Prince is transforming because of him. 

Daniel nervously smiled when he felt that the man just lost his temper, “I was just joshing around, your highness.” 

Daniel, with shaking hand, patted the Prince’s shoulder. The Prince sighed and controlled his raging emotions or else he'll transform in no time and he can't take risk, most especially in broad daylight. Daniel is really getting into his nerves but the Prince can't undo it, the Duke of Santinel has a sharp tongue and even if there’s one thing he hates the most is that explaining his thoughts to other beings but this Daniel won’t shut his garrulous mouth not until he'll say anything. 

He drew in a long breath and spoke, “Tell them I'm in Noxton University.” 

Daniel’s brow arched, the afraid expression vanished into amusement that filled his face. The Prince rolled his eyes because he knew what's running on Daniel's mind. 

“So...?” Daniel asked again, confirming if what he had heard from him was right. 

He nodded in annoyance before turning his back from the closed window and sipped on his own wine glass. 

“Since when?” Daniel keeps interrogating. 

The Prince snarled and was about to answer when the wooden high door opened. It’s his brother, the 2nd Prince, who happened to had crossed into his mind awhile ago, entered the mansion with a wide smile. His eyes narrowed on him while Daniel walks towards the second Prince to give him a bro hug. His brother and Daniel are alike. They are cunning men but they both have a good intentions not unless they see someone as threat. 

“Little Prince! It’s been a long a time!" Daniel said in exaggerated tone. The second Prince smirked.

“Shut up, fucker. We just saw each other the other night.” 

They both laugh when Daniel submissively raised his both hands. The little Prince, on the other hand, noticed him who is currently watching them. His right hand is busy playing with the wine glass. The young brother walks towards him and opened his arms, thinking that his brother might want to hug him but the first Prince shook his head, declining his so-called ‘bro hug’.

“What’s up?” The little prince asked, totally forget how his brother declined his hug. 

He plastered his smug look then spoke, “I should be the one asking.” 

“Your brother’s right, little Prince. You look different today...” Daniel said in obvious tone. They have noticed the glowing before was also dead eyes of the second Prince and his aura is different from the past years of his unending life. He...is totally different, like something in him is alive! 

The second Prince licked his lower lip thinking if he should tell them. Both men watched him for a seconds when he finally opened his mouth to speak. 

“Well...there's a girl that I’ve met. I..I can’t explain the feeling when I saw her it was like she casted a spell on me! She's giving me an insomnia, dude!” he exclaimed that made Duke of Santinel laugh at its finest while the first Prince j******f his head 'cause his younger brother said the most stupid thing he could ever heard. 

Daniel moved forward and tapped his shoulder, “My dear highness, you’re vampire let alone you're the second Prince of Enchantors! How could you think that someone casted a spell on you hahaha. You're going nuts dude, vampire don‘t experience insomnia,” he informed. 

“Says the full vampire!” The second Prince jeered at Daniel. “I just felt it!” 

“Brother, another fling?” The first Prince interjected that made his brother gasped in frustration. He drew his point finger towards his brother. 

“No, she's not. Believe me, she's..different.” 

“Everyone is different to you,” The first Prince shot back. 

The young Prince groaned, again, in full frustration to his brother. Daniel sat back on his swivel chair, feeling dubious on interfering the Princes conversation. 

However, instead of prolonging their futile argument, the second Prince diverted their topic.

“Whatever! My things are ready. We should move as soon as the sun goes down.” Then, he look back at Daniel's spot. Daniel’s lips curved into smile, realizing that these brothers really think about him.

“You should be discreet, brother.” He seems can’t get over with their little argument. The second Prince released a mocking smile at him. 

As he was filled with sudden annoyance towards his brother, the first Prince strutted towards the door but before he could open it, his younger brother muttered something that he clearly heard. 

“I'll make her my mate, you’ll see.” 

His nerves show when his hand grope the doorknob. He is pissed with his brother’s words and he has no idea why. He just felt his cold blood rushing rapidly through his body.

“Sure we'll see," says the first Prince.

                                                                                   ***

ISANA LOUISSE STELL

It is already 5 pm, pre-dusk and mild zephyr has just begun to make its presence felt on my already disheveled tresses. I’ve been pacing back and forth and even I tour the whole house, from my room to the terrace and to the kitchen, hoping that a gush of fresh air may help me, some bit, to at least ease the tension I could not diminish; I have been ambivalent about since that night.

My eyes shifted from the ground and I immediately stopped nibbling my nails as soon as a clarion noise of my doorbell echoed inside. The continuos clink of it makes my head feel like it’s being hammered. 

“Wait up!” I shouted, rushing myself towards the door. “You’re ruining my property.” 

I angrily opened my door and was about to kick the ass of whoever is it when Mrs. Jackson's smiley face welcomed me. She’s holding a tupperware on her both hands and I’ve noticed that her hair is dyed in new color. And she’s like mimicking a first lady in a palace with her outfit. 

“Isana, are you ready?” she asked. My brows raised. 

‘Ready for what? What is she talking about?’

“Why? Is there a party or something?” I curiously replied. 

Mrs. Jackson openly rolled her eyes on me like she’s telling me how stupid I was to forget something important. 

But really, what was it? 

She slightly push me inside and entered my home without my permission. 

“How could you forget about your new neighbor, Ms. Stell?!” I flinched when she raised her voice. She look like a bulldog who is ready to eat me for dinner. 

Oh, crap.

“I'm sorry, I forgot.” I confessed.

These previous days my mind is still occupied of what has happened because I could not still believe that that person who called himself Maverick has powers! Goodness! It’s already 21st century but that night made me experience like I was in a fantasy world. And everytime that event crosses into my mind my legs will automatically tremble. It was like a dream. No. That was a freakin' nightmare that no one will ever believe! 

‘Heaven, I’m going crazy...’

“Isana, are you fine girl? You’re spacing out,” called out by Mrs. Jackson. 

I blinked twice and forcefully curve my lips into a smile, “I'm sorry, what is it, again?” 

“As I was saying, tonight is the night that your new neighbor will come. Did you prepare any offering?” 

Oh, no. I totally forgot about that new neighbor of mine but it’s getting late. Mostly, people who move out usually come before dusk but this one is weird. Do they prefer to fix their things tonight? Anyway, I have no time for that, my new main problem is this old hag. This amazona will surely kill me once she learn that I forgot about that VVIP neighbor. Arrgh, I’m going insane! I don't know what I have in my fridge. 

“Yes! Of course. How could I forget about that?” I lied through my teeth. 

Mrs. Jackson sweetly smiled revealing her fake white teeth. “Alright, then! Let's wait them at the front door because any minute by now, they’ll arrive.” 

“Uhm...yeah and I still have spare time to fix my self, right?” I said with an awkward smile ’cause I’m pretty sure I look awful. 

“You’re being ridiculous, my dear.” she said as she put the tupperware at the table. “You look great!”

I forced a smile at her and walk upstairs.