Blood Cursed Princess

Chapter Two (Tommie)

« I know, I screwed up. »

Oz appeared by my side right when I turned at the corner. He didn’t look really happy, though he never looked really happy. Maybe he enjoyed always looking gloomy or I don’t know, but I knew him enough to be able to tell if he was truly pissed off or not. At the moment, he was.

« I’m just wondering how you manage not to get killed by monsters and demons on a daily basis but fail at discreetly observing a mere human. »

I didn’t answer because he was right and I’d rather die than self-incriminating myself this way. Me, proud ? Absolutely. Oz did warn me from the start. From the begin of that fateful night until now. He told me not to use my power to save Niall but I did it anyway. He helped me pull him back into his bed and he stayed with me while I was watching over him all weekend. Sincerely, I wasn’t sure Niall would pull out. I couldn’t leave before I was absolutely sure. So I looked after him and Oz looked after me, as usual. He kept me fed and hydrated though he wished I would sleep, which I refused. It could have been all. We left when it was obvious that he would wake up soon but all morning, I couldn’t get him out of my head. Okey, he’ll live and that was great. But what if my blood changed him ? This was the last tiny bit of worry clinging on my mind right now, the reason why I was watching him.

« I was being discreet. But it was as if he sensed me. »

« That’s impossible and you know it. »

« Yeah, right »

I started unwrapping my food. I actually was quite hungry so I didn’t really lie back then. I wasn’t expecting Esmée to be there. It’s always weird when we meet with people around. She’s always so cheerful and me… I always feel awkward. Will that ever change ?

« The ghoul is still out there », I told him. « We need to track it done again. »

« It won’t be active until tonight », Oz said while I took a bite at my wrap

Gosh ! That was extremely good ! I looked at it like it was caviar. Okey, the guy has a food truck and people enjoy going there on lunch break. But I wasn’t aware it was THIS good. I I took another bite and savoured it. Oz was looking at me like I was completely nuts. I could blame him, his culinary tastes weren’t what they used to be.

« Seriously, it’s really good ! Do you want some ? »

« No thanks. It’s not time for me to eat just yet. »

I shrugged and he kept going like nothing happened.

« You’d better go home to sleep. It’s not like you can’t miss this afternoon classes. You already missed the morning ones. Let’s meet up at nightfall. »

I took a few seconds to think about it. Sleeping would be a good idea. I was exhausted and being in poor shape while hunting could be the last thing I would do in this life. And uni could wait. It’s not like I wasn’t already a top student anyway. I could afford to miss a few lessons.

« Deal. Call me if anything happens », I said.

I waved him goodbye and took the direction of the university parking lot where my car was waiting. Even if I was tired, it was the best option. Using the bus while I could lose control of my powers if I fell asleep was to much of a risk. My hold mustang was waiting there like the jewel she was. I really loved my car, an heirloom from my late father. He didn’t leave my much, objects and memories alike, but Wanda - it’s her name – was my favourite.

I was about to sit behind the wheel when I felt it. My 6th sense was telling me that someone was watching me. I looked around but was unable to spot anything. After a few seconds, I went into my car anyway. By the time I turned the engine on, the feeling was gone.

I woke up four hours later feeling like I’ve been to bed for just four minutes instead. So much for the rest. My body was covered with sweat, proof that I’ve been struggling in my sleep. All I could remember though was the anxiety and the blood threatening to drown me. I jumped in the shower to try and get rid of the last bits of that awful dream. I needed to clear my mind. This hunt couldn’t fail one more time. There couldn’t be anymore casualties. I would not allow it. My thoughts immediately drifted to Niall. Was he still okey ? Maybe I could just pop up quickly before meeting up with Oz… No, that was a terrible idea and Oz would kill me for sure this time. I needed to leave that man alone and let things go back to how they used to be. Meaning: us not talking and barely bumping into each other. A few more months and we would both graduate and never see each other ever again. It will be as we never met and this was the best for him. At least, he will be safe once I’d be definitively out of picture. My fingers were mechanically skimming the new scar on my forearm. It already looked thin and pink as if it didn’t happen two days ago. It will still be a scar though. The undying proof of the terrible thing you did on Saturday. Move on, Tommie.

I went out of the shower straight to my closet. A good hunting gear was a dark on. Black jeans, black tops, black hoodies, black jackets. It was all about discretion and not revealing that I might have blood or other fluids on me. I grabbed a pair of black jeans with a black t-shirt. I was boiling up for no reason. My magic was clearly going off tracks and I’ll have to find out why later. Now just wasn’t the time. I took few seconds to pull my hair in a high poneytail before passing my leather jacket on. Time for the other closet, the one with my « jewels ». That’s how a call my Arsenal. Potions, special guns, a few blades, a crossbow… Most of it, I got it from my dad. The rest I bought it overtime. There’s so many ways to get rid of monsters and it’s always nice to have other tricks up your sleeve when you run out of mana. I threw a few blades and a couple of guns inside my bag. It should do the trick. It was just one bad ghoul after all. I checked my watch: 20.30. Time to meet up with Oz again.