Beyond a Reflection

Chapter 12: The Small Group

I can't help but look inside when I heard someone arguing with someone but I'm certain that one of the voices is Venice's. It seems like she's arguing with her friend— about something.

I looked at Drake when he closed his book and sighed as he leaned on the wooden wall of this small mushroom house. "I'm kind of getting used to this," he mumbled and continue reading.

He doesn't really intend to have a proper conversation.

I have no intention of overhearing Venice's conversation with her friend but I can't help it since their voices are kind of loud that's why we can't avoid hearing it. I've done nothing wrong, I guess?

"I told you many many times, Des. Don't put salt in a coffee! For goodness gracious," I heard Venice say, annoyance in her voice.

"But it tastes good! Want to have some?" an elegant voice said.

I don't know why but the voice of the lady who's speaking with Venice shouts calmness and comfort with a touch of sweetness.

"No thanks," annoyed Venice responded.

A few seconds of silence when Venice spoke again but her voice seems to calm down as if she was going to say some secret. That's why I moved my ear closer to the wooden wall to hear what it was. Drake looked at me as if I made a crime or something.

Okay, now I will admit that what I am doing right now is my choice— this is not their fault.

"I'm not informed that you're interested in adults' conversation," he spoke while looking at me as if I'm a newly discovered species.

"Shh!" I hissed and put my index finger against my lips and he seems like he caught the sign.

He just sighed and continued reading a book.

"I met a witch earlier in winter zone, and I brought her with me. You guys don't mind that, do you?" Venice said in a very low voice.

I almost fall from where I am standing right now when I heard someone shriek as if she's so excited about what Venice said. I took a step back when a head sprouted from the gap of the door and looked from left to right. My eyes widened as I look at her drifted her gaze every second as if she was looking for something— or someone, I guess.

"Where is she, Vens?! Where is she?" she excitedly exclaimed and her eyes finally landed on me.

She smiled widely and finally step out of the door. My eyes widened when she hugged me— scratch that— she squeezed me against her body. Her chest is rubbing against mine and I could feel the difference. A very huge difference— As if an apple is compared to a watermelon. The next thing I knew, she was already showering me kisses— like my grandmother does every time I went home from school. When she was finally done, she held both of my shoulders and gently pushed me as if she was observing me from head to toe.

"Strawberry perfume, strawberry detergent, strawberry shampoo! I love you! I love you!" she exclaimed and hugged me again.

Venice finally butts in at the moment she had noticed that I'm not very fond of this kind of greeting.

"Knock it off, Des. She's feeling uncomfortable, you know?" Venice said while crossing her arms and leaning on the doorway.

This lady that Venice called 'Des' gently pushed me again and looked at me with her puppy eyes. "Am I making you uncomfy, sweety?" she asked in a soft voice.

For some reason, I forced myself to shake my head so that she won't feel bad. She held her chest and as she closed her eyes and sighed in relief. I looked at her intently. She got wavy brunette hair and round brown eyes and she is also wearing a bandana on her head. She got thick lips and a button nose. And her figure...

I looked at her from head to toe.

Her figure... looks like an hourglass. A big chest— probably cup d, small waist, and wide hips. I sighed when I remembered that I looked like a wrapped lumpia when I wrapped myself with a bathing towel, no curves at all.

Maybe I should ask her secrets sometimes?

"I'm beyond happy that you're going to live with us! Finally, lad Drake won't be lonely anymore!" she excitedly said making me process everything.

"Live?" I whispered unbelievably and unconsciously looked at Drake who's peacefully reading his book, not minding the ruckus.

"Who's living with who?!" I blurted out when I finally realized what she'd said.

I looked at Venice when she sighed. "I'm sorry, Kenny, but you need to stay with us. The environment is no longer safe, and we can't let someone like you alone in the woods," she worriedly said.

I'm certain that she's pertaining to me being a descendant of my great-grandmother Isadora.

I sighed and put one of my hands on my waist and finally nodded. If that's for the best then I should just accept my fate. Besides, I don't have somewhere to stay at too. I simply looked at Drake who doesn't give any damn of what's happening. He said earlier that he's looking forward to working with me.

Did he predict that all of this would happen?

"That's settled then. Welcome to our small group, uh— " Des looked at me as she smiled and raised her brows while waiting for me to respond.

"Kenny," I finished her sentence.

She snapped in the air and continued what she was saying.

"— Welcome to our small group, Kenny. I'm Clandestine but you can call me 'Des', and I'm a meta just like Vens over here," she introduced herself.

"The other three are taking too long. I'm already hungry. I can't cook if there are no ingredients," Venice complained.

"Don't worry, Vens. I'm sure that they have some souvenirs," Des assured Venice and she just nodded twice.

"Other three?" I asked.

Des looked at me and started caressing my hair. She ran her fingers through it before answering. "We are consists of five members and each one of us has a task to do. For example, Venice. You met her in winter zone, right?"

I nodded as a response while listening to her intently, trying my best not to miss a single word.

"Venice was assigned to patrol the whole Season Island. The island where we are right now and if you're going to believe me or not, we are the only residents here," she explained and I nodded.

"Amazing," I muttered unconsciously, leaving a wide smile on Des' face.

"Right? And me, I'm the watchguard here in the house and the other three were assigned to find some information on the other districts," she winked at me after she said those.

"Reasonable," is the only word that I said.

I looked at Drake when he finally decided to speak. Still sticking his gaze on the book. "Metas in this world are scattered to different districts since they don't have an island to live. It's either they will be a slave or errand guys of the other races. Discrimination."

"Right! Right! That's why the five of us decided to fight evil since there are some of the meta decided to lift a battle against other districts and ever since the legendary Circe met her end, this world turned into chaos and the vampires started devouring other races," Des explained once again.

This world right now is anarchy.

I looked down and clenched my fist and simply gritted my teeth. Vampires...

I looked up when I heard a familiar voice. My eyes slightly widened because I know what I am thinking is impossible and never meant to happen.

"Hey, Wish! Grant my wish already! Pretty please," the most annoying voice I have ever heard spoke and this voice is from the most annoying person I have ever known.

I shook my head because certainly, I'm just imagining things. If Drake is here, it doesn't mean that he will be here too. I placed my hand on the wooden wall when I heard something familiar again.

"C-Can you show me how you duplicate your arms?" a nervous voice said.

I still can't process what's happening when another voice lingered in my system causing all of my veins to be triggered.

"Stop speaking, you douchebag. I'm already starving. Don't tell me you don't have some food?"

I closed my eyes for a moment and silently prayed that what I'm thinking is not really happening. That the other three is not really here. I blew air and finally got the courage to open my eyes and I almost fall from where I am standing when I saw the shocked faces of Maverick, Vaughn, and Roe as they looked at each other.

On Mave's back was a petite woman in blonde pigtails, she's scratching her nape as if she regretted the decision she have made. She got blue eyes. At the back of Vaughn, there is a huge man that has some muscles and he has something covering his mouth, a mask perhaps. He has messy brown taper hair with brown eyes. At the back of the irritated Roe, was a normal man— yes, normal. The man has just placed a monotone face while looking at Des and Venice. He has black curly hair taper fade with gray eyes.

"Whoa! What amazing souvenirs you've got there!" Clandestine amazingly said and walked towards them.

She started patting the top of the head of Maverick and I saw how he sniffed the lady's hand. Vaughn looked down when he's the one who's been pat and Roe slightly tapped the hand of Des maybe because she doesn't want anyone to touch her but despite that, Clandestine welcomed them with open arms.

"Vens! That boy keeps talking and talking!" That lady in pigtails said and rushed towards Venice while pointing at Maverick who's pointing himself too.

That lady looks like she's letting her mom know about someone who's bullying her. I thought Venice will get mad but she just patted the head of the lady that made the lady rest her head on Venice's chest.

"She has nowhere to stay. She could've died in Vostine," the typical normal man said hesitatingly while keeping an eye on Roe whose eyes were kept rolling as she was dragged here against her will.

"Not a big deal, Shield! I'm so happy that our small group was emerging into a big one!" Des celebrated and that muscular man who looks like a ninja just nodded once.

"To celebrate our new members, let's head inside!" Des announced while punching her right hand into the air.

And that's when this rollercoaster adventure of ours begin.