Reincarnated Soul

Three : Childhood Friend

*kick*

*punch*

*kick*

*punch*

“Yaaa!!! *kick* You’ll lose Cyprus!”

“Really Cassandra? You can’t even hit me!” I swiftly avoided every punch and hit she made over me. Ugh, she really needs more practice to beat me.

“I *kick* can… *punch* hit you! *kick*”

For her last kick, which I can say is a bit powerful, I manage to hold his feet parrying it. We both stayed in that position before I let her go.

“See? You lose again Cassa-- aah!” I never see that coming! She kicked me right through my bottom! It hurts a lot! I felt like I’m gonna die in pain. I automatically kneeled down in front of her enduring the pain she had caused.

“See what now? Cyprus the loser? Haha” She teases me while I’m still lying on the ground. It’s still painful! I gave her a sharp look while I’m still holding my bottom. I try to move little by little until the pain subsides.

“I win Cyprus! Now give me your necklace” She was about to s***h my necklace, but I was able to hold her hand and pull her to the ground. I am now on top of her. She really thinks she can outsmart me huh?

“That’s foul Cassandra, remember the rules? No hitting below the belt” I told her while her face was close to mine. I managed to let her lay on the ground while I’m still holding her hand. She’s now looking at me annoyingly.

“But you don’t have a belt, Cyprus. So technically there’s no below the belt! *woosh*”

WHAT?! SERIOUSLY?

From me being on the top earlier, to me now being the bottom. She managed to pull me with all her might just for her to be on top of me. She really doesn't want to lose huh. She shows that she has the power over me.

“Well… t-that’s different Cassandra”

“How can it be different huh?”

“Well...uhm...uhmm” okay that’s it! I don’t know what to say anymore! She’s really using her cleverness and charm over me huh? 

“I WON!” She suddenly hugged me because of happiness and… I can’t help myself but to hug her back. My heartbeat starts to race and I feel like my chest is about to explode. Why am I feeling this kind of sensation?

Cassandra is just my friend…

Right?

She then removed her embrace and stared at me seriously. Now I cannot look directly into her eyes! But why? What’s happening to me?!

“Cyprus…”

What the? Her tone of voice gave me goosebumps. I feel so different right now! I don’t know why but I don’t like this feeling.

She suddenly moved closer and closer to me!

“W-what are you doing?!” I asked, but she didn't mind. She continuously moves closer and closer. My chest is about to explode, MY HEART IS RACING VERY FAST!

But instead of pushing her away, I just let her do what she wants. I just shut my eyes in front of her. Until I heard her whisper.

“Give me your necklace...”

That’s the time when I pushed her away from me. It’s ridiculous, what am I thinking? She’ll kiss me?! Why should I think that way? Wait, Why am I thinking that way?!

“Why Cyprus? I won, right?” I saw her scratching her head revealing her cuteness. Wait, what? Cuteness? Why did I say that? What cute?

“Nah, I’ll give you the necklace if you can chase me!”

I just ran as if nothing happened. I ran as fast as I could, leaving whatever feelings I have behind. I need to calm myself down, it’s Cassandra. She’s just a friend. A childhood friend. Nothing more. It should stay like that.

I ran towards our very own special tree house. I hid behind the door, but eventually, she saw me and slashed my necklace. She really wants to get it because it has a wolf-tooth pendant. It is from a werewolf that I first ever killed when I was ten years old. I’m young back then, but very courageous.

“At last! I got it!” She jumped out of joy. I don’t know but I felt very happy seeing her like that. She’s very different when she’s inside the castle, when her mom, the Queen, is around her.

“Let me put it on you” I said as I get the necklace and slowly wear it on her neck. It suits her very well “You’re beautiful”

“What?”

“Uhm…nothing” What the hell am I thinking?! I never tell her that before!

.

.

*whooooooosh*

.

.

*thumps*

.

.

“What’s that?” I asked as I heard loud noises. Next to it is that I saw a small aircraft pass by the window. It has a black smoke surrounding it. We both looked at it and followed where it would land.

*crash*

It terrifyingly crashed not too far from our tree house. Its front part is buried on the ground and we saw a small fire starting at the back of the aircraft. 

“It’s going to explode” I heard Cassandra say before she left our tree house. I followed her.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to check if there’s any mortal inside that aircraft”

“What?! Cassandra, it's too dangerous! Cassandra!” and there she goes, she’s not listening to me. She just went near that aircraft and did what she wanted. THIS WOMAN IS REALLY HARD HEADED.

“Come Cyprus look! There are two of them. The other one is dead already, but this man is still breathing” I ran towards Cassandra and I now see what she’s referring to. There are two men inside this small aircraft. The other one’s body is crushed by the plane’s door and the other one that she says is still breathing has a bloody forehead. I can smell the fresh blood from here and it makes me want to take a bite and sip. 

“H-help... please”

I was shocked when I heard the man talk and move a little. He grabs Cassandra’s hand before he loses consciousness again. I saw Cassandra’s face change in emotion. She looks like she pity this man.

“Let’s help him Cyprus”

“What did you say? HELP?” I was surprised by what she said to me. I never expected that she would say that.

“Yes, let’s help him” I just can’t believe her. It seems like she’s not a vampire when she says that. Just because of this man? This is her biggest weakness, she’s too compassionate.

 “Why would we help him? they are our food!”

After that, there are a few seconds of silence. I can’t understand her right now. I don't know what went through her mind to help this… mortal...

“Fine, Cyprus. If you won’t help him, I’m gonna help him alone” Now I saw her trying to get the man out of the aircraft. She’s really certain about her decision.

“Are you crazy Cassandra?”

“If you think so, then yes”

She easily carried this man through her shoulders. I really can’t deny that she’s strong., but she’s also crazy. I can notice that she’s trying to restrain herself from biting the man. I know she can smell the luscious blood but she managed to control herself. I had no choice but to follow her, and when we’re already far from the scene, the aircraft exploded.

“Are you going to take her to our tree house?!”

“Yes, Cyprus. There’ll be no place safer for him but the tree house. Now, are you just gonna follow me or help me?”

I don’t know what to say to her. I don’t even know if I want to get involved with what she’s doing. All I know is that I want her to be away with that mortal. 

She took the man inside our tree house and laid him on the couch. She took a towel to wipe the blood all over the man’s face. She seems so dedicated to saving him. I don’t like that. She’s a vampire, she shouldn’t be like that. 

This place is our very own special place and it’s the first time that someone other than us went inside. What pisses me off more is that a low being mortal is able to go here. I don’t feel good about him. I really want to bite and suck his neck until his blood runs out.

“Look Cyprus, I got an ID from his pocket…”

I went back to reality when I heard her voice. She went near me and showed me what she got.

“His name is…

...Dylan Guillaume”

-End of Flashback-

“So what do you think, Cyprus? Are you going to cooperate with me in killing him? Killing Dylan?”

I thought about it thoroughly before I responded.

“Just promise me that Cassandra won’t get harmed”

“Of course, she’s still my daughter, the heir of our kingdom. I just want to get rid of her mortal lover” I saw the grin on her face when she said that. I understand now why Cassandra hated her mother that much. But as of the moment, Queen Lucinda and I have the same goal. We both don’t want Dylan to be with Cassandra. That low being mortal, she doesn’t deserve him. Cassandra has a better future without him. She’s a strong princess, and that mortal is weak. He can’t even protect Cassandra!

I know that if she discovers that I am part of her mother’s plan, she’s going to kill me. It doesn’t even matter. All I know is that I’m doing this for her.

“Fine, I'll tell you where they are” 

------

fire is crackling

Owls hooting...

Leaves are brushing along with the soft wind…

.

.

.

I am now in the middle of this dark magical forest. I’m wearing a dark coat that can cover half of my face. I don’t want Cassandra to recognize me. Even though she is blindfolded right now, I never know until when it will last.

“Mother… please where is Dylan, please… I’m begging you mother, where is he?” 

As she said those words, I clenched my fist. What is with that mortal that she loves the most? Why is she so into him that even though her life is in danger, she still thinks about Dylan? She’s going to risk everything just for that weakling!

“Do you really love that mortal? Despite everything?”

“Yes mother, he’s the most precious thing that I don’t want to lose. Please, I feel very weak… I need to know. Where is he please” she started coughing and I can sense that she’s really having a hard time right now. Those molten metal made her weak. I can’t take this, I almost wanted to untie her but I can’t do that. The Queen and I have a plan and I couldn’t mess this up.

“He’s on the other side of this forest at the edge of a cliff. If you’re as weak as you are now, you won’t be able to save him. In order for you to heal from the thing that runs inside you right now, you need to drink human blood. If you do that, you’ll be able to help your love” 

There’s a few seconds of silence. Of course, she is a changed vampire now. I know she’ll hesitate to do what the Queen asked her to do. When she met this Dylan she became more compassionate especially to humans. And I hate it. She should not be like that, it’s not her nature. Dylan is keeping her away from developing her strengths and capabilities as a vampire. That’s why I really hate that bastard.

“Fine, mother… I’ll drink.”

“Guards, untie her” my heart automatically raced when I heard the Queen’s command. I’m afraid that Cassandra might notice me. I hope not.

 Other guards untied her, and I am the one who took off her blindfold. I stayed low key. I saw her looking around us. Her eyes met mine, and I guess she didn't know that it was me. Thank goodness.

“Where’s the human blood?” she asked confidently. Maybe she thinks that the blood is in a glass of wine or something. Little did she know, it’ll be tricky for her… and painful.

“Oh no my dear, I won’t get easy on you. Inside this forest there’s a human running around with a bag covering her head. Her hands are tied so she couldn’t fight you. You need to find her and drink her blood. After that you may go and save your love”

HER..

A big lie. A lie just to fool Cassandra. There’s no SHE. And there’s no HE that is hanging on the edge of a cliff.

“But mother?! You want me to kill an innocent girl? My bite could kill her!”

 You’re the one who’s innocent here, Cassandra. You’re the innocent girl. I’m very sorry for this.

“It’s a matter of choice my dear, good luck”

 The Queen turned herself into a bat, so do I and the other guards. They all went back to the kingdom, but I stayed to find Dylan. I need to make sure that he can’t go anywhere. I need to make sure that the plan will be a success.

After a few minutes of flying and searching, I saw him. He has this bag covering his whole head, he’s tied, and of course, I can say that his mouth is covered so that he won’t be able to speak. I went near him and I turned myself back to my figure. He’s trying to walk slowly because I know that he can’t see anything.

As I walked near him, he stopped moving. It seems like he heard my footsteps.

“I’m sorry Dylan. We need to do this, for her own good” I said to him before I punched his stomach. It’s a very nice time to release my anger and envy towards him. I can see from the form of his body right now that my punch hurts him so bad. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her when you’re gone” and then I kicked his head causing him to knelt down on the ground. 

How I really wish that Cassandra hadn't met you, Dylan.

“Lady? Are you here? Show yourself to me!” and then I heard a familiar voice, it’s Cassandra! She’s near here already. I immediately turned myself into a bat and flew up to the tree.

I stand in one of the branches, hiding myself with the leaves of this tree. I watch from afar.

A few minutes have passed and I already saw Cassandra, she’s now running towards him. I saw her grab him and didn’t even try to remove the bag from his head. I heard her murmur a few words before she indulged herself in the blood of his lover. She already bit him. The plan succeeded. Dylan even tried to hold Cassandra’s hands but not too long, he’s not moving already.

I can assure myself that Dylan is already dead now. No mortal can survive the venom of the heir. That molten metal is very effective. She didn’t even notice that it’s Dylan. Somehow I feel sorry for her but all I think about is that it is what’s best for her. In order to have a greater good, a sacrifice must be given.

By that time, I had already left the tree branch and flew away. 

After that I heard a loud cry...

...before the rain started to fall.