In the Name of the Vampire Prince

Chapter 13: Karina

Chase's View,

I've been wondering all day where did that little girl go? Although I trust her, still, I can't be too relaxed. Sydney rarely goes out by herself. My palms are sweating while I try to think about what she has been earlier.

“I'll gonna ditch school. Cover me up for Mrs. Jonas, bye.” Whatever you're doing Sydney, I hope you'll not gonna be greeted with a smack on the ass again from your mom. For returning home late in the evening.

I sigh and just loosen up my worried state for a brief moment. Breathing deeply 5 times as I close my eyes. I shouldn't be worried, I know she will call me when she's in trouble. What's the use of technology if she can't use it right?

"But what if someone tries to stop her on the curb and kidnap her?"

“What if–"

Darn it, I should get going. I can't calm myself. What if someone will try to take advantage of her?

I was supposed to get my black coat from my hanging stand when I felt a strange feeling surrounding my small house.

It feels like I've been in this state before. And my whole house smells like rose and lavender? I raised my brow, looking around while trying to figure out who got that kind of scent.

Oh... I get it who's the owner of that scent.

And I groaned, thinking on how the hell did she use that long floating snake here in Caspia. Since it is too impossible for her to use that. Unless the magical orb is gone.

Which is not a good sign either.

A loud growl boomed up above my ceiling. What is she doing this evening? Oh gosh, don't tell me she will sleep here again and make fun of me. I can't even escape it since my grandma is away. She's the only one who can vibe that half-demon, half-vampire dragon owner.

I walked lazily to the door, opening up and all I can see is her taking her normal form in front of me, which isn't new to me. I've seen it a couple of times to the point that I consider it as a normal one. Yet her fog kinda reminds me of our noble werewolf hero.

The thick fog slowly transforms into a lean body, creating her short hair, her facial features, and her outfit. The amulet is also placed neatly between her chest, and she curved a cute little smile. Since when did she get so tall? What did Uncle Hades even feed to this woman?

“It's been a long time, my nephew.“ she said in a gentle tone, arms crossed and her fingers tapping on her arm, those eyes resemble so much from her father.

And I chuckled, trying not to sound so lazy and be just glad to her return from the Underworld, “Yeah, hi Karina! It's been a long time too! You wanna go inside? I bet it's really cold out there huh?”

“Whatever, you're faking it. Cut that shitty fake enthusiasm out of your tone.” she grabs both of my shoulders and shakes the hell out of me, “Where's the Chase that I know! Let him out!”

“What the heck!” I yelled, throwing her hands out of my shoulders to which she laughed out loud in response. She's still laughing in front of my face even though I give her a deadly glare. What a woman...

“What's even funny about it?”

She cackled, “Gosh, you've never changed, do you? You're still the kid I know from the ball where you poured a cold soup into Devon's pale face–”

“Just shut up and get inside!” I pulled her by the hand, making her enter my home without hesitation. She is still giggling as she walks towards the couch, feeling all too cozy inside my home– my grandma's home to be precise.

And she lets out a sigh of joy when she jumps and lands perfectly on my velvet couch, “It feels nice to be back once again here in Caspia.” and she glanced at me with those cat eyes, legs crossed, “Did you miss me, Chase Becken?”

“Not in a million vampire years, Karina Helchman,” I said in a cold tone as I grab some food from the shelves, to which she whined playfully.

“Why are you so mean? Don't you miss me playing violin in front of you?”

“I miss the quartz violin that you used to your final performance, not you. That s**t was expensive.” I throw a bag of cheese chips on her, to which she perfectly catches with her one hand only. And she curved a little smirk on her lips when our eyes met.

“Where's Grandma by the way?”

“Out of town. She's in the house of the dwarfs. She misses her friends so she left yesterday. You know, bonding with some of her closest dwarf friends–” and a doorbell interrupted, which made Karina's head turn around to the door.

No one even uses that doorbell from the gates before. Someone's new here in the highlands of Caspia, maybe a guest of some sort. Or I wish it is just a colleague of mine.

“Who's that?”

“I don't know. Let me check it out.” So I went out of my house towards the gates, and before I can even touch the grip of the gates, I can feel someone watching over me.

With my sharp eyes, I tried looking from that weird vision everywhere. Peaking instantly from the bushes, but I see no one.

Maybe that was only a thought.

Not until someone shoved me to the gate hardly. My shoulders and back feeling a great hit of pain before the back of my head. I barely groaned, trying to collect myself from the ground.

“Oh my goodness, Chase!” Karina shouted in fear, she tries to help me but she abruptly stopped from her tracks when she saw someone in front of her eyes.

A man standing in a black turtle neck and coat appeared, his back facing me. Even if I can't see his face, I can recognize him in one single look.

“D-Devon?”

“Why are you here?” he quickly walks closer to her, both of his fists clenched. Why is he so mad about her return? Damn, I can feel blood dripping from my head, I can't move and I'm too numb.

I... I want to save and defend Karina but my body says no.

Karina may have a bitter past with this man, but it doesn't mean I will hate her for her wrongdoings. As if this jerk also didn't do some nasty s**t on her when they were still together.

“Karina, you must've stayed to your line. Return to the Underworld, or I'll be the one to return you by force.” his rough voice echoes through my mind before I can hardly blink.

“Why... Why do you want her to return from that pool of lava?” I ask in a low tone, but loud enough for Devon to hear.

“It's not what you think it is in the Underworld, Chase. I believe that's where she belongs, and I have to work on it...” those were the last words that I heard before I lost out my vision from everyone, and all I can think of is darkness.