The man-made lake brimmed with laughter produced by no other than the young lovers themselves. They're enjoying splashing water to each other until Nana Aida appeared, they saw her waving from the other side of the lake, motioning them to come closer.
Her waving was frantic...with urgency in her movements.
Adam swam swiftly towards her direction.
"Nana, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Ivy and Nathan were already at the gate waiting for an entry, the guard was asking me if I will let them in-?" Nana said in a worried tone.
Holy Shiit! Trouble! Adam thought to himself, then he frowned. "Nana, I thought it's clear that we can not allow strangers to set foot in the mansion. We got secrets to protect," he said in a soft voice.
"I know. I did not instruct my children to come here. They come on their own," her voice laced with tension.
"By the way, why they're here, Nana?" he asked softly.
"They keep pestering me about Jessy. They wanted to see her. They've been worried sick about her after she disappeared from the party. When I told them that she's all right, they won't accept it. They want to see Jessy with their own eyes," she explained further.
Nana Aida's flustered face was painful to watch, Adam sighed. It will be hard for her to decide to turn down her children and send them back home.
So, he has to decide on her behalf.
"It's okay, Nana. They can stay here with us for a few days if they want. I will just fade away into the background. I will stay in my room the whole time they're here to avoid complications. But I hope it will be the first and the last time something like this would happen," he said firmly.
"Yes. I'm sorry about this...Adam," she said apologetically.
"Nana, it's okay. No need to apologize," he smiled at her warmly. "I will go upstairs now and bring my blood box to my bedroom." He got out of the water and wrapped the towel around his waist. He waved at Jessy and gestured to her that he will go upstairs.
Jessy swam to the area where Nana stood.
"Nana, what is it?" she asked. She got out of the water reluctantly.
"Ivy and Nathan are here to see you," Nana said.
Damn! This is trouble, she told herself.
She and Nana walked hurriedly towards the mansion. Jessy went to her room and took a shower while Nana Aida called the guard to let her children in.
A Honda Accord Hybrid car appeared in the driveway, it parked at the entrance of the mansion. One girl and two boys emerged from the car, Nana Aida was already talking to them.
Who's the other guy? Adam asked himself.
He was peeking at them through the window from his room. He can smell their strong human scent from the distance. He snorted, trying to shake away the smell from his nose. He went back to his bed. He will be grounded in his room for a few days, he doesn't like it even a tiny bit. But if they will see him by accident, they will be horrified by his looks. Therefore, he has no choice but to hide in the dark.
He sighed.
He can hear footsteps and a girl's lively chatter on the hallway outside his room. That must be Ivy.
He picked up his smartphone and play music on it, he inserted the earplug on his ears and shut off his eyes. Jessy's beautiful smiling face appeared in his mind, he smiled wistfully.
~~~o0o~~~
Inside Jessy's room.
"I miss you, my friend!" Ivy blurted out, glad to see her friend in person again. She enveloped Jessy in a bear hug, her brown curly hair bouncing around her head. "Am so glad you're okay, safe and looking beautiful as ever!" she added in an exuberant voice.
"Nice to see you again, Ivy!" she greeted her friend enthusiastically and returned the hug.
"OMG! Your bed is huge!" Ivy exclaimed in glee and jumped right into the bed. "Your bed...so comfy!"
Jessy watched her friend's reaction to her bed with amusement. Ivy was always been a bubbly girl.
"C-Can I stay here with you in your room?" Ivy asked with puppy dog eyes.
"Of course you can," she replied.
"Wait a minute...let me ask you something." Ivy's face turned serious. "Why did you suddenly disappeared from the party? What happened to you back then? You scared the hell out of us. We've been really worried about you." Ivy's face was in a state of bewilderment.
A sudden lump formed on Jessy's throat. Remembering the horrific incident she'd been through isn't pleasant for her. She cleared her throat, her friend was waiting for an answer. She sat beside her on the bed. "Ivy-you know I don't like parties. Am not comfortable with many people surrounding me. So, I went out of the bar and hired a taxi cab to take me home. I am so sorry I didn't inform you guys," she tried hard to make her alibi reasonable and believable.
Ivy looked at her with raised eyebrows. "It's okay, I understand. You are forgiven, Jess. But you are so weird!" Ivy had seen a cloud of darkness on Jessy's eyes. But she chose not to pursue the matter, her friend had no intention to reveal anything to her. She walked towards the window and opened it wider. She saw a sparkling lake, a few meters away from the mansion. "Wow! What an amazing place you had here! Can we go swimming in the lake-Jess?" she asked excitedly.
Ivy's cheerful gibbering penetrated Jessy's nightmarish thoughts. Currently, her mind went back to the dark incident two weeks ago. Flashbacks begun appearing on her mind, she shook her head, trying to erase them. She stood abruptly and joined Ivy on the window.
"Yes, of course, we can go swimming in the lake tomorrow," Jessy replied blandly.
"Not tomorrow, Jess. I want to swim tonight! Let's have a night swimming party!" Ivy raves.
Jessy's eyes twinkled in amusement. "No problem."
For the first time in a decade, the mansion was filled with the noisy chatter of four boisterous teenagers. They were sitting comfortably around the dining table, eating dinner. Nana Aida prepared a dinner feast for them. She cooked honey garlic glazed chicken, pork and vegetable stew and buttered shrimp for their dinner. Her face beamed while observing the kids' animated faces. She was glad that they were enjoying the foods she painstakingly prepared for them.
Jessy smiled at Matthew who was sitting beside her. He was Nathan's best friend, an 18 years old guy, the owner of the car.
Outside the window, Adam watched them dryly, his form was fully obscured by the shadow surrounding him. He's been observing them for ten minutes. He was feeling vexed that Jessy was showering the other guy her attention. Maybe she was just being friendly, he told himself.
He felt JEALOUS!
Aargh!
It doesn't help that the boy was good looking and he got Jessy's full attention now. The two would laugh at each other's words and it's painful to see at Adam's end. He gritted his teeth, clearly annoyed.
He continued observing them outside the window.
Nathan began telling his dinner companions about a funny joke, and they all erupted in peals of laughter.
Adam shifted his gazed back on Jess. Her smiling face showed that she was having lots of fun with her friends. She seemed to be enjoying their company. The same smile can be seen on Nana Aida's face.
Somehow, Jessy felt Adam's intense stare because she glanced at his direction, then she winked at him, acknowledging his presence.
Adam's heart somersaulted on his rib cage.
Then he smiled sadly. When he's gone, Jessy would have no difficulty blending with new people and he will be forgotten in no time.
He looked at Nana Aida, she also looks happy surrounded by her real children. After his death, Jessy would be claimed by his brother and Nana Aida will return to her family. 'The ladies will do fine in the future without me,' he said, a pang of heavy sadness and melancholy weighed heavily on his chest.
He can't take it anymore. He departed hastily and retreated to the comfort of his room. He can no longer stomach watching them on their merriment. He felt like he was an outcast.
Once inside the tranquility of his room...he kept pacing back and forth.
He turns on his laptop and scanned the headline for a piece of news. There was an update regarding the death of the four serial killers and rapists who abducted Jessy. The news caught the whole country's attention. Their death was caused by drug overdose, that was what the autopsy revealed. Upon further investigation, the police uncovered more raped victims on their records. The police searched the killers' homes and found the dungeon in the basement, a woman's skeleton was also discovered in that area along with several discarded women's dresses. Tons of raped videos were also uncovered on the site, they are actual footage of the violent raped scenes they instigated on their victims.
Sick bastards! Rot in hell! Until now, he kept cursing them in his mind.
He suddenly turned off his laptop and blew off some steam by inhaling and exhaling air deeply into his lungs.
Adam didn't inform Jessy about the news, afraid that she will remember her painful abduction and it will re-open her trauma and nightmares.
He climbed on his bed, trying to sleep.
Two hours passed swiftly. Unable to sleep, he walked towards the window and saw the noisy group frolicking in the lake. Their laughter and chatters echoed in the air. After a while, they huddled in front of a bonfire, talking and chatting animatedly at each other.
They were having a good time, Adam told himself icily.
Damn! He felt bored!
'I want to join their fun!' he said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He went to his closet and retrieve his black sweatshirt from the drawer and donned it on his body.
Then he leaped from the window and vanished below.
Unnoticed, he climbed on the oak tree beside the lake, it's situated near the bonfire. He settled comfortably on one of the branches of the tree, feet dangling, with a smirk forming on his lips.
He was observing the group.
Thinking of a way to play a prank on them.
Then a great idea formed in his mind. He grinned broadly.
Using his power, he waved his hand around the lake, the light of the lamp post that surrounds the lake died instantly. Next, the bonfire suddenly lost its flames, the lake was now submerged in thick darkness.
The group shrieked in panic...surprised and fear descended upon them.
Hahahaha...Adam was chuckling to himself. He found their reaction amusing and hilarious.
After a few seconds...he waved his hand again, restoring the light on the lamp post and suddenly the bonfire lit with fire again.
Then the fire and lamp post turn off again...and then lighted up again. It goes on like that for a few minutes.
"What the fuck just happened!?" the group screamed in unison. They looked at each other in fear and panic, except for Jessy. No one utters a word, but the fear in their faces was mounting as seconds pass by...they finally scrambled on their feet ready to flee the area.
Adam waved his hand immediately and freezes the three human beings that were about to flee, instantly, they were rooted on the spot, excluding Jessy, she stood still with mouth agape...she already knew who is responsible for the mysterious happenings around the lake.
Adam descended from the tree wearing his black sweatshirt and the hood covering his head. He dressed in black from head to toe...he looks intimidating. He walked towards his ladylove in slow motion.
Jessy looked at Adam, pouting. "What have you done!? You are scaring our visitors!" she chastised him.
Adam smiled, he loves it when Jessy displays anger on her face, she looked more adorable and cute. He suddenly cupped her face and planted a wet kiss on her lips. He truly misses her!
Jessy was taken off guard, but she opened her mouth nonetheless, allowing his tongue more wide access to her mouth. Adam groaned. "I miss you, Jess!" His kiss deepened. She returned his kiss with great fervor.
Then she gently pushes him away from her. "Get over with it! We have visitors!" she retorted in a perky manner.
Then she suddenly remembered that they were surrounded by her friends. "OMG! They saw us kissing!" she said, horrified.
"No need to worry, Jess. I freeze their brains and eyes as well," he chuckled.
"Why did you freeze them?" she folded her arms.
"That is their punishment for taking you away from me," he retorted dryly. Then he wrapped her in his arms tenderly. "I will sleep in your room tonight," he said in a husky voice.
"No. You can't. Ivy will be sleeping in my room tonight," she replied.
Adam sighed, clearly disappointed.
Then he claimed back her lips and kiss her passionately...she moaned in pleasure.
But she didn't let their kiss lingers on for too long, she pushes him gently away from her body.
"Unfreeze them now!" she ordered.
"Yes Ma'am," he planted one more moist kiss to her already swollen lips. "Goodnight, Jess." Then he disappeared from her sight completely.
Ivy, Nathan and Matthew's body starts moving...then they fleed the area heading towards the entrance of the mansion...screaming in fright.
Jessy tried to contain her laughter. She found their reaction very funny. Then she strolled towards the mansion.
She found her friends inside the house, huddled in front of Nana.
"Mother, the lake is hunted!" Ivy was shaking in fright.
"Yes. The light and f-fire suddenly went off and then light again back after a few seconds. I never saw something like that in my whole life!" Nathan seconded, mouth quivering.
"I saw a black figure hovering above the tree, looking at me!" Matthew added with a trembling voice.
Jessy rolled her eyes.
She and Nana stared at each other, they knew better.
"That was the lady of the lake, telling you guys to stop swimming and go to sleep." Nana Aida said grinning, totally amused by the whole situation.
"Mother, you are not helping!" Ivy complained.
"Hush now child, go to sleep. Party is over!" she said. "Ivy-you go now with, Jess!" she instructed her daughter.
"Boys, you will sleep downstairs, I will settle you in your room, follow me!" she motioned the boys to follow her.
After the young adults settled comfortably in their respective beds, the atmosphere of the mansion turns silent.