When he pulled me into a warm hug, my bottled anguish exploded into tears.
"I thought I won't see you again!" I hollered and in a haste, flashbacks roused my panic like wildfire. "There were evil creatures out there, and then... our home is gobbled by the fire! No one is responding to my calls. And there were hooded miscreants. They kill! I saw them kill, Pa... "
"Vampires! They were all headed to our house! She twisted their neck, she detangled it like an animal... and they are looking for someone..."
I let my lips shake in his cover as I voiced despair when I picture again... what I have visualized when all are scrabbling out of my hands.
"And I thought that was what you all have encountered. Grandma... she cannot run that much. Miro is that stubborn so he won't leave any of you with them. I thought of you and what you might have done... it made me heedless."
"Cause I know you would risk yourself for that suicide so I got pitifully hopeless, I am sorry..."
His eyes shot at my hands. With rigid breath, he guided my head into his chest. And that is when I heard it thumping so loud with pacing that is so slow... it hurts.
It was melancholy in his heart.
"You don't have to." it was a whisper.
"Cause of all of it... I too, thought I really, even with all my life, I... couldn't make it for them."
His embrace loosened. For once, I allowed my arms to wrap tighter despite his frail refusal. He didn't stop me from doing so and it was a signal for me that I wasn't forcing an entrance into his heart.
I want to go deep into his silent dreads.
Cause I know it was just waiting to be listened.
And indeed, it spoke.
"I thought I was doing great. You all made me feel so." he chuckled.
"You guys fuel my essence as a father as you all laughed to gums when we are all happy and together. There is nothing more warming when even without asking, you'd earnestly share what made your days happy and what caused you into a silent gloom. When you run up to me each time something scares you. It was a proud moment when you finished all the food I'd prepared and when I found Miro and you... bare hearts as you convert the furnitures I hammered into an artsy piece, "
"But that night, I wasn't enough to rescue our home. To offer protection. To save. I am not enough as a man,"
The caressing of my head paused... until it fully stopped. Fragments of dismay revibrated in his breath.
"Because aside from I'll fail my mother and son, I couldn't provide my daughter a backup too,"
"And I'll be useless even in the afterlife for it"
"It's alright... we're alright..." I slowly patted his back, hopefully giving him what I think he needs to. Assurance. That we are alright. It ended right. That he didn't lose us.
He let out a bleak chortle that severed the rapid beating of my heart. I braved his eyes and saw the somber weariness in them.
"You just took the words out of my tongue. That should be a father's line!" he joked.
"I took the words out of our tongue actually." I beamed a second before transversing to a serious note.
"You are the best, Pa. And you don't have to shoulder all to be it,"
I heard how his heartbeat from tight to so slow, normalized. His embrace tightened in me for a few seconds.
"Where's Rain?"
My eyes gloomed remembering my dear friend and my worry of him. He made me safe. He protected me. Why is he not here with me? And what must I do to see him again? I wished they have been good to him. I hope he is well and unscathed.
"Akin said he'll be here soon," I said in a low voice.
"But I don't know. I watched how he transform in front of me, turning to be a creature different of a human. He is a vampire. And when his eyes colored full black, I can help but feel the dread of being slain. It was like he can and he does. I couldn't trust him anymore, Pa." I cried silently.
"Did he hurt you?" Papa critically asked.
"No..."
In any way, he didn't. Despite him being a vampire, he never insisted and loomed over me on things I don't approve of. He is nothing but gentle on me even when I couldn't help my cloudy mind to errupt more frantic words...
"I called him. During Damien's rescue, I phoned him. " Papa abjectly stated.
He called... him?
"Akin, that boy... he assured me you'll be safe."
"And that he'll do anything to save anyone dear to you,"
My tears welled up and my chest clenched a weight. Did he really say that?
But I just accused him of hurting... killing them...
"He promised he'll lead you to us. He also stated... he's not gonna force you to things you are not yet prepared. Even with his anticipated judgment from you, he said he will understand."
I buried my face in his chest.
"But must I believe him? I didn't." his tone rasped.
"After all the things he told me over the phone, I will not trust him."
"Hence, he said he understood my worries, doubts, and judgments... all of it. So I told him I will only believe once he delivers you to me, unharmed from his kind... and his very own,"
He smiled calmly at himself as if satisfied with some thought before he gave me such an earnest one.
"And you are indeed here. Safe and fine. He is a principled man so believe him when he said he'll gonna escort Rain back to you. "
"And at least please be gentle to him. He may be a principled guy and indeed is, but from what I scarcely heard in this place, they had been really tough on him for who they perceived he will be."