SHE GASPED. Their arms around each other. The silence deafened between them while they leaned on each other. It seemed like Jacob was shocked like her.
"I... I'm sorry," finally, Angeline managed to say. Avoiding his eyes. "S-shall we...sit down?"
She walked away from him but was startled when he grabbed her hand. She turned to face him. And she felt her lips dry when he looked at her as if he'd never seen her before.
"W-what are you doing?" She was stunned when he started taking off her bathrobe.
He ignored her but continued to search her arms as if he was expecting to see something. Then he quietly let go of her. Deeply frowning, then his eyes went back to her face.
"Do you mind telling me what that was?" He asked in astonishment. As if he was not satisfied, he looked at her palms and arms.
"I... I don't know..."
"Tell me," He ordered. His face is formal, and his eyes never leave Angeline's face, with a trace of suspicion she can read in his eyes.
"I'm telling you the truth... Sometimes, it just happened, but not too often. " She insisted.
"Just sometimes?"
She nodded. She was nervous because of Jacob's silence, and his eyes quietly studied her. She waited for what he could say.
"That's weird...." Again, his eyes focused on her.
"I'm sorry, okay. It was not my intention. I didn't know I pushed you that far," Angeline said calmly. "But why did you inspect me just now? Do you have an idea what is wrong with me?"
"What?" He looked aghast. "Are you asking me? I'm not sure..." he shook his head as if confused. "It doesn't make sense at all. You were in the hottest heat today."
"H-how did you know?"
He smiled, mocking her. "I was there with Michelle and some friends. I saw what happened there."
"Oh. I'd rather not talk about it."
"Did you do all that?"
"What?"
"He hit the ground suddenly as if someone pushed him. Was it your doing?"
"I... I didn't know. I wasn't sure..."
"Well, whatever ability you have, always be careful, especially if you're pregnant. Unless you wish that to be unborn..."
She paled at what he said.
"I'm sorry..." he seemed to regret what he had said. He gently pulled Angeline into his arms.
She leaned on his chest.
"Your family... Do they know what I witnessed a while ago?"
She shook her head.
"Who does?"
"I guess, nobody. Until you..."
"How did that happen?"
"I don't know... And I'd rather not think about it..."
"That's weird… Do you know when it started?"
"I'm not sure. Oh!" She raised her eyes to him. "Do you remember when I fainted?"
"You mean at the beach when you were with us?"
"Yes. Something happened that night. My wound disappeared..."
Instantly, he looked up dumbfounded, staring at her.
She felt embarrassed talking about it when his eyes were attentive to her. "I couldn't tell anyone except today. I researched what's happening to me, but it's something scary..."
"What did you discover?"
She shook her head. "I can't tell you. You might think I was having delusions. I don't drink blood, nor need, so I'm not a fiend..."
But then, she started crying. It seemed like Jacob was at a loss for words. Only his hand was moving to pat her back.
"Well, I can understand your circumstances. It's difficult to be a Superhuman."
"What?"
He chuckled. "The best thing you could do is accept whatever that is, but never disclose to anyone from now on. Well, I can keep a secret."
He was about to reach her face, but she stopped his hand.
"Why?" she asked while wiping her cheeks with her finger.
"Because it might endanger your life. It's no different from movie superheroes. They keep their secrets. But let's face it. There are people greedy for power and fame. I'm sure you understand what I'm talking about."
She nodded. She was not looking at Jacob.
"I guess this is not the right time to discuss our issues."
"I don't have an issue with you," she smirked.
"For now, you don't need this issue. But, let's talk some other time. You must be tired."
"I must be. Thanks for your time.
He gave her a mocking smile. "All right, good night, Angeline..."
She nodded, avoiding his eyes. When he turned his back to go, she walked towards the poolside—staring at the deepest, which she could see clearly. She missed him looking back and studying her for a while.
That night, Angeline was having a hard time sleeping. She's been thinking about how Jacob reacted. He seemed to have an idea of what was happening to her. The way Jacob inspected her body indicated that the man knew something. And she knew what exactly he was looking for when he searched her.
In her research, there was a discussion of the marking symbols.
She got up and walked back and forth, which was her habit while biting her thumb.
I got the feeling that he knows about vampires, she was thinking. It only proves that they're real, but why do I have those strong points of a vampire. How did I get it? Will I change when I turn 20 or 21? Her troubled mind is wondering. No, I don't think so. I never drank blood, so I'm not like them. I don't want to be a vampire. I want to be a normal one, like them, my family.
She went out of her room quietly but stopped at the balcony. She heard her granny and two siblings talking.
"Why do you keep asking me that, Ashley? Have you seen vampires?"
"No, but I'm disturbed about it because Angela frequently dreams about them, grandma. What exactly is the truth? Do we have vampires around? Do they exist?"
"Listen, both of you. I will tell you a story from my mother's mouth that they exist. But your great-grandma never admitted that she saw it. She told me about the couple. I will narrate the story. No talking in between. Let me narrate the whole story."
"Agreed, grandma," Alissa said. And the two siblings were intently waiting for her to start with the storytelling.
"
It was the year 1377 when they built The Castle of Comte Dracula. The mythical bastion in the country of Transylvania. Killing Comte Dracula is not the end for the vampires to spread around people. They are still growing in numbers as the year goes by. And it's more prevalent in places where the temperature is cold. Princess Lilian was no exception from the Comte Dracula lineage. The inexplicable miracle came from the romance of two Nosferatu or vampires in our term.
Lilian was important to the tribe of vampires to produce pure blood siblings like her. That's why her clan protected her. But Lucius, a high-ranking vampire, was in total dismay. All his plans in the vampire clan vanished when Princess Lilian fell in love with a wolf warrior named Zacharias and only vampire's bitter opponent.
Lilian was not yet a complete vampire when she and Zacharias crossed paths once he invaded the vampire stronghold. While they were escaping from the substantial monument of the castle, he spotted Lilian. She stood on the steepest cliff. She wept bitterly, looking up at the bright moon.
The painful truth did not stop him from admiring the maiden's beauty. And she seemed mesmerized by the man's handsomeness. A simple recognition that emerged and became profound.
That was the beginning of the end for them when two hearts became one. Lucius discovered their bond. He tried to thwart their unacceptable union. He locked Lilian in a room with many guards. But Zacharias managed to save his beloved from a bloody attack.
They are currently fleeing and heading to the desolate forest in those moments, where they often meet secretly. Even panting with extreme fatigue, Lilian held Zacharias's hand tightly. They kept running towards the ravine.
"Zach…" she said to the man. "It is not possible in this direction. "We won't make it." She exclaimed in despair. "We have no choice," she warned the man anxiously.
He heard everything but ignored her. He continued to run, clasping her in one hand, while on the right arm was a bloody sword.
"Zach…" she tried to stop by pulling him back, to stop him from running. "Let's give up… let me marry him--"
He stopped right there. His eyes were cold, staring at Lilian.
"Will you turn your back on me?" His voice was repulsive and the emotions reflected in the man's eyes.
"I need your understanding. Your clan will not stop chasing us and get me back," Lilian explained. "They won't harm you as long as I agree to marry Antoine."
"Impossible, Lilian..." he vehemently protested. "What you are saying is worth my death. Anyone cannot claim you. You are only mine until death. I beg you not to say such words. It bleeds hurt my heart."
"We have no choice. That's the only way out, Zacharias…" her eyes begged.
"No, not possible," he retorted. "I will utterly sacrifice my life for you. In the abyss, there is the answer to our problem. We will jump and die together. Didn't I think better?"