Dir. Melvis watched his apprentice wipe her face before asking her to go down with him. They walked in silence until she saw Ashley and Jasper sitting right next to Hans who was laid unconscious. She stared at him before caressing as small tears started to flow down her cheeks. She immediately wiped them off and told them everything that had happened.
"During that time, I felt as if something was being ripped inside of me and it made me unconscious. Then when I got back to my original body, the pain didn't subside but it felt different from when I was inside of him."
"What do you mean?"- Ashley
"What's different? And how come you still feel the pain after coming back?"- Jasper
"I don't know. I don't even know how I can still feel the pain when the body itself is supposed to feel. He even said something about him being his master's masterpiece."
"Master, do you know something?"- Catina added
The director shook his head while thinking of the possibility then looked at the sleeping Hans. They all look at him with dismay because of the mystery of his body that not even Catina herself can figure it out. Jasper expressed his frustration then he caressed Hans' hair whereas feeling apologetic for being useless.
"If only my brother didn't die back then, we could've found everything out together."
As soon as those words came out from Catina's mouth the vase in one of the tables fell and shattered into pieces. Ashley was quick to act and took out her dagger then tossed it to where the vase was supposed to be as it landed on the wall. An anonymous scream echoed in the room Jasper stood up and commanded.
"Reveal yourselves, Emma and Hazel."
It didn't take too long and Emma finally removed the illusion she applied on themselves. The director asked them how they got here without them being noticed. They both stare at each other while reminiscing their venture together.
As soon as Emma sat beside her unconscious pair a knock from the door disrupted her desolated mind. She watched Hazel approaching her with a heavy heart but that didn't stop her from giving Emma a smile. Emma smiled back at her then faced her sleeping pair who had been scrunching his eyebrows from having nightmares. She had been trying to wake him up but he wouldn't and just stopped for a while then back to his nightmares again. Hazel started a conversation to comfort her.
"Hey, I won't ask if you're fine because clearly you're not. But, could you at least take some rest?"
"Thanks, but I want to stay beside him as much as possible."- Emma
"Sure, why not? It's up to you, anyways. It's your body, not mine."
"You can be quite sarcastic and sincere at the same time."- (Emma giggles)
"Geez, thanks. I'm embarrassed. Anyways, what happened back there?""
Emma looked at the Head Benjamin and examined his suffering face then sighed as she shook her head. She herself wasn't sure of what happened back then because everything was too sudden and the tension inside her still hasn't died down. Although it wasn't the first time she saw him having some nightmares, this time is worse than before. However, there is one thing she knows for sure.
"Every time he's having nightmares, he always mentions Hans' name. And recently, he's been having headaches whenever he sees an image of a little girl."- Emma
"Really? Could he be related to that little girl?"- Hazel
"I don't know. But it would make sense if Hans is related to Catina."
"Catina? Wait, who is she?"
"She is the brother of the Emperor's dead Female Blood. And the one Benjie kept mentioning in his dreams as well."
"You mean, that tyrant fangs Grand Duke Arthur? Where did you even get that information?"
"From the Grand Duke himself. I accidentally overheard his conversation with Hans in the hallway when I was running some errands."
Hazel didn't utter a word after hearing her words and thought for a second. She kept silent for a minute or two that made Emma anxious. When Hazel slightly screamed, Emma jolted and quickly looked at her nervously, however, what greeted her was a huge sinister smile that made her shiver slightly in confusion.
"Ya wanna know what's going on, right?"- Hazel
"What do you mean?"- Emma
Hazel cackles while looking at Emma happily with a suggestive expression. A while after that, Emma began to activate her ability as she cautiously casted the illusion at everyone. When they arrived at the front view of the mansion where Hans and the others were, they saw and heard the chaos that had been going around. From Dir. Melvis intstructing everyone to carry Hans towards the van.
Both girls didn't hesitate and went inside before they noticed while the others were busy talking after they placed Hans inside. Fortunately, no one even noticed them when they went on a journey with the clueless Ashley, Jasper, and Dir. Melvis together with the unconscious Hans towards his place. When they arrived at the city of Tasbilaonas, they headed into a secluded town near Vermodias in an average apartment building. As soon as they got out of the van, they followed them and the rest is history.
Ashley heaved a long sigh after they explained everything to them. Jasper held his temple from the sudden headache he is experiencing right now. While Dir. Melvis, who was sitting at the couch, laughed to his heart's content. As for Catina, she just stares at them and analyzes them thoroughly. However, the moment Emma asks, the place becomes quiet.
"What do you mean by Hans is dead… and brother? Who are you and Hans, really?"
It didn't take too long for Catina to admit everything, "I am Catina Epione Vaughan. Hans' biological sister and Arthur Skyler Adonis' supposedly dead Female Blood."
"You're alive? Wha- Why- B-but how?"- Hazel
"I was never dead but I prefer it to be that way. My brother is the one who died by the hands of the vampires. And they held my big sister captive."
"Big sister?"- Emma and Hazel
"Yes. She's my cousin but I consider her my big sister. And I am willing to do everything to bring her back and avenge my brother. Even if it means to abandon my bond."
"W-wait! I know you're suffering and I understand that. And judging by how he's looking for ways just to find you clearly shows how much you mean to him. He's been searching for you for years! Are just ignore his efforts?"- Emma
"Emma, enough. I'm warning you."- Ashley
"No! I want to know everything! I need to know everything! Benjie is suffering because of the both of you! And clearly Grand Duke Arthur is too!"
"Emma!"
Out of nowhere, Emma felt threatened when Catina pointed a sharp weapon at her after she called her name. Hazel stood there unable to move a single bit the moment she saw her sharp gaze with eyes as red as a ruby soaked with bloodlust. Ashley and even Jasper felt fear surging inside them and their faces clearly shows how scared they are that they couldn't even look Catina in the eyes. Dir. Melvis just kept his eyes closed while listening to their conversation.
"Don't you dare mention his name again! You don't know anything! Not a single one of you!"- Catina
Emma didn't know where she took up all her courage but responded, "I wouldn't! Sure, I'll hand that over to you. But not everyone knows nothing about your pain. Everyone knows that, especially us Female Bloods."
"Ha! Perhaps this will change your mind. I'm not a Female Blood but a defective one. See? I don't have a mark in my neck like yours. Mine is located at the back of my left shoulder. Now tell me, can you still say those exact words now?"
"You're still a Female Blood. Defective or not. That doesn't change the fact you are one and that you have a fated bond."- Emma
Catina was dumbfounded which took her a while to respond. "How could you think that everything is so simple and easy? Not everything has the same mindset and is as acceptable as you."
"I know that. But I can at least show you that not everything is about revenge. I can show you how much freedom you can get through forgiveness."
Catina hysterically laughs at Emma's remark, "Do you really think it's that easy? They are nothing but vile creatures! Do you want to know who killed my brother and abducted my sister? The former emperor killed my brother and the current emperor abducted my sister! Do you think he'll be able to choose me over his father? Will he really be able to avenge me from his father? So tell me, how am I supposed to forgive them?! Because of them, we won't be able to find it together. They ruined everything!"
"Our only chance, our only chance to find out who killed our parents but instead he killed him! I'm all alone in this pit of darkness. I have no one, no one to help me! We couldn't even give justice to our parents' death and now! Now, he killed my brother and deprived us to avenge our parent's death?!"
Emma couldn't find words to say after finding out behind her revenge. It made Catina laugh madly for being right.
"See? Even you don't know anything so, stop acting like you know everything will be resolve with that stupid forgiveness of yours."
Dir. Melvis soon interrupted the two when he clapped his hands together and said, "Okay, okay. Enough, you two. Emma, Hazel, both of you violated my orders. Therefore, you'll be punished according to your disobedience. Catina, pointing and threatening your peers with weapons is against the rules as hunters, so expect to be punished as well accordingly."
"Now, that's settled. The four of you return to the mansion and as for you, young lady, carry your brother to his room."
Hazel along with the special agents was about to leave, Emma refused. That made the three look at her with pure disbelief plastered on their faces. Dir. Melvis didn't take it lightly which made his expression gloom while looking at her challengingly. Emma didn't back down as she demanded.
"I still don't know what's your and Hans' connection to Head Benjamin. What did you do to him? Why is he having dreams about you and Hans? I want answers, now."
Emma looked at Catina in spite of the fact that the director was right in front of her. Dir. Melvis stares at her with a stern look in his face. The three didn't say a word and waited for whoever broke the silence first. Catina analyzed her expression and it took her a minute or two before she decided.
"Fine. You better listen carefully because I don't want to repeat myself, understand?"
Emma nodded with pure seriousness. Catina then began her explanation with a story.
"How I ended up here, what's my and Big brother's connection with Big brother Benj. It all began with my birth…"
...