"THEY LEFT?"
I watched my body being cleaned by Principal Stonefield. Then, I floated horizontally, assuming a resting stance.
"Yeah," I answered.
When Principal Stonefield finished cleaning me up, she said, "Even if you become an ordinary human, your life will never change. You are already associated with the Vates Family. Nothing good comes with them around."
I pursed my lips. I took a moment to observe my body before saying, "Well, at least monsters won't flock around me, trying to kill me at every chance they can get." I changed position and made a sitting pose. This was great! I felt like I had a superpower. "By the way, what kind of people are the Vates Family?"
"Do you not think that question is better asked to those who are involved with them?"
"I do not know," I shrugged. "But you seem to know a lot about them."
"They are part of the history. We, the fairies, loved to record history. So we will always have a record of everything. The only thing regrettable was our ancestors did not manage to write the origin of this world. It was such a shame."
Indeed, a shame. How great would it be for the scientists to get the answers they seek?
"So what are the Vates Family?" I asked.
"You are quite persistent."
"Think of it as me, passing the time out of boredom."
Principal Stonefield gave me a look. Whatever that look meant, I have no idea. In fact, I merely dislike understanding that look.
"Well, to start, the Vates Family is the third ancient family in the world," she said. "They started these wholesome monsters that terrorise humans. Vampires, werewolves, hollows, mermaids—- you name it."
"The Vates Family created those things?"
"No. And yes. They created it, but accidentally. They never meant to make those monsters. But witches who knew them wanted to recreate something like them. So, with the help of their organs, skins, and anything that comes from them—- the witches would use it and test it to make another undead. Fortunately, they succeeded. Unfortunately, the lifespan of those monsters amounted to hundreds of years or even thousands, but they did not obtain immortality."
"Failed products, then," I said.
"You can say that."
Fascinating. I wonder which part of the ritual those witches made a mistake.
[Tatia's End of POV]
—
Aseyana laid the map of Arcane Town on the ground and pointed to two locations. "The two of them are either in these places."
"How are we going to know which of them is which?" asked Natalia.
Aseyana smiled. Then, she began chanting. When she got the answer, she was stunned. Her eyes fluttered before she gained the courage to look at her aunt and Natalia.
"Any problem?" Yasha raised a brow.
"Nothing," Aseyana shook her head. She took a deep breath. Then, she pointed at a particular location, "Liliane is here. Uncle Silas is in the other place."
"Alright," Yasha's eyes turned cold as she looked at Liliane's location. Unfortunately, she was not that girl's opponent tonight. Otherwise, she would ascertain she would rip that girl's throat off and sacrifice her body, organs, and even her soul to whatever ritual she could think of.
But since Silas was the other opponent, she could only let go of Liliane. There was no way she would let Aseyana be of any harm.
"We shall begin," added Yasha. She then turned to give Natalia a smirk. "You and I are going to have a wonderful night."
Natalia rolled her eyes. She only hoped she would leave this forest alive.
Yasha and Natalia were about to leave when Aseyana stopped them.
"Please, wear this," Aseyana took a pair of bracelets from her pocket and handed it to the two. "It will make your fight a lot easier."
"Are you sure?" Natalia quickly put it on. She immediately felt a cold breeze pass through her skin, drilling into her soul for a second. It was calming, soothing—- it was just wow! Invigorating!
"It is going to work. Trust me."
"My niece is the most powerful witch born in this world. If there is someone you should not trust in a coven of witches, make my niece an exception."
Natalia rolled her eyes again.
This time, the two of them left. Natalia's ability to keep up with Yasha's speed was hard to look at, but the latter decided to be kind and slowed down a bit.
When the two of them were no longer in sight, Aseyana heard a rustling. She turned around and saw the man she had not seen for months.
"Uncle Silas," she muttered.
Silas' eyes glowed in red for a second before smiling. "It has been a while. How are you?"
Aseyana pursed her lips. When she tried to locate their position, she felt Liliane conjuring a spell to fool her. Her sister wanted to make her think Silas was Liliane and vice versa.
Unfortunately, Aseyana could not be fooled. But she had no idea if she did the right thing. Regardless, she gave in to their plan. Natalia's life would be in jeopardy if she let those two face Silas. Aseyana's life would be, too, but she hoped her Uncle Silas would let her go based on their past relationship.
"I have been good," she answered. "Not until you and Liliane came."
Silas shrugged. "Your sister was devastated. She fell into depression, especially when you left her to face the grief alone. And now that she was doing something to get things right, instead of being by her side, you are fighting her." Silas narrowed his eyes, thinking about something. "You and Yasha are our family. So, why are you protecting an outsider?"
"Tatia is not an outsider," she stressed. "She is Uncle Magnus' mate."
"Magnus' mate," Silas scoffed. "You chose someone you barely knew over us. How do you think we should react? How should Liliane react? How about your father? How about your mother?"
Aseyana clenched her fist. She no longer had that calm facade. "Mother died because of Liliane," she stated coldly. "If there is someone who should be sacrificed in reviving her, it should be Liliane."
Silas fell silent. Moments later, he remarked, "Your sister's heart will surely break if she heard you."
"What exactly do you want from me?" asked Aseyana. She doubted he was targeting her to lecture her about family.
"Ase," Silas called out. "You look at me and tell me. How do you feel when looking at me?"
Aseyana frowned. How did she feel? Why was he asking her that? She then looked at her Uncle Silas' face and stared at him.
"Nothing," she answered.
Silas shook his head in disappointment.
"What a shame, then," said Silas. "Fate is such a cruel destiny-maker, do you agree?"
When Silas took a step forward, Aseyana took a step backwards.
There was something wrong with the man. There was danger. Aseyana could feel it. A foreboding sense started to feel the air. The trees, the birds, the mud, even the spirits, they were telling her to run. And so she did.
Without further ado, Aseyana ran fast.
Silas watched the girl run as if chasing her life, and he grinned melancholyly.
He sighed.
"With you feeling nothing towards me means I will feel the despair alone as I rip your heart off your chest."
His eyes turned red. His fangs elongated.
Then, the hunt began.