There was a rigid stretch of the atmosphere as our group walked by land. We had long decided that once the rain halted, we would ride the twins towards the Black Crystal Mountain; however, two current circumstances had changed the arrangement.
The first occurrence that they deemed problematic was having Peaches travel with us. Although the reaper was silent and was actually behaving himself, his blood-thirsty and menacing aura was unchanging, throwing almost everyone off.
Crowley was edgy; his facial muscles tensed every now and then. He glanced at the hooded man as if he would abruptly tear the caravan into shreds, which he could clearly do in a wink.
"Can someone explain to me why we are traveling with him?" Crowley asked in a hushed tone, intimidated by the silent fruit.
He pulled us into a huddle to converse secretly. The huddle consisted of Ziru, Kox, Caleb, Crowley, and me. Caleb snorted, glaring daggers, machetes, and a bastard sword to the Reaper.
"He's only here because Lucian wants him here."
"But he's super strong, isn't he? He can leave whenever he wants to. Maybe he wants to come with us?" Ziru said.
"What if he's actually escorting us to our deaths?" Crowley suggested in a hushed yet panicked tone.
"You wouldn't want to know how you'll die Crowley." Kox deadpanned.
"Death by banana," I murmured, causing them, except for Crowley and Kox, to snicker.
Peaches had stopped walking and when the huddle noticed it too, they froze in fear.
"OI!" Slade growled, tearing our cluster apart.
He lifted Ziru and Kox with a false smile on his face.
"Care to share what you shitheads are talking about?"
Sevor placed his hand on his twin's shoulder and nodded in apology.
"Please forgive his intruding behavior. What he meant was: "Please let me join; I want to be in the gossip too."
Sevor's words agitated his twin and he spewed more words of denial. He stormed out, showing the worst tantrums that he could ever convey by head-butting trees.
The second problem we had was the sun blackening. It had been morning for quite a while now but something had obscured the sun's light. It had been causing extreme anxiety towards the twins and Caleb.
The children were more emotional than normal and Slade was even crankier. The monstrous threats were fiercer so we had to build our guard up to protect the little ones traveling with us. Traveling by air was perilous because it would be hard to fight in the skies with monsters being more daring.
"Slade, mantikhoras on your left!" Sevor warned.
The strands of flesh stretched from its origin and Slade snarled deeply at the success of beheading the last of the mantikhoras that attacked us in a herd. The Reaper did not lift a finger and the herd wasn't brave enough to assault him.
"What the heck is that thing blocking the sun?" Slade asked.
"It is the moon's shadow," Kox explained. "Nothing to worry about," he further added.
"Well, I never saw such a shitty day like this before. Sure it isn't a sign of doom's day?" Slade asked.
Kox lifted his head to the darkened sun with a blank expression.
"Perhaps it is. Perhaps it is a bad omen."
Everyone gazed at the blind boy with anticipation until Crowley broke it by whacking his head.
"Oi! Stop scaring everyone. I don't know how you do it but whenever you open that mouth of yours things turn out the way you foretell them. Are you some kind of a prophet?"
A mild breeze that came from the left carried the cry of an animal. I headed to the source of the gentle wind. It was like a distress call meant for me as if the animal knew that I was close to it.
"How many times do you think a person can get kidnapped?" Kox asked.
As I ventured my way through the forest, I felt myself get hoisted up as a large creature went through my legs. I peered down and found amber eyes staring at me with worry.
"Fenris, hello, I heard something. I am sorry for not telling you," I said, patting his head.
Fenris whined, stretching his head back to give my face a lick. The cry wasn't far and Fenris was more than willing to accompany me anywhere. He followed my instructions but as we got closer, the creature had stopped crying. Its life must have left it before we could lend our hand.
As we proceeded, we perceived an entrance at the supposed dead end of the forest. A huge mossy and rocky wall indicated the end of the forestry. We ventured inside the opening; it was a long pathway that led to the scenery of a lake being sustained by a waterfall.
A statue of a head with pointy ears was situated in the middle with colorful fishes jumping every now and then. Green and tall rocks framed the lake with their distinctive positions and shapes.
I could not determine the end of the waters for its length went longer and narrower and continued as it curved to a right course.
"Superb, Fenris," I praised.
The animal was here but some other animal must have dragged it away already.
Fenris puffed his chest out in pride. Since we were near clean water, I undressed. Cold air bit into my skin and I ambled on the sandy edge of the lake.
The wolf accompanied me to my descent. Half of my body was engulfed by the coldness of the pool. My companion was very much enjoying his swim. His tongue was out as he smiled with those pointy and deadly teeth that mauled his cousin.
I washed my face and submerged my head underneath. The loud drumming sound of the falling water; the shrieking cry of four-winged birds; and the spurting of the spitting fishes that was starting to enrage Fenris, soothed my mind.
This kind of quiet was favorable but the noises made by Slade, Sevor, and Caleb during arguments were entertaining as well. Combining this group to Crowley's group, it definitely livened the course towards the Black Crystal Mountain.
A part of me wanted to ask why okaa and otou deprived me of this kind of world. Though there was a huge patch containing bloodthirsty monsters and a huge quantity of selfish and arrogant races covering it, most parts contained loving people and misunderstood beings. If the world was cruel to you, naturally, you'd adapt to survive.
I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard something sharp piercing the air. A growl erupted from Fenris; an arrow was stuck to his back.
"Kill the werewolf!" the man shouted.
There was a moment of déjà vu.
There were long-haired and pointy-eared men at the top of the waterfalls aiming their arrows at us, specifically at Fenris.
"Vampires," I muttered.
More arrows tore through the air and a huge net accompanied them. The mesh caught me. I shielded Fenris with a wall of soil against the incoming arrows.
He looked terribly weakened which was unusual. Fenris and his counterpart had sturdy bodies. Their healing capabilities were unmatched.
He desperately tried to bite through the mesh but the net was specifically fabricated for werewolves as it eroded his teeth. I touched Fenris' face through the net, holding him in a firm gaze.
"Leave me," I whispered.
I could handle myself. Seeing Fenris hurt like this, I could not let this pass. He was extremely scared like how he was with the vampire village we first visited. There was something about vampires that he never really told me about.
"Get help," I told him.
I did not need help. My only wish was to see who led this group of savages that dared to hurt him. Fenris didn't like this plan. His eyes told me everything. He didn't want to leave me but I wanted to take care of this on my own. If the vampires possessed this kind of arrows that could weaken a werewolf as strong as him, then I could not have Fenris facing them.
I wrapped Fenris in protective waters and had the liquid stretch out of the lake. I blocked the entrance with a boulder to keep the vampires from pursuing him and waited like a sitting duck. The vampires who attacked us pulled me to land. I stared at the sand, waiting for their leader to appear.
"It is fortunate that we train our men in killing werewolves, no? Those arrows raise a wolf's fear in agonizing levels, reducing a werewolf's strength and their efficacy in battle," a man explained.
I could not see him. He must be still hiding and formulating evil words that suited a villain.
"I was not asking," I deadpanned. "Is that arrow made of your own fear? No wonder Fenris was in utter fright."
"Astonishing," he chuckled.
A silver-haired man appeared before me with a smug look on his face. His long hair was pulled into a ponytail and his silver eyes analyzed me thoroughly.
"Hello, the portrait drawn for me did not do justice to your beauty."
"My apologies, but who are you?"
His grin grew wider. "Ah, of course, we haven't met," he stated, breathing in sharply as he lifted my face.
I hope that breath of sharp air clogs into his throat and stabs him.
I did not condone death...
But it's nice to have a slight change in that.
"I guess we haven't had a formal introduction. I am Freydjadour von Schweitzer. I am the 20th Prince of the Vosredal Kingdom."
"Your kingdom has lots of princes," I commented. I do hope they stop making more of these things.
"Yes well, my brothers had been dying so my parents had no other choice but to keep converting rightful heirs," he replied with a shrug.
"If you don't mind me asking, what is the cause of their death?" I questioned.
Perhaps the same method applied to this person.
Freydjadour looked at me with an unsure smile. He must be wondering why I was taking an interest.
"Most of them committed suicide."
How interesting.
"Would you perhaps want assistance for your turn?"
He frowned. "I will not end up like them so don't worry."
I was not worried about his risk for suicide due to a familial incidence of the activity. I was more concerned about his possession of life at the moment. Why was he given the right to live?
"If you don't mind me asking, may I know your name, beautiful?" he questioned offering his hand.
"I do mind you asking; therefore, I will not tell you."
He slightly frowned and retracted his rejected extremity.
"Isn't it rude that I have told you my name and you refuse to tell me yours? Where are your manners as a prince?"
His head needed to be bashed by a cucumber.
"First and foremost, I did not ask for your name therefore I am not required to tell mine. Second, do not reprimand me for being insolent when you made my companion a practice target for your arrows. Third, I am starting to believe that all vampires are indeed a bad seed that must stop multiplying because they overpopulate the land with their selfish and conceited forms. Your inflated heads are overly consuming the space. Please do deflate once in a while and share," I stated.
I will not be surprised if Wye Fye was his sister. Freydjadour grabbed my arm. His grip was tight and his smile was forced.
"Do not enrage me~" he chirped. "You are lucky that my sister is not here. She could have shot you an arrow without second thoughts."
I will not ask who his sister was. I had a good guess that it was her. Why must their kind always clash with me?
A naviculam (boat) arrived with more vampires. It was painted white with green emeralds as its decor. Freydjadour forced me to get on the boat, putting his navy blue cape over my naked body. I was at ease that Fenris was able to escape. My only goal at this point was to make Prince Prayforsore regret his right to breathe.
The vampire heir sat beside me with a proud face. I was not in the mood to destroy this vessel at the moment. They must take me to their headquarters. We set sail with the prince's men rowing the boat.
If these people had enough food and shelter, the twins might decide to politely ask them if we can settle there.
I narrowed my eyes at the smug-looking man and swore that I would make him a target practice for my sharp carrots. He will pay for damaging Fenris' fluffiness.
"Come here," he cooed when he noticed my deadly stare of blankness.
He sat me on his lap, making my bum feel the coldness of his metallic suit. He stroked my thighs and bit my earlobe.
"I cannot wait to take you to my tent. We will enjoy each other's company that I can assure you."
His assurance will never assure me. My revenge was absolute and he will face the tip of my veggie vengeance that will surely splatter his blood on the rich soil.
We reached the end of the lake. The land was crowded with blue and white tents. With clean water and rich soil, and with the isolation of this place that will assure safety from catastrophes and other meddling monsters, this was a perfect place for the children.
Prince Prayforsnore excitedly dragged me to the biggest tent in the area. Gems dangled around its exterior. A big cage beside the red sheathed bed could not be left unnoticed. The said cage contained beings of different races and sexes. They had collars around their necks and looked oppressed.
"I never had an Ancient in my collection..." He purred. "You are my new favorite."
You are my new favorite too. I did hope Wye Fye did not feel envy if I stopped harassing her. The prince pushed off the cape covering me, letting it fall to the carpeted floor. He caressed my waist and lifted my chin to gain access to my lips. I stayed still as he molded his lips on my still ones. What was this slime trying to prove?
"Delicious..." He whispered. "Come and learn from one of my play toys," he murmured.
He released one young boy from the cage who had dark midnight hair and orange eyes. His body was lean and free from fat. He also had a tail and two pointed fluffy ears. Was he a werewolf? The boy was sickened.
"I present to you Prince Elik Leodegrance of the halfling Kingdom. He is one of my favorites. I'm sure you'll learn a lot..."
Elik bowed his head and climbed on the bed. Prince Prayjawfloor undressed; his armor clanged on the ground. Elik was trying his very best to harden the pinky between his legs by stroking it at a fast pace, but the vampire snot noticed that he wasn't enjoying himself.
"Are you not in the mood Elik?" he asked. His tone was displeased.
No, it was just that he saw your face and thought: "If this was the face that I would wake up to every morning, I'd rather go blind or not wake up at all."
"You don't have to be in the mood," he stated, yanking Elik's hair back. "I'll just shove it in you and you'll start to feel good."
Was that supposed to be seductive?
"Can you choose someone else for now, Master?" Elik requested.
His request made the prince furious in irrational heights caused by his pride. He roughly dragged him out of the bed and the poor boy fell and hit his head against the table.
"Are you denying me pleasure?!"
Elik paled.
"I–I no– master I was–"
"Do not be angered. He was not denying you of pleasure, he was denying your existence," I defended.
Elik's eyes widened; he stared at me in shock. Even the others in the cage seemed surprised. Snotty chuckled wickedly.
"You seem to think that you'll get away this time."
He yanked my head back, pulling roughly.
"I guess I don't have to show you how it's done anymore."
He bared his fangs at me and pushed me down to my knees. He shoved his hardened pinky against my lips and I stared at it blankly. What an incy wincy ling.
"Suck!" He growled.
I opened my mouth, letting his ling inside just so I could commence my revenge.
The prince howled in pain and kicked me once I bit down on his string of a ling. When he finally recovered from the trauma, he hoisted me up from the floor and slapped my face. He threw me to his bed and Elik scrambled back, looking unsure of what to do.
"You filthy Ancient, once I'm done with you—"
His stream of angered words halted when the ring on my finger shot out of the tent. Multiple airy metallic sounds were made and in a snap, the tent made of garment was sliced into little pieces.
Peaches stood outside with a menacing look on his face. Armored vampires approached him cautiously. The Reaper placed his scythe over his shoulder and firmly landed his gaze at Prince Frey...nomore.
"Peaches, did Caleb send you?" I asked him.
Peaches' intense gaze swayed in my direction before returning to pin his gaze down at the prince.
"No...I sent myself."