Winds blew erratically as if they were trying to flee from Peaches who now stood in front of us with a menacing milieu. His posture was relaxed yet his gaze was fiery and was prepared to eradicate even the smallest spec of a hindrance.
"No, I sent myself," Peaches coldly responded.
"Intruder, catch him!" The knights roared with valor.
Peaches positioned his weapon flatly on his forefront and rubbed its thin shaft with the palm of his hand. A fire broke from beneath his feet and gyrated around him like a wheel with dazzling sparks flying off from the inferno.
"Peccatum maledictum huius mundi creatura...(Sinful creations of this cursed world...)"
With just the first sentence of Peaches' foreign speech, Freynomore became stunned and unnerved. His sudden drop of buoyancy was remarkable just from the familiarity of words coming out from his mouth.
"Shinigami!" Freynomore gasped.
Peaches was really renowned. His achievements must have truly touched the hearts of people.
"Sanguis tuus est indignus habetur ex hac tum praetoria nave… (Your blood has been deemed unworthy of this vessel...)"
The knights took their distance and positioned their bows. Multiple arrows were released from the strings to hit the dark hooded fruit of my life.
"Tu autem in flumine ignis. (You are now in my river of fire.)"
The conflagration that surrounded Peaches became an armament that belted the arrows away. The blistering element wildly moved on its own while Peaches did not even break a sweat with defeating the armored troops.
"Exspectans infernum. (Hell is waiting.)"
The orange blaze darkened, turning into a monstrous and growling creature that briskly devoured the nearest Vampire. The troops relinquished their weapons in surrender and bolted out.
"Condemnabitur est anima tua. (Your soul is damned)"
"Forget our oath! I'm getting out of here!" a knight declared.
"Where are you going?!" The Vampire prince shouted in disbelief from his retreating and cowardly men.
The blistering heat swooped down like a preying bird. It poured its heated desires on the retreating Vampires, causing them to bawl with agony before being completely converted into nothingness. Not even a single trace of ash was left from their bodies.
A few Vampires who still dared to attack, charged toward Peaches with spears and swords. He vanished from the encircling pointy-eared creatures, causing them to desperately search for him.
A shadow appeared above the vampires and slammed on the floor. The dive relinquished a damaging disk of flames that widened and burned anyone within the range of the radius. A shaky hand grabbed me on my forearm and I looked at Freynomore who had his toys in a long chain behind him.
"We leave NOW!" He barked in his butt naked form.
"What is the hurry? I am famished. I would like to eat something before I deal with your worthless existence. Even a decaying corpse would puff out his chest in pride for 'not' being you at the moment," I insulted. "Furthermore, I would like to invite Peaches for lunch. Would you care 'not' to join?"
Snotty gritted his teeth, forcing me to walk with a rough tug to my arm. His hurrying made me almost plant my face on the soil.
If I stuck my face here, would I turn into a potato? Or perhaps I'd turn into celery. Or better yet, I'd turn into a carrot that would be the cause of this man's pitiful death. He would die from multiple lacerations and hemorrhage. My revenge would be served hot like Slade's special stuffed baby eggplant.
Peaches dealt with the rest of the vampires. He skillfully spun his weapon as he swayed and swirled his body in a dance of deadly motions. He repelled every arrow and every spear that was thrown at him. He overpowered the poor souls who had a death wish.
He caught a spear thrown at him and cast it towards us. The spear arched and pinned on Freynomore's right foot. The Vampire prince bellowed in suffering; his hands grasped the shaft of the spear to take it out, but the spear was held down by Peaches' dark energy.
The Reaper turned up in front of us and the shaken vampire took the opportunity to bargain with him.
"Do you want gold, diamonds, and slaves? Name it Reaper and I will see if I can fulfill it!" He proposed.
"Death cannot be bargained with," Peaches told him.
Freynomore screamed, baring his fangs against him.
"You will pay for this! I will have an entire army set out to hunt you down. I will involve the alliance! There will be no safe place for an outcast like you! You dare lay a finger on the Vosredal's Prince?!"
Even in the face of death, Snotty was demanding. I could not believe I was this self-entitled before Lucius kidnapped me.
Peaches brought out his index finger, silencing Freynomore. He pointed at me.
"Hand that sinful man to me."
"I will not give him to you!" He resisted.
The Reaper's red eyes showed a glint of annoyance.
Snotty continued to be stubborn and Peaches took it upon himself to change that. A scream erupted from him when Peaches' weapon was suddenly spinning between us. It chopped Snotty's hand off, scaring away the slaves.
His hand still held on me while the rest of him collapsed to the ground. The Reaper peeled off the hand, tossing it aside.
"Hello, Peaches. I did not expect you to show up," I greeted him.
He grunted; his eyes scanned the area to look for more souls to torture.
'This man is merciless,' the voice in my head commented.
Compared to the fight against Garmir, this was detka's food to Peaches. Garmir didn't even stand a chance against him. Peaches' hood moved on itself, concealing his head. My hand had a mind of its own as it removed the hood that was a barrier to our communication. His eyes stared down but once I touched his hair, he calmly closed his eyes as if to value the touch.
"Thank you for coming here," I murmured before withdrawing my hand.
His eyes opened from the absence of my touch and turned away from me.
"I will be punished...I have intervened too much."
If he was going to immediately regret his actions, then he wasted his time and the lives of the men he had taken today. He could have just invited everyone to lunch and asked for life advice that would direct him to the right path.
But I doubt that he'd get anything decent and noble from the Vampires. If he ended up learning from these creatures, I could already imagine Peaches dangerously swaying his weapon while smugly boasting:
"Fear my stunning and glorious existence! I am what your parents warned about—sexy in nature and naughty by choice..."
Hmm...
How attractive. Being cocky suited him. If it was him being audacious...I did not think I would mind at all.
"What is your purpose for coming here?" I asked.
He was the last person I expected to come. Though he seemed to be the new kind of stupid, I could not bring myself to threaten him with some vegetable for he had done something useful for me.
"Were you worried for my sake? It was only yesterday that you tried to kill me," I reminded him.
His lost expression distorted into a higher degree of puzzlement and panic. He palmed his face and gritted his teeth in anger and remorse. The way he acted, the way he tortured himself with guilt, and the way he reminded himself that everything that was happening around him would cause dire consequences, reminded me of myself.
What an adorable man.
"Don't test me. I still haven't changed my mind about ending your life—"
The scythe he was holding dissolved and returned to my ring finger. His red and murderous eyes widened from his weapon's betrayal.
"Why is the weapon that is given to me by Father so attached to an errant being such as you?"
Silence bridged between us.
"I have no idea," I replied. "Perhaps I'm just not meant to die by your hands," I told him.
Freynomore's quietness caught my attention. He had lost consciousness. He wasn't bleeding as he should. Actually, none of them bled. I guess it wasn't in a vampire's nature to excrete blood.
The rest of his soldiers abandoned him; their camp was completely destroyed by Peaches' rave. I did say that I will avenge Fenris, but Peaches did that for me.
Vosredal...Why did that sound so familiar? At the Boonies, my brother, Ikesha, Garrison, and Laeroth talked about a crisis relating to the Right-handlers, Vampires, and Fairies. This prince might come in handy with that problem.
'You're going to have this malicious man get on board aren't you?' the voice clarified.
"Superb, you guessed it right."
"Peaches—" I was caught mid-sentence once I found him mildly floating with his hands scrunched up and ready to strangle me.
Was he hesitating to kill me? He looked like he was in pain. His entire body was shaking as his hands went against his goal. Instead of strangling me, they went to throttle him instead.
"Wh—why won't I let myself kill you?" he wheezed.
His right arm stretched out and he slapped himself many times in both cheeks. My hand that was wearing the ring extended forward and grabbed Peaches' face. A powerful explosion threw him away. I stared at my unharmed palm and blinked in bafflement.
"Do I have control over your powers now?" I asked monotonously.
He rose; his scalded face healed in a manner of seconds.
"Stop calling me Peaches. That is defamatory."
I tilted my head at him. "Then I can call you by your name then?" I asked.
He scowled. "You don't even know my—"
"Sam—"
My mouth was instantaneously covered by his huge and warm palm. His wide red eyes stared at me in distress.
"Do you wish to die, Ancient?"
"That is what you want. Why are you stopping me from uttering your name?" I asked him once I peeled off his hand. The Reaper stepped back, raking his fingers through his peachy-colored hair.
"How do you even know that?"
"You simply told me," I answered. "It is a lovely name, as lovely as you," I added.
Whistles in my mind filled my head; the Reaper's tanned cheeks reddened. His cloak urgently wrapped around me just in time for strong surges of winds to blow away our connection. I was lifted far from danger's harm. Peaches who had superior instincts drifted above me. The lake rose in a huge wave before completely consuming the ruined headquarters. I used my power to push the water back. An earthquake, followed by an angry roar of a dragon, set powerful vibrations on the wet floor as he settled down. The cloak delivered me safely back to the soil. It stayed to keep me clothed while Peaches' torso shone its toned, defined, and tanned beauty.
'You are definitely smitten, my dear nephew.'
"Lucian!" Sevor and Caleb called out.
"Your Highness!" Crowley yelled.
The children poured out of Slade's back; the dragon dropped the boat that contained corpses of Vampires. The boat broke into splinters and lifeless bodies protruded from the fragments of the boat.
"Lucian!" Caleb cried, lifting me from the ground to engulf me in a tight and protective embrace.
"Are you hurt?" Sevor asked. "Why are you undressed?" he asked and suddenly realized the probable reason. Sevor's eyes flickered red; his face wrinkled in aggravation.
Freynomore's scream turned heads and we found him drowning in the shallowest part of the waters.
"Help me! Help me!" he begged.
Caleb made a guttural sound in his throat, gently placing me down on the ground. Slade took heavy steps toward the drowning imbecile that made the Vosredal heir panic for his life.
"Drag–Dragon! Dragon! Kill it!" he ordered.
There were no soldiers to obey his command anymore and once he realized that, he fainted in the water.
Slade picked the Vampire with his teeth. He tossed him in front of Caleb as if understanding and respecting his right to save his dignity as a man. Upset children surrounded him just in time for him to regain his consciousness once again. Werewolves played with his mutilated arm and pure fear was slapped on his face.
I couldn't help but feel a little bit of twinge in my chest for his pitiful situation. His prisoners came out from their hiding and fearfully watched the events which were about to unfold.
"Plea–Please! Please don't kill me!" Frey cried.
His sobs racked his body and regret fell upon his ego.
Rui's tail wrapped around Frey's form like a serpent. Buck snarled at the prince. Ziru was ready to strike him with his arrow and everyone was anticipating my command. Caleb's hands transformed into claws; his eyes burning with rage.
"Don't kill him," I announced. Questioning eyes fell upon me. Even the Reaper was confused with my words.
"Why? He has wronged you, Lucian!" Sevor exclaimed.
"I won't let him get away! I can't let him get away with what he has done to you!" Caleb snapped.
Slade paced from the lack of action. He released continuous steams from his nostrils before finally snapping.
He snatched me from my place and growled at my face in discontent as if barking: "STUPID IDIOT" at me. After I was done being showered with Slade's saliva, he put me down and crossed his arms in front of him with a huff.
"He is the Prince of the Vosredal Empire. I need him for something," I explained.
"He is?" Sevor asked, in doubt with the man's honesty. It was rare for Sevor to have the desire to hurt someone. "Are you sure he didn't tarnish you?" he asked again.
I swayed my head. "No, Peaches came right on time," I told them.
Heads turned to Peaches who showed discomfort with the number of eyes trained on him. Children thought that the Reaper was now harmless and attempted to praise him with hugs but with one:
"Touch me you die" from him, they froze and laughed sheepishly.
Snot trailed down from the prince's nose. Rui dropped him to the ground, displeased with the decision.
"Wise choice," Kox commented. "I guess."
Crowley grabbed Kox by the shirt. "HEY WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!"
"Must you always take my words so seriously?" the child sighed.
Caleb sat down with his head bowed in dissatisfaction. The prince curled like a child and lamented in shame. I knelt in front of the depressed werewolf, cupping his cheek.
"I am fine. Do not be so upset."
Caleb's hand held mine.
"What if something happened to you? What if I lose you too?"
The pang in my chest took control of my body. I buried Caleb's head in my embrace.
"I apologize. I wanted to avenge you but I became reckless."
Caleb chuckled deeply, sniffling a bit before rubbing his cheek on my chest. His hug on me tightened.
"You are such a hopeless trouble-magnet," he sighed.
"OI KOX, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!"
"Lucian, what do we do with him?" Sevor asked. Caleb and I stood, facing the problem at hand.
Slade's dragon foot was already raised and ready to clobber the prince. The Reaper was in the process of chanting some perilous spell. Sevor seemed to be the only one with restraint...or so I thought. His other hand was already holding a knife.
With Prince Snotty's revolting acts of malice, he deserved the abhorrence being handed to him on a silver platter. I had no right to intervene with anyone who wanted him dead; however, there were pressing matters that needed him alive.
After a few more moments of pondering, I finally chose the only person who was capable of watching out for the prince without letting his emotions get the best of him.
"I'll put him under Crowley's jurisdiction," I sighed.
Crowley was stopped midway from devouring the fruits he picked up from the ground. His arms were loaded with all kinds of wet food.
"Oh yeah, f-shure. I'll do my berst, Yer Highness," he spoke through a mouthful of food.
"Hello," Elik, the Prince from before, greeted. He led the group of captives who were still bound to each other.
"Kindly break the chains, Sevor," I requested.
"Right away."
Once they were free, Elik and the rest of them knelt.
"Thank you, prince, we will forever be indebted to you," Elik murmured.
All of them had broken down in tears from the joy of independence. I tilted my head at them.
"Why do you kneel to me?" I asked them.
"I am already uncrowned. I am—"
Elik stopped talking when Crowley snorted. Ziru urged everyone to stand up.
"Don't kneel, the prince doesn't like that," Crowley told him.
"Stand up everyone! Cheer up!" Ziru shouted.
Crowley helped Elik get on his feet and the dethroned prince seemed hesitant to proceed with informality.
"And I keep telling everyone to stop calling me prince," I sighed.
Caleb snickered. "They can't help it, you look majestic after all."
"A royal pain in the ass," Slade scoffed once he mutated back to his man form.
Caleb's and Slade's eyes connected with a spark of fury. Sevor was quick to intervene between them.
"So what do you plan on doing now?" I asked the freed captives.
They gave each other looks and shrugged.
"If it isn't such a bother, can we stay with you for a while?" Elik shyly asked.
"We don't have any homes to go back to anymore. Some of us have families but the people won't let us return because they are afraid of the Vosredal's wrath," Elik explained.
"You are more than welcome to," I encouraged. "You don't mind, do you?" I asked the twins.
"I don't mind, as long as you're happy," Sevor responded.
"Bah, do what you want!" Slade huffed.
The captives smiled in relief but looked at Prince Frey with concern. They were all forced to perform such vile acts with him. I could understand their discomforts.
"He won't stay for long. I will bring him with us to the Black Crystal Mountain," I said. "The children will stay here along with the rest of you."
"The children can't be left unguarded," Sevor brought up.
I blinked in confusion. "Um...You will stay here with them."
The twins scowled. Slade was ready to throw another tantrum, but he was exercising great restraint.
"What are you saying, we're coming with you!" he complained.
"Wasn't that the initial plan?" Sevor supported.
"It is way too risky. I do not want to endanger them," I denied.
"Then I'll go and Slade can—"
"FUCK NO!" Slade stressed
"Ha~ Your filthy ass stays here," Caleb jeered.
"No one will take care of the children if all of us go," Sevor explained.
"Then you stay, I'll go!" Slade demanded.
"Both of you can go and Peaches will babysit," I suggested.
"Fine!" the twins chorused before realizing what they agreed upon.
"Are you crazy?!" Slade strongly queried.
"I think Peaches is a capable babysitter. Just teach him," I deadpanned.
The twins, Caleb, Crowley, Kox, and the rest of the children gaped at the Reaper who was busy piling up dead bodies. Peaches looked to his right and talked as if he was speaking to someone.
"Death is unavoidable. Accept it."
"Oh yes, he was made for this job," Kox agreed. "The children's future is bright."
"For once, I don't believe you," Crowley huffed.