Sweating.
A burning sensation.
A feeling that danger was nearby. These were the initial reactions of an urion's body whenever an outcross was nearby. But there was an oddity in what I felt with the guy. It was as if an invisible thread connected us. Another side of my consciousness urged me not to harm him.
The red-haired guy, seemingly aware that we could sense his presence, gracefully approached us. There was a flawless quality to his appearance, his movements, and his attire. A modern vampire, I supposed. He grinned as he faced me, as if I were his true target. His dark eyes flickered, and his charcoal eyelashes fluttered.
"I'm Roen Maroon." He extended his right palm for a handshake.
How could he intentionally gesture for a handshake when he knew we were different? A handshake could electrify us.
But I suddenly felt the intensity of our blood connection slowly fading.
Could he control the flow of blood within him? Did he deliberately allow the outcross blood to dominate his system earlier?
All dark creatures like outcrosses knew that urions and their counterparts would avoid physical contact in public at all costs. But now, he appeared to be an ordinary human. I couldn't sense anything anymore.
I gazed at the guy's hand. His fingers were long and masculine, each adorned with a ring. "Do you really wish to disturb the peace of this place? Is this your way of mockery?"
Kelvin and Rumina were ready to pounce on the guy, but I signaled them to halt. Attacking him would violate the LOU code. This outcross didn't have any codes to follow, so he was quite confident, even in a public place. They were ruthless, arrogant, and deadly. That's what I had heard about them.
He laughed before retracting his hand. His sidelong glances were piercing. He knew he was facing four urions. He blew air to sweep away the strands of crimson hair that fell onto his eyebrows. "I just need Kiera Roberts here, or should I call you Kiera Renee Saldevar?"
I was taken aback by the name he mentioned. He knew my full name before the adoption. I swallowed, meeting the bewildered gazes of Rumina, Kelvin, and Ara. "W-who are you?"
"Kiera, this guy is j-"
"Shut up, Ara Tala. I can reveal your secrets, too, if you want." He placed his index and middle fingers against Ara's lips, preventing her from speaking further. He seemed to have control over the conversation. "I seriously need Kiera. Renee. Saldevar. Obviously, I know her more than any of you do."
"Kiera, this hobo is fooling us all! Hindi ka namin p-"
"You're the tech-savvy guy, Kelvin Sefino, but you missed doing your research on a certain Roen Maroon. So cut the crap because Kiera is coming with me." The red-haired jerk confidently stated. With his demeanor, he seemed to dominate the conversation.
I was curious about what Roen had to say.
How did he know my full name, a secret that only Dr. Roberts and my parents were aware of?
Clearly, he possessed extensive knowledge about me. I wasn't even sure if Friedan knew my original name. I cleared my throat before speaking, "I will go with him."
"Oh god! No, Kiera!" Rumina's hysterical voice tried to stop me. She clutched at her senses, displaying her agitation. Her fiery gaze seared my skin.
I ignored the piercing stares of the three. My gaze remained locked onto the smiling guy before me. He tilted his head, waiting for my answer. "I can take care of myself. I-I'll go with him."
The red-haired guy clapped his hands in triumph. It appeared Ara, Rumina, and Kelvin couldn't stop me as I grabbed my bag and walked toward the guy, who began to stride toward the library exit. Ara called out my name as I moved closer to the exit.
The outcross walked silently down the corridor, attracting attention from students, especially girls. There was no denying that this guy was attractive, capable of captivating anyone's attention. His appearance, attire, and aura were magnetic.
The guy led me to the parking lot. He stopped beside a red Bugatti Veyron. He watched me as I approached the red car. "Get in."
"What?"
He rolled his eyes, his patience wearing thin. Good-looking guys were rarely patient; most of them despised waiting. "You're not just a nerd; you're deaf too. I said hop in!"
"No, I mean, why do I need to be in that car? We're here. Just tell me what's going on?" I replied irritably. I blinked beneath the thick glasses that concealed my identity.
He smirked, then his expression turned serious. He exuded a more intimidating aura. "Are you willing to compromise crucial information because you're being either stubborn or suspicious? Now get in, and I promise I won't harm you. You have my word."
"You can't harm me." I said with a sense of certainty. If I were truly in danger with this red-haired guy around, Zilla should have appeared.
"I know. You're a Saldevar and a Russo, for the demon's sake. Now, are you getting in, or do you prefer waiting for me to open the door for you like weak girls usually do? And by the way, chivalry is dead."
The car door automatically swung open. Not because of his mocking, but because I heard him utter my mother's maiden name.
I sat in the passenger seat and waited for him to get in. He adjusted the edge of his trench coat before taking the driver's seat. His movements were fluid. I wondered if all outcrosses were like him—or if he was even an outcross.
Once he was seated, he swiftly started the car's engine, though he didn't drive off. I assumed he intended to share everything within the car. He sighed and leaned back against his seat. "So, you just turned eighteen."
Of course, he knew about that too. What else did this guy know? "Could you get to the point, Roen? What do you want?"
"What do I want from you, or what do you need from me?" he asked.
I remained silent.
"I was sent here to watch over you. Part of the mission is to identify the subject, which is you," he stated. "I've done my research."
I chuckled. Of course, he's here for me. Another outcross arrived at Diamond Hill University because of my birthday and the lunar eclipse, and they all just happened to converge. "I'm not surprised. No, not at all, because in these past few days, people have been gathering around me. Am I a hen waiting to lay diamonds that both urions and outcrosses are suddenly interested?"
"You have to take this seriously, Kiera. There's no room for jokes!" He clicked his tongue, as if trying to manage his sudden mood shift.
I faced him, closing the distance between us by just a few inches, and he seemed taken aback. "Who sent you here?" My eyes shot daggers at him. "And why should I trust you? You're an outcross!"
"I should've killed you the moment you sat in my car. That's proof enough that I mean no harm. I'm here on a mission. So let me do my job and don't make it difficult for me."
"Your mission is to protect me? I'm not a princess in need of a knight!"
"My mission is to keep you alive until the next solar eclipse. Don't be foolish! You understand the current situation perfectly. Haven't you wondered?" He paused, then took a deep breath.
What did the solar eclipse have to do with his mission? He likely knew my true identity. He was aware that my last name is Saldevar and my mother's maiden name is Russo. He had a big catch in his net, but he definitely wouldn't give away any clues. Not yet. "Are you going to tell me what's going to happen during the solar eclipse?"
"No. No one knows what will happen yet. So I can't tell you. Even the person who sent me here can't predict what lies beyond the solar eclipse," he said without glancing at me. He was fully committed to his mission.
I couldn't glean anything from him. While I was collecting my thoughts beside this guy, it felt more like I was gathering specks of dust from our conversation.
"Are we done?" I concluded the conversation, sensing that I wouldn't gain much from him. He had just revealed that he was here to watch over me.
"We're good. Expect to see more of me lurking around." He warned before flashing a sheepish smile. He seemed even more charming when he smiled.
But I wouldn't lower my guard just because he seemed trustworthy. Not yet.
I didn't waste any more time. I quickly got out of the car and left without saying goodbye. It was past nine o'clock, so Ms. Pilorin, Phelan, and Senina were probably already worried and frustrated because I hadn't shown up for rehearsal.
I needed to hurry!
I didn't sense Roen following me as I rushed toward the university's music hall.
I could hear Senina and Phelan's voices singing as I headed toward the back door. Just as I was about to reach the door, I saw three urions before me. They stood beside the rails of the music hall's back patio. They weren't just ordinary urions; they were pillars: the 8th, 9th, and 10th pillars—Procyon, Achernar, Betelgeuse.
What was happening? Why were urions and outcrosses suddenly flooding the university?