Xenon sat in the tranquility of the mansion's garden, lost in the pages of a book, when Aria's arrival disrupted his solitude.
"Is there something you need?" Xenon inquired, looking up from his book.
Aria hesitated for a moment before speaking. "C-Can you teleport me... to the town?" she asked, her voice trembling with urgency.
Closing his book with a heavy sigh, Xenon regarded her with concern. "Are you absolutely certain about this decision? Loving a human is wrong, it can lead to heartache," he cautioned.
Aria met his gaze, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "But the prince also chose the same path. He's falling to a human as well," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Xenon's expression softened, understanding the depth of her emotions. "Just promise me one thing – that you won't shed another tear because once I find out that person hurt you, he'll face my wrath," he declared, his protective instincts kicking in.
Grateful for his concern, Aria managed a small smile through her tears. "Thank you, Xen," she said.
Xenon just smiled back at her.
Extending his hand to her, Xenon gently clasped hers. Closing his eyes, Xenon concentrated, and in the blink of an eye, they were transported to the town. As they materialized in the dim confines of an old building, Xenon glanced out the window, gauging the time.
"It's still daylight. It might be best to wait a little longer before venturing outside," he suggested.
Aria nodded in agreement. She watched Xenon, grateful for his guidance and unwavering friendship.
.
....
Maddison recited her incantations with closed eyes, deep in concentration. Kan's revelation that one of their foes possessed the ability to conjure fire sent a chill down her spine. Only one vampire had such power—Autumn. Maddison clenched a strand of hair she had snatched from Autumn, determination burning in her eyes. She vowed to repay the pain she had endured.
With meticulous care, she bound the hair to a voodoo doll, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
"Prepare yourself now, for you have angered a witch," Maddison hissed with malice.
.....
The Seasons siblings strolled down the hallway, their footsteps echoing in the silence. Suddenly, Autumn halted, her expression contorted in agony.
"Is everything alright?" Fall's concern was palpable.
Autumn could only scream, her cries echoing through the corridor as she writhed in pain.
"Aaaahhhhh!!!" she shrieked, her voice filled with torment.
Without warning, Autumn's body suddenly started to lacerate.
"What's happening to you?" Fall's voice quivered with fear.
"Aahhh I-I don't know!!! It h-hurts!!!" Autumn's screams pierced the air.
Her skin began to decay slowly before their eyes, with maggots emerging from her body—a grotesque sight that filled them with horror.
"Fall, what should we do?" Rain's voice trembled with desperation.
"Aahhhhh I-I can't bear it anymore!!!" Autumn's anguished cries filled the air.
They watched helplessly as Autumn's form disintegrated, maggots continuing to squirm out of her body, consumed by decay until she turned into ashes.
Fall screamed in anger and agony. Did Autumn just die like that?
"THEY WILL PAY FOR THIS!!!" Fall's roar reverberated through the hallway, her eyes ablaze with fury, fangs bared in primal anger.
.
....
Xylon and Jade were walking, holding each other's hands.
"Jade, is it okay if I court you?" Xylon suddenly asked, momentarily startling Jade.
"H-Huh? Court? You want to court me?" Jade's voice quivered with surprise.
With a solemn nod, Xylon replied, "Yes."
"B-But why?" Jade asked.
"Because I have feelings for you," Xylon confessed, his grip tightening on Jade's hands. "I love you, Jade, and I can't bear the thought of anyone else touching you. Your hands, I want them in mine... your hair, I want to be the only one who can run fingers through it... your waist, I want to hold it close... and most importantly," he gently traced her cheek, "your lips, I want them to be mine and mine alone." With that, Xylon leaned in and kissed Jade tenderly on the lips.
Jade closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment. As their lips parted, Xylon gazed deeply into her eyes.
"You belong to me, Jade," he declared with conviction.
Embracing him tightly, Jade whispered, "Yes, Xylon, I'm yours."
In that moment, amidst the whirlwind of emotions, Jade realized she might be falling for Xylon too.
With a content smile, Xylon enveloped Jade in a warm embrace, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
.
.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Aria emerged from the old building.
Upon her arrival at the apartment, Cedrick immediately enveloped her in a tight embrace.
"My love, I thought you weren't coming," Cedrick said, voice filled with loneliness and concern.
"I'm sorry for not visiting in the past few days. The academy has been strict, and I couldn't easily leave," Aria explained.
Cedrick smiled and caressed her face. 'It's fine; what's important now is that you're already here. I missed you so much,' he said as he hugged her tightly again.
Cedrick cast a curious glance at Xenon. "Who is he?" he inquired.
"This is Xenon, a friend of mine. He also wanted to get out of the Academy, so I brought him along," Aria replied.
Cedrick nodded in understanding.
Turning to Stephen, Xenon asked, "How have you been? It's been too long since you last showed up."
"I'm fine. I just prefer a quiet life," Stephen replied.
Xenon regarded him with empathy. Despite Stephen's silence on the matter, Xenon sensed the underlying reason for his absence from the academy, and he respected it.
.
....
That night.
An elderly man collapsed to the ground, lifeless and his insides spilled out.
Emerging from the shadows, a woman with an uncanny doll-like appearance began to walk, delicately wiping her blood-stained lips, remnants of her recent victim's lifeblood.
She continued to walk, searching for another victim. Tonight, her master had granted her the fleeting freedom to roam the human realm. Emotionless, she moved through the town, her mouth and hands stained with blood.
.
.
....
In the following days, news of chimera attacks spread like wildfire throughout the town. Fear gripped the hearts of many, leaving them reluctant to step outside their homes.