At exactly six o'clock in the evening, Xylon and his friends went to Paradiso Bar with their instruments in hand.
"Good luck, guys, do your best on the first night," Aria said, filled with a mix of excitement and encouragement.
"Thank you," Xylon replied with a grateful smile.
Seated at their reserved table, Aria, Blake, and Cedrick exchanged whispers as they waited, their eyes flickering with anticipation, while the others headed backstage to prepare.
"I didn't know Stephen was into playing music," Cedrick mused, his voice laced with surprise.
"Me too," Aria replied.
The stage lit up. Xylon and the band emerged, their presence commanding attention and admiration. With a visual kei-inspired aesthetic that captivated the audience, they took their positions with an air of confidence.
"Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to be enchanted! We are the Moonlight Knights," Xylon announced, his voice ringing with charisma and promise.
With a nod of readiness, they launched into their performance, each note weaving a tale of musical mastery and passion, leaving the crowd captivated.
The people, especially the women, cheered loudly upon hearing Xylon's voice.
They continued playing while Blake observed their surroundings.
Aria glanced towards the door, noticing the five men who had just entered.
"Chimeras," she whispered.
Blake also looked over. Xylon and the others continued their performance while the crowd enjoyed themselves.
.
....
It was already dark at Serolf Academy. Love was walking in the garden when she spotted Rebeus, casually leaning against a tree, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
She couldn't help but smile.
"Hello, miss," Rebeus said, his voice enticing.
Love bit her lip, causing Rebeus to feel even more heated.
Drawing closer, Rebeus tenderly brushed his fingertips against Love's cheek. He leaned in to smell her, savoring her scent, while his lips traced the delicate curve of her neck.
"Hmm, you smell so good," Rebeus whispered as he licked her neck.
Love surrendered to the sensation, she closed her eyes and let out a soft moan.
Rebeus's grin widened, emboldened by her response.
Pressing her against the wall, he claimed her lips in an intense kiss, setting her aflame with desire. Love eagerly reciprocated, her fingers tangling in Rebeus's hair as his hands roamed her body with purposeful exploration.
He quickly tore off Love's uniform and fervently sucked her breast like a hungry child.
.
.
The bar was about to close, and the manager gave Xylon the advance payment. The manager was delighted because they had many customers that night.
"Aria, did you happen to notice anything?" Xylon inquired.
"Yes, five men," Aria responded.
"Good. We will catch them tomorrow night," Xylon declared with a determined gleam in his eyes.
"Catch who?" Cedrick interjected.
"No one, bro. Just the mosquitoes," Heberlin chimed in with a mischievous grin.
"Oh," Cedrick replied.
Then they made their way out of the bar.
.
....
The next morning.
"Where's Rebeus?" Yvess asked.
"I don't know, maybe he's just lurking around, looking for his next victim," Maddison replied.
Yvess noticed that Zake was holding a stuffed toy.
"Hey kid, where did you get that?" he asked.
"I-It's from Rain," Zake replied.
Yvess furrowed his brows.
....
Jade noticed that Phoenix was avoiding her. But she thought it was probably better that way than to cause more trouble.
.
....
Cedrick woke up early to buy their breakfast at the nearby market. He found Aria sitting on a long bamboo bench.
"Oh, you're already awake," Cedrick said.
Aria smiled. "I woke up early. Are you going somewhere?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm going to buy food at the market. Do you want to come along?" he offered.
Aria nodded.
Cedrick exited the door first. Aria paused when she saw the sun rising, casting its rays outside the door.
"Is something wrong?" Cedrick inquired, noticing the subtle shift in her demeanor.
"I-I suddenly feel a bit unwell. I'm sorry, it seems I won't be able to join you after all," Aria apologized, lowering her head.
Concern etched upon his features, Cedrick approached her, his touch tender as he reassured her. "Rest for a while, my love," he said, pressing a gentle kiss upon her forehead before leaving.
...
Stephen watched Aria and Cedrick, then felt a tap on his shoulder.
"They say a vampire's love is eternal," Xenon remarked.
"And it is reserved for one alone. They'll never love another creature," Stephen added.
"A timeless bond, unbroken even in death," Xenon chuckled.
Stephen joined in the laughter.
"I know you're talking about me," Aria said suddenly.
The two laughed nervously.
"Sorry, we couldn't help it," Stephen said, trying to suppress his laughter.
"And I'm still in disbelief that we've encountered Crayven's Doppelganger," Xenon remarked.
"He's not Cray," Aria clarified.
"And he harbors resentment towards vampires," Stephen added.
Aria's expression shifted, her features reflecting a mixture of sadness and understanding. Xenon shot Stephen a disapproving glance, silently urging him to tread carefully.
"Apologies, I didn't intend to cause any distress," Stephen offered, his voice laced with sincerity.
Aria managed a faint smile, though her eyes betrayed a lingering sense of unease. "It's alright, Stephen. It's not your fault," she reassured, before settling into a nearby chair with a book in hand, seeking solace in its pages.
.
.
"For two days, Yvess and the others had been unable to catch sight of Rebeus, causing them to worry.
"Tsk. Where on earth has that rascal gone?" Yvess grumbled with frustration, his brows furrowing in concern.
"I can't seem to detect his aura anywhere," Maddison lamented, her voice tinged with worry as she scanned their surroundings.
Kan's expression darkened with foreboding. "I have a bad feeling about this. I'll venture into the depths of the Academy to search for him," he resolved before melding into the shadows, disappearing from view.
"Psh, I'll look for him too," Yvess declared before leaving the mansion.
Left alone once more, Maddison heaved a sigh of resignation. "Great, now I'm alone again," she said.
Glancing around the empty room, she frowned. "Where could Zake have wandered off to?" she mused aloud.
.
.
Rain was busy wrapping gifts in her room when she felt someone approaching. Quickly, she hid the presents under her bed.
The door opened, and Fall entered.
"Rain, we have a new plan," Fall announced.
Rain looked surprised. "What plan?" she asked.
"I'm getting impatient. I want revenge on the prince. I don't care if Father gets angry," Fall declared.
Rain remained silent, staring at her.
"We'll eliminate everyone close to the prince's heart," Fall continued.
Rain's eyes widened in shock. "A-Are you referring to his friends?" she asked.
Fall smirked. "You're right," she confirmed.
Speechless and overwhelmed, Rain struggled to contain the flood of emotions threatening to engulf her. A haunting question lingered: What fate awaited her and Zake? Will Zake also die?
.
....
Sheryl grew increasingly worried as she was unable to contact Jade, prompting her to make the decision to visit her at the Academy. She began preparing for the trip by packing her things.