THE OTHER WORLD

THE PROPHESIED ONE

XAVIER'S ARC

BOOK ONE

CHAPTER 0

PROLOGUE: XAVIER'S LOG

TEST? PASS…

Xavier had escaped his father, Count Julio Alfaro, by boat at night, sailing off to nowhere, trying to escape Julio's rage, before he found out what he had done.

How did his life turn out like this? There was a time when he and Julio were close. At one time, he loved the company of his vampire dad. Now he was a runaway, deserting his former home, the Count's Castle, in the dead of night. It all went well before, but unfortunately for him, his mother dies.

That was five years ago, when the boy was only 10 years old. He loved her dearly, and so did Count Julio.

So much so that it hurt when she sacrificed herself to protect the boy from the homicidal vampires. He tried his best to protect them both, but it was a rule that humans were forbidden in the Mythical Beast Nation. Abhorred by vampires especially, a hatred that fueled their riot.

She was murdered right in front of them both. Kid Xavier turned away, weeping into his father's cloak. Count Julio just stood watching, knowing very well he could do nothing because he had broken the law. Hearing her dying words fade away," Save Xavier..."

The deed was done; it was Xavier's turn.

"Wait..." the count raised a hand at his bloodthirsty subjects.

His eyes were blood-rouge and teary, but he swore he wouldn't cry. He had a promise to keep.

"Spare the boy, for he is partly vampire. My blood flows through his veins as well, believe me. I will bring him up and train him in our ways to develop that side of him. You have my word, my people, that you shall be determiners of his fate when the time comes. He shall take the 15th L.Y.T.A. with the other awaiting candidates if he fails; strip him of his soul if you must.".

The vampires spared his life for now, taking his word into account, but from then on, their respect for him declined.

Over the years, the count grew bitter over the loss of his lady. Bitterness turned to dislike for Xavier because the boy resembled his mother. A resemblance that brought back painful memories.

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Count Julio was hard at work training Xavier. He needed to acquire a full set of vampire abilities, or even be able to master a few, to ace his L.Y.T.A.

He'd taken multiple sub-tests and was trying his hardest, but he could only score an average. The average wasn't good enough for the vampires to accept him. To Xavier, the L.Y.T.A. seemed like a riddle of life or death; he had to solve it in so little time and with so little experience and skill.

Julio was relentless. Not because he wanted the kid to live, but to relieve his conscience of any guilt. If he did fail, at least he tried his hardest to keep his lady's dying wish.

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On the night before the 15th Lunar Year Test of Adulthood, he had committed a crime that he was sure would anger his father to an uncontrollable end.

He fought with his 168-year-old stepsister, their daddy's favorite, and won.

Gwennesa had completed her 15th L.Y.T.A. 18 years ago, even before Xavier was born, yet she didn't look a day over sixteen. Just pale and fang. She had aced the test with the highest score rank of elite graduates and passed all vampire abilities to Max, just as her father had expected.

So then, how did she lose a fight with her stepbrother? Xavier didn't have as much fighting experience as she did, had less than half of his vampire abilities, and was just a weak, pathetic hybrid.

Gwennesa lay on the ground, her back against the wall, immobile but still alive. She was breathlessly panting, aching all over, and bleeding profusely. Yet she wore a smirk on her face. The boy was in trouble, and they both knew it. She had crossed her fingers, hoping Julio would arrive from his meeting early.

With short bursts of hysterical laughter, she streaked as he ran.

"Wait till Daddy hears what you have done to his favorite child."

Xavier hastily raided his father's closet of weapons and supplies and looked over his shoulder, a look of dread in his eyes and a paler face than his sister's.

"He's going to drain you dry."

She continued to laugh and laugh and laugh.

What happened? How did the fight begin? How did it end up like this? Why did it end up like this? What on earth was his father going to say? What was Julio going to do? All these thoughts rushed through his mind like floodwaters after a dam burst open.

Queries to something that happened not long ago but seemed to be faded hazy memories in dire need of recollection. As he breathlessly rolled out of the fog and into the main ocean, he continued to wander as he looked up at the full moon in the sky.

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THE MAP AND THE PEARL

When the count arrived at his castle, he witnessed something bizarre. Tens of frantic castle servants hustle up and down the stairs. Each carried either cleaning supplies up or pieces of broken furniture down. Julio was confused because their working hours had ended before he had even left the castle.

Annoyed, he yelled at the top of his lungs, a thunderous roar. "What's going on?".

Suddenly all the servants were transfixed at where they stood, staring at Julio. All the hassle and bustle were enough for them not to notice the count's arrival.

He pointed at one," You come, the rest of you go on with whatever it is you're doing."

When the maid arrived, she was carrying pieces of a vase that belonged in the count's bedroom.

Massaging his forehead with his stumps and four fingers, he asked calmly "What happened what are you all doing here way after working hours? I thought you had all left."

"Madam Gwennesa called us back. She said we should come and clean up the mess Xavier made. He fled with weapons and supplies and beat up the Madame... ", help rattled.

"He beats up his sister…," Gwennesa's voice echoed in the halls and hallways.

As she descended the flight of stairs, taking them one at a time, two maids, one on each side, kept dabbing wet clothes on her body, wiping off blood stains. She gestured for them both to leave her side grabbed one damp cloth and continued cleaning herself.

"…leaving her to bleed in her father's room."

Her body was still scarred. Every wound Xavier had inflicted on her body had remained. Her father knew it was intentional, physical evidence. She stood in front of her father and greeted him, "Good evening, Father."

"Hmm…," the Count sighed, "so, he's forfeiting the test." Julio glared at her. "Don't be silly, Gwennessa. Be a lady and clean those scars of yours. I can't bear the sight of them.

In a moment, all her scars had vanished as though they were not even there.

"So, what do we do now, Father? We're not going to just let him get away with it, are we?"

"No, we…," the count's conversation was cut short.

Suddenly one of the count's footmen, agitated, bearing a face that would only mean sad news, ran towards the two. He spoke quickly and feverishly that it was like gibberish.

"Slow down, Trickles… now talk calmly."

"Lord Julio, your room vault has been breached."

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