I ran towards Nate and started pulling on Prince Terrence’s hair to get him off of Nate. “Sir, this is called child abuse! I could sue you!” I threatened him, but the old vampire Prince seemed to be blinded by something that he wasn’t listening to me.
“Who sent you to assassinate us? And how the hell did you people know of this place?!” Prince Terrence demanded Nate, who was pinned under him.
“What the hell? Get off of me!” Nate yelled. In that instant, Ren and Ace came forwards and dragged a thrashing vampire off of Nate. I ran to his side worriedly.
“Are you okay?” I asked and glanced at his wrist that was now starting to bruise. To hurt a vampire like Nate, Prince Terrence must be pretty strong.
“Peachy. Nothing new to me that’s for sure.” He grumbled and started massaging his wrist. I helped him up while Custard whimpered by his foot and gently tapped his paw to Nate’s leg. Nate smiled down at Custard’s concern. “Don’t worry, little guy. I’m alright.”
“Wake up! Terrence, that is your child!” We heard a slap. We both looked up to see that Serena was now sitting in front of Terrence. She was grabbing his shirt collar and slapping him across the face repeatedly while screaming at him. Ren and Ace were now standing at the side as they both gave her an awkward look like they were scared at the crazy Nymph. “How could you hit your own son!? I thought I was the crazy one, but I guess you are too! How can you not recognize him!? I mean, look at his hair! Are you blind!? Huh? HUH!?” She demanded and shook him aggressively like he was a rag doll. Serena even pulled his left eyelid up and screamed to it. “HELLOOO!?!?” She yelled.
Prince Terrence finally snapped and moved away from her. “Wait. Serena, did you just say son? I-” He gripped his head and wobbled a little before turning his gaze towards us. His eyes landed on Nate. “Yes, of course. My memories as a spirit are finally coming back.” He said softly as his lips trembled. He got up on his feet and started heading in our direction until he stopped right in front of Nate. They were of the same height. “I-....I’m sorry. My memories from the physical and spiritual world are overlapping. When I was revived, the memories before I was petrified overtook my body and…” He paused, a look of regret was on his face. His hands trembled as he tried to reach out for Nate. He was hesitant to touch him. “Nathaniel, I’m sorry. I swear it wasn’t intentional. I love you. You don’t know how much I tried...to hold you.”
Nate was silent as he listened to his father talk. The expression on his face was neutral. I couldn’t tell whether he was happy or not. More like he was troubled with how to respond to a parent who actually acknowledges his presence.
I placed a gentle hand behind Nate’s back and pushed him gently towards his father. Nate let out a gasp as he looked at me. “Geez. Go on. Stop trying to act like a cool guy and go and hug your dad. You don’t have to be so reserved when it’s just us.” I have seen Nate facing off enemies before. Enemies that could potentially kill him, but I have never seen him cower like this before.
“WAKE UP, TERRENCE!” Serena yelled and I saw her raising a huge club over her head as her eyes fixed on Nate’s father. Ren and Ace immediately ran forward to stop her.
“Damn it, woman! He’s awake already!” Ren said while grabbing the club from the Nymph’s hands.
“You better reconcile with your father while Ace and Ren are stopping Serena from killing him.” I whispered to Nate.
“It’s PRINCE!” Ace yelled. Honestly! How can he even hear me when he is all the way there?!
Nate turned his attention back to Terrence, who was waiting patiently for what his son would do. Nate has been deprived from parental love for too long that Prince Terrence is actually considering that Nate would push him away.
That was why we were all surprised when Nate took the initiative as he pulled his father into a hug.
A nudge brought me back to the present and I turned to see Ren carrying a screaming Nymphs over his shoulders while Ace carried Viex and Custard with the skin on their backs on each hand before handing them to me. “Come on.” Ren whispered. “As much as I want to tease him right now, I think it would only be fair for us to give them a bit of privacy.” I nodded and followed them to the magical doorway, but not before looking back and smiling.
***
“How come all these fruits are so delicious!” I said with a mouthful of random fruits as I grabbed a grape from the wooden bowl. Speaking of which, the wooden chalice is now hidden safely inside a small leather bag that Serena provided for me.
We were having a small picnic just outside of the cave while we waited for the two vampires. I guess the two of them had a lot to talk about. I wonder how Nate’s doing?
“Oh wow. Do girls eat this much these days? And does the etiquette change to this?” She beamed while watching me eat. Ren was biting an apple while Ace was getting a strawberry when they both paused to look at me.
“No. It’s just that her table manners is a reject in high society.” Ace said blatantly.
“At least it's only my table manners!” I pointed out. “Your manners in general needs a lot of work!” I looked at Serena and pointed an accusing finger at Ace, which he slapped by the way. “Did you know that he murdered a king?”
“Oh come on.” Ren says while biting down on another apple. “It’s not like anyone important is here to judge our actions.” Ace frowned as Ren started speaking with a mouthful of apple. I grinned at him as we did a high five.
Serena’s eyes began to sparkle. “You murdered someone!? Amazing! Who’s the unlucky king? Why did you murder him? In what way did you kill him!? Tell me. TELL ME!” While Ren was busy stopping Ace from murdering Serena for screaming at him, I glanced at my two familiars.
I already prepared some food for them to eat, but they aren’t even eating anything. They were both just sleeping. I don’t think that anything is wrong with them, but I also have a feeling that something isn’t right.
“Why are you so rude?” She asked and ducked when Ace tried to grab her.
“I’ll show you how I killed the king!”
“R-Rose? A little help here?” Ren was looking at me with pleading eyes. Serena was hiding behind Ren’s back and pointed at Ace.
I sighed and started clapping my hands in chorus. “Go go go, Ren! You can do it! You can do it!”
“No! Not like that!” He hissed as he pushed Ace back with one arm while pushing Serena with the other.
“Fine. You can’t do it! You can’t do it!” I clapped my hands to the beat again.
“Be serious!” He snapped as the three of them were going in a circle with Ren being the midman.
I got up and started clapping even louder. “Who’s the werewolf that lost his twin? R to the E to the N! Awoo Awoo Awoo!”
Serena stopped talking to Ace as she started clapping at me. “Wow wow wow! Bravo. Do that again!” She jumped excitedly with a huge smile on her face.
“Well at least you managed to stop her.” Ren muttered under his breath.
I grinned proudly and started cheering again. “Who’s a good dog with-” I stopped cheering when I heard Custard and Viex whimpering beside me. I kneeled and started touching their forehead. They were a bit feverish and seemed to be in some sort of pain. I tried shaking them awake.
“Custard? Viex? Hey, wake up. What’s wrong with you guys?” They were shaking now, Custard more than Viex.
“Oh my! It is starting. This is exciting.” Serena squealed, making me turn to her.
“What do you mean? Do you know what’s wrong with them? Did they eat something bad?”
“They're becoming the new royal spirits. Finally, the spirits will now be at peace!” My head turned to Nate and Prince Terrence,who both just came out of the magical doorway. Prince Terrence was regarding my two familiars with pride. “It’s the first time that I would see this happening. It’s actually an honor.”
I returned my gaze to my two familiars. Among the two of them, Viex was the first one to open his eyes. When he transformed, his cheeks gained two red line markings and his tail became larger and fluffier and split into 6 this time. His four paws gained a slight reddish color as well as his snout.
‘Princess, Custard is stuck.’ Viex told me urgently through our link. His jaw hanging open and exposing the two large fangs. ‘He cannot break through with morphing.’
“What can I do Viex?” I asked him.
‘I am not sure. This never happened before. Maybe because of your bloodline that he is having difficulty, or maybe because he is still weak from exhaustion.’
“Viex, surely there must be something!” Panic started to settle in and the others sensed it as well.
“What’s wrong?” Nate asked.
“Nate, it’s Custard. Viex says that he can’t morph.” My heart pounded in my chest as Custard started convulsing.
“What will happen when he can’t morph?” Ace asked.
I glanced at Viex, hoping that he would have an answer to that. Viex simply shook his head. ‘It may just be an assumption but the magic will begin to eat him until he absorbs it first. In other words, he will disappear.’
I ran for Custard and picked him up in my arms in an attempt to wake him. “Wake up, Custard. I ordered you right now!”
“Princess, if you disturb his morphing then he will not ascend into a royal guardian.” Serena says.
“And I can’t risk losing Custard either. Royal guardian my ass. Custard is more important than any fancy title. Besides, Viex is already one. Why should I be greedy to want two?” I returned my attention to Custard and began using my command on him. I feel bad about it, but I have no other choice. I was desperate. “Custard, wake up. Now.”
Custard’s eyelids started to quiver as eyes slowly began to open. ‘Master, I want to be a royal guardian and become stronger. So I can protect you properly.’
“You’re already strong. You don’t have to work so hard if you’re tired. Stop this right now!” I ordered him.
Custard winced at the authority from my voice. ‘No!’
“I said stop it, Custard.” I ordered him again.
Custard growled in protest and started squirming from my grasp until he managed to break free and ran straight into the forest. ‘You trusted Viex and yet you do not trust me!’ He yelled out before disappearing into the woods. His tone laced with hurt and betrayal that I somehow felt guilty. It’s not like I do not trust him. I just don’t want him to disappear.
“Custard!” I yelled after him and looked at the white fox beside me. “Viex!” I commanded. Viex lowered himself to the ground to allow me to ride him.
“You should really get him back. All that unabsorbed energy will attract some unwanted spirits around him. There’s no telling what would happen especially with his weakened state.” I tried not to panic from Serena’s worried tone. It’s rare for her to sound anything but energetic.
“I’m coming with her.” Ace says as he stands up. Ren got up as well and so did Nate.
“Bad idea.” Serena shook her head. “No offense to the three of you but we are dealing with spirits here. Something that you can’t touch. The only one who can protect her is Viex.” Serena gestured at Viex, who was now a few inches taller than the last time I saw him morph.
“We’ll be back soon.” I told them as I gestured for Viex to run. “Hopefully.” I muttered under my breath as soon as Viex immediately took off.
I bit my lips as I fought the urge to cry. Riding on Viex made me remember what it felt like to ride on Custard’s back. Admittingly, Viex was faster than Custard and he would pound on the ground none too gently that I had to grip on the fur behind his neck just so I wouldn’t fall. Custard was more gentle when stepping on the ground like he was flying, and it somehow made me wonder if he was actually running that way because he was afraid that I would fall off.
‘We’ll find him, Princess. I can feel that he is getting closer.’ Viex’s voice reassured me. It wasn’t long until Viex stopped at the exact location where he found us. Custard was lying on the ground, shaking with his tail covering his body.
I got off of Viex. My bare feet stepping on stone and branches that it somehow hurt to walk. Viex stayed close beside me. One of Viex’s six tails stopped me from moving. ‘Wait.’ He said and sniffed the air. ‘Princess, on my back. Now!’ Viex ordered while glaring at Custard. ‘That idiot!’
“Why?” I asked as I saw dark curls of smoke emitting out of Custard’s body. “Viex? What is wrong with him? Why are those coming out of his body?” I demanded.
The dark smoke turned into a cloud that engulfed Custard’s body whole. His body began to morph, growing larger and larger. His fangs protruded and elongated, his tail became large, and a horn appeared at the middle of his head. Two red glowing eyes of pure hatred and malice stared at us after he let out an ear piercing howl.
“No…” I gasped and covered my mouth with my hands as I looked at Custard’s new form. “This is wrong.”
Viex’s whiskers twitched in a snarl. ‘Remember what the Nymph said about him attracting unwanted presence? This is what she meant. Custard just attracted vengeful spirits that somehow merged with his body.’