Kinder Things | vampire chrollo

16

Chapter Sixteen: New Intentions

The driver had dropped me off at the palace right after the order had been given. Lucilfer only told me he'd come pick me up hours later, not truly giving me a specific time but I was sure that it'd be a while.

The castle was still quiet as I remember. Perhaps even more. Occasionally a servant would appear from the shadows and at the sight of me they'd bolt back into hiding.

Thankfully Neon was exactly where I'd figure she'd be. Hiding in the library but not to read, instead gossiping to one of her guards.

"Neon," I whisper and she immediately turns. She waved her guard off and then runs to my side.

"You're here! Is Chrollo here as well?"

"No, he dropped me off. He'll be here later so until then how about we get lost in the kingdom and accidentally make our way outside of the gates?"

She smiled brightly. "Yes! Yes! Let's go now!"

-

Slipping past the gates was easier than we thought. We ran and ran, laughing as we got further and further away from the walls. We found flowers, we found rivers, we even found berries in which Neon suspiciously studied out of fear of being poisonous. Eventually we were far away from the kingdom that I couldn't tell in which direction it was.

"That man...why did he call you dreamcatcher?"

"Hisoka. I haven't been called that in such a long time, it was surprising to hear it once again. My powers have always been passed down in exchange for that curse. Seeing the future in our dreams in exchange for our health has always felt like a good deal to make with the devil. Even though I feel really weak, my powers have always managed to save my life."

"Do you always see the future when going to sleep?"

"No, they're like little warnings. Only if something unlucky is heading our way then I'll have a glimpse of the future." She inspected the bush in hopes of finding some fruit. "You know I saw you once."

My mouth drops. "Don't tell me I was a warning."

"I hope not." She laughed. "And if you are then I at least hope it's some irritable habit or attitude you have."

I understand now. Her dress was a dark blue but at the hem of her sleeves I could see the embroidered stars and moons attached to the fabric. It was laced with a faint gold, almost invisible unless you truly paid attention it. I understood why Chrollo always kept her in the palace. She was important to the dying kingdom and even though Chrollo had once been the last hope, Neon was truly their last hope. Giving them reassurance, a glimpse of the future and small warnings, without her they'd feel completely loss. She was what kept the entire kingdom together still.

Dream catcher, Neon Nostrade should've been the one to take the throne yet Lucilfer was waiting for me instead. I feel a heavy feeling plummet into my stomach. Suddenly I want to go back to the kingdom to keep her safe.

My fingers wrap around her wrist and I open my mouth to tell her it was time to go home when horrifying screams cut me off.

We both drop to the ground, cautious and worried that we had been caught.

"What was that?" She asked but I shush her.

In the distance I catch a glimpse of a figure. Then came more. My heart dropped and I grab her wrist. We could both smell the iron in the air. Blood, so much blood in the distance. Three men stood there with knives in their hands. The group of hunters laughed, seemingly enjoying the view of torturing a vampire.