Camarilla | z.zy ✓

CHAPTER 36

Zhenyuan stood at the window of the large room he had been given, looking outside of it. He was thinking over everyone's words, feeling like someone who was being divided into two different directions. He knew that his real family was the vampires, and family was always supposed to stick together right? Even with those thoughts, he couldn't devote himself to making the decision to be against humans.

His cellphone rang, and he quickly took it out of his pocket. For some reason, he was curious to see who it would be because he hardly received calls.

Zhenyuan was surprised when he saw Mia's contact. He wanted to answer it as quickly as he could, but he thought about the words Yaxuan's parents had said. What if Mia was actually calling him to just know where he is so that she could give the directions to the police? What if she was luring him in just like the human women had done to vampires in the past?

But Zhenyuan was curious to hear what she had to say, so his curiosity took the better of him. He took the cellphone out of his pocket and answered the call. 'Hey,' he said immediately.

'Zhenyuan,' she said in a low voice. 'I...I wanted to ask you...why...I mean...I just wanted to know if you were lying about the amnesia or it was actually true.'

Zhenyuan sighed. 'Oh...that's why you called? Yes, the amnesia is real.'

'So...when did you know you're a vampire?'

'I've known recently.' Zhenyuan answered the question unsurely. He just didn't trust her as much as he did previously, well who could with how the situation seemed?

'Well...is that why you were asking me if I could love a vampire?'

Zhenyuan nodded painfully. 'But it's okay, you gave me your answer and I totally understand.'

'Yeah...I just wanted to check on you. I hope you're okay.' Mia told him. 'I'm sorry for how I reacted too, I was just scared. And I hope you're now with your vampire friends.'

Zhenyuan nodded. 'Yeah I am.' he then remembered something. 'How was school? Was Jungwon in?'

'Oh yeah, he even offered to walk home with me because I was alone. And tomorrow we're going to have lunch together just so that I could get things off of my mind.' Mia explained to him.

Zhenyuan wasn't sure whether Jungwon wanted to hang out with Mia because he had to, or he had ulterior motives. Either way, Zhenyuan didn't trust him. 'I don't know, I don't think you should go.'

'Um Zhenyuan, you can't really tell me that. I don't think I can listen to someone I'm scared of.'

'Jungwon is a vampire too you know,' Zhenyuan erupted. 'Just like Yaxuan is?'

'Huh?' Mia stayed quiet for a while. 'I don't believe you. Jungwon absolutely hates vampires. A vampire killed his parents remember? Besides, I don't think if he was a vampire he'd be reading about them. He'd have all knowledge by now.'

Zhenyuan didn't know why Jungwon read about vampires, but at least he was sure about what he was saying. If Mia didn't believe him, he was going to let it slide. 'Okay.'

'Goodbye.' She finally said.

Zhenyuan hang up his cellphone, not bothering to reply to her goodbye. He was angry and he was jealous, and it was such an irritating feeling. But he knew there was nothing between him and Mia now even though she called. He still somehow appreciated it either way.

'Hey,' Yaxuan said as he walked over to stand next to Zhenyuan by the window. 'I'm sorry about what I did earlier today.'

Zhenyuan nodded. 'I understand that I'm an annoying prince.'

'Yeah,' Yaxuan nodded quickly. 'So who were you talking with on the phone?'

'Mia,' Zhenyuan answered, not noticing how Yaxuan's expression immediately soured at the mention of the name of someone who used to be his friend. 'She said she's going out for lunch with Jungwon tomorrow. I don't trust him.'

Yaxuan's look softened as he got interested in the conversation than he was before. 'You're right. You know we're wasting time Zhenyuan? You have to bite Mia before Jungwon does it.'

'I'll think about it.' Zhenyuan answered him with a sigh.

'It's not a matter of thinking about it. Look, if you can't do it for yourself, do it for all the vampires out there. And do it for the vampires who were killed by human beings, including your father.' Yaxuan poked Zhenyuan's chest hard to emphasize what he was saying.

Zhenyuan put his hand on the chest that had been poked and nodded, even though he hadn't made a decision. He simply nodded to keep Yaxuan from telling him more about the vampires, it only served to confuse him even more than before.

...

Meanwhile, Mia put her cellphone on the bedside table and hugged her knees to her chest. Thinking about Zhenyuan, she started to cry. She hadn't shown him much emotion on the cellphone, but she was carrying a lot of emotion ever since he had left that night.

Hearing her crying, Aunt Kiki knocked on the door lightly before walking in. 'Mia dear, are you okay?'

Mia didn't bother to look up from her knees, but simply gave a faint "yes" while she sniffled.

Aunt Kiki didn't believe her, she simply shut the door and walked over to Mia. She sat at the edge of the bed and patted her back. 'What's wrong dear?'

Mia sniffled a little more times, before removing her head from her knees with tears running down her face. 'It's about Zhenyuan...I know this sounds stupid after we found out what he is but I didn't want him to leave. He became someone who I valued then he just...disappeared. I didn't want to lose him just like how I feel like I lost mom – at least for now. It's like I keep losing people that I love.'

Aunt Kiki sighed. 'You fell in love with him didn't you?'

Mia hesitated before she nodded her head. 'I didn't mean to.'

'Of course, I understand.' Aunt Kiki chuckled. 'That's how life goes. You don't choose to have feelings sometimes. It just happens unexpectedly.'

'So what do I do?' She was curious to hear what the best answer would be.

'Well, if he was a human I'd say go for it. But my dear, he's a vampire. He would only use you and hurt you. Just let it go. Feel the pain until you don't feel it anymore, okay?' Aunt Kiki said as she removed the hair from Mia's face. 'What about that nice boy Jungwon who you're going to have lunch with tomorrow? You don't like him?'

'Jungwon?' Mia chuckled amidst her tears. 'Jungwon is cute and all but he's completely disconnected from planet earth. He has a weird mind and all he does is think about vampires. That's just how he's like.'

'Well I think the fact that he wants to have lunch with you to cheer you up is actually really cute, he might have feelings for you.' Aunt Kiki smiled a bit.

'Whatever.' Mia found the conversation awkward. 'Anyway, thanks.'

'You're welcome sweetie.' Aunt Kiki answered her.

Mia didn't mention to her how she had lost her other friend Yaxuan when she just found out he's a vampire. In fact, Yaxuan hadn't even becoming to school ever since the day Zhenyuan was attacked in his room. She had gained several friends, only to lost most of them. It wasn't as if her mother's coma was the only negative highlight of the season.

'Supper will be ready soon,' Aunt Kiki said as she got up from the bed. 'Oh and one more thing, I hope you're not planning to be secretly meeting Zhenyuan are you? That will be very risky.' She warned, pointing her finger at her.

Mia nodded. 'You know I wouldn't do that. I can't be close to a vampire, I'm very scared of them and I hate them.'

'Good girl.' Aunt Kiki smiled and walked out.

Mia dropped herself on the bed and looked at the ceiling, hoping that the tears would run out soon.