THE IMMORTAL'S FRIEND

Chapter 23: A Peaceful And Quiet

Mira's POV

Galen is acting strange the next day when I wake up. He's still smiling while talking to me but I can feel that something about him has changed.

I don't know what exactly happened last night. I've been in a deep sleep but I do remember seeing four men lying down on the floor when I opened my eyes for a moment and saw Galen's eyes turned red.

Now, he seems to be distancing himself from me. I wanted to ask him what really happened, but I decided to just wait for him to tell it to me himself.

"I killed someone last night…" I heard Galen speak, after being silent for almost an hour.

My feet got frozen and I couldn't believe what I just heard. It's so impossible to believe it because I know how much he cares for humans. He would never kill people.

"While you were asleep, there's a man who kept on hurting you so I lost control and decided to kill him," he explained.

My mouth hang open.

So I was right that the man I saw not wearing a mask the other night was already dead. And after I fainted, Galen carried me to the other room and put me down on the bed.

We are still inside that room until now and my backpack is also here same as his book.

"Do you think... I'm still allowed to be a human?" asked Galen and his eyes suddenly brimmed in tears as he asked that question.

"Of course, you are." I answered without any hint of hesitations.

He looks at me with a 'how-can-you-say-so' look.

"Humans kill humans too. That's how stupid and crazy humans are. You are a vampire and you killed a human last night, but it's only because you wanted to protect me. I'm not saying that it's okay to kill someone to protect someone, but I know that you still care for humans because if not, then the three other men would also be dead right now." I answered.

He still managed to control himself not to kill me and the other three men the other night because he genuinely cares for humans.

Galen's face softened.

I moved towards him and open my arms to give him a warm hug. Being with him for a month made it feel like it's a normal thing for me to do.

"Thank you for protecting me last night, Galen. I'm sorry, you got forced to kill a person because of me." I apologized.

He shook his head twice before his hands move to return my hug.

"It's my own fault so you shouldn't apologize to me, Iris. I just… suddenly lost the excitement of being human again after what I've done. I don't know how to face you and Shira again. But I really want to become a human… I don't want to be a vampire anymore." he said.

I hugged him tighter.

"Of course, you will become human again… That's the reason why we're collecting the 12 celestial keys, right?" I asked to remind him.

When he heard my question, he suddenly got stiff. I refrain from the hug and look at him curiously.

"Why?" I asked with a worried expression.

Galen looks down again. His reaction just made me more worried.

"About the keys…"

I didn't speak and only studied his expression for a couple of seconds.

"Have you collected all of them?" I asked when he didn't continue what he's saying earlier.

He shook his head hesitantly.