END ROADS

CHAPTER 44: HE'S SCARED, THEY ALL ARE

“What creeps me more is how you kill, how you behave and the aura and the person you become, you become a whole new person. Fearless, mindless and blood thirst" I withered at Clark’s words.
“Then about the aura, it is so dominant as if that is your place. Where and what you should be from before. Ruthless and violent, it is as if we don’t know you at all” That was Abi again
… Now I feel I don’t know you anymore …Who are you …Who am I? ... You seriously can’t ask me that! …You want to tell me you are normal?
They were all running from me, the people I had come to love to keep at heart and trust. The people I had considered family since I lost mine, now I was chasing them away unknowingly. Having no idea that is what I was doing. As I grieved I busted into my avatar the blue colour looking much darker. They all stepped back, the flames shimmered down slowly the colour faded then I was back to my normal self.
“I don’t know what that was for, but I can never hurt you guys even if I lose my mind. You are all I have plus Ari and Sandy. The only people I can consider family and friends at the same time. If you all scowl away what am I to do on my own?” I paused to get hold of my emotions “I am also scared, am afraid of myself too. Worried that I will hurt you all and myself included. I don’t know what is happening to me, I seriously have no idea where this powers or abilities came from. As far as I can remember, I was human from childhood unless this was hidden from me by my parents or they were never my parents in the first place” that really hurt and the way they were all looking at me scared me even more.
“I am sorry, I made you fear me. Maybe I hurt one of you by mistake, but I don’t want to be like my dad” I winced “I never want or wanted to hurt anyone. If I did, am sorry and I rather die than hurt someone who is harmless” I turned around, my shoulders sagging and begun with baby steps before I knew it I was running in the speed of a missile deep into the forest and halted when a pond full of lilies and a few wild ducks in it.
I sat at the edge hugging my knees and cried my heart out. This day was very dark, too dark for my own survival and for my own loss. I was fading and becoming a stranger not just to everyone but to myself too. I had killed those Gala badly, bloodier than I thought someone could die. I broke bones, squashed hearts, ripped skins broke necks and separated heads and bodies. I surely buried some alive and those things made me wince right now but at that time it was joyous. Was I two sided or something, was this why the two princesses of the northern crescent castle were all over me? One wanted an all caring Becky and the other wanted a beastly monster?
It seemed Felicity was winning in this war then, though she was winning because of me, I was losing badly and my heart was turning black the darkness and loneliness Grey took cover in settling in… dragging me down.
I looked up my eyes swollen and puffy, I was alone and darkness was settling upon the face of the earth. The horizon was orange red splattered with beautiful colours a dark cloud spreading across it. It reminded me of mom.
Wait, if mom was here … could she be happy to see me bathed I human blood, alone in the forest crying? Probably not, she would love a bright girl, smiling and striving to success and be at peace with herself and others. Then I realized that I really missed her!
“Mom, am sorry I turned out to be like this. A murderer, so bad with a lot of souls gone on my own hands. Am so sorry if you can hear me… please never leave me on my own to be such an animal. Just walk with me even if I can’t see you”
I sat there for a moment then decided to find a way to get cleaned, I followed the outlet of the pond down into the forest to the point it joined a river that had a small but significant waterfall contained along its stream. I needed to wash this blood, sweat and tears off. I was about to undress when I spotted a female figure in a white long dress a distance away. Her cloak that was white too had a hood on. Was I seeing angles that would punish me for my sins already?
“Oh yeah and I will be so glad to whip you” she answered turning around with a smile pulling down her hood.
Flora!
“Flora … it’s you I seriously missed you” I ran up to her and she spread her arms out for me. I threw myself into her arms she giggled reminding me of mother whenever I hugged her. She ruffled my hair then patted it… gosh mom did that too. Then I was crying again. Gosh, why was mom everywhere today.
“Don’t cry, princesses don’t cry” she warned
“Are you forgetting who the princess is?” I asked as I pulled back
She laughed lightly stroking my cheek then flicked my forehead … mom did that too and said …
“Cry baby!”
“Mom?” I gasped and her eyes widened before they softened and cleared her throat awkwardly.
“Oh sorry, you remind me about mom when you patted my head and flicked my forehead and called me cry baby. Mom did that when I was being a cry baby” I explained feeling hollow.
“Oh Becky, sorry for triggering sad memories” she placed her hand on my head, I felt small and pouted at her. She laughed melodiously … everything about her was just amazing.
“Don’t do that” She said lowering her voice.
“You made me feel like a baby when you touched my head” I answered touching my head
“You are so adorable. And what are you doing here?”
“Hiding, grieving. I killed lots of Gala soldiers today, badly like an animal and now my vampire friends are afraid of me” I answered my eyes downcast
“So that’s why you are a bloody mess?” I nodded
“Why did you kill them?”
“They forced my friend Elia to give up her powers using binding magic, now she has only 27 hours left. Then they wanted to kill Grey and I like him” I blushed avoiding her eyes.
“You like him that much?”
I nodded “It is strange, I feel suffocated when I see him in danger”
“Becky, killing to protect an innocent is not as bad as it looks or feels. Sometimes we are forced to use bad methods to achieve good results when we luck a good method to tackle it. If you tried convincing them peacefully then they refused and forced you into spilling blood, then they died with their guilt it is not yours to carry, believe me” she smiled down at me.
I smiled at her then said “But they took her power away using the binding rope” she looked disturbed for a moment then said.
“If they too them then it is theirs now, you need to find a way to clean the mess. As long as the powers are not anywhere near Elia she is safe”
“Thank you, I feel a lot better” she smiled sweetly patting my head.
“Try convincing your friends that you won’t hurt them and show it to them and strive to keep the promise. It seems you love them all a lot”
I nodded “I do”
“I should leave and …
“Mom?” a soft voice rang in the forest cutting her off. Then from behind stepped out a young girl around three or four years old. She had my eyes and Flora’s pointy nose. A beautiful set of white teeth that resembled Regina’s was I seeing things correctly? Weird a combination of three strangers. Her hair was as brown as mine and Flora’s I hadn’t noticed my hair resembled like Flora’s. I have never bothered to look though. And her small hands rested on her hips looking up at Flora with a falsely angered face. Looking cute in her pink dress and doll shoes.
“Mom?” I asked eyeing Flora suspiciously. She smiled at the both of us sweetly.
“Oh yeah she is my mother beautiful right?” the girl asked - said.
“Very beautiful indeed and so you are princess” I told her.
“She is the princess I am just the daughter of a princess so what should I be?”
“Little princess?” I asked
“Exactly!” she exploded “Smart I already like you now please be my sister so you can be the sister princess”
“Oh I would love to” I smiled at her.
“Well, nice to meet you sister princess, I am Angela …” Flora cleared her throat making the girl swallow the rest.
“Becky here, nice to meet you Angela” Then we shook hands, hers tiny and so soft … fragile
“So, sister princess why all the blood”
“I was hunting the bad men who wanted to kill my friends” I told her
“Probably David? I don’t like that father” she said
“Neither” I agreed “a bad father indeed” we both nodded.  I loved this girl already. Though I had no idea why she was calling David ‘that father’.
“Before I saw a beauty like me, I wanted to scold this beautiful mommy, now tell me you told me you scented something and wanted to check it out. This is not something … this is somebody” she pointed her small finger at me.
“Am sorry I thought it was something because of the many scents of blood”
“Right” Angela nodded “you should have called me along this is such a beauty you are witnessing on your own” she said stubbornly
I giggled “Don’t scold your mommy, she won’t give you candies if you do”
“I can get them on my own” she answered proudly twirling around then she wasn’t there or at least I couldn’t see her “Great power don’t you think?”
I nodded furiously fascinated by her power to be invisible, she turned back with a smile. I exhaled “Beautiful, you are so adorable. When am a grown up I want a daughter like you and I will call her Angela”
Her eyes sparkled and she almost jumped up and down “Really? Me too … I will call mine Becky. Pinkie promise you will do that too” she stuck out her smallest finger, we locked them together and giggled.
“We have to leave now, Becky, take care and go back to your friends safely” my heart sunk, they were leaving?
“Don’t give me puppy eyes” she flicked my forehead again.
“Ouch, don’t do that. I feel like a baby”
“And you are so adorable when you complain” I pouted at her “Oh, and that too”
Angela giggled on “You like her mom, she should come with us”
“Not yet …I mean some other time, for now she has friends to be with”
“Can I see her again?” I asked sadly
“Me too mom, I love sister princess a lot” Angela tugged on her mother’s dress
“I will try making it possible but I can’t promise”
“Becky!” I whirled around
“Grey!” I breathed turning to look at Flora and her daughter but they were gone. Grey walked up to me “Are you alright? You ran this far? The Gala never rest, they could find you!”
“Not when I slaughtered their soldiers like that” I answered indifferently stepping down the creek.
“I talked them down, they are fine now” he answered a question I never asked.
“Great, and thanks” I answered pulling off the dirty t- shirt discarding it at the bank. I reached for my pants and Grey took in air sharply. Starved?
“What are you doing?” he asked
“Seducing you?” I scoffed “I need a bath this blood stinks. Doesn’t smell human, or vampire not even witch”
“How do you know the smell of a witch’s blood?”
“Can’t you remember Flora getting stabbed by Felicity in the dream you sneaked into?” I asked diving into the water.
“Right, I remember now” he answered after a moment.
“How did you heal? The cut was big, I thought you needed a physician?” I inquired as I cleaned the blood off my skin.
“I had to activate my other self in order to heal. Down there at the gorge, that is why that lady died from shock and the fall combined. She down the abyss anyway” he responded.
“And scared you too”
“Sure you did, but not as much as the time you jumped after me. You surprised me when you fought. I didn’t know you can fight to save me after all I did to you” he sat there watching me shamelessly, I sank deeper into the water, thanks darkness was here. But with those vamp abilities to see in the dark …hiding was more of bathing a pig coz it will get dirty anyway. Simply it is zero work.
“Say that to your sorry ass. I don’t even know why I was doing that for you, but it doesn’t feel wrong” I answered honestly.
“And if I turn out to be your mate?” he asked with a serious face making my heart to thud loudly. I paused for a moment.
“I don’t know how to answer that but I could say it is impossible”
“Why?”
“Because am not a vampire, or a human”
“I will use your words against you this time. If there can be super heroes with magical powers, then there can also be vampires with super hero mates” and he was serious. I stared at him for some time then burst into laughter uncontrollably falling back into the waters exposing my upper body unintentionally. I laughed and laughed then forced myself to stop but kept giggling.
“You are so funny, perfect comedian” I ticked in air. He frowned at me.
“You seriously laughed at me?”
Oh boy that look. I cleared my throat nervously “Am sorry but you looked very dramatic”
“I can be more dramatic you know” he raised a brow his eyes swimming in desire and I could smell his arousal. Pervert! Then his Adam’s apple bobbled. Was he seducing me? What a jerk!
“I better finish off so we can go back. And fly back home” I dived into the water to hide my embarrassment. I stayed underwater for around five minutes since it was more comforting than I thought then emerged knowing his desires had died down. I brushed my hair back blinking water from my eyes. I almost fainted when I came face to face with a rock hard tarn chest. My hands immediately ran up to my chest to cover up my privacy.
“You perverted prince, what the hell are you doing here?” I scolded gazing up at him
“What can a man do at the sight of a beautiful woman like you?” he asked shamelessly
“David!” I snorted
He grabbed my hand yanking me forward that my chest was pressed against his. Too close, too intimate I shivered his gaze hardening.
“You dare call me that crazy man’s name?”
“I didn’t call you my dad okay? I was saying the biblical David who peeked at a woman bathing with the same excuse you have offered ‘a beautiful woman"
“And you don’t like being called beautiful then?”
“I barely think there is a woman who doesn’t like being called beautiful on earth and the heavens above” I answered falling into his trap without seeing it at all.
“And being touched like a beautiful woman?” he asked tracing his fingers along my neck and arms. I shivered my breath coming heavy.
“And that too” I nodded between pants.
Then he was there, all over me kissing me pampering me whispering dirty, talking dirty which came to me as a surprise. This was a whole new him, the way he spoke, the way he touched, how he was breathing, how he held me, what he was making me feel. It was all new, all unexpected and my body was too responsive for my liking, liked him domineering and guiding me all throughout the way of a whole new experience. Things I thought I would never do, or feel or show to anyone now were an open book to him and I didn’t even know if he was going crazy as I am. It was enchanting, heavenly a paradise but still cautious not to swim in the heat and take me for himself and soak my first time in the wild forest dipped in the water.
It was intense, then I held onto him grabbed him close since I couldn’t stop trembling from it and my knees were not supporting me at all. I rested on his chest and he gathered me in holding me close quiet.
Yeah, quiet was good.
“Are you tired? I would like to show you something before we go back to the cave for the night. Or you want the night wasted?”
“I wouldn’t deny the first offer for an adventure with a vampire prince” I teased.
“Then get dressed quickly, unless you don’t mind if we start it all over again” his eyes sparkled and I stepped away rolling my eyes at him. I stepped out and he followed. We got dressed quickly then he nagged me to get on his back after offering me the extra hood he had carried.
“Oh, no am not getting on your back. You are so tall and if I fall off am broken!” I said
He grinned at me “If I drop you I will let you kiss me everyday”
“Are you sure that is my credit or yours?”
“What’s wrong with being greedy?”
“Very greedy” I jumped on his back “If I fall off I give you twenty golden canes for a week. Call it revenge but I also think there is pleasure in pain”
“Sure there is, but trust me …not in those canes” then he sped off as if I was a feather patched on his back.
He halted along the way shrugging me off.
“You will walk from here, I love surprises” he explained taking my hand. We walked a few metres ahead then he pushed through hanging branches revealing a clearing covered in grass. An apple tree stood at the centre and fire flies spilled in the place. It was beautiful and breathe taking. I could barely resist the urge to chase the fire flies around like a child. And so I did and it reminded me of the times of when I was four or five chasing them at the backyard mommy chasing me around. I smiled at the memory then little Angela appeared in my mind and I could see her run around with Flora trailing behind.
It made me sad, but then I needed to be happy when I could. I have never seen something so beautiful before.
“This is awesome Grey!” I yelled running around playfully.
“Shouldn’t I get a reward for this?” I glared at him, was he serious or just teasing me? He offered a threatening gaze but smirked playfully.
“Unless you catch me” I taunted “and no super powers here” I added running off.
He chased after me, I dodged behind the apple tree, giggling and laughing at the way he looked so frustrated and annoyed.
“Oh boy” I halted a safe distance away from him “You are already giving up?”
“Not yet naughty girl” then he was after me.
We ran under the moon light, I laughed when he tripped or slipped or got a chance to catch me but didn’t manage. My stomach hurt from laughing and taunting him. Then as I slowed my pace he lunged at me from behind me pressing my back against his solid chest.
“Got you!” he exclaimed and begun tickling me. I writhed, laughed and wiggled as I could to get free of his grip but he was too strong. He scolded me on how I taunted him as he chased after me. We tumbled to the grass making a couple of rolls before we halted him, on me. His fingers still on my ribs, I inhaled sharply staring into his magnetic green eyes.
“Am so damn ticklish … please don’t tickle me anymore my ribs hurt and I can’t laugh anymore” I exhaled
“Ticklish? I should try your feet” he smirked deviously.
“No, no, no, no please don’t do that” but he was there already pealing my sneakers off and attacking my legs. Gosh, laughing was also work, I struggled but he didn’t stop I kicked and kicked calling out his name but he went on. Tears came into my eyes and I was going to wet my pants now.
“Oh please stop …I will wet my pants!” I yelled.
He stopped bending over me “You are so ticklish. When you are being a big baby I now know a perfect weapon to use when you are being stubborn.
“Oh no, please don’t I will be forced to say yours too”
“I would love to hear you guess”
“Not guessing I know it. Discovered it back at the creek. Lean closer I will show you” he leaned closer and I lifted my head to kiss the underside of his jaw on the left side and he withered. I almost laughed.
“See … it is a spell in that state I can make you be my little servant. How lovely”
He shook his head bringing himself back to focus “You got me there” he exhaled sharply and I smiled victoriously.
“I always got you, you are just too blind to see it” I said pecking his nose which he wrinkled and I couldn’t help but laugh. He slid off me lying next to me as we watched the gibbous moon above and the dark veil dotted with stars.
“This is beautiful” I mumbled stretching out my hand to the sky pretending to plaster it on the moon and tighten my fist as of grabbing it in my hand.
“How did you come to learn of this clearing?” I asked staring into the sky trying to make out some patterns from them. There was a sharp intake of breath then he answered.
“Dermot and I often came here. We loved Flaked coven when we were young since it had more young vampires. We often came here with his best friend Dylan Wang. We played in the night like this and watched the stars. But since Dermot and Dylan were older than I thought age mates they left for Spain and I was alone for some years, then I met Regina, Abi and Lisa. Then I had another crew before we were all sent away to Spain again for studies” he explained without glancing at me but I could see him smile.
“How was your time in Spain? And is it compulsory for every young vampire to study there?”
“It is fun since the coven got a lot of science and technology. Lots of computer games, movies, we use computers mostly. Books come into the picture when we need to go back into the histories. We are taught how to control our powers and some cultivations if one wants to learn them. Like Abi learnt the cultivation if making people fall into illusions. Which is cool I think” he flashed me a toothy smile “And I learnt one or two cultivations in secret since I discovered am not like the others. I could not practice it with the others” his smile fell “But it is forbidden. I was a little naughty” he added.
“Forbidden? Why? I mean is it black magic?”
“It is demonic. I found the book hidden among bricks in the school library”
“Bricks?” I frowned at him.
“Yes, bricks of a wall. I learnt the cultivation of seeing through solids but I can’t see through lead!” he explained and my jaw went slack. He could see through walls? So when I always thought am in the shower privately this maniac was watching me?
I sat up suddenly.
“What is it?” he sat up as well
“I just can’t believe you see through walls. It is… cool and … and intrusive” I stammered
“I know what you are thinking” he said staring at me below the lids his hair falling over his eyes. Gosh, that look and that smirk, I swallowed looking away from him. “I may be a pervert as you often say, but I do respect privacy … a lot. Don’t compare me to Arthur” I rolled my eyes at the name of that sex starved or addicted whatsoever vampire.
“Don’t mention the name of that thing” he rumbled into laughter his shoulders shaking. He brushed back his hair, and that posture was just right. I swallowed trying to ignore his stunning beauty. Was he always this good looking or I am seeing it today. I swallowed clearing my throat.
“I would tell him that, he would be pleased to hear that” he teased
“Now that sounds like Strong wook” he grimaced and it was my turn to laugh now.
“So the other cultivation … I mean the demonic one what does it do?” I asked staring up at him. He was quiet for some time then he spoke.
“The cultivation took seven years, it involved a lot of blood rituals. It was my blood so don’t think that I slaughtered people for my own benefit. It was painful, I had nightmares and very uncomfortable nights for the seven years but it bore fruits at the end. I got what I wanted”
“And what is that?” he looked down at me smiling faintly
“Do you love the northern lights?”
“It is on my wish list” I said my brows furrowed since he hadn’t answered my question. He grabbed my hand, and pulled me up to my feet.
“Come, I will show you” I followed him deeper into the forest till we came to a large gorge. The landscape was torn large gullies that were barely covered with any vegetation. The landscape was beautified by the amazing northern lights but they were not as much. Yet the scene was so fascinating. I wished to see this one of the days of my life and now it was here, I could watch them. So beautiful and enchanting.
“This is beautiful” I muttered looking up at Grey “Thank you for bringing me here” I threw my arms around his tout waist. He pat my head with a smile.
“You deserve it. I can’t forget you fought all those men for me” he responded.
I stepped aside nervously having no idea how to respond to that.
“Am grateful you thought of me at such a crucial moment. It humbled me” he raised a brow smirking down at me. This bastard! Playing with my feelings every time.
“It is okay, and I am honoured too I got the chance to protect you. All this while you have been protecting me” I answered frankly.
He grinned broadly “And I think there is a time I would need your protection more than this. Will you be willing to offer that?” he was serious now. What a weird guy, changing emotions as easily as flipping pages of a book.
“What are you saying? You are stunning, I have seen you fight, you are very graceful. You don’t need my protection” I laughed nervously but his face was the same, serious. I swallowed staring up at him awkwardly.
“Just promise me, Becky” and the tone made me want to cry.