Dark Shadow (Angels of Death)

Rivalry

Chapter 14 Rivalry

 (Vladimir’s POV)

                I’ve been in the castle for two weeks now but I didn’t bother myself to visit the elders and even my brother, Atlas. It’s not a sort of rebellion like other soul fetchers might be thinking. I’m just not in the mood for explaining my allegedly “repulsive” actions which a good for nothing rival had brought. I believe that I’ve done no wrong and I’ve been doing well on what I should have to so what’s the point of explaining. I looked at the ceiling and sighed.  “What seems to be his problem?” I clenched my fist as I remember my heated argument with Crimson.

                ***********

                “So the Valentino is back.” I stopped stroking the piano keys but didn’t open my eyes to see who it was. How I hated his voice ever since I first stepped here in the castle.              

“What do you want?” I asked lazily then continued playing a soft melody I’d learned from my father, filling the silence of the room. I have no idea what’s up to him this time that he worried himself to disturb my serenity. I’m in the music room, my sole haven every time I get back from a mission. Music has been my sanctuary whenever loneliness filled my whole being which has been part of my staying for I can’t remember the time I smiled ever since I live in here.

                “Easy, my friend!” he began. I opened my eyes and glared at him as he drew nearer and sat comfortably on the sofa, his arrogance visible on every action he made. I smirked.

 “Don’t make me laugh.” I uttered annoyingly. “We both knew that we’re never been friends so go straight to the point.”  I started playing the piano now in a rapid tempo. There’s no need to hide the hatred. We are both accustomed with the indifference we had to one another.  Crimson was never a good friend to me but more of a rival. He compares his accomplishments with mine in no single time. He even told the elders not to send me in the mission because he believes he can do better than I can. His absurdity was something I could not bear.  He loathed me for reasons I could never fathom.

 “Oh, well, just wondering how was the precious one you left in town.”  He continued as he laughed. “What’s her name?” he added playfully then chuckled. “Harlem, right?” In one swift move I was in front of him and took a grip of his neck. Sudden anger consumed me as I heard him spoke Harlem’s name and on this instant I wanted Crimson lose his breath. “What do you know about her?” I growled with my gritted teeth. He seemed unaffected as he looked at me straight to the eyes and revengefully held my neck and tightened his grip on mine with same intensity. We rolled over the floor with no intention of backing down.

 My back touches the coldness of the floor as he forcefully pushed me still gripping my neck. “Aside from the fact that she’s important to you,” he explained boldly. “She’s pretty and nice to be with.” I pushed him off so I was now in control. I wanted to snap his neck so badly. “Stay away from her!” I warned with venom in my voice. He didn’t seem to be flustered and just grinned maliciously. “Oh well, are you aware that she likes Hawaiian pizza?”

“What the hell are you sa---?”

“We’re ‘friends’ n--.” I clenched my fist as I lose my temper and let a hard blow on his damn face. How I wanted to crack his jaw with my bare hands. Blood slowly trickled down from the side of his mouth.

“You’re pathetic, Vladimir!” he spoke in mockery. I gave him another blow but he just laughed at me even more. ”So you love that human, how romantic!”

 “I’m warning you, Crimson. Stay away from her.” He rolled over and now I was flat on the floor again.

“What if I won’t?” he grinned.

“I’ll kill you.”

“So you’re willing to kill your kind in favor of that human.”

“We’re not of the same kind.” I smirked. “I’m not like you.”

************   

No way would I let her come near to Harlem again. I don’t know what his intention but I won’t take a risk. He hated me to hell and I’m so damn sure that he was up to something, against me.  I need to go back to Morlton. I need to watch over her.

 I was about to get off of my bed when a cold gusty wind blown the curtain of my window bringing a familiar scent. My brother.

“We need to talk.” said Atlas. He was leaning on my door wearing his expressionless face.

“About what?”

“You…” he answered “and the human.”

(Kristoff’s POV)

It’s a little weird when you were awake the whole time but can’t seem to remember anything clearly because it felt like you’d been away somewhere else…in a dream perhaps. I washed my face with cold water and looked at myself in the bathroom mirror. I watched little droplets of water rolled from my forehead down to the tip of my nose. I shook my head as if doing this could wipe away the clouds in my thoughts. 

I was in town this morning for the parade. Actually, I had no intention of participating but was caught off guard by our swimming team captain, Mr. Yueh when I was on my way to university pool and was engaged into a little chat.

“Hey, Kris!” he called and motioned me to come near him; deep inside I was cussing his bald head for bothering me. Yeah, I’m not like what you supposed to think  I am. I had been trying to be a goody good guy in front of him for quite sometime now. I know he was keeping an eye on me as our college representative for the swimming tournament and now that I’m on it, I believe there’s no need over do the ploy. I forcefully walked towards him and gave him a smirk which he answered by giving me a tap on the shoulder.

“Where are you going?” he asked. “The parade is about to start.” I was about to answer him when unusual gust of wind blew hard. Strange, summer air shouldn’t be as cold as that. I looked at the sky but it was all clear with sun shining so brightly and there’s no trace that it will rain today then at Mr. Yueh who seemed to be unaffected with the sudden change of sultry air. He said something but it all came to me in a blur. Even his face seemed distorted and shadowy. Thereafter, sudden dizziness consumed me.

 I can’t remember what had happened next. It was only when I saw the girl who was about to be hit by a motorbike that I came back into my senses. I have no idea what cause me to run bravely and pulled her off of the street.

Her name was Harlem. She invited me for a lunch as a gratitude for saving her. We ate in the university cafeteria with her bubbly friend, Charrie. It’s weird because I’m more interested with the latter but my mind keeps on instructing me to watch over Harlem.

I walked towards my bed and lay with my left arm supporting the back of my head. Tomorrow will be our tournament and I’m hoping to see Charrie there.  She said they will come.

(Crimson’s POV)

                I smirked as I watch over the poor human sleeping soundly on his bed. He’s perfect for the plan. I moved closer and chuckled. “I’m really clever.”  And I will let Vladimir realized that.

Author’s Note:     

      Sorry for a lot of grammatical errors…Nah, I don’t have an editor for these chapters so please bear with me. Please consider the story itself (contents) and not the grammar and misspellings…Thank you. Comment ? Vote? Fan?