The Immortality Doctrine: Bred To The Blood Prince

Epilogue

It was the same day. I couldn't sleep no matter how many times I open and close my eyes. Rolling to both sides wouldn't help either. It was already past midnight.

Whatever happened today happened so fast. I felt so bad for Abel. Imagining myself in his position was the only thing I was doing for all this night besides waiting for him in bed.

That gives me one answer. He was somewhere.

I dangle my legs and stood rushing to leave. I was having a bad feeling right in my guts. The prospect was not good. It left a bitter taste in my tongue.

I found myself in the open under the light of the rose-pink dawn. To my north was the first tree marking the path to the woods. I looked at it and immediately thought of one thing: he could be somewhere there, hunting. But I couldn't accept to consider the chance that he could be in danger, too.

I would not waste any more second, so I began to jog toward my destination. I will find you, Abel. No matter how big the place I will have to set my foot on, I will find you. No matter how many enemies I will have to face, I will find you.

Just like how he found me helpless on the ground.

I didn't get far when I suddenly halted I almost lost my balance. I caught a silhouette right in that spot where a tree just by the side of the lake made it so dark.

He was sitting there, crossing his legs, his hand covering his face. The other wiping tears.

I stood near him and already heard his inescapable sobs just before approaching him. He didn't acknowledge me. Him not sensing me was improbable.

I decided to cross my legs as well as I sat on the cold grassland. He fixed himself, putting his hand on his lap and stared at the water instead right at the moment I sat.

"Hey there, Blood Prince," I started and instantly regretted saying so at the last word I said. He wasn't ready, of course. If you seek a comedy show, then please, leave. That could be the reply he would give me. My bad. I sure do suck at making topics. Let alone comforting people.

"I . . . I don't wa—"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Abel," I hollered, pulling him into an apologizing hug. "I didn't mean to disturb you."

He finally acknowledged my presence by tilting his head to meet my gaze. "No, it's okay. It isn't your fault. I understand, you care."

"I can feel your pain, Abel. I am here. I will never leave you," I shook my head to emphasize it as I held his shoulder.

He sighed wearily. "I'm sorry you had to be affected by whatever emotion I have that is invading my head."

"Open up to me. Tell me everything you have to say. It will cool your head down." Saying problems to someone who care meant letting go of them, too. He wasn't just feeling angry here, plainly, but terror was also filling his face.

"No need, Selene. I'm just thinking things through. Going over what happened that morning. Just go to sleep, I won't include the word 'back', I know you've been awake. I can't hear you snoring."

"That's so unfair of you, Abel. Don't carry that heavy burden of yours when you know it's too heavy." He was annoyingly stubborn, sometimes.

He stood snorting. "I just don't want to do this. I'm trying so hard to pretend this day never existed, do you know that? But clearly, it is not possible. Whatever happened today already happened, I get it."

I exhaled and stood uprightly to level him. "I don't understand." If he already accepted it, then why was he having a time alone?

"Try to picture if this day did never happen. Then, I would just live the rest of my eternal life in a complete lie," he shrugged his shoulder as he jumped to the conclusion too fast. He sobbed for another time as tears emerged from both eyes. "I have a family of liars, Selene. They all lied to me. If they think it was for my own good, then fuck it. It's delusional."

"But haven't you thought that maybe they didn't tell you so because they didn't want to awaken that name again? That title?"

"I had every right to know of my own identity. You do, too. Everyone does!" He gestured his hands to make his statement more emphasized. "But I have thought more on the possibility that they did this shit because they are terrified that I could become as awful as my biological mother once they tell me. Or even worse than that."

I shook my head in disagreement. "They would know that, Abel. Whether you'll be wicked like Queen Ashmei or not. But no, because they are your family. Who knows, the story isn't done yet. And now that you've come to know who you truly are, then it's past time you knew what to do righteously."

He grinned derisively. "What, rule Faranj with these worthless hands of mine?"

"Why can't you even believe in yourself, Abel? If you could save me for how many times more, then you could undoubtedly save us all from your mother.

"She started this mess, and we're going to end it right. You're the Blood Prince, whether you like it or not. Prove to us that title. The war is yet to come."

"And we're going to fight it."