Nielu [The Ultima Manhunt B1]

Chapter 1 - "It's your fate, Aphmau."

"It's your fate, Aphmau."

That was what Aphmau Phoenix heard her entire life. That she was fated to be with Aaron and that her destiny intertwined with someone else's. Who knew, that the person she was fated to be with would be the one to cause her life to become full of drama.

A life that all changed the minute she found out she was going to Starlight Wonderland, a dream that she wanted to come true since childhood. But alas, the only reason she couldn't go was because it was simply too expensive.

Her boyfriend's sister ended up calling her one day, telling her where she was about to go to. Aphmau's uniquely caramel colored eyes lit up as if someone mentioned breadsticks and babies in the same place.

"I'm going where?!" she shouted.

"Starlight Wonderland, Aphmau!" Melissa replied, cheerfully.

She couldn't believe it! Her dream was coming true after so many years of wishing upon shooting stars. Her excitement was filling her whole body like a sudden marathon of her favorite sugary drink; Pumpkin Spice Latte.

She wished she had one now. Just the mere thought of that sugary coffee drink made her tastebuds start watering.

"Aph?" someone called, knocking ferociously on the door.

"It's unlocked!" she called back.

The person walked in, stepping over many piles of dirty laundry, Celestia and Alex's dog toys, Eli's cat toys, dirty dishes that were left on the counter and coffee table in front of the brown 'L' shaped sofa.

"Geez, Aph. Have you cleaned at all?" the person asked aloud.

Aphmau walked down the stairs, carrying her suitcase along with her.

"No. I haven't had time, since Aaron..." she sighed, trying to ease her mind elsewhere.

"I get it." the person gave her a reassuring smile. "You haven't lived without him and yet, you had to do that for a whole year. Luckily, the year's over and we can hopefully forget about the past and focus on the future." the person explained.

Aphmau stared at him with a shocked expression on her face. "Okay, who are you and what have you done with Zane?" she joked, aloud.

Zane rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean, Aph." he told her.

"Oh, yeah. But seriously, since when did you become so wise?"she asked him.

"Let's just say, I grew up. I think we all did. We're no longer those petty kids with high pitched voices and flirting with almost everything." Zane explained, a slight chuckle leaving his mouth.

Aphmau let out a small and short laugh. "You got that right Zane." she smiled. "I'm glad to call you my best friend." she gave him a itty hug.

"Same here, Aph. Now go to Aaron." Zane told her, with a slight gesture of his head to the door.

"Okay, Dad!" Aphmau laughed while she playfully joked.

"And no kissy kissy with Aaron under my eyes!" Zane yelled, as he shook his head, smiling.

"She's totally going to do the opposite." he muttered.

He bent down to help clean up Aphmau and Aaron's house, making sure it was neat and tidy for when they came back. He knew, fully well, that they were at Starlight and that he and the others would be joining the couple there.

Zane looked down at his watch, mentally keeping track of the time. "5:00. I should have time to help Nana get ready." he mumbled, as he carefully set the last dirty dish in the sink and headed out of the door.

He was stopped by a Siberian Husky, a white Scottish Terrier, and an orange Tabby. All three pets gave him cute and adorable 'puppy' dog looks. Zane inwardly groaned.

"Will you cut that out!" he yelled at the trio.

The Husky, Celestia, barked loudly while wagging her black and white tail back and forth; as a sign she was happy. Next to her was the white Scottish Terrier named Alexander, he feasted his eyes on Zane while Eli III was meowing at the two dogs; as if he was telling them to quiet down, he was trying to sleep.

"Celestia's doing the Butt Wag again." Zane jumped at the sudden voice.

A blue haired woman with blue eyes and lighter shades of blue highlighted into her hair grinned. Zane deadpanned; of all the people to walk into Aphmau and Aaron's house, it had to be Katelyn.

"Katelyn, what are you doing here?" Zane asked.

"I could ask you the same thing, Zane." she responded back.

"I was just about to leave." he muttered. "Until these," he gestured to the trio of pets, "guys stopped me." he finished.

Katelyn snorted. "I was just going to take them over to my dad and Sylvana's house." she said.

She grabbed the pets' leashes and clicked the leashes to their collars before she walked them out of the house.

()()()()()()

"So~ Aphmau." a brown haired woman with blonde highlights singsonged. "Are you excited to see my brother again?" she asked; even though she already knew the answer as it was Aphmau's fate.

"I'm beyond ready Melissa!" Aphmau responded, quite cheerfully for being only 11:45 in the morning.

Melissa laughed, her gorgeous golden colored eyes fixated themselves on the petite woman in front of her. She watched as Aphmau danced around in insane excitement.

"I'd say someone's excited." she noted, smirking.

Aphmau blushed. "Of course I am! It's been a year since I last saw him.." she gasped. "What if he doesn't like me?! What if he loves another woman! What if he's married! What if he doesn't like the fact I'm not a werewolf! What if—" Melissa cut her off.

"Aaron loves you for who you are, Aphmau and I don't think he'd go after another woman other than you." she smiled softly, as she pulled the petite woman into a gentle hug.

The two broke apart and smiled. "Thanks Melissa, I needed that reassurance." Aphmau admitted.

Melissa nodded. "Of course, sis." she joked, laughing hysterically as Aphmau blushed tomato red.

"MELISSA!" Aphmau shouted, her face still beet red.