To Hell And Back | Granevere | Edited

Chapter Fifty-Seven

"Mom," Gwyneth snaps her mother out of her trance. Guinevere has been quiet for most of the time. Currently they're eating out in a cozy rustic restaurant in the neighboring town with Zane, who's paying them a visit. "Are you okay?"

Guinevere was staring at her daughter as though she was seeing her for the first time. She then gives her a reassuring smile, though her heart is still aching from the inside.

"I'm fine, love," she says softly, her fingers playing with Gwyneth's chestnut brown hair.

Marina suddenly clears her throat, grabbing both of their attention. "So, Guinevere, do you also know what day it is?" She was smiling in a weird manner. However Guinevere is oblivious.

"No, I don't think so..."

Out of the blue, Gwyneth drops her spoon, causing it to fall on the plate with a cringing clank.

"Gwyneth, I'm really sorry but I don't know what's going on here," Guinevere frowned. She could feel the tears brimming up again. She gives her lady friend an emergency glance.

"Guinevere, it's your own daughter's birthday," Marina answered, disappointed.

Guinevere tensed, feeling her heart had given up and fallen completely, breaking into shards of glass onto the pit of her stomach.

Gwyneth pulls her mother away, bolting for the door with tears falling to the floor.

Guinevere could never forgive herself. How could she forget? Maybe if she wasn't being an emotional wreck, if she had acted like nothing happened. This wouldn't have happened surely.

"Gwinnie, wait!" Marina calls out but it doesn't stop the child from running away. Zane stood up to come after her in case she would stumble upon a danger.

Marina was about to chase her as well but the redhead slams her face onto her palms, her shoulders trembling in consternation.

Marina decided to stay with her friend. "Gwen, why the woebegone face?" She asked quietly.

"Alucard kissed me!" She said without hesitation as she gritted her teeth hard.

It was so unbelievable that Marina dropped back on her chair. "What?! How in the world did that happen?"

"He just did," her voice had cracked, causing her to utter a faint yelp. "I don't know what I should do, but I swear to the Gods if I see him again, I'm gonna tear him to bloody shreds!"

Marina pulls her friend into a tight hug. If anyone dare mess with the Miss Violet, they were ought to be in big trouble.

"Are you going to tell your husband about it?"

Guinevere shakes her head, her emerald eyes burning in rage. "Of course, but after l kill Alucard so that he won't have to."

"Gwen, I don't think that's a good idea," Marina opposes. "Maybe he was only drunk?"

"He wasn't! If he was I would've smelled him and bloody tasted the liquor in his mouth!" Guinevere riposted loudly in Marina's stomach.

"Did he confessed his love for you though?"

Guinevere scoffed as loud as she could. Alucard professing his 'love' for her kneeling in front of her in a romantic manner and expecting for her to reciprocate ? That would've made her end him. "Of course not! He... disappeared afterwards, when I ran away."

"Disappeared, huh?" Marina unconsciously smirks, remembering a little prankster who has been ratting around the Monastery for some time. "Isn't Alucard supposed to be away to a mission with Granger?"

"Yes," Guinevere sniffed.

"Gwen, are you truly sure it was him? You have been good friends for years now, have you? I mean, if he did liked you, he would've fought with Granger to death a long time ago, yet he didn't, because he's too busy entertaining his fangirls."

Guinevere nodded slowly in realization. "I... guess you're right. If it wasn't him, who could it be? It must have been an impostor."

"Gwyneth," Marina said confidently. " She's been at the Academy far too long to be able to wield such magic. I'm sure of it."

The redhead sighed, becoming unconvinced again. "Gwyneth is but a child."

"And she's your child, Gwen. You said you used to be one ruthless prankster to your former family. And look who seems to be following your footsteps now," she chuckled. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, my friend."

---

The Director of the HQ has requested for a meeting with the demon hunters in his office, which has a far more breathtaking view of the alpine region than the Balcony.

Alucard and Eden had their jaws hanging loose as they look around in amazement. Patch and Granger head straight to sit on a long mess intended for special conventions and meetings of high-ranking officials.

"This place looks like a purgatory!" Eden gasped and she couldn't stop covering her mouth. Alucard frantically leaned against the fibre glass protecting the interior from strong currents of air, preventing them from ever getting altitude sickness despite the office was located at the apex of both the HQ and the mountain.

"The view is great isn't it?" A middle-aged woman with a slender petite physique for her age spoke as she waltzed out of the elevator.

Her hair was white as snow and she must have had the mind of a hawk. Her deep brown eyes scanned everyone in the whole room in one gaze.

Granger stood up out of respect. Somehow he finds her stark confidence rather intimidating than inviting. Alucard and Eden would think the opposite. They approach her with a respectful bow. She then shook each of their hands firmly.

"I am Yasyana Polyana of the Knights Order, Director of this facility." She said. "The Death Chanter, isn't it?" She smiles at Granger.

Granger nodded curtly. "Was."

"I'm sorry for making the lot of you wait and stay here longer than intended," She announced, clasping her flawless hands together nervously. "I couldn't gave you a welcoming party when you arrived for I wasn't here for a couple of days. I had to attend a meeting with the Magic Council although I'm sure my secretary has already informed you."

"Nobody informed us," Granger retorted, making her drop the smile on her face. Alucard flashes him a warning look. Granger continues and the room had grow silent.

"Look, Lady. I don't like camping for missions so you better get straight to explaining the objective and command your dummy-dumb soldiers to grant us permission to leave this cave so we can get this mission over with, shall we?"

There was a long painful string of silence.

"Okay," Yasnaya shfited back into consciousness, so did everyone else. "Go on then. I'll inform the guards to grant you access to leave once you get down via elevator..."

Before she could even finish her sentence, Granger was already heading for the elevator. The rest of the group rushed to catch up with him.