|| Chapter 1.5 || Abrupt Escape

Creak!

Cedric frowns as he slowly lifts his gaze from the book he is reading. From the entrance of the small library, the white-haired teenager was carefully holding the plate of cupcakes into the room. Biting his lips, Cadel was focused on balancing the pyramid of cupcakes as he walked towards the cold boy. His ruby eyes brightened when his eyes met with Cedric's. The latter's frown only deepened.

Cadel beamed, "Cedric, do you want some-"

"No," Cedric said curtly. He then returned his gaze to the book he was reading. The thunder roared in the background as Cadel stood silently with the plate of delicious chocolate cupcakes.

"Okay…" Cadel only smiled and turned around. He left the room with quick feet as if Cedric's rejection didn't even occur.

Once Cadel left the room, Cedric furrowed his brows as he looked at the door. He couldn't help but feel suspicious. It was already the seventh time the young vampire didn't force him to do anything. When the vampire brought him a stack of board games to play with, Cedric was quick to reject him, and Cadel only smiled with a nod. Usually, Cadel would resort to coaxing him with sweet words and clever ideas. However, he changed yesterday. Cedric wondered what was inside that little vampire head.

Shifting his gaze to the window, Cedric pressed his lips together. The rain and wind were heavier now. When would it end? Cedric then glanced at his beeping wristband. He wasn't disqualified even when he was still staying in the same place. Cedric could only assume that something was tampering with the signal of his band. He already knew the mansion was supposed to be hidden. But from what? Form who? What is hidden here? The vampire child?

Shaking his head, Cedric only continued to read. It was none of his business, and he was the least interested in it. He decided he would be training later.

Hours passed, and he was in the open inner courtyard doing multiple rounds of his fighting routine choreographed solely for him. The bitter-patter of rain sounded somewhat intimidating. There was great strength and power in Cedric's movements as if he was genuinely sparring with someone. Suddenly, he frowned when he sensed faint signs from ahead of him. Slightly lifting his gaze, he spots Cadel, who had stopped to observe him. Surprised when Cedric suddenly met his gaze, the young vampire only showed a weak smile before awkwardly walking away while muttering an apology. 

"..." Cedric paused as he watched the white-haired child slip away into the corridor.

...

Releasing a deep breath, Cedric began his routine again, pushing Cadel's troubled look into the depths of his mind. His eyes narrowed. No, he wasn't interested. He was never interested in some stranger's life. However, it didn't change the fact that this said stranger rescued him. Cedric only wanted to leave this place as quickly as he could. The faster he'd leave, the better he could finish this whole damned competition. Everything he was trained and had suffered for was because of this competition.

He needed to finish it...

As his fists became fiercer, Cadel's sullen expression abruptly entered his mind like a flash of light in a pitch-black room. Cedric froze, and his fists suddenly stopped in midair. Eyes wide and breathing heavily, he realized this was the first time he had been distracted during training.

"What..." He gritted his teeth. This shouldn't be happening to him. Lowering his arms at his sides, Cedric turned around and marched out of the courtyard.

The young hunter didn't realize how loud his steps were in the hallway as his walk quickened. He tried to remember smoldering iron marking his skin, the lash of whips in his household, the poisonous tonic he was always forced to intake, and the blood spraying on his face. Although he'd already grown indifferent to such things, it helped to bring out his determination.

Unfortunately, this moment didn't last long when the face of that white-haired child appeared in his head once again.

"..." His face grew darker and darker. There should be nothing that could sway him. There should be nothing that can make him feel lost anymore. But what is this? Why was he so worried?

Boom!

His thoughts were interrupted when lightning flashed at the windows. The blinding light receded, and his eyes stared at the pouring rain beyond the glass. Out of the blue, a feeling of running into the powerful storm came into his mind. Cedric remained neutral, but his mind reeled into the thought of leaving this manor and forgetting everything that had occurred for the last few days. Anyway, there was absolutely nothing significant for him to stay here. Absolutely... nothing...

Crash!

Shatter!

Inside his room, Cadel abruptly lifted his head from the book he was reading.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Kerpuffle: H-Host! Bad new-

Cadel: Just tell me!

With a pout, Kerpuffle spoke: "Cedric Grey escaped from the mansion and ran into the forest."

Dropping his book, Cadel immediately ran past Mary, who had just opened the door to his room. The caretaker was confused as the young boy ignored her and ran to the hallways.

'Stupid little-' Cadel couldn't help but curse. The weather was too dangerous for someone to travel through it. Not to mention a particular stupidly stubborn brat. Cadel thought he had done what was right to ensure the teenager would stay in the manor until the storm went away. To think, not even distancing his annoying self would persuade the kid. As he ran, Cadel rubbed his aching head.

....

The wind was strong enough to feel as though it could cut through flesh. The heavy downpour was even fiercer, powerful, and seemed to aim to crash upon everything beneath it. In Cadel's perspective, even the ground was being unfavorable to him. The earth was already soft and muddy, troubling him as he moved through the forest. Despite this, he didn't spare a single look at the estate behind him.

Whoosh!

Cedric narrowed his eyes as he ducked to avoid a large branch blown towards his head. Some thorny branches obstructed his legs, but he pushed through, ignoring the pain as the thorns tore through his skin. Drenched from head to toe, if others spotted him, they would pity him. However, on the boy's face, there was not a single hint of suffering as though the years of masking his emotions had turned him into stone.

As water suddenly flooded the area, Cedric immediately grabbed on a tree branch and sat on it, panting heavily. After violently rushed beneath him like a mighty torrent appearing to destroy everything in its path. He leaned back against the bark of the trembling tree while staring at the blood dribbling down the scratches of his arms.

At this rate, he'd be shredded before the storm could even pass. Cedric closed his eyes as he breathed heavily.

It's alright.

For the sake of his future, for his freedom... he was willing to do anything.

"Cedric!"

The sound immediately woke Cedric. Abruptly straightening his back, the boy widened his eyes as he searched the flooded ground under him. No, it couldn't be...

Finally, he found the person he was searching for, proving all his assumptions correct. Cedric felt his heart throb as he saw a particular white-haired boy clutching desperately on a tree as the water forced him back fiercely.

Cadel's whole being was drenched as the rain kept pouring on him. His shoulders trembled as cold water surrounded his body from the soles of his feet up to his chest. Despite this, he kept calling for Cedric's name with pale lips and a worried expression.

"Cedric!"

Under his pitiful look, Cadel was internally cursing the child. On his previous trip beyond the estate's gates, the weather wasn't as bad as it was today.

When he finished dragging this little troublemaker back to the house, he swore he was never going back out again!

Taking one deep breath as rainwater and mud fell on his face, he shouted with quivering lips. "Cedric!"

"Why the hell is he-" Cedric gritted his teeth as he stared at the boy in shock.

Suddenly, a loud crash entered his ears. Cedric shifted his attention and witnessed a colossal tree crashing into the water. Surprisingly, it resurfaced and floated like a weightless twig being carried by the torrent. The violent waves crashed into relentless boulders and persistent trees. Cedric then realized that the debris of the fallen tree was heading towards Cadel!

He cursed under his breath as he immediately jumped down without a second thought. Was this kid stupid? Why in the world would Cadel chase him into the storm? Does he have a death wish?

Water splashed around Cedric as he swam towards tree by tree to reach Cadel, who was looking at him with wide eyes filled with relief.

It turns out he didn't drown! What a relief! Cadel mentally wiped his imaginary sweat. Wait, so was he just watching me from above while I was suffering here in the flood?!

Bang!

The sudden sound instantly alerted Cadel. He turned his head and witnessed as a giant tree was rapidly heading directly towards him. In less than a second, it was only a few meters away from him before impact.

He heard Kerpuffle starting the safety measure of his host, but before it was activated, a hand abruptly grabbed Cadel's skinny arm and forcibly pulled him away a second before the tree crushed him.

Falling into a familiar embrace, Cadel's mind was still muddled as he was dragged ashore on a rock big enough for the two of them. The rain fell upon them not so gently.

"Can you hear me?"

Cadel flinched, and he slowly raised his gaze, meeting Cedric's concerned eyes. There was anger in them, Cadel could recognize. After a few seconds, the young vampire nodded slowly as his mind reeled back to when he was saved, barely from the abrupt attack.

Cedric furrowed his eyebrows as he checked the boy's body. "What the hell are you thinking?! Just because you're a vampire doesn't mean you are indestructible. You can die like all the rest of us, and everyone will forget you."

"I..." Cadel muttered as he glanced at Cedric's gentle hands. "... was worried."

Cedric paused, and his eyes narrowed. He met Cadel's gaze fiercely. "You don't even know me. We're strangers to each other. I don't understand why in the world you would risk your fucking life for someone you just met. Nevertheless, even if you try, you will clearly regret it once you know who I am. I am the last person you would want to befriend."

"But... I know you can still care."

It was a mumble concealed by the rain, but to Cedric's ears, they were crystal clear."

Cadel smiled faintly with a pale face. "You... saved me."

"..."

Once again, Cedric felt something inside him become strange. He couldn't put his mind on it. It was like warm water caressing his skin.

"Then consider my debt paid," Cedric answered curtly. Although it was a cold statement, his arms around Cadel's trembling body were warm and tight as if never allowing any chance for the youth to escape his embrace.

'Why were you looking for me? What is it about me that caught your interest? What do I have that made you so persistent? Why are you worried about me?'

Out of the blue, Cadel winced and opened his mouth to say something. Blood instantly spurted from his mouth, dyeing his already drenched clothes red. Cadel's eyes widened. His eyes immediately glanced at his life gauge. He had already consumed two bars. 'Already?!'

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Kerpuffle: Host! The-

Cadel: I know!

Red splattered on Cedric's clothes and the side of his face. The young teenager stared, shocked, at the sight before him, too stunned to even speak a word. He witnessed the youth's face become significantly paler in a few seconds.

"What?"

Cedric's eyes quivered. 'How was this possible?'

Cedric was certain that Cadel wasn't hurt from the crash earlier. Then why was this happening?

The boy finally came back to himself when he felt Cadel's trembling hands clutch on his shirt with a feeble grip. Blood painted Cadel's quivering pale lips. The vampire looked too weak to speak. It looked as if all the energy in his body was draining away fast. Cedric forced himself to focus on returning to the mansion. He had to hurry!

Cedric hurriedly carried Cadel on his back and began to climb down the rock. A large tree trunk floating towards him, and Cedric grabbed unto it as he trudged through the violent waters. Something warm and dripped down from his shoulder where Cadel was resting his head. More blood dyed Cedric's clothes and the murky waters. Fortunately, the weather became lighter.

Cedric clenched his jaw as he prayed he would reach the house quickly.

...

Light broke through the clouds like a spread of warm colors on a pure white canvas. The fiery gold set the clouds ablaze.  Its brilliance streamed through the glass windows and parted red curtains where delicate leaves glistened and trembled around fresh daisies and dandelions. Despite the elegance of the room and weather, the atmosphere fell heavily like a gloomy downpour.

Sitting on a chair at the bedside, Mary stared at the boy sleeping soundly on the bed. The boy she had raised and loved. She thought nothing would happen to him as long as she was alive, standing right beside him as he grew. However, the blood-stained clothes at the table reminded her that he would never remain safe. The unexpected had unearthed itself before she could've prevented it. But no matter what she had done, everything was fated to happen.

Mary stroked the boy's head before standing up and exiting the room. Her eyes became colder and darker as she faced the other boy in the hallway.

"I should've killed you..." Mary seethed. Her eyes glowed brightly with murderous intent. "You've done nothing but bring him harm."

"..." Cedric clenched his fists.

The two stood in silence. Heavy energy floated above their heads.

Finally, Mary spoke. She forced out the words in a struggle. "But even if I do get rid of you... the young master wouldn't like it. The sun's out. The rain and wind have stopped. It's time for you to leave and never come back." Her words are an obvious threat.

"..."

At last, Cedric raised his head. "Is he... alright?"

Mary's eyes narrowed, but she answered. "He's stable. If it weren't for your stupidity, I wouldn't have discovered about his sudden illness."

"He's sick? How sick? What is it?"

"Why are you suddenly so concerned? You were always so cold and arrogant. Why the sudden change?" Mary hissed. "Get out. Leave. Before I make you."

"..."

Cedric didn't fear the threat in her gaze and her words, but he knew she wouldn't hesitate to dispose of him if she wanted to. There was nothing he could do. What happened to Cadel mainly had been his fault. It would be better if he would leave before the boy woke up.

But somehow...

He didn't want to leave without saying a word to the Cadel...

...