8 SO CLOSE YET SO FAR I

Day by day, Serina would read books about wolves, vampires and dragons. For other people, these were myths that their ancestors passed down to the next generation. Some believed that these creatures exist but were hiding from the society. Some wanted proof before they'd believe. Some people didn't just care if these creatures really exist or not. It has nothing to do with them anyway.

Serina asked her father for some other information that she couldn't find on the books or in the internet. Every day, she would practice making walls in her mind to avoid other people with same ability as her to pry on her mind. She practiced with her father in strengthening her ability.

She learned different curses and how to lift them as well. She learned more about her magic but she didn't use them most of the time because she learned from her father that through her ability, people from different species can track her down.

Days continued to pass by and Serina continued to grow strong but she also remained normal in front of her classmates and her friends. Of course, she didn't want them to find her a scary creature. She wanted to be normal in front of them.

That day when she caught a glimpse of the wolf's eyes, Serina didn't forget that incident but she didn't tell her parents either. She didn't want them to worry.

On the other hand, Nicholas was busy preparing for his 20th birthday. It's not the party that excites him but the day after his birthday. It's because he will be able to leave the village soon and mingle with humans. He can explore the world, well maybe the city first, and look for his Luna. He was really hoping he could meet her soon.

"Niknik!" Yiran called for his brother's attention and showed him three kinds of dresses. "Which one do you think will look good on me?"

"Do you have to still ask that question? Whatever you wear will look good in you." He was sitting on the couch inside his room when his younger sister barged in to show him the dresses she was planning to choose from for his birthday next week.

"I know, right!" Yiran hopped happily on the couch and leaned on her brother's shoulder. "Are you excited for your birthday?"

"Of course. I can finally go outside the village."

"I will miss you."

"I will miss you, too." Nicholas rubbed his sister's head and smiled at her. "But I will keep my promise. I'll make sure to visit you whenever I don't have classes."

The two of them talked for a little while but soon, Yiran was summoned by her mother so, she had to leave her brother and go meet their mom.

As soon as his sister left, Nicholas walked to his study table and opened the bottom drawer where he placed his little secrets. They're not life-threatening secrets but they're secrets that can surely anger his parents. Some were DVDs that his friends left during sleepover and some were magazines. It would have been better if they're normal DVDs and magazines but they just happened to be the ones that could make someone's imagination go wild.

He wanted to burn them but his friends reminded him again and again to make sure that they're alright because they would come again to get them. Up until now, they're still inside his drawer.

Not just the magazines and DVDs but on top of these things was an A4 size canvas paper with the most realistic drawing. The black dragon was perching on a huge boulder. It's large and shining black wings with silvery outlines were spread widely as if it was preparing to fly away and its golden-brown eyes were staring right back at him.

His knew that his parents hated the dragon tribe and were looking for them to settle their scores but it's been a long time and the dragon tribe went to hiding already. They could no longer find them. As much as he appreciates his drawing, he needed to keep it away from everyone, afraid that his parents would find it and they'd stop him from leaving the village. He can't make any mistakes now.

Nicholas caressed his drawing and after few minutes of observation, he stuffed it back inside his drawer and locked it.

One week later, the whole village was busy preparing for their young master's birthday. The streets were decorated with some colorful flags strung together and tied on several poles. There so many people dressed up in a formal attire and whether you are well-off or not, you can attend the party as long as you want to.

Nicholas was inside his room, tying his bow while his sister waited for him. She chose the dark green satin ball gown with 3D white roses. Green was his brother's favorite color and Yiran wanted to wear the most beautiful green gown that her eyes ever laid on.

"Niknik, the guests have arrived. When are we going out?" Yiran asked since their left her in her brother's room, telling that they should go out together and that she should be her brother's partner that night. Obviously, it was to ward off other women from approaching her brother.

Some business partners came and other werewolves from other pack also came to join the party. Their birthday part was no different to how humans celebrate their birthday. After all, they wanted to make other people believe that they were really human.

As soon as Nicholas came out with his sister, all heads turned towards them. He was really handsome with his deep blue eyes. Whenever he looks at someone, it feels like he was sucking that person's soul. His eyes were so beautiful that one couldn't get enough of him. His shoulder length black hair was tied securely at the back of his neck, making him look dangerous yet sexy. The corner of his red lips was raised into a smile as he looked at everyone inside the ball room.

He walked downstairs with his sister and every step his took felt like so slow as if right at that moment, the time was going slow, giving him so much time to celebrate the day he turned twenty.

"Happy birthday Niks." His best friend, Gregory, greeted him and handed his gift to him.

"Happy birthday, dude." Another friend came over and greeted him as well.

"Happy birthday – "

Before his friend could finish what he wanted to say, Nicholas looked around with a deep frown on his face. He saw it. He caught a glimpse of that black dragon once again.