Sword 12: Dark Midnight

ASHER'S POINT OF VIEW

Out of boredom, I stared at the white rose in the glass flower vase in front of me. As time passed by, its color turned to light pink slowly until it was radiant red. "Perfect," I muttered followed by a smile.

I touched its petals which reminded me of Scarlette and her power. Unlike mine, she can produce, remove, and control heat or fire – plain but powerful.

"Asher?!" Aunt Wart called me. I frowned as I lay down on the sofa. "Give me a break, Aunt." My sight was still on the flower. "Come on." She sat on the small table in front of me, covering the beautiful flower out of my sight.

"I need to go back to Hetarnia. My sister has something to tell me personally. Watch out and take care of her, okay?" After that, she disappeared. So, I am alone here. Boredom strikes again!

I spent my time all day sensing if there was danger around her house. There was none.

I looked at my black wristwatch when it vibrated. Oh, it was 7:00 PM already. I stood up and went to the kitchen. Gladly, there were available ingredients inside the refrigerator. I cooked curry for my dinner.

'Uh . . . eating alone looks like . . . it makes me an unhappy creature.' I just sighed in my own thought. Silly. And then, Scarlette's face came into my mind. A smirk formed on my lips.

I brought out two transparent containers from the cabinet and filled them with rice and curry. After that, I got out with those in my hands. I ran towards my classmate-slash-neighbor-slash-friend's house.

When I accidentally pushed the gate a bit, I frowned because it was opened. Why she did not lock it? Is not she afraid for her safety? I just entered quietly. Do not get me wrong. I did not have any bad things to do with her . . . just to be clear. My hand was suspended in the air when I saw the key inserted into the keyhole of the doorknob. What the hell?! Is she really out of her mind? I opened the door and removed the key before locking it.

"Scarlette?" I called her out but no one responded. "Scarlette?" No one was in the living room so I decided to go to the kitchen. Unfortunately, there was no one there, too. I just put down the containers on the long wooden table. "Scarlette?" I called again but this time, it was louder. No one responded again. Tsk! Where is she?! Wait . . . what if—no! It cannot be!

I ran in the direction of her room. With my clenching fist, I repeatedly knocked on the door.

When no one responded for the nth time, I used my special hearing to hear her heartbeat. Gladly, I sensed her heartbeat inside the room. I knocked again. "Tok! Tok! Tok!" All of sudden, her heartbeat became fast, which made my forehead crease. She was awake already and maybe, I made her nervous and afraid.

"Tok! Tok! Tok!" I knocked again. I guessed surprising her like this was a bad idea. The speed of her heartbeat doubled.

For sure, she would curse me for doing this. I twisted the doorknob and opened it. My eyes widened when I saw her state. Tears were continuously running down her cheeks while trembling. She kept on saying "Dad".

Automatically, I remembered what her mother told me when the last time I visited Hetarnia, "Be careful of knocks. She is afraid of it. Because of curiosity, I asked, "Why?" She took a deep sigh and smiled. "Knocks remind her of her father's death when she was still young."

Scarlette was sitting on the cold floor while hugging her knees beside her study table. I kneeled beside her and hugged her. She did not refuse. "Shush. Calm down. It is just me – Asher," I whispered. At first, I thought, she would push, curse, and shout at me but she did not. "I-I am scared." Instead, she hugged me back as she cried more. "Shush . . . do not be. I am here." She sobbed. "I am scared. What i-if . . . the one who knocked on the door before Dad died came back? And this time, for my death." My left hand stroked her hair gently in the hope of giving her more comfort. "That will never happen. I assure you."

After she composed herself, she stood up. She wiped her tears with her palms. "I am sorry," she uttered. I stood up, too. "No, I should be the one who should apologize." I sighed. "Sorry for trespassing and scaring you. I am sorry."

Her eyebrows met as she asked, "How did you know that I am scared of knocks?" Gladly, I prepared myself for this kind of question. "Your aunt told me," I replied.

"Then, why did you still knock?" Her eyebrows furrowed as she glared at me. She was mad. I faked a laugh to ease the atmosphere. "Because I forgot. I had only remembered about it when I saw you crying earlier." She let out a sigh. "Apology accepted but please, never do it again." I nodded my head in response as I returned her smile.

"By the way, I brought something for dinner," I said. "I bet, you have not eaten yet . . . and cook too," I flashed my playful smile on my lips. "And . . . that is because, you slept all day, Sleepyhead." I took a step towards her. "You are right. Come on. Let us eat it up!" and she walked out with that grumpy mood of hers. I laughed when I caught a glimpse of her blushing face.

After eating, we washed the dishes. She thanked me after that. "Thanks for comforting me earlier," she said. "You are welcome, Partner." I smiled too.

I heard a footstep near to us. It was so near. I felt a strange presence but it also disappeared when I looked in the direction of the gate.

"Hey, are you okay?" Scarlette asked. "Yes, I am." I returned my sight to her. "I am just wondering if Mom is already home," I lied. "Oh, where did she go?" I joked, "A date maybe. I do not know." I lied again. "Hey. Be sure to lock your door and the gate," I reminded her. She laughed a bit. "Yes, Boss!"

After I went out of the gate, I felt that presence again. Damn it! I must be alert.

SOMEONE'S POINT OF VIEW

I frowned when Dad threw the empty wine glass to the wall beside me. And yes, like the chandelier that he ruined, it was expensive! "Dad, was that your 'good evening' greeting to me?" I asked, still frowning. He clenched his fist as he gritted his teeth. "Report to me. Now!" His angry voice echoed in the whole room. "Greet me first." I pouted my lips when he threw the metal tray on the table beside his throne. It was a relief, I caught it with my right hand.

"Okay!" I mentally rolled my eyes. "Her friend named Asher is a demigod and the woman in her forties is a goddess. I do not know what her name is." I flinched when he cursed, "Damn it! Did she know that her friend is a demigod?" I took a deep breath and answered, "No."

"Are you planning for an attack?" His forehead creased, discerning what I meant. "And why did you say so?" he questioned. I smirked. "That Asher is alone right now. The goddess returned to Hetarnia." He smiled satisfactorily, like someone who was listening to a piece of soothing music. "That is good to hear."

ASHER'S POINT OF VIEW

'Uh, Aunt Wart, come back now. I cannot handle this kind of thing alone. I cannot handle it yet. Not yet.'

It was midnight already but here I was. Instead of being asleep, sitting on the sofa while the lights were off. If somebody would see me, he or she would think that I was a brokenhearted person. But, hey, I was not widely awake because of that. The reason was . . . because I was watching out for Scarlette's safety.

A few minutes later, a strange presence appeared behind me followed by another . . . followed by another . . . followed by another . . . and followed by another. All in all, there were five. When compared to the presence that I felt earlier, these were weaker. I stood up and faced them.

Through the moonlight that passed through the glass windows, I saw what they looked like. They were wearing black cloaks and have pure black eyes, bloody red faces, and dirty white sharp teeth. One thing is for sure – they came from the Underworld.