Chapter 12 - Meadow II -

"Teresa, are you alright?" Weeya was concerned about her friend who after using too much of her power her body started to feel numb.

That was the taboo power of the witch, they could use massive power energy but after that, their body was at a damage risk. Witches with this kind of problem were very careful because not only their bodies but also life were on the line.

Teresa was heavily breathing while her body started to crush to the ground "just a second" she tried to answer "cold" said while trembling every inch. Her life was at stake. She had used excessively much of her powers.

Rita sat near her and took out a little flame to help her friend to warm up for a moment.

"stop you also used way too many powers" shouted Weeya at her, "I am fine, differently than Teresa my life will not be in danger" the flames that she broke up with were tiny but helped momentarily Teresa to calm down while falling asleep.

Weeya looked at her friend who was pushing herself that hard and the other one who stood painfully in her arms "enough we need to move" said she in a trembling voice while gulping.

They perfectly knew that place was not safe and that they should move as soon as possible. Rita got up and helped Weeya to carry Teresa back to the mansion without knowing there would be a storm going on.

---

Elvyra had run away from the vampire crowd in a moment of confusion. The lord was safe and the plan was ruined but she was hurt in the attempt.

"Elvyra, stop and catch your breath!" shouted Azul feeling from their bond that she was at her limit "PLEASE STOP!" shouted him even louder.

At that moment the girl started to slow down from running, she was far enough from there.

She fell tired near a big tree in the woods, which had a groove on one corner; it was a perfect hiding place. She was breathing heavily after running for so long in the woods, she sat on the ground leaning against the tree and looking at the sky.

It was so beautiful and full of stars more beautiful than what she could see from the window in her room.

"Elvyra..." recalled her shadow "you are hurt," said making her realize her wound.

The girl looked at her arm, it was not too deep she avoided the direct shout but the air of the beam had taken it. It was painful but not life-threatening, well so it looked like from a quick look at it.

The shadow was very worried about the girl but also about the fact that they were out in the open and that, anyone could suddenly appear. She kept pacing back and forth checking the surroundings.

Elvyra took a deep breath and resting her head comfortably on the tree trunk she said "calm dawn shadow" she was looking at that shadow who stood there on the ground in front of her.

"You seem to be more stable now" Azul also was concerned about her.

"I'm fine" she took the tiny jar in her hands and looked at that tiny water drop bubbling from the stress "but you should keep your breath to ha-ha" Azul increased his bubbling.

"You know it is your fault" little round cheeks appeared puffing in that little jar. It was so cute!

"Thank you" Azul and the shadow stood there watching her without saying a word "without you guys, I would be all alone" Azul was overwhelmed with a feeling he had not felt in thousands of years.

"We are bounded, I will always be here for you!" how can I be reassured by this little drop of water?

I smiled at him, my heart was full of feelings, those seemed to be love, and I never felt so alive than now.

---

"It can be a trap my lord!" shouted his subordinate while stopping him.

The lord was still looking in the direction where that strange woman ran away, something about her remained impressed on him.

"My lord! Please listen to me, it's dangerous to stay here" Riccardo tried his best to persuade the lord from following that woman in such a dangerous situation.

The group at that point returned to the mansion. The lord went right to his study without saying a word.

"Please keep your eyes open," said Riccardo to them while following the lord. He needed a place to set his thoughts; there was a strange feeling within him.

Riccardo followed him around for quite a long time; he stood there immobile in a corner watching over his lord, tormented by the thought that his carelessness had put his lord in danger.

"Stop making that face Riccardo" the lord was sitting on the chair looking out the window as usual; he always did that even when he was just a child.

Standing there and looking at something far away, something that no one ever understood what it was. Whom was he searching for with that look on his face?

"My lord, it was my fault... I did not" The lord looked at him, "I said to stop" at this moment the two-man was looking at each other "this is not your fault," remarked the lord.

"We are friends for a long time, I have full trust in you" Riccardo's eyes were shining, full of repressed tears.

"Yes my lord" he answered in a voice trembling with resentment towards himself.

The lord sighed and then stood up from his chair. He walked towards Riccardo and when he was in front of him, he put a hand on his shoulder.

"Can I ask you a favor?" Riccardo looked at him confused, he would do anything the lord would ask for, so why was he asking him like that?

"You know I will do everything you ask for" at that answer, the lord smiled in amusement "yeah but I would like your help as a friend not as a subordinate" that sentence left the man without words.

"I will do it... my lord... Christopher" the lord was surprised but happy, it was a long time since when Riccardo had said his name "Thank you," he said with a big smile.

The lord turned back, went to the desk, and took out the maps. He was looking for something.

"Help me" the lord was looking at Riccardo with impatience. "I have to look for that person who helped me earlier" the lord was looking for her but why?

"Can I ask why are you looking for her?" Riccardo was a bit concerned about her provenance.

"Her blood stood on me" there was a large bloodstain on the lord's sleeve.

"Let me help you change it" Riccardo hurried to get a new shirt for his lord "is fine" interrupted him the lord.

Was it the same lord who hated the stain of blood more than everything did? Well, it did not make sense for a vampire to hate blood but after that incident in the past, he started to feel repulsive by blood.

"The smell of this blood seems very familiar to me" he stood there looking at the stain on his shirt.

"Did you sense that you knew that person earlier?" the lord rubbed his eyebrows and sighed, "I don't know".

It somehow was as if he knew that person, but she was also a stranger to him. It was a mystery without an answer yet.