CHAPTER 41

CHAPTER 41

Melisca pulled out the stake from the man's chest when she heard no more heartbeats from the two men. Grasping the man in his broken neck, head dangling as blood gushed out from his mouth and nose. She turned her head to the side. The woman's heart was turning to normal, but she was still weak. Not wanting the vampire to see her face, she put the mask back on before turning around, and she tossed the lifeless body to the woman's feet.

"In case the son's not enough." She doesn't want to touch him again. Moving closer to fetch the bouquet, glad that it hadn't got any blood on it and wasn't disarranged.

"How can I repay you?" The woman's voice came out firmer than before. She was still crouching for the flowers when she asked. She met her gaze.

"Just forget about this encounter. Forget about me. And please burry their bodies elsewhere. That's all I want in return." She answered and pulled the knife she used to pin the young man to the tree, then stood up, stretching her body. That's some action back there. She got some blood on her too.

Without delay, she used her speed to flee from the area and resumed on her trail. When she was far enough, she slowed down and exhaled some air. Feeling dirty, she decided to stop for a quick bath at the river nearby.

She knew she should hurry up because the sun was about to set and she wasn't even halfway to the top. But now she was planning to take a bath.

Moving to where the ripples are, she hurried and looked for a spot to put her flowers down before approaching the running water and kneeled. The current was cold enough to the touch. She was still contemplating if she should take a quick dip, but then she didn't have any spare clothes and couldn't wash them. It would take some time to wait for it to dry. She groaned, finally deciding to just wash her hands and face, so she took off the mask and put it in her pockets.

The clear liquid felt refreshing when she dipped her hands. She was humming an upbeat tune while rubbing the dirt and blood off her skin. The flowing water quickly dissolved them. Another successful kill to one of her direct targets. Ugh, what a great feeling.

She stared at her face from the reflection it gave. The bright yellow in her eyes resurfaced as her senses heightened. She wanted to make sure that she was safe, even just for a moment alone. Only the sounds of the forest animals were crisp to her ears. The hissing of snakes, fluttering of wings, croaking of frogs, cooing of owls, and other creatures.

Then, a sudden thought came to her mind as she continued to gaze into her eyes. How does it feel to be able to shift? To take on a full form. To be completely one with nature. She recalled a memory when her parents were still alive. They would go to the mountain and have a picnic. Cabril, her father, would shift and play with them. Rolling on the grass like a giant hound. He sure looked scary with all his sharp teeth, but she was her father. She had gotten used to his wolf form, so then she imagined him like an oversized wolf with sharper features.

Her musings stopped when her head started a pounding pain that was getting along with the thumping of her heart. She staggered back, letting her ass fall on the grass as she placed both hands on her temple. There it goes again, the familiar feeling inside her that something's loosened, like a screw to a bolt. She clenched her eyes and gnashed her teeth, stifling a moan.

When the process stopped, she was finally able to exhale a resigned breath. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead. She moved to the water again and was about to fetch some liquid to her hands when she caught her reflection. The bright yellow of her eyes turned pale for a moment before shifting back to their usual obsidian. This all started when she turned 25, a few years ago, with slight headaches for no reason. But when she met Lorna and killed a wolf, it came back and worsened somehow. She didn't pay any mind to it. For what disease can a wolf get? Or was it because she was still human that she really did manage to have some illness?

She shook her head to quit thinking to finish her business at the river. She washed her face and her knives, then stood up, snatching the flowers along the way to proceed to her destination nonstop. It was getting dark. The sun is being chased away by the night sky.

Just a few kilometers more, and she would be there.

Then she stopped a few meters away from the top. She can now see the clearing and the cabin. She used her agility to jump higher and landed perfectly on the place. She stood still. Roaming her eyes, even turning her body to see everything from all angles. It was exactly how it was nine years ago. How come this place hasn't changed when it changed everything in her?

She set her eyes in the direction of the path to the back of the cabin. Forcing her foot to take a step, her heart felt heavy. It was harder to breathe moving forward. She swallowed hard with a lump in her throat. From afar, she saw two standing crosses with a height just above her knee. She halted on the way. Blinking as if she were just imagining, she instantly appeared at the foot of the bed of soil.

There were flowers in a small basket. It hasn't withered yet, looks like it was there just yesterday for how still vivid the color was.

Her mind immediately rummaged through her memories of who could visit and know her parents. But her mind couldn't come up of anyone, not even a familiar face or name.

With a hard gaze at the strange flowers, her body went stiff and she unconsciously clenched the bouquet in her hands.

Who? Who could it be? Were they mocking me? My parents' death? Do they know I'm back? Is this a warning to me? How dare they!

It could have been someone close to her parents for it was the same flower she held in her hands. Zinnia flower in all shades of color was her mother's favorite. It was the first bouquet her dad gifted to her, symbolizing his everlasting love and devotion when he decided to accept his fate of having her mother as his mate. Her mother was the one who shared how romantic her father was. It was a very pleasant memory.

Now it's tainted by someone else. Someone had known that intimate knowledge. It could never be a mere coincidence.

Were they from my father's side? After all, his brother knew this place and this was where he murdered her dad.

Melisca exhaled a huge breath, hoping the wind would cast all her frustrations away. Regardless of who was it from, she had to be extra careful from now on. That someone could be another traitor.

She crouched down and decided to sit on the ground in between the two crosses in front of her. She wanted to throw away the first flowers but she felt like she didn't have any strength left. So, she settled her own bouquet a few inches away from it.

Melisca heightened her senses if anyone was around, maybe waiting for her to come back, but she felt nothing suspicious so she laid down her defences. She looked at the horizon, the sun had settled down, withdrawing its last rays of light orange and after a few moments, darkness started to spread, painting the skylight gray.

She turned her attention back to where she was sitting. "Mom." Her heavy voice croaked. "Dad." A short pause before forcing her lips to utter the words, trembling. "I'm back." Then a tear fell. Her lips quirked up to the sides. "I'm finally back." She said with a snort then chuckled. Amused at how ridiculous the pain she felt. "I'm tougher now." How ironic, she was there, weeping. But did not bother to wipe the vulnerability off her face. "I'm stronger than before." Yet she was sniffling. "I can protect you now. If you were still alive, I can definitely protect you." She swore. "But you were already gone." Her voice cracked. "Gone because of me." She whimpered in complete surrender to the pain.

A howl of a werewolf resonated in her ears. It came from a distance. But she didn't care anyway. She was too tired to run. She gathered her knees before her, propped both elbows on the top and crouched her head down to it. Closing her eyes, a memory flashed back when she buried her own father after being shot to the heart by a werewolf's weakness. She returned the following day and found his lifeless body in a pool of blood.

She can't bear remembering it. The searing pain was too much. Her heart wanted to explode in her chest. She clenched and unclenched her fist. The surge of savage hate and misery was too overwhelming. She felt herself burning. The rising temperature in her was crawling up to her head. But she forced herself to stay with her current posture. She continued whimpering silently. Her eyes closed but some tears managed to escape.

The howling of wolves reverberated in her ears again. They can come to her at once. She doesn't care anymore. For the moment, she wants to be with her parents. Dying with them doesn't really feel so bad right now.

"I miss you so damn much."

Her sounds of pain were a loud ringing to Ezekiel's ears. It shot to his heart, echoing her despair to him. He was standing on a branch of a tall tree. Observing her from a few kilometres away. There were other wolves in the forest but she didn't budge on her spot. He can't bear seeing her in that state. Without further thinking, he leapt from tree to tree and landed behind her.

He didn't know if she noticed him, or maybe she just didn't care anymore. Even from where he stood now, she looked so small and fragile. Though he knew how tough and capable she was. Zek crouched down on one knee and moved his arms around her. Embracing her whole body, pulling her to him. He buried his face to the side of her neck and closed his eyes as he heard another whimper. His heart breaking, along with hers.