Chapter 9
What is the king saying? Thunderbirds? I've never heard of them.
"There are only four knowing beings," I tell him.
"No. Nobody could possible explore the million spaces of Earth. Among those million spaces, there could be hundreds or even thousands of other knowing beings we aren't aware of. Currently, we Hunters are the only ones who know the existence of the Thunderbirds. We've become allies with them, and we've told them all about our situation. They're willing to help us, and we're sending you off to them."
"Your Highness, meow~! We have to prepare the portal to the Thunder Kingdom immediately! Even though they are weakened, the Vampires are still moving at an incredible speed. They would reach us within two hours, meow~!"
"I see. They're not using portals. It would, after all, take them five hours to cast one, whereas we could do it in about two hours. Vanilla, I'll leave the casting of the portal to you."
"As you wish, Your Highness, meow~!" Vanilla dissolves away.
Saffron grabs me and takes me away. I continuously asked him where we were going but he just grinned at me. He took me to the roof of the castle. I had to hold on to him or else I would fall. Isn't the pervert using sneaky tricks?
"Where are you exactly taking me to? Is this a tour? Where will you take me next? The bathroom?"
"I just might," He says smirking at me.
"I am so fucking killing you."
"Now, now. Save that for later. For now, enjoy the sight." He points to the sky.
What could possibly be so magnificent enough to take me he—
Creeping out of the mountains, seemingly peering out to the Kingdom, was the rising sun. Its light seemed to glow like a huge bulb in the sky, lighting up hopes of poor beggars, leading the path for a thousand lost souls. It was magnificent and heartwarming.
"I hope this memory would remain with you forever, this moment of gazing at the rising sun with me. Then whenever you see the rising sun, you would think of me. You would think of the moments we shared together. The time you spent here in Golden Kingdom. Whenever you see the rising sun, you would utter "Saffron" and you would want to see me. Then maybe your mind would be filled with nothing but me and by some time, I would reach your heart. I hope I would be engraved in your heart forever, then you wouldn't forget me even through the ages that pass by and you would always feel my presence even if you can't see me."
"What foolishness are you saying Saffron? You sound like you're about to die."
"Yeah. Let's go back inside already. You'll need to enter the portal soon."
When we were off the roof, I quickly ran away. Sorry Saffron, I don't intend on going anywhere except back to Crimson Kingdom.
**********
I open door one. It was a bedroom. Nope, not good for hiding. Room two to room one hundred were all bedrooms. Exactly how many bedrooms does this castle have? Tch! I don't have time for room exploring. I'll just head to the library, at least I know where that is, but wait; won't that be where Saffron would be expecting me to go? Ugh! I hate hide and seek!
I decided to run down the first floor. Outside, the sun had already totally risen. Where would you hide a tree? In a forest. Where would I hide? In a crowd of people, or Hunters in this case.
I dart off towards the gate, but somebody tugs my hair.
"Oi. Where do you think you're going?" Saffron asks. It was a stupid question, really. It's obvious where I was headed to after all.
"Ow! Ow! Let go of my hair Saff!!"
"Oh. So now you're calling me Saff?"
I grin at him "Don't you like it? It's cute, especially for a dog like you."
"A dog, huh?" He grabs my ear and drags me back into the castle.
I endlessly complain when he finally lets go of my ear.
"That totally hurts! I think my eardrum is broken!"
"That's nonsense. I would have believed it if you said your ear is falling off, but oh well."
He suddenly licks my ear. I quickly push him away, surprised.
"What was that all about?" I angrily ask him.
"I thought I was a dog? If so, then I'd be your dog. Don't dogs do these to their masters?" He kisses my ear and slides his hand to my neck, slowly moving down my spine. I quickly push him away, panting.
"They do not!"
"Oh? Did you enjoy it? Panting so much and sweating. I don't mind you denying, really. Just give me the word and I'll give you more pleasure no man in the world could ever give you."
"Is that kind of huge pride some guy thing?"
He laughs. "Yeah, probably." He stops laughing and looks at me seriously. "There's thirty minutes left until you have to leave."
I silently nod in reply. I don't really want to leave and go off to some unknown place. If I go there, even Justin probably won't be able to find me.
**********
"Waiting time's almost up. The portal's almost finished. Saffron, you need to go already. The Vampires have just arrived. Mind holding them off a bit until the portal's complete?
"No problem. Leave it to me." He looks at me one last time then leaves.
Goodness, this is so complicated. I'm stuck within Humans, Vampires, Hunters, and Zombies. Which side am I really? Logically, I would be on the side of the Vampires, but that's just because they're protecting me. But still, the other races are also protecting me. They're all the same really, except that the reason they're protecting me is different. The Vampires, for them not to lose their abilities, and the other races, to weaken the Vampires. Why the hell am I trying to resist all this anyway? Why not just let them fight over me and see who wins then I follow them. Either way, I'll be staying alive, or maybe not if they get frustrated at each other and decide to end it all with killing me. Goodness, but I can't let many lives die while just sitting in a corner waiting for how it would all end. Since the one I love (probably only) is in the Vampires, I guess I'll have to take their side, huh? But this complicated thinking of mine is ever so useless. I would still be going to the Thunderbirds anyway.
This wait seems to last forever. I better just look at what's happening outside. I head out of the room where the portal is being cast after some warnings from Vanilla. I could see the battle from the pathway on the third floor. The fighting was fierce. Among the thousands of soldiers fighting, only one fight caught my eye.
Justin and Saffron's fight.
They were almost par with each other. It seemed like the effect of my blood on Justin was eternal, since he was still stronger and his eyes were still crimson red, like fresh blood. What exactly is with my blood anyway?
I fought the urge to jump down from the third floor and run towards Justin. It was hard really, but I couldn't help myself after seeing Justin gaze at me. I quickly climb the edge and look down. It seemed very high. I could die if I jump, but surely, Justin would save me right.
Before I could jump, Saffron solidifies behind me and pulls me back down. I try to struggle but Saffron held me tight. Suddenly, Justin solidifies before me, his arms extended and his eyes filled with longing. I wanted to hold his hand, but he suddenly gets electrocuted and flies back to the battlefield.
"This building is surrounded by magic. No Vampire could get in here. Now, let's go inside the room. The portal is complete. You should leave. If you want peace to return here, you would go. The fighting won't stop until you leave."
The truth hit me like a missile. That's right. How could I not have thought about that? I am the reason for this war. I am the reason why everybody is fighting. I am the reason why many are dying. I told myself I wouldn't be a burden, but I already was. Maybe it is better for me to go.
Saffron brings me inside the room.
"Saffron. Go back to the battlefield," Vanilla orders him. Ever since she has been heading over the formation of the portal, Vanilla had stopped acting like a cat and more like a scientist. She was serious about this, I should be too. "They need you there. We'll take care of things here."
The portal was already inches away from me. Just a single push would put me inside of it. As I stood near the portal, I felt so far from my heart. I couldn't explain the feeling. It was as if I stood near the door of death itself. Together with my family and with my friends, my pain, sufferings, my past and my love would be left scattered upon the Hunter's space once I enter the portal. After all, once I enter it, there would almost be no way I could go back. But as tears poured down my eyes, I felt like it would be better that way.
"Give me a few more seconds, Vanilla," Saffron says as he wipes my tears. He smiles at me.
I try to smile back at him, but I utterly fail at it and end up crying once again.
"Goodness, Clare. Stop crying already, or else I'd.." A tear drips down his eye. "See! Now I'm crying too. Ugh. You shouldn't see this," He says as he wipes it off.
"Ahhh! I hate this!" I cry out, bursting into tears once again.
"Don't feel like you're never coming back. It's possible really, but it will take time. No, actually, as long as you're in their space, it would be long. But nevertheless, I'll fetch you away from that place, okay? Just.. smile."
Suddenly, Saffron kisses my forehead. I stop crying and stare at him.
"I'm sorry if this is too sudden, but I just can't let you go without saying it. Listen carefully because I probably won't repeat this again, not unless I hear you say it to me too. Clare, I love you."
I was stunned. He kisses me on my cheeks and smiles at me as he pushes me inside the portal. I reached out my hand to him, wanting him to pull me back. No. I can't leave like this. I can't! But it was too late.
The last thing I saw was Saffron's face, tears falling from his eyes, and his lips curved into a painful smile.