~Chapter 19: The Masquerade Ball~
Zero: P.O.V.
It was only a few days after that battle with Shizuka using Krystal's body happened. I checked on her every day since then and even though I asked questions about why she was always coughing like that and she always looked a bit depressed.
I knew she was keeping something from me, but she couldn't tell me it was as if she was scared to. She knows she can talk to me about anything but maybe Shizuka is keeping her from doing so. That A-hole.
Why can't she just die and leave us be! We hung out after school today and talked about what to do about this. I'm pretty sure Shizuka heard but I could care less. I haven't told my family about the issue at hand yet. Surely, they will feel her presence when she decides to appear.
"Um..Excuse me." I stopped walking and turned around to see a girl from our school.
"What is it?" I asked.
"What time is the Masquerade Ball?" She asked and my eyes widened a bit but narrowed. This could only be Mother and Father's doing. They never tell me when, I ALWAYS find out on the day of. What the hell!
"I'm sorry, but I didn't know about this ball till now." I replied as she dug through her purse and pulled out a royal flyer about the ball. I scanned it and the time was printed in the lower right. Though it was kinda hard to read with its tiny print.
I pointed It out to her and she gave her thanks and left. I immediately headed back home. I quickly made my way to the throne room. As I walked by I had seen the decorations being set up outside. I thought it was supposed to rain tonight.
Opening the big brown doors I yelled, "Mom and Dad what the hell!"
They both chuckled and looked at one another. Dad spoke first, "It the same for the past two years huh? You know it's that time of the year again. I mean even you should've guessed that." Before I could say something smart he asked, "How's Krystal doing?"
My face went serious as I called Zoey and them to the side for a quick chat. I told them what happened.
"Oh come on! That's low, she's using Krystal to get to us. Plus she can see and probably hear everything we do." Zoey said rubbing her temple.
"Shit. And she changes, we will instantly know it. But we can't hurt Krystal; let's just knock her out cold, if that'll work?" Dad suggested. "Somehow, Shizuka needs to be separated from her. But since she is in ghost form, we're going to have to use special attacks to hit her." Dad sighed.
"We've got to keep all the guests safe. Even some of them are Purebloods like us and will attack on sight. Others are vampires and the rest are human. Everyone knows the rules. Oh! We have to get ready, it's at eight p.m." Mom said.
"That's in four hours!" I yelled as Zoey and mom rushed me to my room.
"Zero remember try to dance with everyone this time. Last time you sat around and moped." Mom warned and boy I had it coming if I didn't listen..
While I was getting fitted for a suit and mask, I text Krystal to see what she was up to. She said she had some chores to do. I asked her if she knew about the ball, and she said no. I guess her mind has been too preoccupied lately.
I told her it was at eight and she said she would do her best to come, and I hoped she would.
Krystal P.O.V.
I felt kinda dumb because well duh Zero is a Prince and lives the castle so of course there would be a Ball eventually! I sighed as I looked at the long chore list.
I had been work since I got home from school. Shizuka hasn't bothered me at all since that fight with Zero. She must've tired herself out pretty bad. I still felt her presence though.
"Krystal!" Mrs. James called from the kitchen. I cringed as I hurried to her from the living room.
"Yes Mam?"
"I thought I told you to clean the kitchen." She turned to glare at me as I looked the kitchen over two times.
"I did, but what—"
She grabbed my wrist as she pulled me over to the area of the kitchen where the dishwasher had overflowed and soap was on the wooden floor.
She turned me back to her and held me by the shoulders tightly. I tensed up as she yelled at me, "I said keep the kitchen clean didn't I!" She smacked me hard and it left the mark on her cheek.
"I did but I guess the dishwasher was leaking." I replied in monotone. I looked up at her getting angry. "Mrs. James I thought you were to supposed to take care of me! You know where I come from and what I have been through! I thought you two were supposed to treat me like family not a slave!"
She snorted and replied, "We are, we've bought you brand new clothes and everything. All I asked you to do is a few chores—"
I cut her off, "A few! All I do is go to school, come home and do chores and can barely stay up later to get my imported homework assignments done! I don't care if you are a vampire, you will not treat me like this!"
She threw me onto the floor as she came at me trying to kick me. I rolled out of the way as I grabbed her leg to catch her kick. Anger was boiling inside me. This was reminding me too much of John.
She reached for a kitchen knife near her as she tried to cut me. "You guys don't give a damn about me, no one has! But a select few! Why can't you guys be kind and not try to kill every foster kid you get. Why do you hate me so much?"
"Because of your blood." She answered as she flipped me over on the glass table and it broke. "You have a special type that hasn't existed in one thousand years. We've done research on you all of your life trying to find out what it was. It took us a while to try and get you here. Anyway when you were bit four times back on the island—"
I backed up from her as I held a black metal skillet in my right hand. I was shocked. So apparently, everyone has been keeping extremely close tabs on me.
"Anyway, you didn't change because you are the Immortal One. That means that you—" I cut her off once again.
"I'm not a vampire! I think I would know! I don't care about that right now. The point is everyone is out to kill me. First Kathryn and John and other people and now you guys! Why can't I just have a happy life!" I was crying now even though Zero and the others were there for me.
She put the knife down instantly and looked to be absorbing my words. She seemed shocked as she backed up in fear. "Your t-tears, their r—red!"
"What!" I turned and looked in the mirror behind me. I was shocked to see she was right! Why now though, what could be causing this? "Mrs. James what's happening to me?" I asked in a shaky voice.
I turned around and she was gone. Completely vanished in thin air. I was alone and very confused and scared. "S-Shizuka, what's happening to me?" I asked hoping she would respond. She might know, she is a Pureblood after all.
"The change is starting dear. It has absolutely nothing to do with change means that your body is going through the process of transforming you into the Immortal. You will still be affected by my curse. This is definitely interesting news." She laughed and grinned.
"What will happen in the change part and how long is it?" I asked as I looked at the clock. It was nine on the dot. Oh crap I forgot about the ball! Crap!
While I was hurriedly getting an outfit thrown together and jumping in the shower Shizuka said, "Crying blood, and now those spirals will increase on your back I assume. Which means my curse is going to move a bit faster which means I don't have time to sit back and watch you suffer, I have to—"
"Shizuka! What's going to happen to me!" I yelled in frustration.
"Tonight will be the last time you see your loved ones! Because I will eliminate them all before this Immortal thing gets worse and I won't be able to—" And then she blocked herself off from me. I couldn't get through.
Afterwards I had finally made it to the castle; it was now nine forty five. I climbed the steps nervously as I put on my mask I had bought on the way here. My dress was a long light purple one. It was strapless and had diamonds encrusted into the top part. The bottom was fanned out just enough for proper dancing stuff. My hair was in an updo curly style with a cute silver diamond little butterfly bobby pin. My shoes were glass slippers that I found in my closet.
I was so scared, what would Shizuka do now? I was sure she would take over and kill everyone I loved. Why me! I still don't understand this Immortal process. Am I supposed to be feared? I said to hell with it and would definitely tell Zero everything tonight.
You and Me by Lifehouse:
What day is it? And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
I can't keep up and I can't back down
I've been losing so much time
I reached the top of the stairs the led to the garden and made it just as I as started hearing this song. I saw everyone I knew, Mom, Melanie, Zoey, Zero and their parents. Zero was currently dancing with some other girl, but stopped as soon as I entered. Everyone followed his gaze as they stared at me.
My cheeks lit on fire from so much attention I looked toward the ground as I saw Zero quickly approaching me. The girl he was just dancing with put her hands on her hips and glared at me.
He looked breathtaking in his black and grey suit. His mask was grey too but suited him perfectly. "May I have this dance?" He asked.
My heart was pounding as I held out my hand and he took it and lead me to the middle of the floor. I had seen everyone there from school and then some people I didn't know at all.
'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all other people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
I barely knew what I was doing but dancing with Zero seemed easy, it took no effort at all. I didn't want to ruin the moment by saying anything yet.
One of the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right
I'm tripping on words
You've got my head spinning
I don't know where to go from here
'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all other people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
I spinned in and out several times back and forth as he brought me back to his chest each time every now and again. We were in perfect synch as we moved on the dance floor.
There's something about you now
I can't quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right
'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all other people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
and me and all other people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all other people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
We ended up on the other side of the courtyard walking side by side, holding hands. I'm pretty sure he knew it was me.
"I thought you wouldn't show Krystal, had me worried there for a second." He joked. He stopped and I faced him with a serious face. "What's wrong?"
"I had the best time when I danced with you Zero, but I have to tell you some things, very important things right now." I replied as he led us to a stone bench.
I sighed and began, "Zero, Shizuka is still here, and she may use me to kill you all tonight and my mom and Melanie." Zero was just about to say something when I quickly threw my hand up. "No interruptions until I'm done please." He nodded and gave me his full attention.
"I been avoiding your question about the coughing issue. Back then on that forsaken Island, Shizuka injected something into my neck and said it was a killing curse. It affects you inside then out. I've been coughing up random amounts of blood ever since then. There was a cure, but sadly it was lost and I only have six months to live."
"There are black spirals on my back to show my time limit, but Shizuka said that they may increase faster because…because I was told by her and Mrs. James that I was becoming something called The Immortal." I looked at him as I squeezed his hand for comfort. I was overwhelmed so I began to cry. Zero gasped as he saw the tears of blood. I wanted to turn my head away but he quickly hugged me to make me feel better.
"Damn, this must've been hard on you to keep for so long. I'm sorry but I don't know what this Immortal thing is. I'm really glad that you told me though."
"We know what it is." Zero's mom said as she appeared with her husband and Zoey. "Expect Zero and Zoey. The Immortal is a Goddess that has ultimate power over every vampire in existence in the world. She control what they can and cannot do. She is not a vampire but a human, though she can become a vampire if she wanted to. She brings order and balance. Since you are doing the blood crying part already, the next step will be to gain three special tattoos. They are Wisdom, Power and Courage. You will have to train really hard to earn them all. And may have to fight and or kill other vampires. The Immortal is just that." She concluded as I was in shock. I think most of us were.
"Woah. So we can help her right?" Zoey asked as my mom and Melanie joined in.
"I believe so, I've seen a bit of helping done for the last Immortal. Krystal, we will all help you train to become a vampire hunter. It's a start and you're definitely going to need those skills to survive." Zero's mom replied.
"But-but why am I crying tears of blood, why is everyone out to kill me all the time now? Why is it me?" I said standing up and pacing back and forth trying to keep calm.
"The tears of blood mean that you have great trials to face. Everyone is not trying to kill you just the ones who know who you really are, they want that Power and will do kill you to keep you from it and take it for their own. And three you were the last child to be born at the exact same time the previous Goddess was, so therefor she passed on her things to you." King Kiryu answered.
"My life has been hell, and then you guys come along and my mom and Melanie and things start looking up. Then things go down with the hospital surgeries, the Shizuka thing, and then I was almost murdered by my new so called parent but she ran off. And now I have to deal with Shizuka who might kill you all, and then I have to do a bunch of stuff to become this Immortal?" I turned my back on them. "It's too much to take in!" I stressed.
"I don't even know if I can do it!" I yelled in the air.
"You can Krystal and we are all going to help you!" Zoey said as she came up and hugged me. "We are all here for you girl!" She smiled but I didn't respond, I had started to cough violently even though I just did it this morning before school. It was happening faster, which means I had less than six months.
I spit out more blood than before as I got out of Zoey's grip and got a few feet away from her. She started to come closer and then everyone did. "No! Don't come over here please, Shizuka is trying to take over." I began to back up, even though it wouldn't help.
Everyone took out there weapons except Zero. "Zero you have to, I don't want to just defend like last time. Do it for me—well to kick Shizuka's butt!" Zero didn't really agree, but he knew what he had to do.
"Krystal, we they will be careful! We love you sweetie!" Mom said as she took Melanie and ran away to safety. I guessed that soon Shizuka's presence will be felt and other vampire hunters will come for the kill.
"I love you too!" After mom was gone I was busy still fighting with Shizuka powerful force. "Guys, I'm so sorry! I—"Then I stopped talking and hung my head.
Shizuka was now in control. She laughed as my eyes glowed and stayed red. She even ripped the skirt off to where it was above the knees now for easier running. She brought my head up and she grinned.
"So that what's she is becoming huh? Well, well let's see how this currently four on one battle will turn out. Oh one moment." She snapped her fingers as another figure appeared.
He wore a grey suit and a silver mask. His hair was the shame shade as Zero and Zoey's. Shizuka had him take off his mask and everyone included me gasped and were shocked. So this was Zero's twin brother!
"Ichuri is under my control as well hehe. Unless you can really kill me this time." Ichiru readied his sword as he showed absolutely no emotion.
This was going to be one hell of a battle.
Thanks for reading! Please review, it means a lot. A lot has happened here and the epic battle will be up as soon as I can post it. And yes they will have another ball. This one was short and ruined so the next one eventually won't be.