Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 97

This chapter's contents or the characters' opinions does not reflect the author's religious beliefs. Beware of atheistical contents that might not be appropriate for young readers.

This is nothing more but a fictional story. The contents are not reliable and shouldn't be, for as this is a fictional work only.

***

The cold wind blew harshly to her direction, making her hair sway in random ways. The hair strands that are covering her face revealed her blood-stained skin and usual cold set of gray eyes. She looked down at her lips even if she can't see the blood that is slowly dripping from the side of it. The copper tang of blood played on her tongue, making her taste its flavor.

"You're worse than I thought," Zai smirked as she listens to Ephraim's creepy laughter. "This is indeed an exquisite sight to see. I'm entertained."

"It's been a while since you last showed up, I thought you finally decided to die. I'm disappointed." Zai said as her eyes remains on the capital ahead.

"Oh c'mon, don't joke like that. Aren't you grateful that I didn't give you a wound for this special occasion?" Ephraim sarcastically said with a devilish grin on his face. "I at least deserve a 'thank you', right?"

Zai scoffed, "As if I'd say that--"

"Here."

Her cold eyes glanced sideways and saw her father handing a clean handkerchief to her. She just stared at him. Alexander stepped forward and softly grabbed her chin to face him. He wiped the blood off her lips himself. "You're talking to him now, I see.."

But Zai ignored the topic he's bringing up. "Dad," Alexander hummed when Zai called him. Still focusing on wiping off the rest of the blood on her face. Zai continued, "Will you leave?"

Alexander froze with her question. Barron just stared at them from afar. Giving them space for privacy, although he can clearly hear them with his keen hearing.

Instead of answering her question, Alexander fetched something from the pocket of his coat. He held it with his thumb and index finger, dangling it in front of the girl. Zai stared at the hair string. It doesn't have any special designs, isa lamang itong normal na pulang pang-ipit ng buhok. Tumingin siya sa mga mata ng lalaki habang nakataas ang gilid ng kaniyang mga labi. "That's your gift for my 18th year?"

"Just accept it and tie your hair," saad ng lalaki. Ngunit bahagya niyang itinagilid ang kaniyang ulo noong maalalang hindi nga pala nito maigalaw ang kabilang braso. Nagtungo siya sa likod nito at kaniyang hinawakan ang buhok ng babae.

Barron watched Alexander as he tie her hair up on his own. He's doing it with two hands habang ang pang-ipit ay nasa pagitan ng mga labi nito. He chuckled, "How cute is that? This is a first."

This is the first time he has seen Hevrions have affection towards each other. Hevrions are pretty much selfish beings, kahit sa kapamilya ay hindi ito masyadong malapit but these two are not the same as them.

Barron sadly smiled. If only they were born as humans too, they wouldn't suffer in this loneliness. They could've learn how to genuinely smile in happiness and have affection towards other beings. This blood is a curse.

"You haven't answered my question yet," Zai gave him a sideways glance after he finished fixing her hair, "Will you leave or not?"

Inilagay ni Alexander ang kaniyang mga kamay sa bulsa ng suot niyang labcoat, "I'm already dead, Zai. I might be alive now but I have to go back."