It's been a week since we talked about it. All of them probably know that I can finally recall some of my memories. For the past week, lots of things have changed.
First, we're not in the same bedroom now. After what happened, I still couldn't understand his sole reason at all. He loved me; that's why he stopped it, but nevertheless, he could have damaged my whole family if only he didn't know me. With that, I requested a separate room. At first, he didn't like the idea of it, but I begged him just to save myself from what I discovered, and so he eventually agreed.
Second, Shaina felt sorry, and she wouldn't even go near me. She told me the day after my argument with Ysmael that she was the one who pushed Luke to give the serum to me. She wanted me to remember just so I could finally regain myself. I wanted to thank her for that move, but she chose to stay away for a while, so I gave her the space for it.
Third, Luke wasn't around these past few days. The last time I saw him, he told me that he'd just go to the nearest cafe to get some fresh air. The way we interacted last time was not the usual, though he's trying to be civil. He couldn't approach me the normal way because he felt guilty for making me feel clueless about the serums he created. It's just a little misunderstanding, but knowing how petty my brother is most of the time, he'll act like this.
And lastly, my parents came to see me again three days ago. Dad didn't get out of the car, but my Mom did. She looked restless, and the way she dressed was not like usual. She's just wearing a white dress and a nude-colored cardigan. She looked so soft, and she wasn't even wearing makeup at that time. We only talked about those memories I could recall by then, and she just listened to every word I said. She looked so relieved, and eventually she expressed her regret for everything that happened.
"Do you think Dad will understand this time?" I asked her.
"I'll try to talk to him," Mom assured me.
I know there will be little adjustment for me, but I hope I'll feel better so that I can finally talk to him too.
It was already noon when I went downstairs to look for something to eat. I saw Shaina preparing pasta, and when she sensed me walking in to the kitchen, she just smiled at me.
"Ysmael went out with some of his men today," she said, like it was a report.
"Did he tell you where he's going?" I asked casually.
"Somewhere in the main city of this place, I guess," she said, but she wasn't so sure.
I just nodded at her and drank some fresh milk from the fridge. I was silently doing my own thing when Luke came in, calling Shaina's name. When he noticed my presence, he smiled at me also.
"Shai, someone's outside," he whispered, but then I still heard it.
I looked in their direction, and based on his expression, it seems like there are some unwanted visitors lurking around. They were about to move when I walked quickly towards the main door. I can sense them from behind, following me to see who's out there.
When I opened the door, I stiffened.
It's the woman who attacked us in the safe house last time.
What is she doing here?
"Feel surprised?" She asked.
"More like annoyed," I answered shortly.
She's only by herself, and I can't sense anyone around. I suddenly heard her laughing while looking at me.
"You're trying to sense if I have someone with me, huh?" She sarcastically asked. "Don't get afraid for now, honey. This is only the beginning."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, finally stepping out of our house. Luke even called my name, but I didn't listen. She's only a couple of meters away from me now, and she smirked at how I walked slowly to her.
"You don't scare me at all, though they say you're the best," she said as I saw her clenching her fist.
"Then how do you explain that reflex of yours?" I said, looking directly at her fist. "Admit it, you're nothing but a con artist trying to frighten me. Go find another victim who's on your level."
Her expression changed. She went from smirking to basically glaring at me.
"Don't be so chill now because sooner or later, you'll get to die like what you did to my brother," she said.
My eyebrows furrowed at what she said. Who's her brother? I don't even recall if I had a victim who was also a vampire like me.
"You already forgot about it, huh?" She scoffed. "Do you remember Theo?"
My body stiffened as I heard his name. That's the name of a man that I haven't heard since that night.
Theo.
He's the one who sexually assaulted me when I was a kid.
Her expression went satisfied as she noticed how I reacted, and she started to walk around me slowly. She's grinning like crazy while scanning my whole body.
"How does it feel, huh?" She asked.
I'm staring at the woman who is literally related to the man who destroyed my life. She's smirking at me like she's having a good time, giving me back the trauma I wanted to escape all along.
I took a step backward, and she immediately chuckled at what I did.
"So you're accepting defeat now?" She asked again. I stopped moving.
"You know what? That's basically the opposite thing that my brother told me. He told me that night that you were feisty as a kid and you looked so delicate to taste. He even wanted to taste your—"
She couldn't continue what she was about to say when a car behind her parked just a few inches away from her. She still looked relaxed and even looked in the direction of the car.
Ysmael went out of the car and looked at her from head to toe.
"Who are you?" He asked her.
"You've just ruined what I'm about to say to your lovely damaged woman," she's trying to piss him off.
Ysmael saw me and immediately walked toward me. Meanwhile, lots of his kind suddenly came out of nowhere.
"So you technically went on their side now, huh? Isn't that ironic?" She teased both of us.
"Go fuck another life," he coldly replied to her while he was looking at me intently. He held me by my arms and caressed them for a moment.
"But I'm not yet done talking about how dirty that woman is," she said, and that made me glare at her. I cannot contain my anger anymore, and it feels like I want to strangle her to death.
"I don't want to hear about it," he said, still looking at me.
She chuckled again. I really hate the sound of her voice.
"You should hear it. The way she cried that night was kind of irritating, but then I know she still felt --"
She couldn't finish what she was about to say again when I was the one who moved this time. I grabbed her by her neck and lifted her up. My grasp is tightening, but she's still grinning from ear to ear.
"I know you're going to do this," she said.
Just then, numerous pairs of eyes came out of nowhere. They were literally surrounding us.
"Welcome to the war."