"It is a miracle how the angels of death disappeared so quickly." She said as Kaiwan worked on getting the ship to operate on autopilot.
Joel's men had rushed in to stop them, right after Joel had died but on seeing their boss's dissipating body, they had gone down on their knees and had sworn allegiance to her immediately.
She had taken advantage of the situation and asked for directions to the dock which they had willing given to her, saving them the time of searching for the ship.
"It is all because of you. Thanks to you, we got here on a short notice." Kaiwan said as he worked on the buttons on the ship.
"But detective, are you really sure you can do this?" She asked.
"Of course, I can..."
"I can still drive the ship."
"You have had a long day, Riña. We are both too tired to drive the ship so the option left is autopilot." He said as he pushed a button and the ship started. "Okay, it's done."
She was surprised. "Woah, there's really nothing you can't do."
A smile crossed his lips as he slipped his hands into his pocket. "Well, I studied a little bit of everything since I didn't know what would happen and I did learn a little about it back then at college...The ship will run on its' own now. We will arrive Amelia island by tomorrow morning, so let's rest for the day." He said.
"Okay." She said as he headed for the deck, and she followed him behind.
"Aren't you feeling sleepy?" He asked.
"Not yet. I could be awake for a while...How about you, Detective?"She asked.
"I would go to bed later."
Silence descended as the ship sailed away. It was her first time on a ship, so she looked around her eyes taking everything they could.
"First time on a ship?" He asked and she turned to him.
"Yeah." She smiled and recalled something. "By the way, detective, do you remember you are yet to tell me the first day we met?"
"I know." He said as he took a seat.
"You're playing hard to get." She scoffed as she sat beside him.
"This is the first time I've seen you so relaxed." He said and she turned to him.
"Really?"
He nodded. "Well, I understand. You must have been so lonely all these time."
She sighed as she turned away. "I have never been myself in front of anyone. Every single time, I was worried that someone would find out who I was...I was even restless in front of Father. I used to think no one understood me and I believed I would never meet that person who did."
Kaiwan looked surprised when she turned to him. "But I changed my mind because I met you who understands me....I think this is the first time I'm being more honest than with my family. What should I say?...It's like I'm showing the naked me."
"Naked?" He asked as he raised his hands to his shoulders, one hand over the other.
She swallowed. That was not what she meant.
"Not that...naked...You know what I mean, right?...I'm saying I'm not hiding anything. A metaphor..." She bit her lip as she embarrassingly looked away. "...why did I even say that?"
"I know." He laughed. "I know. I understand it's a metaphor."
She smiled. She was starting to like him more and more. After saying all like it was nothing, she could not look him at straight. If she said what she felt, he would feel burdened.
She just had no choice but to hide it.
"Riña?"
She turned to lock eyes with him. "Yeah?"
He was slowly closing in on her and she swallowed.
She had to hide it.
She could not let him know.
She could not burden him.
His face was a few inches from her and she closed her eyes in anticipation of what was to come.
Her eyes slowly opened when he disappointed her and covered her hair.
"It is raining. It's September already, since the temperatures are below zero, you might get sick."
"But..." She was saying.
"I know, you won't get a flu even in minus fifty degree. It's just a habit when I'm human."
She couldn't only think of herself in that situation.
"Detective...Wait a bit more.I'll definitely find a way to save you." She whispered silently.
"But you won't really tell me when we met?"
"Well, it's a story for sometime later." He sighed and raised his head to look at the sky.
"Riña, look at the sky."
She raised her head to see it was a lot of stars were out that night, which was a rare view
"It's a pretty view. One you can't even find in the city." He said .
"It's like we're sailing on the skies...but it's a pity."
He lowered his head. "Huh?"
"I think about it all the time but with my siblings.And with Katherine too, it would be great if we could all see this view together."
"I know right?" He asked and she leaned her head against the wall, before she closed her eyes.
"I hope we can see this together someday...At that time, both you and I will be able to see each other with lighter hearts, right?" Kaiwan turned to see she had fallen asleep and he smiled.
"You were tired, right?...I noticed you couldn't let go of your alertness. I'm glad to be someone you can rely on...Now that I realize it, I've been a detective for a while." He swallowed as he turned back to the sky.
"Before meeting you, I was a completely different person. Annihilate vampires, that was the goal I had put my life on the line for.
While I had forgotten how to laugh, I only lived for that goal...But as I ran towards it, the power of vampires became overwhelming huge...I couldn't catch them with my power alone and I felt a wall.I, who became a half blood would run crazily just to catch one vampire. I would even go to scenes where my supervisor dared not to. But it was strange. I kept coming across cases where a vampire killed another vampire and I wondered the reason behind that until I had met you.
I couldn't believe it, that evening. The day I saw a vampire cry because a human had died.
I had always believed vampires where the symbol of evil until that day. It was the first unforgettable meeting with you...The more I got to know you, the more I was convinced. You were a vampire like human who was going to change this world.
Actually, I've known you for a while way before we met in front of the church....But I won't tell you that because I feel it'll be more fun if only I knew it."
He sighed as he turned to her. "You asked me if there was someone I liked, right? There was, no...To say it clearly, there is...but the me who doesn't have much time left feels it will be too selfish for me to say it, but even so..." He clenched his fist. "...I like you a lot, Zuriña...I'm sorry, I'm a coward so I can't say it when you're awake." He said and he lowered his face to hers.