THREE YEARS LATER.
"We bring you news that has been the center of attraction these days. The Vael's Miracle gift performance at Feliz's stadium begins today..." The anchor was saying from the television.
"Come out quick, we're late." Henry called as Rietta waked out of her bedroom, pulling down her skirt.
"Goodness, I'm still not used to wearing skirts."
He rolled his eyes with a sigh. "You're always amusing."
"Whaccu say?" She asked.
"Shouldn't you become more mature when you attend high school? How come you're still the same as three years ago?"
"More mature, my ass."
"Let's go quickly, anyway. There's no way I would miss this performance." Henry said as they headed out of the house.
"Many things has returned back to normal. The world's equality and peace has found its beauty again." The newscaster was saying on the tv across the street, when her eyes picked up the breaking of glass.
"Found their beauty again, huh? I'll make this place our world again..." A vampire screamed and turned to the officers who trembled despite having their guns pointed at him. "Look you guys are trembling too, huh? Equality and peace are nothing in front of power. I told you, didn't I?...Vampires won't disappear. New vaccine, my ass."
"Okay, we got it. Let's not make a scary scene here. Put your hands behind your head and kneel down." One of the officers directed as she walked into the scene.
"What? You wanna die?"
"I'll advise you do as instructed..."The vampire turned to look at her and his eyes widened in shock.
"Put your hands behind your head and kneel down, otherwise it'll be more painful." Zuriña said with a glare.
The vampire was sheepishly handcuffed and she watched the paramedics administer the vaccine to him as two of her colleagues walked up to her, smiles on their faces.
"Wah, if it wasn't for you, we would have been in trouble, Zuriña."
"Thank you. You are always a great help."
"No problem." She smiled.
Five months had passed already since she had started working as an officer. At first,she was worried whether she could do well, but when she had tried it, it turned out to fit her better than she thought.
She was meant to do it in the first place.
"Riña..." Someone called and she turned to see Roshan smiling towards her.
"Roshan?" She walked towards him, surprised to see him. "Why are you here?"
"You weren't in the office when I went there to fetch you. Luckily, a junior of yours told me you would be here." He frowned as he looked
at her uniform. "Aren't you off duty, yet?"
"I am." She said and slipped off her jacket before she handed it to one of her juniors.
"You really have to stay late today. Don't leave because of your work again."
"I'm sorry. I already have plans."
"With your detective boyfriend,huh?" He asked and she smiled. "Riña, Isn't the wig uncomfortable?"
"No, I'm fine."
She was hiding her appearance but it was different than before. She wasn't wearing because she rejected living as a pureblood,but she didn't want to cause chaos to people.
The world had gone back to normal and sirens didn't go off at night anymore. And the roads were filled with people even at night.
Well, thanks to it, people were drinking all night and getting into fights. Her work increased but she was still happy.
And she gained a lot of new friends. Vael, Daniel and Julian.
Back then, she had been scared and unconfident in making new friends, but it was different now.
"Oh, it's starting." Rietta screamed as rolling cameras turned to the stage. Water suddenly started dropping down the stage and the audience waited in anticipation for Vael's trick.
"What's happening?" Someone asked as Vael emerged from behind the downpour and walked directly through it and everyone were surprised when the water began to move on its' accord, making way for the magician without touching him.
"That's crazy." Someone from the audience yelled.
"As expected of Vael."
"To start off, I would like to present to all of you who came here today." Vael said into his mic as he looked over at his audience. "No matter how difficult a situation is, there is always an end to it...But waiting for the end is no different than desperation when walking alone in pure darkness.But our patience is stronger than you think."
The roof of the stadium slowly parted to and the audience raised their head to behold a start night
"Wah."
"So we make the end ourselves for our family, friends and ourselves. For everyone who waited until this day with courage, I present you today's show. As I promised previously, all the income from this show will be given to the families of the vampire victims. Do enjoy the rest of the show."
"Thanks for today." Vael smiled, when the show was over as he walked down towards the guest's room.
"We're looking forward to tomorrow's show."
"Thanks for your hard work" One of the stage workers bowed as Vael walked past and he rewarded her with a smile before walking into the guest's room.
"KaiwanLee, alias Vael..." Someone said as he closed the door behind him and he flinched as he turned to see who it was. "You are hereby arrested for the crime of fraud."
"You're really annoying." He sighed on sighting Kaiwan in the room. "For how long are you going to continue that joke?"
"Until the day you go to jail." He replied as Vael walked over to sit on one of the chairs. "By the way, that was some interesting magic back there...but isn't the real magic how you committed no crimes when you resemble a criminal the most?"
"If you're looking for someone to put in jail, I'll go myself."
"You annoying prick." Kaiwan laughed as he took a seat beside Vael. "It has been three years."
"Yeah, a lot of things are going back to normal."
"I know, right? I didn't even think this day would come."
"Who did? To think that vampires would turn back to humans." He said and they both turned to the tv to see Hannah, one of the vaccinated victims on the screen.
"After getting the vaccine, it felt like every single cell in my body was being turned upside down..." She was saying to the interviewer as she tucked her hair behind her ears.
"After a year of throwbacks, I can eat a couple of foods. I could lift a car easily back then, but I can't do that now...I really wanted to become human."
"She's Sahan's pupil, right?" Vael asked.
"Oh, my. You better forgive Hannah for saying she is his pupil."
"But I was really surprised to surprised to think that Yiannais Peterson was involved in the production of the new vaccine."
Kaiwan folded his arms. "There was a USB we got from Yiannais office when we went over to search but inside it, there was a file that needed a password only Yiannais knew of.
When we cracked it, there was a trace of research regarding vaccines made from Riña's blood." He replied.
"But how did you know that Yiannais Peterson wouldn't do 'it' with just that?"
"When we visited his office, there was no broadcasting preparation for the vampire thing. It means he didn't plan on doing a broadcast since the beginning."
Vael scoffed. "What a joke. We even made such a huge fuss. Such a difficult guy he is...
But no matter how I think about it, the blood of a complete pureblood is scary. It saved people who we thought were dead..." He was saying as they turned to Daniel who cupped his face in his paw. "Right, Daniel?" He asked as he rose and went over to meet him.
"Let's say that's the case for me and Daniel. Why did you not die after you had received the blood twice? Don't people who receive the blood of a pureblood twice die?"
He lowered his hand to pat Daniel without shooting Kaiwan a glance. "There's a whole bunch of vampires that got it like me. I'm just one who survived among them."
"What?That was it?" He asked as he clicked his tongue. "I thought it's something like the chosen one."
"Looks like you really wanted me to die." He smiled and raised his head to him. "Well anyway, it's a relief that everything is turning back to normal...Has Zuriña Anderson being well?"
"Yeah, well...she's not in her right mind." He said with a sigh and Vael sent him teasing looks.
"It's not like that."
"Really?" He asked and Kaiwan shook his head as he rose.
"I should get going soon."
"Aren't you going over to your girl's shooting set?" Kaiwan asked.
"I keep telling you, we're not like that." He protested.
"Ah, so you two are still testing the waters?" He smiled.
"It's not like that." Vael was saying on his way out when Daniel suddenly woofed, sending their heads turning to him.
"Is something wrong, buddy?" Vael asked and just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." He said and the door opened almost immediately, with Zuriña walking in and Daniel walked over to her.
"Hey, big guy."
Daniel woofed in response and she turned to Vael.
"That was an awesome trick you had back there."
"And you saying that as my fan or..." He turned to Kaiwan, who sent him daggers and she laughed.
"By the way, aren't you going to Julian's shooting set? She's shooting an action scene today."
"Amusing? How can you say the things as that punk? Are you bragging that you like each other?" He asked and they both turned to each other with a smile. "Duh." Vael said and rolled his eyes.
"Hey, you prick. Didn't you say we were going to have dinner together..." Their heads whipped round to see Julian make her way into the room. Her eyes bulged on seeing them inside and Zuriña's and Kaiwan's widened eyes on the realization of what she had just said.
"You guys were here?"She blushed as she looked away and They both turned to Vael who also looked away, his cheeks turning red.
"Um, detective...I think we should head out now." Zuriña said, a smile on her lips.
"You're right...We have somewhere to be.Well, good work back there..." He replied and they turned to say goodbye to Daniel before they headed out.
Father's grave was warm that evening when she raised her hand to touch his memorial stone.
The world had become a lot better now. Father.
"Father, don't you remember?" She whispered as her mind went back to how she had gotten the crown of thorns.
She'd come back crying after her hair had changed because kids had attempted to hit her at the playground. And that was when he had made her the crown of thorns.
"Actually I faintly know, the crown of thorns holds no special power. But the crown you had made comforted me and calmed me down..." She said as she slipped out the crown from her bag.
"But Father...I think I can live without this for now. I really did grow, right?Now I want to return this to you."
Kaiwan bent to lower the flowers he had brought on the grave before he had bowed.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce someone to you. I wanted to come here with him but I was too busy with work. He's the person that I've been relying on quite a lot these days."
"Just that?" He asked and she laughed.
"Thanks to him, I could come this far and he's someone as precious as you are to me."
"That's good to hear." He whispered.
A call came I to his phone and he slipped it out of his pocket.
"Riña, I need to take this."
"Okay." She said and turned back to the grave as he left.
"From now on, I'll be someone that will not hesitate to help people in need. Father...Please watch over me.I'll come again."
She said and done rose to leave.
"You're leaving?" The gardener asked on her way out.
"Yes." She replied and he turned to Kaiwan who was on a call.
"It's rare for you guys to come together. You know that young man?"
She frowned. "Sorry? What do you..."
"I mean that young man. He came here a few times alone and went to Father so I thought he is the priest's family. He's a very good man, you know." He said.
"I see." She replied and turned to walk towards him.
Kaiwan was just hanging up when she walked up to him. "Are you done, Riña?" He asked as she threw her arms around him.
"Thank you Detective."
"For what?" He blinked.
"For everything."
I want to thank everyone who has read this book and has taken time to share to others. May the Lord bless you abundantly. I love you guys❤️.