Natalia

Chapter 6 - Death & Acceptation

THIRD PERSON POV

Natalia made herself invisible when she went inside the State Capital building. She never let anyone sees her or even heard her strolling around the busy building while watching Liana up close. From what she had gathered, Liana is currently planning her grand wedding with a soldier. 

Every comment about her future husband from Liana's coworkers was dismissed from entering her ears. She hates to hear about the person who bullied her all those years ago. Natalia hates him to the core. But none can compare to the hatred she has on Liana and the other girls. 

She was quite happy to know she has the chance to finally hurt the person who hurt her before. She might be the innocent girl when she was alive, but now she's not. She's not the same girl who looks down on by everyone. She was reborn to be a creature who's far more powerful than any human combine. 

Natalia wakes up to her current reality when she heard Liana's phone ringing. She watches from afar how Liana would smile and laughs while talking to the phone. It must be Rupert she thought. When Liana hangs up, she receives a knowing look from Arika who's watching her closely from the next-door building. 

Her keen eyesight caught her glare from afar.

'It's time.' Arika said through the mind link. Ivy sat next to Arika on the roof. They both got the front seat to witness Natalia's first killing. They both feel anxious and wonder how Natalia will perform her first task.

"I think she's going to nail it." Ivy voice out.

"I hope so or she has to answer my father's wrath." Arika sighs and focuses on Natalia. 

Natalia waited for Liana's secretary to shut down her computer before knocking on Liana's door. After disabling every electronic device around her office, she smiles.

"I don't want anyone to see me. Well, if they can see me." Jac smiles at a surprised Liana. 

"Natalia?" Natalia finds it soothing to see fear across Liana’s expression. 

"In a flash.." Natalia smiles and sat on the chair in front of her. Somehow, Liana's instinct told her that it's not her old friend that’s currently sitting in front of her. She's afraid. Out of fear, one of Liana's hand subtlely pressed an emergency button that was installed to let the security knows if she ever in a dire situation. 

Natalia noticed it and smiles.

"I already took care of them." Liana grabs her armchair and tried to calm herself down. Deep down she knows her old friend still inside there. Somewhere. 

"Nat. Don't you remember me? It's Liana. Your best friend." Natalia's expression changes from calm to anger. 

"Best friend? Best friend?! You let your friends harassing me throughout junior high and you still have the guts to say we’re best friends?!" Natalia thundered. It took her everything to calm herself down.

"I'm not here to yell at you. No. That's not my nature. I'm here to see how you remembered me. I want to know what were you thinking when you spread all those rumors about me," Natalia slams her hand on the table making some of the picture frames scattered around the table. 

Liana jolts up from the sudden noise and tried to calm herself.

"I'm sorry Nat. I shouldn't do what I did. I was young. I was not in my right mind. At the time all I could think of was being popular. And when you confessed, my friends saw it as a good idea to... tease.." Natalia abruptly stood up from the chair, making it fell on the floor before leaning to Liana.

"Tease? Tease?! I was suffering from suicidal thoughts for the rest of my life! And you dare to call it a teasing?!" Jac climbs on the table and crawls towards Liana. She grabs on her neck with one of her hands and the other to support her weight while crouching on the table.

"You don't know how painful and scared I was being bullied all those years?! It wasn’t enough that you rejected me. You have to share it with the world as well?!" Natalia pushed her neck back, making Liana bounce back to her chair.

"Do you know how hurtful it is to be called by so many awful names? Do you have any ideas on how many times I cry myself to sleep because of you!" Natalia screams the last part in front of Liana’s face.

"You will not live another day after I'm done with you." That's when she heard the door was being opened. Natalia turns and laughs when she noticed it's Rupert. He was too surprised to even do anything when Natalia swiftly moved from Liana's table and landed in front of Rupert's face in seconds.

"Hello there Mr. Soldier." Natalia mocks and gently pushed Rupert so that his back faces the wall. 

"Now this is a treat. I get to complete my task and have a meal," Natalia hissed, showing Rupert her fangs. His eyes widen while his mind can’t even process what is going on.

Even with his military experience, he simply can’t grasp what is happening. When Rupert grabs Natalia by the shoulder and tried pushed her off, he freezes when Natalia didn't even budge.

"What are you?!" Rupert asked when he gave up on trying. Natalia leans near his ears. Her breath gently brushes against his flesh.

"I am one of those creatures that lurk in the night. I have the privilege to get my grudges done and I will thank him later when I'm done with both of you."  

Natalia didn't wait for him to respond when she sunken her teeth onto Rupert's neck. Arika laughs when she was blessed by Rupert’s screeching scream. She claps her hands when Natalia manages to kill her first victim. Ivy, on the other hand, worried about her. 

Worried that she might jeopardize her mission.

"Relax baby. She's going to be fine. She's just hungry," Arika chuckles.

"Oh baby, I remembered how well you were on your first task. The scream that woman made was so close as nocturnes to me." Arika turns her wife's head to meet hers. 

"That was hundreds of years ago and I still love you forever," They kissed passionately while Natalia finished her meal. 

When Natalia was done with her meal, she watches as life slowly leaving from Rupert's body. When she faces Liana with her bloody mouth, she gave her such an eerie smirk before slowly saunters towards her. 

"I'm sorry for this but the wedding is off," Natalia said before grabbing Liana's head and dismembered it from her body. Blood squirts everywhere and it gave her some kind of ecstasy to see her old crush died in her hands. 

Natalia licks her hands that have Liana's blood. She was enjoying herself tasting the most delicious blood she ever tasted.

"Hmmmmm... taste like honey.." Natalia kicks the chair that has Liana's headless body and went to the windows. 

She waves while parading her hands that have Liana's head at Arika and Ivy who's busy... sucking each other off. When she heard someone barged in, Natalia turns around and smiles at the uniform man before jumps off the windows.

***

Videric was waltzing with his lady friend when the maids came and informed him that Natalia has arrived from her mission. Videric ends the dance and bow to his companion.

"We shall continue this later," The woman bows back and watches him go. 

"Hoe did it go?" Videric asked. 

"She covered in blood, your highness. A huge grin plastered on her face and it seems like princess Arika together with princess Ivy was proud. She must be doing it perfectly," Videric nods as he continued to walk towards his private room.

When the maid opens the door for the king, Videric made eye contact with the newborn. The maid was right. She was covered in the blood of her victims. Her grin was eerie and one of her hand was holding a lifeless head of her victim to be put on the altar of sin. 

Videric's sinister laughs echoes in the room and Natalia presents the head of her first victim to the king.

"Good job newborn. No problems right?" Natalia looks up.

"Well, there was a moment where I was interrupted by law enforcers but before they couldn’t see who did it because I jump off the building and landed on all four." Videric took the head and continued to laughs. He lifted the head and came face to face with Liana.

"How does it feel to finally have your revenge? Is it amazing? It made your blood pump faster with all the adrenaline rush. Am I right?" Natalia nods and smiles.

"I feel like a new person," Videric turns his head to Arika.

"Her next task will be a bit difficult. Get her ready." Arika nods and they all bows to the king before excusing themselves.

Videric watches them go and turns to the empty altar that was specially built for Natalia. He placed the bodiless head on it while admiring the overwhelming power that started to grow on the amulet that was placed in the middle of the altar. 

"Are you proud of yourself, brother?" Videric chuckles when he heard Rose's voice behind him.

"You need to knock, sister," Videric turns and saw Rose sitting in the armchair, watching him.

"Why do you even continue to do his work, brother? I told you to never listened to him. Listen to what mom has to say for a change. She may be busy with Heaven's work but she still treats you like her son." Videric sighs. 

"I know Rose. But, I was curse remember. If I don't obey, my daughter will be his victim and I don't want my princess to suffer as I do. I want her to live her undead life with the person she loves," Rose shakes her head. 

She knows her half-brother answer will be one of those. 

"The prophecy choose her?" Rose asked.

"The prophecy mentions a warrior that will be doing the task. Ivy chooses her because of her potential," Rose chuckles.

"In other words, you used her deepest darkest past to gained power?" Videric smiles and shakes his head. 

"I may have his blood but I’m not evil like him, Rose. The amulet belongs to Natalia. And only Natalia. Once she's done with her task, she will have the privilege to choose her destiny. Either with Arika and Ivy. Or be a free vampire lurking in the night." Rose stood up and went to Arika and Ivy's wedding portrait.

"Moana sends her regards. She misses them both. But with today's situation between werewolves and hunters, I can’t let her risking her life." Videric went to Rose's side. 

"That matter hasn't been solved? I thought the queen has given out orders to not hunt any innocent creatures," Rose chuckles.

"The king of Hunters didn't care about the new rules the queen had legalized. They even spit on the Royal crest for it. Essence hates to use violence so they going to meet the king himself." Videric shakes his head. 

"By now she should know that violence is the only answer if the leaders will not tolerate any kind of political approach." Rose smiles.

"I don't think Essence will ever change from what she was raised to be. But when she decided to use violence, just hope for the best." 

"Why are you here Rose?" Videric asked. 

"I'm here to deliver some messages from mom. She said to not be afraid of what's lurking in the dark. Because it might be the only thing that could help you in the time of needs. Like always, we have no idea what she meant by it, " Rose let out her wings and went to the open windows where she first came in. 

"See you later. And I hope for the best brother. Just call me when you need me. I'll be there. We may have a different mother, but we have the same blood from hell." Rose laughs and shot off to the sky.

***

The General of the army, General Chandler Dixon walks inside the late Liana Johnson office and he was beyond words when he witnesses the crime scene. The floors were flooded with both of the victim's blood and it was saddening to see the state of the victim's body was. 

He looks around and found nothing was missing either a personal object and the vault that contain the state money and jewels that were inside the office was not tempered with. He even examines the files that contain the state secrets but nothing was disturbed.

The General kneels to examine Rupert's dead body.

"What happened here? Where's her head? His blood... it's gone.." the General stood up went to examine Liana's headless body closer.

"This matter will be investigated by the military police." 

"No can do Dixon. This is my case! Get your hands off of my case!" Chandler turns and rolled his eyes. He standstill and fixed his uniform before he meets the chief police.

"My soldier is dead in the hands of someone willing to decapitate a human being. He's still in his working hours while visiting his fiancée. And I have full authority to handle this case and you will not have any inside info about MY investigation!" 

The chief clears his throat and plays with his suspender.

"Dixon, this murder happened in the State Capital building, MY jurisdiction! My station was the first team to be in the scene and saw a glimpse of the murderer. So this is my case!" The General looks at the chief and pokes his beer belly with his finger.

"For someone who can't even run properly, you don't have any strength when it comes to fieldwork!" They were about to brawl when the mayor made himself known. 

"You two should get to work and find the killer rather than brawling inside my building." The mayor said and crosses his hands on his chest while watching the two most influential men in the room about to hit each other. 

The General fixed his uniform and saunters away from the chief.

"Mayor, sir, the police should be handling this case because we have the most advanced devices and machine to process the evidence. Not like the military. They still haven’t developed any kind of machine to help them find the murderer." The General laughs.

"Well, at least the military has a protocol to follow. Mr. Mayor, my soldier was in duty when he was killed. This case should be handled by us. Besides, if the police took over they might get the media's attention and the State Capital will receive a bad rep." 

The General looks into the mayor’s eyes. 

"Do you wish to see tomorrow's headlines to be 'Not Even The State Capital Building Is Safe Anymore?!'... We don't want that. Do we?" The mayor shakes his head.

"Why not you two work together and solve this damn case IMMEDIATELY! I just lost my most efficient worker and you two trying to show everyone who's boss!" The mayor glares at both of them.

"STOP ACTING LIKE A CHILD AND FIND THE KILLER!" The mayor yells before walks out of the crime scene. The officers from both sides were looking at each other and waiting for their orders from their superior. The General took a deep breath and face his underlings. 

"Find evidence of a break-in. Investigate every nooks and cranny," The officer's nods and began to do their job. The chief asks the forensic team to investigate the victim's body. Searching for clues and causes of death. 

The military police began to search for any fingerprint at the door, windows, and even table. The forensic team took some pictures and examine the dead body thoroughly.

"Sir!" The person who examines Rupert's body calls out. 

"There's no stab wound, or even evidence of a gun being used except for these two strange bite marks,” The forensic shows the chief and general two punctured wound on Rupert's neck.

"What are you suggesting? He was killed by a vampire?!" The chief started to laughs. Except for the General. After years of working for the nation, his line of work had shown him nothing is impossible in this mysterious, yet to discovered world.

"Is it funny Chief?" The General asked. The chief wipes his tears.

"What? You all saying a legendary creature attack on humans? Please. You guys watched too many movies,”

The General shakes his head. 

"In May 1967, a group of family was killed by an 'animal' attack just outside the skirts of the so-call haunted forest in Utah. Evidence shows that they were all being attacked by a species that has both human and wolf DNA. These cases classified as supernatural because of its significance to the same case that happened 10 years earlier, at the same location."The chief tried to use logical thinking but the general put up his hands because he’s not done explaining. 

"Let's not forget about Vlad the impaler. An old Romanian prince who has a thirst for blood. Also let's not forget that every legend has a true story behind them," The General finished. 

"What are you trying to say, Dixon?" The chief asked. 

"All I'm trying to say is nothing is impossible. This is not our world. God creation is beyond imagination and these beings have been walking on the face of the earth for thousands of years. There's history about vampires since ancient times," The General turns to Liana's body. 

"What I'm trying to say let's put everything into perspective. For someone to decapitate a human being like this must have a major amount of hate and the reason to do so. We just don't know if it's connecting to a cult or some kind of devil-worshipping." The chief then gave up trying to be rational. 

"So you want me to believe this is the job of a non-human?" The chief asked but before the General could answer him, the chief began to laughs again.

"This is all bullshit!" The general gave up. He turns to his officers.

"This is code red. Tell the special force X to prepare themselves. We have code red on our hands." The officer saluted and walks out. The General leaves the laughing chief alone and reached for his phone. 

He dials a number he never thought he ever calls and waited for the person to answer. 

"This is General Chandler Dixon. I would like to speak to Mr. Frederick Bolt from the Mythology Department. Please tell him that this is an urgent matter. It's between life and death."