Kill Or Be Killed

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Celestina's POV

Everyone fell in silence to process what the king means. I have an idea playing in my mind but I hope that I was just wrong. I don't know what to do if ever my guess is right. The vampire king look at me—no, he stares at me. The looks at me from head to toe as if he is checking my whole existence.

"Celestina." I raised an eyebrow when he mentioned my name again. Since his eyes were dark, I could not read what's on his eyes. And everytime I dig deeper, all I can see in his eyes is danger. And that's exactly where I am right now...in danger. I am surely in danger.

"You know me?" I asked. If there is one thing I noticed the way he mentions my name, it is as if he knows me personally. But swear to God that I don't know him. His eyes were familiar but that was just an eye. And maybe it is just in my mind.

"Of course, because you're the catch," he once again said and my lips quite parted. Luckily, I was able to stop my jaw from dropping. My dad grip on my arms again. The tightnes of it was saying thathe will never let me go. He holds me like he already understand whatthe king is saying. And my dad is disagree.

"She.. She can't be." My dad tried not to stutter but he failed. He is trying to be firm but his voice is betraying him. The fear in his voice is very evident.

"She is, Advincula. And you know what I'm capabl of. And if you will not give her up, I will kill you. You and all of the people inside this mansion," the vampire king threatened us and we all know that he is capable of doing that. He can do whatever he said without hesitation. And because of that threat, I saw some of our old servants crying. And I could not let anyone die just like that. They should stop crying because none of them is going to die.

"Wait, I don't get it." I came out from hiding from my father's back at slowly walk towards the vampire king. I don't know where did I get the courage to do all of this but I am now facing the vampire king.

"Celestina!" I heard daddy's voice and I know that he is running to get here just to follow me. Drew follows me here also. Dad is standing on my right side while Drew is standing on my left side. They are on my both sides as they are protecting me. But no, they don't have to protect me. I don't know why but now that he is as close as this with me, my fear towards him disappear.

And it disappears when I look at his eyes this close. I can now look at himas if he is not the most dangerous creature I could ever met. His eyes were dark but can't control myself from staring. His eyes are familiar but I don't have time anymore to remember where and when I saw it.

"Look, I don't get it. What do you mean I was the catch?" I ask tbe vampire king but instead of answering me,he diverted his eyes to my father.

"It's time for p*****t, Advincula. I'll send a ruler tomorrow to fetch her." After saying those words, he turns his back and runaway using his vampire speed. And in just a bat of lashes, the vampire king disappear.

"Dad..." I tried my hardest to not stutter but I failed. I know to myself that I'm about to cry. But not because of fear. I'm about to cry because of the disappointment I feel with my dad. How could he do that? How could he had a catch with the most dangerous creature on Earth? Was he that desperate?

"I will not let thag happen, Celestina," dad said and I scoff.

"He's the King. How can you break his words?" I said bitterly. "We cannot go now. A ruler will fetch me here tomorrow. I will go to my room now. Good night, everyone," I said goodbye to everyone and started climbing the stairs. They should go now before they got implicated. We all don't know what is running on Rule's mind. I can see concerns from the eyes of everyone but they have nothing to worry about because I'm not afraid.

"Celestina..." I heard Drew's worried voice so look at him before he could follow me because he does not have to.

"I'm fine." I fake a smile them continue walking. I still can feel everyone's eyes watching me. I hope they all leave tonight. They all heard the vampire king's threat with their lives.

I throw myself on my bed then put my face in the pillow. I force myself to fall asleep.

Of all people, why me?

-

"Celestina! Celestina! Celestina!" I almost fell from my bed when I heard a familiar voice shouting my name. And the shout was from the outside of my room. I could even hear her footsteps on the stairs. I listen his arrival until I heard my door opens. I could even hear her catching her breath. And that's what she gets from running.

"Problem?" I ask her while folding some of my clothes then putting it in a pile. I did not bother to look at her. What is she doing here anyway? Why did she not go away last night when she still had time.

"Who's the guy downstairs?" she asks and I frown. She sits on my bed where I currently sitting so that she could face me.

"Guy?" I ask. Could that be King Zen? Is he the one who's gonna pick me? I think no. I could still remember he told us last night that he will be sending a ruler to fetch me.

"Yea, there's a blond guy downstairs," Maiah continues. And I think he is not Zen because he is not blond. I was about to zip my luggage but Maiah stop me by graspin my wrist.

"Maiah!" I scolded her I know she is not going to listen.

"Are you sure about this, Celestina? We can sneak you out." I gave her a forced smile then shook my head. I will never let them do that because they are just putting their lives in trouble. I know King Zen will find me wherever I go. I get my wrist back from her grasp then continue zipping my luggage.

"He's Zen McGraw, he can find me one way or another," I tell him and saw sadness in her face.

"But..." I was caught off guard when I see her cry. I took a deep breath then taps her on the shoulder.

"Maiah, I'm not dying. Well, I don't know the king's plan about me but hopefully he doesn't have any plan on killing me," I joke but it did not stop from Maiah from crying.

Maiah is one of my closest friends. She is a daughter of one of our servants. I zip the remaining luggage the stand to my feet. She clings in my arms and her hold was just so tight. We started walking out my room.

Before reaching the stairs, we pass by dad's room. I know he has nothing plan on seeing me before the ruler takes me. He doesn't want to see me leave but he knows that this is the only way to spare his life.

We were now on the stairs when I saw a guy with a corn-like hair and with a pale skin. He stands up when he saw us approaching.

"You must be Celestina?" he asks me while from ear to ear. Yesterday, Zen told us that he will send a ruler to fetch me. So this man with an angelic face is a ruler? Hell! Why does he have this gentle face? Well, looks can be deceiving.

"Yea. I'm Celestina," I just answered when we reached him.

"I'm Neil Horfill. Rule's right-hand vampire," he introduces himself. Because he is smiling widely, his white teeth is showing. But those beautiful teeth is surely dangerous. His fangs van be shown any moment.

"Shall we?" he told me and I nodded. I don't want to go but I know I should. I would not take it longer. If he wants us to go already, we will.

We ride on a car that is parking in front of our main door. The car is just too quiet. The silence is deafening. I don't like this kind of silence sl I think I need to talk to him. But what should I tell him? Okay, I will start from asking questions. What's his name again? Neil?

"I think you were too nice for a vampire," I tell him because that's what I notice. He just took a quick glance at me because he is driving.

"I'ma half-blood vampire. As much as possible, I don't want to be brutal with humans. My mother is a mortal," he said while smiling so I nodded. So that's explain why he is this nice.

"How old are you then?" I think I can ask him more questions. I'm prepared but I can ask people spontaneously. I just hope he is ready to answer all my question and I just hope I will not offend him.

"I am three hundred fity-two years old now. It is my birthday tomorrowso I will be turning three hundred fifty-three." My jaw drops and I can help bit be amazed. I know he is telling the truth because vampire were known as immortal. He is that old but looks like my age. Isn't that amazing.

"Oh my God, I should call you grandpa?" I joke and he laughs. But wait! Did he just mention that tomorrow is his birthday? "Advance happy birthday. Will there be a party?" He once again laugh at my question.

"We're so tired of celebrating birthday so we don't bother anymore." Well, I could not blame him. If I will be living that long, I woulf be tired celebrating birthdays too.

"How about King Zen? How old is he?" I can't help but ask. I was just curious because if you're going to guess based on his looks, he looks like that he is just two to three years older than me. And I know that it is impossible.

"Rule? He is five hundred forty-nine years of age," he said and I nod. Just like what I expected. And he was older than this dude Neil

"Is he nice?" I asked but he did not answer. Well, why did I even ask that question? Is that even a question? He's the Rule. If rulers are brutal, how much more the Rule? Rulers are the one implementing laws. But the king? He is the rule himself. Laws are in his hands

"Do you have more questions?" Neil ask and I shook my head. I think he is asking me that because we're almost there to where we supposed to go.

"Oh, wait, I still have question,"I tell himwhen I remember something to ask.

"Spill," he orders so I clear my throat.

"Where do you plan me to bring?" I asked Neil.

"I will bring you where King Zen lives." I don't know why but what he said makes me shiver. But I don't just shiver. I can feel a little excitement in me as if I was a lead character in movie that is about to experience both danger and thrill.

"Let me guess, was that Transylvania? Is that the place where we going. Am I about to enter the castle of Count Dracula?" I don't know where do I get the guts of throwing jokes with a vampire like him as if I am not in danger. I don't get myself. Why don't I feel any fear right no despite of knowing that I'm about to enter Rule's den? I don't know what is waiting for me there. Neil laughs for a moment but he then shook his head.

"This is reality, Miss Advincula. Count Dracula is far from King Zen. You think Dracula is ruthless? Wait till you met our King," Neil said and I know that fact.

I've met Rule yesterday, and he was calm at that moment. Bit despite of the calmness he was maintaining, you still can feel the darkness and danger that surrounded him kalmado sya kahapon. He can be more than Count Dracula—he can be more than the Prince of Darkness. Should I be afraid of him like everyone does? I should, but I don't.

"We're here," Neil announces as he stops in front of a gate. And it is not just a gate, but a gigantic gate. It was like a gate that can be seen in a movie that you will be needing The Rock just to open it. But we do not have to call The Rock just to open this gigantif double door gate because it is automatically opening.

I grew up in luxury life and wealthy living because of the power my dad was holding. But I have never seen this kind of welcoming someone. This is just too extravagant. But I don't think that I was the one they are welcoming. Maybe someone very important is about to arrive. It just happened that I was the one who arrived first.

The mortals—whom I think the servants of this castle are lining up and they all stood straight when a men in black opens the door for me. And when I climb off the car, everyone bow their head. And they remain in that position that makes me cringe. They might experince muscle weakness if they continue holding that position. I look at Neil but it seems normal to him.

He maybe noticed that I was looking at him. And he immediately gets what the bothering look on my face. He looks at the servants lining up and still bowing their heads then bring back his eyes on me. He smiles before speaking up again.

"They will stand straight again after you pass them by," Neil said and I wrinkled my forehead. I was about to ask him what does he mean by that but a woman appears in front of me and approach me.

"Welcome home, Miss Celestina," the woman greets me whom I think that she's on her early 30's. But she looks mature and older than her actual age because of her serious and strict face that can be compared with Miss Minchin.

Is sh the one who's gonna make my stay here difficult? Is she the one who's gonna put my life in a living hell? Is she the antagonist who will torture me?

But what did she say? My home? How? First, this not a typical home. This is too big to be just called a literal home. Second, this will never be my home because in order to call a place home, you must feel the safety and peace. And this? And this is far from being my home.