Kill Or Be Killed

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Celestina's POV

King Zen answering my question even in the most bored way feels like something to be thankful of. This is better than what I expected because the truth is I did not expect him to answer anything. All I ever though was that he was just going to ignore and scold me for throwing him that question again. Well, maybe because he knew that I will be pushy if ever he will not answer me right away. And I think that this is how much I trust him. His words are enough for me.

Since King Zen started eating and trying to dismiss this topic, I decided to eat also since I am already starving. Foods here are just so fine. The typical breakfast in a Filipino cuisine. The only thing that is different here is the steak that King Zen is eating. Imagine how wealthy you are that you are taking a steak for breakfast. Just when I put a spoon on my mouth, was also the time he slice his steak. And I saw the doneness of it. I almost spit out all of the food in my mouth when I saw that there is still blood that is dripping down in every slice that he does. 

I do not think if you can still consider it as rare because this is just too disgusting to eat. I am not even sure if they did clean it. Feels like they just serve him a freshly slaughtered animal. I thought that this will be just an ordinary breakfast but I was wrong. They served King Zen's foods late. Why did I even expect to have a normal and ordinary breakfast when I will be sharing table with the vampire king?

King Zen looks at me when he probably notices that I became a bit nauseous. At first, he frowns a little and I know that he is wondering of what is happening to me. But then he realizes what the hell is wrong with me. He looks down at his food with the realization of everything. I saw the way his face distorted and gets confused on what he should do.

I wished on my mind that somehow, he would give consideration on what I feel. But his face suddenly plastered a very smug smirk like he is planning something. I watch him as he continues slicing a steak like he is just slicing a cake. And I hold my breath when I realize what is he going to do. And feels like my stomach can release all of my internal organ in the disgust when I saw how he ate the rare-- I mean rarest steak doneness I have ever encountered. Even though how much I love eating steak--in different doneness, I will never try that one. That blood is obviously fresh.

I cover my mouth with my hand because I know that any moment I am going to puke. But instead of standing up to find for a sink, I was shocked with my own action when I grab his fork with a slice of steak in it. I grab it not with the use of my hand, but with the use of my mouth. I chew it like I was so amazed by its taste. And I do not know what is happening to me. I can see the surprise in King Zen's face because of what I did. Well, I could not blame him because even me, myself was surprised too.

A part of me want to puke already but I can also feel myself liking the taste of a fresh blood--or meat. And I do not know what is happening to me. Why the hell did I do that? What is wrong with my body? I feel like I loss my control a while ago and that is the reason why it happened. But what kind of explanation would that be? Even myself will not accept it.

"What the hell, Celestina?" King Zen finally utters after what I did left him dumbfounded.

"I-I don't know what happened," I said and he frowns. I do not know if he is going to believe me but that is the truth. And I got no idea on how can I make everything clears.

"Your tummy might hurt. What the hell?" he says in the tone of scolding. I can see concern in his eyes but I know that he is also waiting for my explanation. But just like what I have said, I do not know what happened. "You are not used to eat raw food? Are you insane?" he asks.

"Yea, maybe," I said while staring at the steak--a literally bloody steak that I just ate and tasted. I can taste that slimy raw blood but I still swallow it. I even tour my tongue around my lips just to make sure that there will be no waste. I palm my forehead because of the disgusting thoughts in my head. Why the hell am I liking these gross foods?

"Will you please fix yourself, Celestina? You are making me freak out. You are scaring the sh*t out of me," King Zen exclaims and just like what he said, I try to collect myself even though I am already loosing my mind. I look at Mirah since she is the only one who is with us. I also saw a shock--and a disgust in her face. But she immediately look to another direction when she sees me looking at her. I took a deep breath before facing King Zen again and smiles awkwardly. I got no choice but to think of something to reason out.

"I just tried it. You vampires seemed to enjoy fresh blood and raw meat and it was making me curious. I did it out of curiosity. And it tasted bad," I sad then stick my tongue out to tell him that I really do not like it. And I can see the he looks at me. He looks at me like I am the weirdest person he has ever met. But what can I do? This is the only way I know on how to explain what happened. I know he will ask me more.

"Just tell me if you feel something throbbing in your stomach. God! You should not have done that," he said, scolding me. And the only thing I did was to smile awkwardly and nod so that he can stop already. Even though I still haven't recovered from what happened, I decided to start eating just like what King Zen is doing. And I am hoping that whatever happened few minutes ago will not happen again, ever!

Luckily, everything is just going smooth. Even though the raw meat has an after taste, I still manage to eat my real breakfast peacefully.

"And so about your upcoming birthday..." he broke the silence and speak again in the middle of our quiet meal. And because he is obviously opening a conversation about my birthday, it easily caught my attention so I look at him immediately. I did not expect him to open a conversation, especially about something he has nothing to do with...just like my birthday. I mean why does it seem that has a plan for my birthday? I already noticed this when Drew opened about it then King Zen had a suggestion to it.

Not that I am against him giving a suggestion. The truth is I really appreciate him planning for my special day. But of course, you cannot blame me if I ever wonder for the reason why.

"What about my birthday, King Zen?" I asked him with my full attention. I really want to know what he is planning to say. I want to hear his plan about my birthday, if he really has.

"You know, instead of celebrating your birthday in other places, you can hold your birthday here in this mansion. You can do whatever you want to do here. Unlike in your friend's house. You will feel awkward because of his parents. Because of course, you will be shy," he says and I know for a fact that he has a point. Even though I am close with Drew's parents, I would still be shy to celebrate my birthday there because that is not our goddamn house.

That part of what he said was true. But about using this mansion because I can do anything here is very doubtful. I do not think that I can do whatever I want to do here just like what he is saying because this is not my house either.

"I am giving you all the right in this mansion in your birthday. Do whatever you want to do and invite whoever you want to invite." I was shock of what he said. I did not expect that kind of generosity from him. Well, maybe because that will be my birthday and that is his gift for me. If that is the case, then all thanks to him. But I am still undecided if I am going to accept his offer or not.

But I can think of that some other time. What really caught my attention in all the things that he said was that line where he was saying that I can invite whoever I want to invite. And I want to ask him if my father belongs to that whoever? I just hope he would not mind.