Kill Or Be Killed

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Celestina's POV

I told everyone to eat already. I can see both happiness and sadness in their eyes. They are happy because we got a chance to share this moment even for one last time. And they are because of course, they chance of seeing each other again is so unsure. We don't know we were able to see each other again.

In the middle of our happy food, I saw a familiar car and I smie when I saw who climb off the car. I wave my hand immediately for him to see me easily. And it works because Drew's eyes landed on me. I chew all the food inside my mouth get myself ready to call him.

"Drew! Drew!" Everyone looks at me when I yelled Drew's name. Then they all diverted their eyes at Drew who's now walking towards us. And they all wave at him. Drew is wearing a tuxedo and I think he attended something but did his best to get here. Everyone greeted them and he greets them back. I know Drew is also sad that we are now leaving this place but he knows that this is the best thing we should do. I know he has lots of memories here in this mansion so I know that this is hard for him too.

I watch Drew as he continue walking. He's smiling from ear to ear as if there is something playing—or planning in his mind. But whatever his plans will be, I don't care because all I wnat right now is to runaway. As the time goes by, I am becoming more emotional. And I don't want others to see me cry. Drew walks until he reaches me. But before he could ever speak, I grasp his wrist and I smiled at him.

"Let's go somewhere!" I did my best to sound excited as if I have to show him something. I did not wait for his answer because I drag him already. I runaway from our old servants just to make sure that they will not see me cry. I did hear any complain from Drew. And I think he already knew why I runaway with him. He just lets me drag him without even knowing where I might bring him.

My feet bring us to the garden. There's a swing there and we both ride on it sight next with each other. At first, silence envelopes us. But I know that it will not take long, and Drew will speak. And I was mot wrong because I heard him took a deep breath before throwing me questions.

I could not help myself but to cry in my palms. Even though I'm not looking at Drew, I still can feel that he is watching me. And I don't mind if he see me cry. This is how comfortable I am with him. I don't care how ugly I might look like but I just want to cry.

Drew didn't say anything. He just lets me cry. And he will not speak until I'm okay. But I know to myself that I should not cry hard and long because everyone in this mansion might notice that I cried because of my swollen eyes. I don't want them to worry about me. I want to show them that I'm stronger than before. I don't wany them to be bothered that I might struggle in my new life. I want to show them that I am ready for this.

When I think I have cried enough, I wipe my tears away to the point that no one will notice that I cried. I sniff several times just so I can clear my voice.

"Celestina..." Drew called me first so I look at him. He is looking at me seriously and I want to know what's on his mind. But her eyes were full of emotion so I find it hard to figure out what is he thinking about. I slightly raised an eyebrow to ask him what does he need. If he wants to talk about something then that would be better. At least my mind would be diverted to something else.

"You were like a star." I frown at his words because seriously, why is he saying that out of nowhere. And what does he mean by that? I this some kind of a pickup line? Sorry, but I'm not a fan of that concept. The fact that he's not looking me while saying those words. He is looking up at the sky that is slowly darkening and the stars are now slowly appearing. I didn't even realize that we have been here for quite long. It's friggin' dusk and we're almost going.

"What?" I asked and he looks at me for a while then brings back his eyes at the sky.

"Nothing." I frown even more because of what he utters. He was just saying words out of nowhere, now that I'm asking about it,all he said was it was nothing. How confusing he can be. I sometimes question myself on why I befriended him. But no timefor questions because I'm so used to him.

I wasn't able to ask him agaid or force him to tell me why did he say those words because we have been interrupted by our old servant. And I know that she is here to pick me up and we need to go now.

"Miss Celestina, your father has arrived. He told us that it's about time to go," the servant tells me so I nod. I told her to go back there and we will be there in a moment. When the servant is gone, I stood to my feet and so does Drew. But before we walk back to them, I look around at the garden I used to enjoy.

I will surely miss this place. This was my mom and I's favorite place. We were always here when she was still alive. My mom is not here withme anymore, and it makes me sad that I wasn't able to preserve her favorite place. I hope the new owner of this mansion will take care of this garden the way my mom did.

After few moments of feeling the air in this place for one last time, Drew and I look at each other when we heard a loud noise. And I'm pretty sure that it is a commotion. And the noise is coming inside the mansion where the celebration is happening. My heart skips a beat at the thought that something violence is happening inside there.

Without a second thought, I hurriedly run towards the commotion without knowing what is waiting for me there.

"Celestina!" Drew calls out my name to stop me from going there alone but it did not stop me. I even run faster. Not so far from me, I heard Drew's footsteps following me. When I reached the commotion, I see my dad looking at someone with a terrified face. The man's back he is looking at is the one facing me. My dad became more terrified when his eyes landed on me.

The man that I think causes fear in him is slowly turning his back to look at me. I can't help but look at him. I look at his eyes in confusion. My eys met his. I can't help but stare at his eyes. Those hazel brown eyes seemed to be familiar. I feel like I have stared at those before. I just could not remember where and when. My dad seems to know him so I think my feeling is right. I have met him before.

"Celestina, come over here!" I was shocked when my father called me. I was so sure thathe stuttered. But I did not move because I wasn't able to take my eyes off the stranger who's trying to make an eye contact with me. I wonder who is this man I am looking at. I wonder why my father seems so terrified at his presence.

Yes, I can feel and I can sense the darkness that surrounds him but I have never seen my dad as as this. I want to know him.

"Celestina." I heard Drew calls me. I felt his hands grip on my both arms and he is now at my back. He then assist me to start walking where my dad was standing.

"Celestina..."I heard the man's voice mentioned my name when we passed by him. And the raspiness of his voice sent shiver down to my spine. But I did not mind him. I just continue walking until I reached my father's side. My dad hold my arms tightly and I can feel him slightly shaking.

"Who is he, dad?" I can't control myself from asking. I badly want to know who the hell is he. There is something in that man that my father is not telling me. Or maybe he is just another debtor who is trying to charge him. My dad did mot answer my question. Instead, he positions me behind him.

"Payback time, Advincula," the stranger tells my dad. His voice was full of authority. Even though how calm he delivers his words, his baritone voice screams power.

"I...I could not remember I owe you anything," my dad said and I heard the stranger's low laugh. Even in laughing, he can make you shiver.

"Oh, no. You don't owe me anything. You have indebted in me, remember? You got your luxurious cost of living. You got power. I have told you that it was not for free, haven't I?" the stranger tells my dad and could not find a word—or find the courage to answer. And I feel my dad's grip in my arm became tighter.

"He is indebted in you?" Because of the curiosity and confusion in me, I wasn't able to control myself to intervene with their conversation. The stranger eyed me again as if he is now ready to talk to me.

"Yes, Celestina. I gave all the desire of your father in one condition. But that condition was unsaid. I will only tell what would be the catch when the right time comes. And the right time is right very now," the man said and I look at my father. He avoided my eyes and I know him very well. He could not make eye contact with me when he is lying. And he knows I'm about to ask him about this man's saying. He knows his going to lie so he better avoid my eyes as early as now.

Since my father is not looking at me, I could not ask him about this. I look at the stranger again. I'd rather ask him the questions I was supposedly asking my dad.

"Who are you anyway?" I asked him. If we're the one whose going to talk about my father's debt, I think I should know him first. I still have some money left that I will supposedly keep in case of emergency. But since another debtor is now threatening—well, he hasn't threatening my father yet,but surely he will. I am willing togive my last centavo just to get rid of him as soon as possible. We really need to go. The new owner of the mansion might come anytime from now.

"Zen," the man said and the whole place envelopes with silence. It was just a word—and it is just a name but all of us couldn't move. We could not even create a low noise that might get his attention. I try my hardest not to step back. Now I know why my father is so terrified with this stranger's presence. Well, who would not be? He's the vampire king! Anyone who could recognize him will feel the same way as my father.

But how did my father know him? And what? He owe him something? Oh, yes the luxury we—my dad had. So that's answer how we became luxurious. Because Rule sustain all of his needs. And now, the king asking for a p*****t. I wonder how much my father owe him. Of all people, why him? I want to scold my father for doing such thing but I refused not to and be silent instead. It will not help anyway. I look at my dad just to confirm that he was the Zen we all know.

"K-King Zen?" I ask him incredulously and my dad nodded. I squint out of frustration. Now we're dead. If his debt with the vampire king was the ones he used for his luxurious cost of living, well that must be big amount "How did you get a coonection with him?" I asked my dad and got no answer with him. The vampire king answers instead in my dad's behalf.

"Like what I said, we had a catch. In one unsaid condition, I will give everything he desires. And that's what I did. Now, he hasto pay me with my desire p*****t," he says. I took a deep breath to calm me even though I know to myself that my knees are now shaking. My dad is more terrified than me so I was the one who needs to face this. Luckily, I have our servants with me. The fear I am feeling becomes bearable.

"He's the Rule?" Drew's voice was also in disbelief. Bit I could not blame him. Who would have thought thay we will be able to meet the very elusive king of vampires.

"He's King Zen McGraw," my dad finally introduced him to us and everyone murmurs like a bees buzzing. Their faces show fear and I could not blame them if they have this kind of reaction. Rulers were known as monsters. And the man standing in front of us is the King. He's the rule of all rulers.

"Calm the hell down, everyone!" The vampire king said calmly. It is easy for him to say calm down because he does not feel the fear we have right now.Kalmadong sabi ni Rule. Since the king ordered us to be quiet, no one dared to murmur again. "I just came to remind Advincula about our catch," he continues and that's what I forgot to ask. The catch he was talking about.

"Catch? What catch?" I tried to hide the fear in me but I failed. I stuttered and it was pretty obvious.

"Is your father ready to know my condition?" the king asked firstso I lookat my father to wiat for his answer. This is the hardest part of it. My dad does not know what will be the condition. He acceptedt the king's offers without considering the condition. My dad did not say anything but he nods. That's the wayhe answered the king's question and I hope he would not mind.

"The catch is your daughter." From my dad, my eyes immediately diverted with the king the moment he mentioned me.

Me? I am the catch? What does he mean by that?