The Creatures Series

Nineteenth Night

Nineteenth NightCreatures of the Night

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##### Nineteenth Night #####

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There’s something different about the moon. Or perhaps the presence of the dark night sky. Or I just look scarier....

My parents look surprise for a moment. They know the big risk I'll post if I do that. Still ─

"No,” my father says his final word.

"I know what kind of effects this decision will cause. But I need you to understand that it is necessa—"

"How come killing our only daughter be necessary?!" My mother's voice blares through the room.

"As you can see,” I start explaining again, "I've been kidnapped quite a lot this month. And sometimes, I even put my friends and family in danger indirectly. Thus, I'm asking for your understanding to allow me to at least break one of my seals. So that in the future, if I come across the similar disadvantageous situation, I can give more protection this ti—"

"If you come across it again. We must admit that the events this month are really bad. But in the end of the day, you always fulfill your duty. We don't think you need to risk your life,” cut in my father.

"In exchange for more lives? Isn't that what Sorcier is about?" I ask.

"True. But—"

"I know, I know. And you put me in place as your daughter first, more than the fact that I'm also part of this organization. Which is why I'm asking your permission as a Sorcier's member. In able to provide more power to the chart.” This time, I'm the one who cut him.

"So, you want to fully active as a member again?" My mother asks.

"Yes,” I say firmly.

"You do realize that this means that you have to be apart from the Alpha Team and do single missions personally? You won't be able to meet your friends as frequent as you are now. Are you willing to give that chance up?" She tries to reason with me.

"I've thought about it, and my answer remains the same.”

After a moment of silence and interlink debate, which I don't even try to find out myself, my parents finally announce their decision.

"Fine. We agree.” I almost smile. "But with one condition.” I stop mentally.

"As long as you can stay fully sane.”

That will be a challenge. Last time I broke loose, half the manor in our residence blew into pieces. At that time, I was so pissed with Layla, my distance female cousin, for sabotaging my artwork. No one ever dared to ruin my masterpiece. Except for her, anyway. And she's also the last to make that mistake. She fell in a coma for six months and lost her left eye. Not my fault, of course. Those who provoke others to fight is responsible for oneself. But my parents decided to put another seal on me, just in case if someone dies next time.

After my seventh seal, I barely have an explosive reaction. Just a week ago, for example. I can't even stop a vampire, even though long ago I used to be a quite well-known vampire slayer. I've killed fourteen vampires when I was 12. Now, increasing that number seems impossible.

"Don't you want a tough daughter?" I ask back, flicking my eyes at them. I remember the earlier times when my parents seemed so proud of having a child like me.

They mutter their obvious answers.

"Then a tough daughter you have,” I smirk.

The unseal ritual is prepared soon at the night. The clock is ticking to midnight when I walk into our lightless underground training room smoothly. The place has been sealed for hours even before the preparation has started, but my parents think it is necessary for anticipation. Now it is so quiet that even every step I take echoes through the stadium.

My parents have invited the elders to perform the spell. They gladly accept and even cleared their schedule as soon as my parents put away their phone, I heard. Something about them saving the elders group in the past must have triggered it.

The pentagram that they drew is similar to the one they once used to seal the parts of my power. It was made by chalk, draw right in the center of the room. It's a drawing of sun, with its vibrating lines, showing how intense it is. But this one is upside down. The radiant line looks like it's actually moving to the center. The sun drawing, especially, is filled with deep color, indicating the power within the sealed one.

I step into the pentagram and almost fell. Just feeling the slight opening of the seals makes me dizzy. It feels as if they are calling me, in voices of ancient Noirmelns language. I feel so tempted, I almost give in. But I keep walking until I reach the center of the pentagram.

The elders then all look at the direction of where my parents are in unison. They are on the top of the bleachers, looking rather sad or just expressionless. I see their heads nod down before the elders turn their gaze back at me.

They all just look old, mostly with obvious wrinkle lines, white hair, and pale shattered eyes. Their eyes have turned to grey, almost white, due to their ages.

I keep my expression blank as they start chanting the spell. Their voices echo so loud in unison, yet come out in different paces. Minutes pass to hours, or how long it feels for me, yet their mouth haven't stop moving. How can they remember such long spell and keep going after some hours? I myself would have fallen asleep if I don't know how important this is. I can even feel my muscles get sore for half an hour before they finally stop.

What I felt next in pain of being ripped in half so that my power can flow in as soon as possible. It's... even... so... hard... to...

...think....

Finally, I feel like myself again. Or quite frankly, part of myself. It doesn't matter. As long as I'm me again.

I wrap my hands around my body, hugging myself satisfiedly.

The elders have gone back to their quarters, which were located at the edge of the city. They live together at one building, giving the easiness to contact each other. My parents bid them goodbye and gratitude for their help, with me alongside them.

“So, Arsene, how are you feeling?” My mother asks, with wariness at the tip of her tongue.

“Never been better. Or should I say, close to the best,” I reply smiling. She responses by giving me an awkward smile back. “No, seriously, I’m fine. Having part of me just... complete me. Most will look emotionally, though,” I add.

“It’s good to see that you’re handling this just as fine as we expected you to be. But let’s not push your luck and get a rest quickly,” my father say before pushing me into the elevator. They come along with me until I reach the 145th floor.

“We’ll start the moving tomorrow,” they announce before bidding me goodnight and go to their own level.

Once I reach my bedroom, I can never feel more energetic than I usually do recently. I bet I’m even more cheerful and playful than Banri. What will he think when he see the me now? How about what my friends will think? Well, as bad as I can be, I’m just the old version of me, after all. They just have to welcome me back.

I stare at my bed for some minutes when I reach the second floor. I don ’ t feel like sleeping anytime soon. So I walk to my closet this time. I slide the door open and look at myself in front of my three-sided mirror. I sure look beautiful. But not at the maximum enough. I start taking my clothes off one by one until only my black pair of underwear leave. Then I take out my other clothes ─ the so little number that I have left ─ and try them one by one. None seems to fit me anymore. I start tearing and cutting some parts of a piece clothing that I think is the best, and make it into a new one. I put it on and feel a little bit better.

But just not good enough to make me sleep peacefully this night.

I brace myself when I reach one of the windows inside my room and open it.

The night wind may be a little bit too strong and cold, but to me it’s just plainly refreshing. I take a deep breath with a smile on my face, before falling.

The feeling is just like skydiving. Perfectly like when I fell from this very same building just a week ago, pushed by a vampire. Only this time, minus the fear of death. I never feel this free in these past 12 years....

“Please, spare me. You’ve made a truce with us. Why do you still want to harm me?” Garret Blancort say sweating like a pig as he stand at the very edge of his own roof, to me who’s standing on the other side of it. I arrived in the Blancorts’ East Residence just quite a while ago. I was lucky enough that only a few low class wizards are guarding this place, so I could managed to sneak in easily. With this, no one will know who the culprit is. And I can avenge for Minny, finally.

“I did make a truce with your father. But that doesn’t mean that already forgot about what you did. My proof against you is not just mere words from your underlings. I heard your conversation with your sister, too, you know. And tonight, I will end this burning desire of revenge.” My face relaxes to a cunning smile. There’s no fear shows of what I’m about to do. Only a lustful smirk of pure joy. I unfold my arms as I walk closer to him, before holding my right arm in the mid of air.

“Now,” I mutter cunningly, “die.” A blast of death lashes out from my palm like a black laser. It’s as hot and deathly as one, too. Garret gets the perfect shot to the heart and falls of the sixth level. The sound of his body smashing into the surface of the ground echo through the night as my evil laughter joins it soon.

“Minny, I hope you rest in peace,” mutter to the night blazing sky and starts.