The Love of a Vampire

Chapter 7

Running in the same forest again, Micah wondered where her legs were taking her? Why does she hear footsteps behind her? What’s going on? The only thing on her mind right now is she must run away; farther away.

“Micah stop! You can’t escape from this!!!” a voice is calling her; a voice almost too familiar, but why is he chasing her? What does he want with her? Is he after her powers? How did they find out about it?

Micah’s mind was filled with questions that needed to be answered. The forest was dark and quiet despite the magical rays of the moonlight. “Keep running, angel.”

Hearing that voice made Micah gasp as she recognized that voice all too well. “Come to me, angel. You’re almost there.”

Micah followed his voice as if it was where she wanted to be. She wanted to be with him. “Micah stop.” her eyes grew wide as she turned her body around. Under the moonlight, she found him, she finally found him, her soulmate.

~~~

Micah sits up on her bed gasping for air. Running a hand through her hair, she curled her knees close to her face, resting her chin on top of it with a deep frown on her face. “What the hell is going on?”

Glancing at the bedside table, it was almost six in the morning. Sighing, she decided to get up early and prepare for work. Yes, she has accepted the job as a royal representative. She wanted to learn more about her power, so she decided to stick around with her fellow guardians.

It has almost been two weeks since she accepted the job, but most of the time she’s training with the other guardians. No one knows about her current state but the royal family and she intended to keep it that way.

“Micah? Are you up?” Micah frowned upon hearing her mother’s voice. Standing on her bed, she slipped into her robe and walked out of her room where her mother awaited.

“I didn’t know you were home.” Micah commented.

Mrs. Clark smiled. “We just arrived, sweetie. Come on, let’s have breakfast.”

Despite the confusion about her mother’s behavior, Micah had a quick shower and change of clothes before going downstairs for breakfast.

Sitting at the breakfast table, Micah ate in silence. She thought everything would turn back to normal but her parents, as well as her grandfather, were sitting there with her and Michael. Occasions like this, she can’t help but think that her parents might be up to something again; her mother’s peculiar behavior is one of them.

“Oh, I almost forgot. I have something for you, sweetheart.” Mrs. Clark stood in her seat and when she came back, she had a shopping bag with her.

“Here you go, Micah. I know it suits you perfectly.” Micah faked a smile as she accepted it. “Of course. You always knew what was best for me, Mom.”

Taking the shopping bag, Micah took out the white dress and held it high. “You’ll look perfect in that at your engagement party.”

“I knew it.” Micah thought.

Putting the dress back into the shopping bag, Micah placed it down to the side silently. Rather than arguing, she continued to eat her breakfast in silence.

“Engagement party? When?” her brother asked.

“Tomorrow night. You should get something new to wear for your sister’s engagement party, Michael.” Mrs. Clark replied.

Michael turned his head to the side to see how his sister was faring but there was no emotion written on Micah’s face. Turning his head back, Michael was in deep thought trying to figure out how he could help his little sister.

“You don’t have to worry about anything, dear, we have organized everything. Vincent has been very thoughtful; he chose everything according to your preference.” Mrs. Clark added enthusiastically.

“I have invited my colleagues to the party, Micah. They promised to come.” Mr. Clark seconded.

“I have sent an invitation to the High King and Queen, hopefully, they will make an appearance.” Says Micah’s grandfather.

Mrs. Clark gasped. “That would be great, Dad. It would be an honor if the High King and Queen blessed their union.”

“I have served the High council for many decades; I know the High King would consider it.” Grandpa Clark replied.

“So, Micah, how was your work? I heard you spent most of your time with the royal family. If you hadn’t been promised to marry Vincent I would have arranged you with the prince instead.” Micah’s jaw clenched, slowly losing her appetite at her mother’s unwanted comment.

“If you’re so enthusiastic about it, why not marry him yourself, Mom?” Mrs. Clark snapped her head in her daughter’s direction, glaring. Micah met her mother’s gaze with a blank look on her face.

“Micah, do not talk to your mother that way.” Mr. Clark inserted, making Micah frown. “Why don’t you tell her that?”

As Micah left the breakfast table, Michael stared at the cup of coffee she had left. As Micah talked, the contents of the cup were boiling as she held them. Michael thought his eyes were merely playing tricks on him, but seeing the cup was steaming hot smoke, confirmed what he saw.

“What should we do about her? I thought she had already accepted it.” Mrs. Clark commented as she sat back down.

“Just leave her be. She needs time to process everything.” Mr. Clark took her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.

“I thought I told you to tell her beforehand, not surprise her like that. You are only making matters worse.”

“It doesn’t matter, Dad. Micah will always be Micah.” Mrs. Clark replied, shrugging her shoulders. Michael mentally sighed. None of them noticed anything. He was still confused about what he had just witnessed but he knew only Micah could answer it.

~~~

Micah formed her hand into a tight fist blowing a strong punch on the punching bag; sweat is dripping down from her body. She punched it again, letting all her frustrations and anger out. With one last blow, the chains holding the punching bag broke, causing it to fall on the floor.

“Hey, hey, I thought Mom instructed us to take it easy with the training today.” Panting for air, Micah turned her head to the side as one of the princesses of the kingdom of magic entered the room.

“I’m sorry about that, Princess Anastasia. I’ll have it deducted on my next pay.” Princess Anastasia’s eyes sparkled with amusement. Shaking her head and chuckling, she sat on one of the equipment crossing her legs, and said, “You are one of a kind, Micah. No wonder the waters chose you.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll have it changed later as it isn’t something unusual. I can’t remember how many of those I had destroyed. But it’s the first time I’ve seen you so frustrated. I heard you were planning to spend the night here so I prepared a room for you but you’ve been here the entire night instead.” Princess Anastasia added.

Micah didn’t want to go home. Sighing, she remembered her mother’s announcement at yesterday’s breakfast. The engagement is tonight……

“It’s about time they come and get me.” Micah thought, and a second later, there was a soft knock on the door. Stepping into the gym was a castle guard. He bowed his head before the princess and the regent. Lifting his head he announced, “Good morning, Princess Anastasia, Lady Regent. Forgive me for interrupting your training but your brother wishes to see you.”

“Thank you. I’ll be right out.” Micah replied.

“It seems like you’re not planning to run away anymore.” Princess Anastasia commented with a smirk on her face.

Micah chuckled. “Sometimes the only way to survive a storm is to walk straight through it and see where it leads you.”

Michael was waiting for Micah in the lobby. Glancing at his phone as it vibrated in his hand, he sighed. “Mom?”

“Is she there? Did you see her already? Make sure you bring her home, Michael. DO NOT let your sister---“

At the sight of his sister approaching, Michael ended the call. “Micah.”

“Let me guess, I’m late for my makeup. What are we waiting for? Let’s go then.” Micah walked past her brother but when she noticed him frozen on the spot, she turned around frowning. “Michael.”

“Are you sure about this, Micah?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Micah smiled bitterly. “If I had other choices, I wouldn’t go to this one. But I do have other choices; I just don’t want you to get involved with them.”

Sighing, Micah took a step closer to her brother, placing her hands on his shoulders. “Whatever happens tonight, Michael, you will know nothing of it. That way, they wouldn’t ask you questions and even if they would, you can’t answer them because you know nothing. At least I kept you safe, that way.”

“You are a terrifying woman. Do you know that?” Micah grinned. “Marrying me off to Vincent was a very bad move.

~~~

In the middle of the kingdom is an open hall that was usually used during festivities but tonight, it has been closed and made exclusive for Micah and Vincent’s engagement party.

A couple of meters away from the open hall is a small, enclosed canopy where Micah is getting ready for her party. “Why am I hearing about this engagement party now? I woke up with an invitation letter? I found out about it from an invitation letter?!!! I’ve never felt so betrayed.” Micah massaged the bridge of her nose with her eyes squeezed shut as she listened to Arci’s sentiments.

“Would it hurt you to send me a quick message or maybe a voice mail? How could you do this to me? Do you think so little of our lifelong friendship? And since when did you agree to this madness?” Sighing, Micah lifted her head to meet Arci’s glare. “Arci, you know me, right?”

Frowning at her question, Arci replied, “Of course, I do. We’ve known each other even before we learned to talk. Every breath you take, I know the meaning of it.”

Micah smirked. “Then that makes things easier for me.”

Sighing, Arci sits beside her, placing her hand on Micah’s shoulder. “Seriously, this is all messed up.”

“I know.” Micah turned her head in the direction of the music playing. “You should go back to the party, Arci. They would start to get suspicious of you.”

“What would they suspect me for? If I wanted to help you escape this wedding, I wouldn’t do it on the night of your engagement party and besides, we have rules, remember? First was to help each other only when the other asked for it, second---“

“In contrast to the first rule was to help each other when we are in a life-threatening situation.” Micah ended, smirking.

Arci nodded her head. “Exactly, and it’s not like you’re gonna die in this marriage or get killed for it. I just hope not.” Feeling the vibration on her phone, Arci received a message from Benjamin, telling her that her parents were looking for her.

“Well, I better go. Mom is looking for me and she asked me to ask you if you’re okay.” eyeing Micah from head to toe, Arci nodded her head as she continued, “Well, it seems like you are. Call me if you need anything.”

Micah nodded her head with a small smile on her lips. Sighing, Arci bent over to her, giving her a tight hug. “You can do this.”

“What was that about?” Micah asked, frowning at Arci’s question. Shrugging her shoulders, Arci replied, “I don’t know. I just felt like saying it. Bye.”

When Arci left, Micah decided to walk around the gardens near the open hall. The moon was shining at its brightest; the waters of the fountain sparkled like diamonds as it flowed and it brought such a calming effect to Micah’s raging heart.

Staring at the fountain, from its peaceful flow, the waters started to release steam until it started boiling. Blinking her eyes, Micah breathed in and out to ease the rising anger once again.

“Are you waiting for me?” shaking her head, Micah frowned. She’s hearing his voice again. Lifting her head, she stared at the bright moon. “Could you possibly be the one I was waiting for? If you are, then, take me with you.”

“Micah.”

Turning her head to the side, Micah frowned. “What are you doing here, Vincent?”

“Micah, I know you are against our marriage---“

“Damn straight I am.” Turning her body to face him, Micah stared intently into his eyes. “I have nothing against you, Vincent. I just don’t want to spend the rest of my life with the person I am not destined to be with. I don’t want to live miserably that way.”

“Micah, I may not be your soulmate, but if you just give me a chance, I know I could love you as much as your soulmate would. Please.” Taking a step closer to her, Micah formed her hand into a tight fist, biting the side of her mouth to control her emotions.

“Micah please, just give me a chance. I have always told you I love you but you never believed me.” Vincent took another step and reached for Micah’s hand.

Micah tried to pull away but Vincent had already caught her hand and from that moment they felt it; they saw it. Micah’s eyes grew wide as she pulled her hand back. Vincent was as confused as she was, but finally understanding what had just happened, an inexplicable joy appeared on his face.

“Micah, the goddess had made her choice. She chose me for you.” with a deep frown on her face, Micah shook her head, not believing what just happened. “NO. This is a mistake. You can’t be my soulmate. I don’t want you to be my soulmate.”

“Micah what are you saying----- Micah, wait!!! STOP!!!”