The Shadow Prince

Chapter 5

“This is the safest town you can ever know, so I know you’ll be fine” My mother speak when she wore her jacket before open the door. “Everyone’s know everyone so if you have any problem, you can easily go to Phil and told him everything, he know I was gone for a while” She continue and I nod my head.

“I’ll be okay. Be careful, mom” I smile when my mother jump into the taxi that actually is Jack, the owner of the local Bar who have a side job as a taxi driver.

She waves her hand for a last time before the car start moving.

Sighed, I staring at the dust even when I can’t see the car anymore.

I frown when this morning my mother informed me that she need to go to the city and finish her pending works with an internet since this town has a bad area for the internet.

Next week is Christmas holiday and I quite surprise to hear my mother decided that we both will continue stay here in until next year since she need to collect stuff from my grandmother’s house before we go back home.

With my excellence score in the school, I know it won’t be hard for her to get permission from my teacher but I know it was hard for her and her work.

So when she mention to go to the city for her pending works, I can’t say anything.

Sighing, I turn around and jump when a realize there’s man standing beside me.

“Oh God, you scaring me!” I gasped and put my hand on my chest while he just smile.

“Good morning, Miss Windham” Tobius greet and nod his head politely.

He really remind me for royal guard or someone who acted in the palace who need to keep their manner.

I wave my hand quickly “Just Lucia, please” I said and, again, he just nod. Isn’t he tired acting that rigid? I thought but decide to asked another question, afraid that I hurt his feeling “What are you doing here? Morning walk?” I asked and lean on the wall beside my fence.

“Escorting Master Malcolm to meet his brother” He speak with the same monotone and rigidity that I recognized he had since he’s in my grandma house yesterday.

I nod softly “So, you are Mr. Black.. um.. caretaker?” I asked and he gave me his rare smile before he shook his head.

“I’m his bodyguard” He told me shortly and I nod, don’t know how to respond.

Bodyguard?

Why Malcolm Black need bodyguard?

Bodyguard in this small town?

Is he afraid of a kidnapper? I thought and can’t stop the giggled from my mouth and make Tobius raise his eyes, asking me.

“Sorry” I blush to hold my amusement for thinking of Malcolm Black afraid of kidnapper.

“Your mother’s leaving?” He asked and didn’t ask more.

I nod sadly “Work”

“You alone?” He look shocked and mad for a reason.

“Yup, but I’ll be fine” I told him easily “It’s small town, right?” I smile but he look worried more and look more rigid than he was before “Tobius?”

He blinked before gave me a small smile “I can accompany you, I have no work today” He suggest and I taken-aback by his sudden words.

“I’m fine, Toby, beside....”

“Toby?” He chuckled and shook his head while I just grinned.

“Yup!”

“I bet you never see the wave from the cliff, right?” He said and I stunned, his offer was quite attract my attention which I know he can see me going to change my mind and continue “Also, the Burger and coffee in the Paula’s shop is the best you can ever taste. How about it? You want?” He asked kindly.

How can people in this town act so kind to other people?

He care because he didn’t want to see me alone in the house. If I am in my own city, I already think that he has bad intention.

Shit.

How can I say no to that.

“Fine” I chime and pointed my head to the house behind me “Do you mind If I change my clothes first?” I asked and run when shrugs his shoulder “You can come in, Toby while I get dressed” I shout and didn’t wait for his respond.

Be careful with a stranger

I guess that word didn’t count here beside we’re going somewhere public where people can see me so it will be okay, right?

I need someone to accompany me since I have noone here and my mother left me alone.

Books is my first choice to spend my day but looking around the town is better.

I don’t know if it going to be cold or not here since never snowing in this town but I think it still going to be cold, so I decided to wore a black T-shirt with sweater and bring a jacket if it going to colder than i thought. I just letting my hair down without wore any make up since I can’t do make up before running back down and shock to see Tobius standing on the door.

“You keep standing there while you’re waiting for me?” I asked disbelief with what I see. How can he not tired?

“Ready, Miss?” He asked politely and ignore my previous question.

Sighing, I just nod my head when we both start walking but stop for me to lock my door and put the keys in my pocket before we both start walking out.

I stop on my pace when I realize the black car that park in front of the house.

“Wow.. Mercedes-Benz G63” I whistle while Tobius open the back passenger door for me and make me froze on my place “I sat in the back? You’re not driver, Toby” I frowned.

He tilt his head “But you’re my guest, you must seat on the back or Master Malcolm will punish me” He said like it explain everything.

I rolled my eyes and open the front door “He won’t know, let’s go!” I said and climbing in without waiting for his help.

He slam the back door and I smile when he jump in and sit beside me.

“You’re different” He murmured and I just shrugged.

I guess Malcolm guest always treat him bad or like a low servant.

“Where to, Miss?” He asked.

“Surprise me with something delicious, please” I reply and saw him nod before we start moving forward.

I open the window and smile when the wind hit my face.

The air is so pure and refreshing, I’m glad I accept Tobius offer to spend my time outside the house.

I keep smiling to the man beside me when I turn my gaze from the window.

********

. . (Earlier– Before Tobius meet Lucia) . .

“I should go with you, Master” Tobius demand when he know that Master Marcus inform him about their father arrival in the castle.

“No, Tobius!” Malcolm quickly reject firmly and make him raise his brow.

He never left his master without his protection and don’t want to start now.

“Master..” He start but Malcolm already raise his hand to stop him from talking more.

“Please protect Lucia” Malcolm word shock him. He never knew will have this job from his Master “You’re the only one that I trust to be able to protect my princess, Tobius. My father’s here because I guess he know about her presence and I don’t want his low follower to go and hurting her”

Tobius can’t say anything.

He never saw his Master care this much to someone, especially to human.

She’s really special to his Master.

So, she’s special for me.

“I will protect her, Master” He kneel and bow his head when his Master smile before he disapeared in front of him.

He stood there staring at the place where his master leave for a second before get up when he hear Lucia’s voice.

Their kind is not like werewolf who have mindlink so they can speak to each other, but his Master was special who can see each other’s vision and plans in their head. Their sense and speed is unusual like a vampire but the vampire endangered because of the hunter and it only left several vampire in the world.

They are shadow creature who use darkness as their strength.

They didn’t eat or drink but invisible to human before they decided to show themself to them.

Usualy their kind living in the mountain, in the deep of forest or the place that human think creepy or haunted.

Damon family is the oldest shadow royal family and he’s proud to be one of Malcolm member and he’ll do anything to protect his Master, even if he has to be a caretaker of his master woman.

‘This is the safest town you can ever know, so I know you’ll be fine’ Tobius heard Laura, Lucia’s mother, voice speak ‘Everyone’s know everyone so if you have any problem, you can easily go to Phil and told him everything, he know I was gone for a while” He raise his brow, is she leaving? He decided to quickly grab the car keys since he’s going to be seen by human and drive to the small house where he knows the voices come.

‘I’ll be okay. Be careful, mom’ Tobius stop his car at the same time Lucia staring at the dust where her mother leaving with a car. 

When Lucia turned and they start speaking, Tobius just find out how can she’s special for my Master.

She has the rare heart for human.

********

. . (Meanwhile in the castle) . .

Marcus seat in one of the couch staring at how two stubborn man arguing and yelling at each other.

He know how hard and stubborn his father was but also know that his brother has the same or even more of hardness in him.

It always amused him to see the two of them fight.

“You are my heir and you can’t be with a mortal!” His father shout and Malcolm growl loudly which make people who’s not his family will run in fear when they saw it. “You won’t be a king, Malcolm. I’ll make sure of it”Marcus raise his brow when he her his father threat and can’t wait to hear his brother respond.

Malcolm just smile coldly “Go ahead father, I don’t want it anyway” He told him and before leaving he stop in the door and turn his head back to his father “And don’t you ever think about hurting my princess or you’ll get my wrath, father or not” Was his last word before he’s dissapeared from his own castle and leave the gate to go back to human’s world.

“Tobius..” He quickly change his path when he feels his bodyguard isn’t in the mansion that he owned for his benefit with Lucia.

Malcolm can’t feel Lucia before since they meet when she’s so young and their connection isn’t deep unlike now especially after he touch her and feel her soul he’ll knows where she is.

He appear in front of Tobius beside Lucia with his shadow sighting which only Tobius was the only one who can see him before he turn his head and decide to know what is his bodyguard doing with his woman.

Malcolm staring at Tobius and see everything that happen this morning from his bodyguard’s mind that make him decide to go out with his woman.

He nod understand before disappeared and pretend to walk inside the shop with his human sight.

“You can leave now, Tobius” Malcolm whispered softly that only Tobius can hear before he start giving Lucia reason about having an urgent meeting and leaving.

“She wants to see the town and eat delicious food, Master”Tobius whisper back and saw his master nod his head with a rare smile that his master never gave him.

Malcolm walk closer with his eyes lock to his woman with a smile.

He was happy to see Lucia eat her food without thinking of fat.

He knows how woman these day, thinking to cut their food for looks which is make them thin like a stick.

But Lucia is different, with a round red cheek and a curve in hers make her perfect in his eyes.

His woman was perfect.

He can’t wait to take her to his world and turned her become one.

“Mr. Black!” Lucia gasped when he stood in front of her and unlike Tobius who sit in front of her, Malcolm take a seat beside his woman.

“Malcolm” He respond shortly before continue “Tobius tells me that he’s taking you out and I’m sorry he needs to bring my brother’s back to the city so he can’t finish his job” He speak and touch Lucia’s hair that fall in her face before caress her cheek.

If his father decide to cut everything because he’s choosing her, he'll accept it.

Because that’s mean he’ll end with her.

Forever...

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