The Curse Of A Stranger's Gift 31 Cold

Zheira felt nauseous. She felt as if a hurricane was turning her body all around. The last thing she remembered was Eleanor making her sleep using a piece of cloth. From then on, she'd been shunned in the pits of shadows. She couldn't even see her body, but she's not dead. Her heart was still beating, and yet, she felt empty. Like he's in the center of a tug war, whether or not death wins her over, she knew that she needed to escape this place. It was then that she started turning; the air pressure was too much for her skin's sensitivity, but what she couldn't bear was the smell of corpse coming from somewhere.

Voices started echoing from her hopelessness. It came from the s.p.a.ce itself, and she didn't know what to make of it. The sound waves became louder as she turns slow down. She could make out gray walls starting to visualize in thin air. Her eyes narrowed to slits. Before she could even try to scream, she landed facedown on rough ground.

Groaning, she crouched and patted the dirt away from her shirt. She stopped moving when she heard the voices earlier. It came from a room whose walls were made out of gla.s.s. Breathing in and out, she peered through it. To her disbelief, she saw Vladimir's back; he's sitting on a gold chair. Even without looking at his face, she knew it's him. Her eyes narrowed at the tall woman standing beside him. She's wearing tight jeans and a v-neck shirt. Zheira moved closer to the gla.s.s, trying to hear what they're conversing about.

Zayne's soft voice rented the air. "Are you sure about this, Vladimir? It won't take long before your father finds out—"

Vladimir clenched his fist and deep blue water danced in his body. "Justice is on our side. If you're scared, you can back out." His voice was colder than Zheira had ever heard. It was void of emotion, and was full of madness.

"I'm not scared," Zayne paused, "I just want to make sure we'll be safe. I'm pregnant and it wouldn't be good for me to be stressed out."

"That's the least of my concern." Vladimir tilted his head, and it was then that he saw his eyes; those piercing golden eyes. Its corners were sprinkled with ocean blue. One thing that came in Zheira's mind was in-denial. Those weren't his eyes. It looked so empty; like a deep hole ready to engulf anyone.

"You've changed," Zayne murmured.

"It's for the best." He stretched his hands and the water surrounding his body intensified. "Summon the others." It was the last thing he said before stomping out of the room. Every step he took, the ground shook.

Zheira couldn't take her eyes out of Vladimir. She couldn't believe it. Was it really him? He looked more like a dangerous wolf. He's far from the man he knew would risk his life to save her. She gulped when he stopped beside the door. He turned abruptly and she almost jumps when his sharp eyes found her. She closed her eyes for a fraction, waiting for him to shout at her, but nothing happened. He just stayed there, scanning the area. Shaking his head, he proceeded towards an elevated stage. It was round and made out of stone.

She took a deep breath. The fact that he couldn't see her means she's inside a memory, but whose memory? Vladimir's? How? Her gift was really hard to comprehend. It kept changing over time, and she couldn't even use it to her will. It just worked as it was, without her knowing.

A blue door from behind her opened and came twenty vampires wearing different cloaks. They were all men with big muscles. They're holding with them a silver spear as they walked towards the elevated stage. Zheira just stood there as they pa.s.s through her body. She's not even tangible in someone's memory. She didn't know whether to be afraid or not. Zayne and George were the last in their ranks. They were holding each other's hands, giving each other a nervous side-glance.

Looking at them both made Zheira long for them. She raised her hands as they pa.s.sed through her, trying to cup their cheeks and traced their complexion. Her parents. Her wonderful parents. She bit the lower part of her lips while pulling some golden strands of her hair. They should have been together at least once, but she'd been deprived to be with them. The king made sure of that.

When they were all settled to the round stage, Vladimir stood, giving them all a scrutinizing stare. "We're here for a reason," he started, "And that reason is to end the king's regime." He balled his fist. Zheira gasped when fire dances in his irises. It was so intense it felt as if it could burn her skin. "Justice must prevail." He raised his fist, and the men started banging their weapons on the ground. They were screaming their lungs out.

"We attack tomorrow at downfall. Our aim. The king's head." An evil grin curved his ruthless face. Zheira closed her eyes as another ear-piercing banging echoed. She didn't want to see Vladimir this way. She wished to move out of this memory, but she doesn't know how. There's this certain fear in her guts that was starting to change her perception towards the man who saved her life more than two times.

Zheira opened her eyes when silence ruled, only to be greeted by darkness. Instead of freaking out, she sat and wrapped her knees with her arms. Tears escaped her eyes. Vladimir. That spitting image of utter coldness couldn't get out of her head. She wished for it to stop. She has no intention to doubt him, but why does she felt as if there's more to her parent's death.

The surroundings started swirling once more. Unlike earlier, she mastered the will to ignore it. It didn't take long before it stopped. She landed in a small room. What's odd was the walls were replaced by mirrors. Vladimir was sitting in the center. He's staring at the limp body of Alic. Zheira's brow puckered.

"Why is her body still here?" she murmured while waking closer to have a better look.

Her eyes widened when she saw a wire from Vladimir's wrist connecting towards Alic's. "What are you doing, Vladimir?" she yelled. Her voice echoed in the room, but it did not even bother him. She looked in the mirror and found Vladimir's and Alic's reflection. However, she couldn't see her. That's when she realized she's nothing but an invisible ent.i.ty from this era. She's not even supposed to be here.

Vladimir looked up with a wince. The veins in his temple were purplish; it was throbbing. "Hang in there, Alic. Hang in there." His voice was weaker now. Not the same emotionless voice she'd heard earlier, but she didn't know why it bothered her more.

A figure appeared on one of the mirrors. Zheira's heart beats rapidly as she watches the figure entered through the gla.s.s. It was her mother, Zayne. There was a frown plastered in her beautiful face as she walked towards him.

"We have a problem—"

"Not now," he interrupted, "I'm in the middle of something important."

Zayne shook her head. "This cannot wait."

He closed his eyes for a moment. "Spit it out." He bit the lower part of his lips.

"The king found out about your plans. He sentenced death to those who will side with you. Right now, the Elites are hunting the men who came upon your summon." Zayne catches her breath. She feared this much, but there's no turning back now.

"Let them. In this life, if you're not strong enough to protect yourself, you'll never have the privilege to live. It's either kill or be killed."

It felt as if water filled with ice washed through Zheira's body. She did not expect Vladimir to utter those words. He was the one who persuaded those men to fight with him, and now that they're being hunted he'll just let them die?

"Are you out of your mind?" Zayne exclaimed, "Those men pledged to help you but you're not going to—"

"They're neither of our concerns, what we need is the king's—"

It happened in a blur, Zayne stood straight in front of Vladimir. Then her hands became connected to his jaw. The impact made him cough with blood. "Listen to yourself! You're blinded with your revenge that you forget to take into account the people who're willing to sacrifice their lives on you." Her face was reddish as she wiped her tears harshly. "You know what, I don't know you anymore. I was more than willing to sacrifice my life to the pure boy I've known—"

"Are you done yet?" Vladimir whispered. His voice was shaking while glaring at her.

"No! Wake up—"

Vladimir's eyes flickered. In an instant, water surrounded Zayne's body and throw her flat to the wall. Zheira screamed while looking at her mother rolling to the ground. She glared at him. A small shade of shadow was dancing in his iris, together with the splashes of blue and gold in it.

Zheira shook her head. "I don't know you anymore, Vladimir." She wiped the tears that trailed past her cheeks.