Chapter Five

SEBASTIAN'S POV

A million questions filled my head as I paced around back and forth in panic trying to process everything that just happened. I’m so scared for Sarah, first, she’s all alone in an entirely different world that she knows very little about and now she’s being sort after by a body-stealing teleporting psycho witch. I need to get out of here and find the real Rhea, she might know something I don’t, she might be of help. I tried to go out through the door but an invincible barrier sent me flying back. I tried jumping out through the window but it was not any different, the process has already begun, there is no leaving this place. I considered the ceiling but waved off the idea then I sat down in resignation and chewed on my lower lip nervously.

“I really hope Sarah’s okay, I have to get to her before the scary witch does.” I mumbled and everything in the room started to float, it suddenly felt like I was falling but not reaching the ground, like everything around me was afloat except me. I struggled to keep afloat but it wasn’t working so I gave in to the feeling of falling and waiting for when I’ll finally reach the ground. My eyelids became heavy and my vision blurry, the next thing I know, I was engulfed by thick darkness.

 

SARAH'S POV

“Hey Sarah, let’s talk.” Derek said and I froze. I know what he wants to talk about and I don’t want to have this conversation but I apparently can’t avoid it anymore. I have to come up with something believable.

“Okay.” I answered and turned to look at him.

“Have a seat.” He said and gestured for me to sit back where I just stood up from and I did.

“What is your last name?”

“My name is Sarah.” I say like I had no idea what he was asking me.

“Yeah, I know that. What is your father’s name?”

“His name is Reginald.” I say truthfully.

“Okay, we’re getting somewhere. Where does your father live?”

“My father is dead.” I say again, honestly.

“Oh, sorry about that.” He’s been dead for hundreds of years, what is he sorry about?

“So, who do you live with then? Your mum?”

“No, my mum's dead too. I live with my older brother.” I added saving him the stress of having to ask. The truth seems to be working, I just have to edit the unnecessary parts, like the fact that my brother is a vampire that is about to be crowned king of the underworld.

“Oh, uhm where does your older brother stay?” In a castle in the underworld but I can’t go back to him because I  don’t know how and in a few days I might need to feed, meaning your life is at risk. I imagined telling him all that and watching him leave his skin behind and running away in fear.

“Where do you and your brother live?”  he asked again but I didn’t have an answer for him so I just stared at his face like a lost puppy.

“Sarah, where do you live?” Derek heckled and Devin strolled in with his hands in his pocket and water dripping from his hair, he just had his bath.

“Derek let it go.” 

“No. No, I won’t let it go. We bring her in, let her spend the night, clothe her, feed her and now she doesn’t know where she lives? She has to leave, Devin!” He yelled and stomped into his room. Devin sighed and gave me a pity look.

“He’ll come around.” He assured me.

“In the meantime, it’s a beautiful day and the sun is up. You wanna go for a walk?” he asked and shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal, only if he knew what he just did. He just invited a vampire for a walk, in the sun. Good thing I’m a day lighter.

“Sure.” I said and stood up from the chair I was seated.

“So, what do you wanna talk about?” He asked swinging his arms beside him while staring at my face making me a little more uncomfortable than I already am.

“I don’t know, you?”

“Uhm, I don’t know too.” He shrugged and a smile tugged at the side of his lips.

“but there is something I’m curious about.” He said and I  suddenly had the feeling that I knew where the conversation was headed. He wants to continue where his friend, Derek stopped.

“Do you by any chance, you know? Have someone you like?” I didn’t see that coming. He’s just jumping right in. I can’t deal with boy problems now, I already have more than enough problems.

“No, why do you ask?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

“No, it's okay.”

“It's just that there’s someone I like and I’m not sure if they feel the same but I don’t want to ruin our friendship by confessing my feelings.” I feel relieved that it’s not me but yet somehow, I feel hurt.

“Oh, that sounds difficult.” I said with fake concern.

“It is, it really is. It hurts a lot when I see that person with someone else and I can’t do anything about it.”

“There might be a way to find out if this person feels the same without ruining your friendship.” I said suddenly remembering when I had a crush on a boy, he was the son of one of the chiefs in the palace and I wanted to find out if he liked me back without losing my pride as the princess. I told Sebastian all about it and he convinced our dad to invite all the children of all the chiefs that were in the same age range as us to dine with us at the palace on the full moon.

We all gathered around and munched on the wild animals on the table and drank their blood till our fill. After the meal, Sebastian suggested that we play a game of combat. Sebastian made sure to pair me with the boy that I liked. I don’t quite remember what the prize was but I do remember that at our age, we would kill for it. Even though it was just a game that we played for fun, Caleb wouldn’t fight me, he lost to me on purpose because he was scared that he would hurt me, I knew he wanted the prize but back then, I was more important to him than any prize.

“How can I find out if she likes me back?” Devin asked eagerly.

“Play a game.” I said and he scrunched up his face in confusion.

“What kind of game are you talking about?”

“It could be any kind but the main purpose of the game is to see if she would choose you."

"Can you please come down to my level, I'm a little confused here." He said and I chuckled. I wanted to tell him the story of Caleb and me but I knew that might prompt questions I didn’t have answers to at the moment.

"Like a game of truth or dare? Is that what you're talking about?" I had no idea what that meant but I nodded in affirmation.

"That's a smart move but what if she doesn't like me back, things might get really awkward for everyone."

"That's why it's a game, you can always laugh it off."

"You think so?" He asked and I realised something. He's more worried that she won't like him back than the fact that they might never be the same again.

"I know so." I reassured him.

"You're good company, I wish you could stay." He said and I remembered that I'm still homeless.

"Your friend does not feel the same way." I said hoping I could convince him to talk to his friend to let me stay.

"Yeah, well I don't blame him you know? We don't know anything about you. You're basically a stranger, not many people will let a stranger stay the night in their home." I sighed, he has a point. Asking them to let me stay will be very ungrateful of me, especially when I know I pose a threat to them. I should just thank them and leave.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, I'll leave as soon as we get back."

"I didn't mean it like that." He said and waved both hands at me dramatically.

"I know, it's okay. It's time I left."