The Curse Of A Stranger's Gift 10 The Black Fores

"It must have been the cat or something. Come on, finish that one. I really need to find some entertainment. It's kinda boring."

"Eleanor, you can just leave me here. Your impatience annoys me too much," Louise snapped.

Eleanor's crimson orbs flickered. "How rude. If I'm not obligated to go with you, I'd never do so. You're the most boring vampire I've ever met." She rolled her concave eyes.

Louise glared at her. His fist was clenched. "If I hear one more word in that tongue of yours, I'm going to make sure it would be decapitated." He tightened the rope to the girl who sobbed.

"Feisty. You can always try. I wonder if you can even touch the hem of my dress." She put her forefinger on her chin and shook her head with an insulting look plastered in her pale round face.

"I'll get you. One of these days. You'll eat my dirt," he hissed.

A grin curved Eleanor's cute lips. "Before you think of that impossible thing, do your job first. Clone that child so we can get over it." Then she laughed evilly, enjoying the moment of Louise's inferiority. Zheira shook her head. Physical appearance could really fool anyone. She couldn't imagine how a cute feature could be so cruel. It's so absurd even when she saw it with her eyes.

"You should be careful. My sword might slit your throat while your busy being arrogant," Louise grumbled before facing his palm towards the girl. He closed his eyes and started murmuring words Zheira couldn't understand. Must be Latin or something, but it didn't matter. What matters most was that there was a red light coming from his palms. It was radiating to the child's body. Zheira couldn't believe her eyes. From the radiating glow, a figure was created until it fell to the ground with a loud thud. It felt as if she was dreaming. This couldn't have been true. How could a stupid light from a palm create a human body? That's supposed to be impossible.

"There. It's done. Happy?" He spat. "You better make a portal now. I'm tired staring at your face."

"You don't need to boss me around. I'm aware of my role." Eleanor laughed. "By the way, nice show. I don't know why you needed to involve lowly mortals in this mayhem or why you're creating clones. It didn't appeal to me when you're making them believe they're actually dead when they're not."

A cheeky smile lit Louise's face. "I'm glad you don't know the reason. Maybe, you're not that trustworthy."

Instead of being alarmed, Eleanor managed to smile. "Believe me, Louise. There's no way the king wouldn't trust me. Maybe, he thinks lowly tasks wouldn't raise my attention. Unlike someone I know. A low-cla.s.s vampire shouldn't think as if he's in level with us Elites, you know that don't you?" She patted his shoulders. "So, better know your place, dear! I wouldn't want to put you back to where you belong. Where was it again?"

"Shut up!" Louise whizzed. He was clenching his fist so hard that cracks were making its way to his skin. If it's possible that glare could kill, Eleanor should have been lying flat on the ground.

Eleanor chuckled. "I think you know your place now. Always remember it." A sanctimonious smile was drawing her lips while she turned. She stretched her hands upward and rolled it counterclockwise. A round transparent sphere hovered two inches from the ground. It was reflecting an eerie line-up of trees that looked as if it's alive. It was releasing a vibe that tickled Zheira's skin.

Louise opened his lips, changed his mind, then closed it again. With a last glare, he dragged the girl towards the portal. Zheira bit the lower part of her lips. The girl must have been in real pain. After all, it's not that easy to be dragged in rough ground.

The moment he entered the portal, it engulfed him together with the creepy vibes. Eleanor inclined her head. "I think someone's going to die," she whispered. Making sure to emphasize every syllable. "Do you know what happens to cats who's curious? They're bound to die. Let's see if that'll be the case for you. Now, come out before I drag you."

Zheira's heart started beating rapidly. It echoed in her ears and traveled faster to her brains, sending a distress signal. It's worst to have a sensitive hearing. However, a part of her accepted the challenge. It's now that she'll be able to test the new body of hers. She's not fooled, though. She knew that that other part was her soul. Partially taking part of her consciousness.

"Tell me who you are and I might find some exceptions." She faced her. Her eyes widened for a fleeting moment, but she's able to bury it with her cute smile. "Oh! What a lovely sight. You're here, Zheira. How did you find me?"

Zheira moved back. "H—how did you know me?"

"Oh, come on! Everyone in Volioirae knows who you are. Why would I be an exception?" She shook her hands as though saying it's a little thing.

"V—Voliaray?" She's even more shocked to know that a place she never knew existed knows who she was.

Eleanor frowned. "It's actually Vol-yoray. Make sure to put an a sound to the second syllable." Her fingers kept twitching as she explained.

"W—why would they know me?"

"You mean you still don't know?" Eleanor was beyond horrified. She seemed to be scandalized. Zheira didn't know why she felt like Eleanor's not being truthful to her. There's a hunch that some of the words she uttered were bent to her satisfaction, and she never liked being lied.

Zheira's brow draws together, drawing some lines in her forehead. "I hate liars," she said directly, "their tongue stink that I could smell if they're not being honest."

The kind mask Eleanor's wearing disappeared. Now, Zheira's facing a ferocious wolf ready to pounced her to pieces. She crossed her arms. "I didn't know you have such an intelligent mind. It didn't take long for you to decode my words. No doubt. You might have inherited it from them. I'd be praying you to inherit their fate, then." A cold laugh issued from her throat.

"Yadda yadda! Your mouth sounds dumb!" The lines in Zheira's red irises were suddenly stench with gold as she scratched her ears. Her glare was steaming off towards Eleanor who wasn't affected at all.

"Say what you want. It wouldn't give any difference at all. Now you'll face your end, Zheira. You might have escaped death yesterday but now I'll make sure you won't." She created a portal once more but this time it was bigger. She's probably ensuring that both of them would fit.

"So, you've been stalking me. I'm honored." Her voice sounded cold. The heat of this argument wouldn't be carried out by Zheira's soft heart. Her soul would do the dirty work for her.

An evil grin curved Eleanor's lips. "And, I'm the one who bent the metal. Ingenious, isn't it? It was quite dull waiting for you to stomp. It's not thrilling if you'll find out that easily."

"I bet you're upset. I didn't die like what you've expected." She shook her head. "My, my! Such an ingenious scheme wasted by the dumbest plotter I've ever met."

The insult made Eleanor's face screwed. "You'll be paying for that." Her teeth chattered as she gritted it. Before Zheira could react, Eleanor stretched her hand and the portal plummeted towards her in a blink. It was like being inside a balloon. The more she pounds its surface, the more it gets thicker.

"Bye, bye!" Eleanor mouthed while waving her hand. It was then that the portal started rolling. It was nauseous. She never has dreamed to be turning and turning and turning inside a sphere. What made the situation worst was her heightened senses. The compression of air was pressing in her ears. On top of that, the portal has a metallic smell that turned her stomach upside down. Plus, the overwhelming heat burning down in her skin made it a h.e.l.l-like station. Overall, it wasn't a good journey.

She landed on the gra.s.sy land with her face. Coughing was the only way she could relieve the smell that seemed to penetrate her insides. Her hands were shaking as the heat was wooshed away by a cold breeze. When she looked up, she found herself surrounded by trees she saw earlier. It was lining oddly, bending towards one another that creates an alleyway. On its end was a square-like doorway that was gleaming with bright colors.

The hair on the back of her neck stood when a whisper from somewhere among the darkness danced in her ears. She hugged herself, trying to ease the cold that penetrates her very soul.

A footstep echoed in the stillness of the forest. It was coming from Eleanor who's gracefully prowling in the darkness. She stretched her hand and opened her palm. "Welcome to the Black Forest, Zheira!"