Kazu shook Akio’s lifeless shoulders. “Acchan, please wake up!” Kazu pleaded as Akio’s body lay limp in his arms. “Ryu-chan, what do we do?”
Ryunosuke went down on one knee beside Akio. “He's unconscious, but I'm not sure when he'll wake up.”
Without warning, Akio's eyelids moved to reveal his pure black eyes. The two boys had no time to react as Akio jumped up from where he was and dashed toward Nikolas.
“‘Yaribe’!” Ryunosuke formed a barrier with his wand to stop Akio from moving any closer to Nikolas and Zaros.
Akio faltered for a moment before effortlessly breaking through it with his bare hands. The sound of the shield shattering made Nikolas glance up. Right above his head was a silhouette dropping down on him. Nikolas rolled to the side, nearly avoiding Akio's attack. Akio slowly lifted his head to show the dark orbs that reflected no light.
“Akio?” Nikolas uttered. Nikolas quickly leaned backward as Zaros attempted to round-house kick his head off.
The boy stood up from the small crater he made on the ground. With a push of his foot, Akio launched toward Nikolas.
The vampire was lucky to have seen Akio's fist incoming in his peripheral vision as he caught his blow. “What has gotten into you?”
To no avail, Akio took this opportunity and punched Nikolas in the gut, but Nikolas grabbed onto his wrist and pinned the boy down on his back. Akio struggled under his strength and made several attempts to push him off with his feet.
Nikolas grunted and clenched tighter onto his wrists. “Akio, it's me!” Nikolas said between pants.
The vampire placed his hand on the boy's face to calm him down but was suddenly kicked in the ribs by Zaros. Nikolas flew past the forest trees and fell into a heap at the base of a trunk. Akio did a kick-up and sauntered to where Nikolas was launched. Zaros grimaced, walking several paces behind Akio.
-
“Get the hell out of my body!” I hollered.
“If you cooperated, this wouldn't be so difficult.”
I ran around to find Reiko, but it felt as if I was moving aimlessly in the darkness. I faltered in my step as a sharp pain traveled from my back to my head. I could sense my surroundings were once again transforming.
-
The two vampires were walking together side by side. Zaros passionately spoke as the reserved vampire listened intently. The sight of the two vampires together made my heart drop.
I shut my eyes and opened them again to see Nikolas and Zaros in a new setting. They were doing a project together in class, practically within each other's personal space despite sitting at two separate desks. I blinked again and saw they were eating lunch, sharing their food. Every time I blinked there was a new memory in front of me. I closed my eyes for several seconds before shooting them open. There I saw Nikolas, half naked, lying down on a bed. Zaros got into the bed as well, inching towards him on all fours. Nikolas stayed down while Zaros hovered above him with a grin. Nikolas held onto Zaros’s chin to his own and Zaros leaned in for a kiss.
I watched in utter shock feeling extremely uncomfortable as Nikolas returned the kiss to Zaros. It quickly became heated within the room, causing the pain in my chest to throb. “WHAT THE FUUUUU-” I put my hands against my temples and screamed at the top of my lungs. “REIKO YOU BITCH!” Out of exasperation, I threw a punch right in front of me, instantly shattering the vision.
After painfully shaking my wrist, I looked up and saw a new vision.
“Where's Zaros?”
“He went home already,” Nikolas replied.
A boy with short white hair and wolf ears frowned. “You know, Niky, I have a bad feeling about Zaros.”
“What makes you say that?” The vampire questioned.
The wolf breathed out with lowered eyes. “Don’t you find it strange that now Zaros only comes to you for favors and to have um…”
“To have what?”
With a flustered face, he shook his head. “Never mind,” he continued, “my point is, he’s only using you.”
Nikolas stayed silent.
His ears turned downwards. “I’m worried about you, Niky. All I want is for you to be happy.”
The boy nodded his head slowly as he stared to the side.
I turned to see who he was looking at but I blinked. “Goddammit,” I swore.
This time I saw Nikolas walking down the stairs in the school building. He suddenly stopped walking right before putting his foot on the last step. The sound of a familiar voice could be heard in the hallway.
“Listen here. Get your damn nose out of what happens between me and Nikolas. I don’t care who the hell you are,” Zaros pushed his pointer finger on the wolf’s chest. “but you better think twice about talking shit behind my back.”
“I know what you did with that spellbook.” The fur sticking up on his tail and erect ears expressed how livid he was. “You’re lucky Nikolas loves you,” His body started shaking with rage, “but I can’t stand on the side and let you take advantage of him.”
Zaros cackled in response. “What will you do, huh?” He leaned in, taunting the werewolf. A faint glint came from the ring on his ring finger. It looked similar to the one Nikolas gave me. “He won’t believe a word that comes from your mutt mouth.”
The boy squeezed his fist and released it to show his claws.
“Here,” Zaros snapped his fingers and a zipping sound followed. “Now you physically can’t talk about me anymore.”
The wolf ferociously bared his fangs trying to restrain himself.
“Or,” Zaros put his hand on the boy’s throat, leaning closer to his face. “I could easily curse you so you can no longer talk.” The ring's light's luminosity began to grow.
The werewolf grabbed onto his wrist, his sharp nails pressing into the vampire’s skin.
Zaros humphed and let go. “I kid.”
The boy glared at Zaros while growling. With a sinister grin, Zaros pushed back his hair over his shoulder and arrogantly walked off.
“What a jerk,” I grumbled. “Speaking of which, where did that crazy ghost go?” I said while blinking again.
I wrinkled my nose seeing Zaros and Nikolas sitting down on the rooftop together.
Nikolas was nonchalantly scrolling through his phone as Zaros wrapped his arms around his waist. I couldn’t hear their conversation, but I could see Zaros trying to get Nikolas’s attention. He eventually succeeded and grabbed onto Nikolas’s face, pulling him into a kiss. Nikolas closed his eyes and leaned in.
I was about to blink again until I saw Zaros put his hand on the back of Nikolas’s head. The ring glowed once again. I yelled without thinking, but Nikolas was one step ahead, grabbing onto Zaros’s wrist.
Shadows cast over his face. “What the hell are you doing?”
Zaros’s hand stopped glowing and he chuckled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t lie to me,” Nikolas said bitterly. “You’ve been using those spells to steal answers from me. You’ve also been casting love spells.” Nikolas glared with his obsidian orbs, causing Zaros to be frozen in place.
“What,” Zaros laughed unsteadily, “That’s completely absurd.”
“Stop this bullshit, Zaros.” He squeezed Zaros’s wrist tightly. Nikolas’s eyes reflected heartache as he stared into Zaros’s eyes. “You didn’t need to use those love spells for me to love you.”
Zaros yanked his arm away. “How did you know? Did Kazu tell you? That’s impossible because I-” Zaros stopped himself.
Nikolas’s expression turned grim. “Don’t bring him into the conversation.” Nikolas’s voice grew louder. “He didn’t need to tell me for me to know.”
Zaros scowled as he stood up. “I knew you’d take his side.”
Nikolas got up as well. He grabbed his belongings and turned away. “I think we should break up.” He said quietly.
The vampire stared at him with trembling wide eyes as Nikolas walked. “WE’RE NOT DONE HERE!” Zaros yelled, but Nikolas didn’t stop. He glowered and began chanting to himself. A red beam of light was shot straight towards Nikolas.
A white-haired boy jumped out from hiding and pushed him in time for the beam to shoot over their heads. Zaros was seething with rage as the werewolf helped Nikolas up. He shot another blast, but this time aiming for Kazu. Thankfully, Nikolas was swift on his feet and jumped back, holding the wolf in his arms. Kazu, who was unphased by the attack, shot a deathly glare at Zaros and prepared to lunge at him, but Nikolas held him tightly.
“It’s not worth your energy.”
The werewolf obeyed his friend but continued to glower at Zaros. Nikolas let go once he knew Kazu had calmed down. Kazu turned on his heels and walked with the vampire. Nikolas never looked back before he slammed the rooftop door.
“THAT’S WHAT YOU DESERVE!” I mocked Zaros as he kicked the bench off of the rooftop. I watched as he continued to let out his rage by punching the walls. Ignoring his temper tantrum, I decided to look for the ghost. “Alright, Reiko, now get the HELL OUT OF ME!”
I heard a faint cackling. “It hasn’t been three minutes yet.”
“I DON’T CARE!” I bellowed. “I NEED YOU TO LEAVE!”
I looked around my surroundings and I was now alone on the rooftop. Out of nowhere, I felt a stinging pain in my left arm. I glanced at my arm and saw nothing. I shrugged off the pain and shut my eyes, teleporting me back to the darkened abyss.
I heard Reiko faintly yell, “MAKE ME ASSHOLE!”
“YOU’RE THE ASSHOLE!” I ran towards the source of her voice. I looked down at my hand and saw my ring shining brighter as I moved closer.
“THAT’S IT YOU BITCH!” Her voice was clearer now.
I leaped upwards and pulled my fist back. The ring illuminated the darkness revealing where Reiko was hiding. At last, I felt my fist satisfyingly connect with her face, shifting my surroundings one last time.
ns 15.158.61.54da2
