As we sit, I can't take my eyes off the witch, staring at her without a break. Old Man Duke, on the other hand, looks downright terrified. I've never seen him this scared.
"So, Old Man Duke told you wanted to see —"
"It wasn't you," I cut in, my voice steady. "I wanted to see Zella and my child."
The witch's face flashes with anger at my interruption, but I don't care.
"Fine," she says, her tone sharp. "I've agreed to let you see Zella, but only on one condition."
"I don't want any conditions," I snap, the heat rising in my voice. "I just want my woman and my kid. I'm taking them out of this hellhole."
"Pfft, your woman?" The Matriarch sneers, her grin wide and mocking. "Why is the protoss so petty? Didn't you break up with her? Didn't you say you wouldn't take responsibility for her pregnancy? What's changed now?"
"It was all because of you!" I roar, my anger erupting as a surge of vampiric aura bursts from . "Because of all your manipulations! You're behind everything!"
"Jake, you need to calm down," Old Man Duke says, tapping my shoulder. His voice pulls back, and I rein myself in, forcing my emotions under control.
"I want to see her," I say coldly, my tone asured. "But know this—I don't joke when it cos to my woman."
"And I don't joke when it cos to my daughter," the Matriarch snaps back. "You expect to hand her over to a man who'll be hunted by the gods? Pathetic. How will you protect her? Prove yourself."
I don't respond, my silence the only answer.
The Matriarch clicks her fingers, and suddenly the room begins to warp. The space around twists and bends, while the other side of the room remains untouched. Before I can react, the scenery shifts, and I find myself standing before a building.
Its structure resembles that of a vampire noble residence, and for a mont, I wonder if I've been transported back to the vampire world. But the sight of two female vampire guards at the entrance reminds I'm still in the witches' domain.
As I approach, the guards don't react to my presence, their stillness unnerving. I stay on alert, ready for any sudden attack.
Reaching the door, they still don't move, though I notice their veiled faces subtly shift, their eyes tracking .
I push the door open and step inside, finding myself in a grand living room. Toys are scattered across the floor—a sign of a baby's presence. Yet, the room is empty.
Climbing the stairs, I find two adjacent rooms. One door is ajar, and from inside, I hear a familiar voice singing a lullaby.
The sound stirs sothing within , a flood of emotions rushing to the surface.
I follow the voice into the room. There, I see Zella seated in the Seiza posture, softly singing to a giggling baby cradled in her arms. The sight hits like a wave, her voice and the baby's laughter.
"Zella," I mutter, standing at the doorstep. Her purple hair flutters as she turns, and our eyes et, locking us in a mont frozen in ti.
"J-Jake…"
"Zella."
We stare at each other, shock written across both our faces. Then, without warning, Zella gently places the baby on the floor and dashes toward . She leaps into my arms, wrapping both her legs and arms tightly around .
"I thought you were never going to co!" she exclaims, her voice trembling as she presses a deep, passionate kiss to my lips.
Our tongues intertwine, and I kiss her back fiercely, savoring the warmth I've longed for in these months apart. Minutes pass, and when we finally pull away, she still clings to , her body refusing to let go.
"I'm sorry, Zella," I whisper, my voice heavy with regret. "I'm so sorry for everything that happened. I've lived in guilt ever since I learned the truth."
"Fufu, it's not your fault, Jake," she says with a soft smile. "It was mine. I should've told you the truth, but I couldn't—not when you hadn't awakened your powers. But now that you have… I'm just glad you're here."
My gaze shifts to the baby sitting on the ground, watching us with wide, curious eyes. A wave of emotions crashes over , and I gently lower Zella to the floor before walking toward the child.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" I ask, smiling as I pick up the baby. The long purple hair and strikingly beautiful face make it hard to tell, though the resemblance to as a baby is uncanny. The only clear trait from Zella is the vibrant purple hair.
"Dummy, witches can only give birth to girls," Zella giggles.
"I thought it might be different this ti," I mutter, holding the baby closer.
"What's her na?" I ask.
"I haven't nad her yet," Zella replies, her voice soft. "She's only three months old. I wanted to wait until you ca back. I knew you would before she turned five months… and you didn't fail ." Tears well up in her eyes, but she quickly wipes them away.
"Let's call her Xander. Is that okay?" I ask.
Zella nods, her tears returning, this ti filled with joy.
"Xander, see Papa," Zella coos to the baby, who has been staring at intently since I entered the room.
"Pa…pa!" Xander suddenly utters, her small voice mimicking Zella's words.
"D-DID YOU SEE THAT?!" Zella exclaims, her face lighting up with excitent. "That's the first word she's ever said!"
Xander reaches out, her tiny hands exploring my face, tugging at my lips and eyebrows while giggling mischievously. Her bright red eyes catch my attention which is different from Zella's and her mother's purple ones. Alard, I lean closer to inspect her more carefully.
Then, curiosity strikes, and I check her mouth.
"OUCH!" I pull my hand back, blood dripping from my finger. Tiny fangs glint in Xander's mouth as she flashes a smile innocently.
This…
"What have we done?" I whisper, glancing at Zella.
"She's part vampire, part witch," Zella explains, her voice steady but filled with gravity. "And sohow, she can wield both powers from birth. Once, she accidentally destroyed our forr ho with a blood slash. Her bangle suppresses most of her powers, but… her fangs are still as sharp as ever."
Hearing her words, I stare at Xander, now giggling in my arms, her innocence belying the imnse power she wields. It's clear—our child is extraordinary, but also dangerously overpowered.
Reviews
All reviews (0)