The Lost Prince's

Chapter 8 Prejudice (part 2)

Shane taught me sword techniques after that. And I train it whenever I get a chance. No, even today I skipped school using sword practice as an excuse. I need some alone time. I mean, totally alone. My thirst grew, I sometimes hallucinated hearing vanBlood, and I was too lethargic for lack of sleep to keep a clear mind at all times. But for some reason since the first physical activity such as riding, archery, and exploring the forest always managed to help me throw some of the burden in my head. I did not think it turned out that the sword also had a similar effect.

“You wasted too much energy”, said Arion breaking the silence. I heard a car stop in front of the house. I think it's Shane or Zero.

“Arion? What are you doing here?”

“Finding friends”

I smiled a little, he must be kidding. “You have a lot in school. I think your actions ignore those pretty girls unnaturally”

“Yeah, you might be right. But those who are good for other purposes cannot be called friends, right?” Arion approached me. “Let me guess, Zero didn't teach you sword techniques?”

I'm nodding. Still curious about Arion's intentions about friends. Could it be that he thought the girls who approached him had ulterior motives or something?

Arion grabbed my hand that was holding the sword. “Your grip is too strong, relax a little”, he said as he corrected the grip of my finger. Arion then moved my hand to swing the sword. Arion's technique is more subtle than Shane's.

“Arion, I've never been nice to you, then why are you friends with me?”

Arion's movements stopped, he raised his eyes at me. Her face seemed to imply she could not believe that I did not understand her answer. “That's exactly my reason. You're not making up your attitude. And you

gorgeous”

This time it was my turn to cast an expression of disbelief in Arion. Strangely though I questioned my hearing, both of my cheeks warmed up slowly. I turned my attention back to the sword pad in my hand. Trying to repeat the movement that Arion did earlier. While Arion is seen putting on his charming warm smile. He decided to be quiet for a moment and watch my movements.

“I think you're very talented. Key”, he said a few moments later. “Try not to put too much energy on your arm alone. We fight not only with the sword but also with speed. Your feet too

must be on standby move to attack while dodging”

 ***

The dream is back. The black shadow chasing us. Pounced on the necks of father and mother in the blink of an eye. And the tall, pale-skinned figure with a vile serie came closer revealing a pair of vampire fangs.VanBlood!

I was breathless waking up with cold sweat pouring from my forehead. My breath is hunting a hundred times faster. My heart was pounding hard forgetting its usual rhythm. My pupils moved to glance at Karen who was sleeping soundly beside me. Then I don't know why I swallowed. A familiar voice disturbed my head. Voices

pulse and blood flow! Realizing the thoughts that began to tickle the contents of my head, I suddenly turned my face and rose from the bed. I headed for the kitchen, grabbing a bottle full of cold water. Sipped out its contents. Go to the back porch. Chilly.

"Go over here. I won't say anything"

I raised my head, looking towards the sound. Zero was sitting on the balcony with a cup of coffee. I remembered Zero saying the other day not to sleep in the room with Karen and keep my distance from humans. Snorted. I know I should have listened to her, but tonight I somehow wanted to smape Karen, so I slept in her room without a second thought.

I opened the door to my room right next to Zero's. A large bed with a large window facing the balcony next to it. The exact same interior as Zero's room. Even the balcony outside the window is a balcony. I lay myself in bed. Trying to clench my eyelids. But every time I do, those memories come back and haunt the darkness in my head. Forcing me to reopen my eyes. Only by being awake can I be sure that my mind is still sane. I opened a large window and a balcony exit. Zero raised his head to look at me.

"You're not sleeping?"

"Hm. I have to work on something" he said flatly as he sipped back at the coffee that the smoke was disappearing. "You want coffee?"

"Eh, no"

The air tonight is warm. Usually the night is very cold because the house is next to the forest. There really is no reason to have trouble sleeping in a place like this. Except that the memories of a bunch of vampires attacking me kept haunting the mind.

"Zero, can I borrow some books?"

"Yes, just take it"

I'm heading to Zero's room. Remember the row of books on a large shelf beside the table. Sigh slowly see the row of books with the title of programming language and so on. Some books with black covers are untitled. In the corner of my eye found some novels. I grabbed one of them. Sherlock Holmes's. Get back out onto the balcony and sit in a chair and start reading. Ah, thank goodness reading is still effective to change my mind.

***

Warm. A familiar scent greeted my nose. The smell of minty mixed with some kind of wet grass and the soft smell of vanilla. I rolled slowly, dipping my smell under the blanket. The consciousness slapped me. I opened my eyes and sat up. Glaring at the blanket in my hand, my shirt. What the hell's going on? My eyes were staring around the room. Room Zero. And there, at his desk Zero seemed to fall asleep in a sitting position.

"Are you awake?", asked Zero. His blackish-looking eyes at the bottom of his petals slowly opened. He looks tired.

"Hmm", he muttered while nodding. Zero got up from his chair slowly stepped into the bed. "I'm gonna take a little nap. Wake me up when I leave later"

Ah, true! Gosh darn. I forgot I had to go to school. I glanced at Zero's wall clock, just 6 o'clock. Zero lay down on the other side of the bed. It looks like he's really sleepy.

"For Zerooo...!!!", exclaimed a familiar voice from the direction of the window.

I looked towards the direction the sound came from. Arion stood at the door, with enlarged eyes. Her face flushed. And for some absurd reason my face was blushing.

"Eh??!! M-mma-sorry!!", said Arion as he turned and jumped down from the balcony.

Zero snorted softly, his blue eyes that were reddish from drowsiness opened when Arion appeared earlier. He just turned his head towards the window without bothering to get up. My heart is beating fast for reasons I don't understand. I hurried up from Zero's bed and walked quickly out of her room. Holy hooch! I don't know why I felt I was doing something wrong. Well, indeed Arion suddenly appeared when Zero just laid his body on the mattress. You idiot! After thinking about it again I should have hurriedly woken up as soon as Zero was about to sleep. Ah, I don't know. I grabbed the towel and rushed to the bath, brushing away the scenario that had appeared in Arion's mind earlier. Well, his face clearly looked surprised and flushed.

"Sorry about that" said Arion as soon as I reached for a seat at the breakfast table.

"Eh, it's okay. I mean.no need. Um, it's not what you think it is" I don't know why my words are stuck. As soon as I sat in the chair I busied myself choosing the breakfast menu that Karen cooked.

"Ja.so?"

"Eh?" What does it mean to be?

"Don't think weird, Arion", said Zero who stepped towards the dining table. Join for breakfast. Zero Sudha wearing a Humphire uniform. It was really quick to take a shower, when I thought Zero was going to skip today. "Key fell asleep on the balcony last night. So I brought him in"

"Why bring him in?", asked Arion full of probes.

"Is it better to leave him outside? Even vampires can get a fever from the cold"

"Keep it.."

"Nothing else. I worked all night. So whatever you imagine never happens" Zero cuts off Arion's question. They were still sitting for a while.

"Zero", call Shane. "Then why did you bring him into your room instead of the room you gave Key?"

Zero's blue eyes turned to look at Shane. Whether it was just my feelings or not, Zero seemed annoyed by Shane's question.

"Because it's closer"

"That's all?"

Zero nodded.

"Ehm... I'm sorry but it's my fault for falling asleep on the balcony. No need to fuss"

I glanced at Karen who was busy eating her breakfast. Either it's just my feeling or Karen is deliberately not dizzy.

"You need to be more careful, Key", Arion suggested.

I admire him by trying to smile. The tip of my eye caught Zero's blue eyes looking darker hearing Arion's suggestion. I think he's offended. Or rather, very offended. Sure enough, when we left for Humphire, Zero refused Arion who was about to ride in his car in a soft whisper, "You have to

be careful of me, Arion"

"Eh? Wh-what?! Zero..!"

Zero quickly enters his car and pulls the gas regardless of Arion. Shine laughed at their behavior.

"He's upset. Haha"

Arion gulped. "Yeah, right"