The Lost Prince's

Chapter 9 Old Friends (part 2)

My heart almost stopped beating. As I thought, Sheryll recognized me even though I wore a mask to cover my face.

"Not.", I answered softly. He can't recognize me. He can't know about vampires. Keyra Wilder

he's dead, that's enough to remember. I threw my face away and turned around and went out.

"Key.wait.", call Sheryll. He ran after me.

"You're wrong", I said.

"You guys, talk about it later. We have to get out of this place first" said Shane who ran out while

directing the captive girls.

Sheryll seemed to be about to protest but her voice did not come out. It was likely because he had already seen what happened shortly after he arrived here. The smell of blood that I smelled back then belonged to one of these girls.

Sheryll's got a vampire drinking his blood.

Most of the girls get into Shane's car, sitting crammed. And the rest got on Zero's car. I'm in Zero's car, because Sheryll's here. I won't let Zero or any vampire touch her.

We stopped at an old cafe with no visitors. Zero rented a whole cafe and

ask all employees out after making drinks order everyone.

While Shane explains to the girls about himself as

hunter, try to calm things down. And also convince them to be ready

memory swept. Sheryll grabbed my arm and pulled me to another corner of the cafe.

Makes me sit in front of him. Ah, I hate this situation.

"Open your mask, Key" said Sheryll in a threatening tone. I can't even look into his eyes.

"Open now!"

Grunting, I pulled my face mask and opened it. Staring straight into Sheryll's eyes. It's free. I can't fool him.

Both of Sheryll's eyes widened, and tears began to pool to fill the edges until they finally slid down. "I know it's you. You followed me from the protected forest, right? I was right, right.

Keys..." He started to sob. "..thank God you're still alive. Thank goodness.."

I gulped down what felt like a stone. What is there to be grateful for in this damned life?  "I told you I'm not someone you know. He's dead"

Sheryll looks at me not understanding. "What did you say? There's no way I've mistaken you, Key"

"Human named Keyra Wilder is dead"

Sheryll's cries are becoming more and more. He wiped the tears on his cheek several times. Now he seems to see my difference. I thought we were done, so I got up from my chair about to leave. But hands

Sheryll grabbed my arm.

"wait. I have one request", he said slowly. His voice was hoarse because of the sobbing

her crying. Sheryll stood up from her chair, stepping in front of me. "Let

I just hugged you once"

I haven't had time to respond, Sheryll's already scooping my back with both arms. A few tears came down my shoulder. He hugged me tightly, as if to wash away all our longing. Wants me to

do the same, but you can't.

"You've become strong, yes, Key", she whispered softly just before taking off her arms.

A tear rolled wildly down my cheek. Sheryll smiled warmly, squeezing my shoulders softly. Then he returned among the vampire captive girls, to a theater to be removed

his memory is by Zero. I stepped into the back of the cafe, not wanting to

saw it. Shane followed me, sat behind the wall. In a moment

sheryll's Turn.

"Can't I keep my memories?", asked Sheryll.

"That action will only scare you. Forget it"

"I don't want to forget Key. He's still alive. Even though our meeting was like this, I wanted to remember it" said

Sheryl. "Actually, I couldn't believe it when I received the news of his death. I ran to come to his funeral and the chest was empty. His body was never found. So all this time I believed him

must be alive. And now I see it with my own eyes. How

maybe I'll forget it"

"He may not be the same person. Do you really not understand. He's no longer your friend, he's part of us"

"That's no problem. Knowing Key was alive was enough for me. Please, let me remember. I won't tell anyone about you"

Zero snorted in annoyance. "Why do you insist, you're just old friends, right?"

"There is such a thing as an old friend. Friends will always be friends. Key is my best friend"

My heart felt like it was sliding into the abdominal cavity. I really can't take it anymore. I let tears flood my cheeks. Sheryl, I really miss you.

Shane picked up a box of tissue and put it in front of me. "I'll take him home with

congratulations", he said before walking out. Shane took Sheryll up to

his car. Zero said nothing, he got out of his chair and grabbed

he saved several kidnapped girls. I finished calling and

tell us where Zero is walking to his car. He just sat in the back

rudder. It took me a while to realize he was waiting for me. I'm soon

clean your face and drive to his car.

Apparently Zero had taken care of our cafe rental payment and order by himself while calling earlier. We left without waiting for the police to arrive. Zero doesn't want to involve himself with human cops, either,

and moreover the owner of the European-style mansion. Said he was one

pureblood and also one of the most influential officials in the city of Ireland. Remainder

the journey home was filled with silence. There's nothing we can talk about. Or

to be more precise, there was nothing I wanted to hear from Zero. Even if he behaves

well today, help us save those girls and not even

erasing Sheryll's memory, I still can't believe it as much as I can

Shane and Shine did. He may be good and useful, but he is not

change the fact that he used Shine and Shane. I can't

thinking of the reason why Zero used Shine's name to hide

himself. Though he can create a false identity by engineering data,

like when he made it for me. According to Shine, Zero does not want her parents

found him. The alibi is unfounded. But I haven't found a reason

strong to express my suspicions to Shine and Shane.

The night came shortly after we got home. Karen and Shine again volunteered to prepare dinner. We were supposed to take turns, but the only guy who could cook was

The shine. And Karen happily replaced almost every turn. Well, yeah,

he used to love cooking. After dinner, Karen gave

we were surprised by giving everyone chocolate. february 14th, valentine

yep.. I don't remember it at all. How Karen can prepare

chocolate for everyone, including Zeros. I really don't understand.

Is a damned creature like me entitled to love? Sillier

once.

I drowned Karen's chocolate in the black coffee I just made. More suitable like this, my inner.

"After coffee?" said Shane who joined me on the side porch. He sat in the chair next to me. At

his right hand carries a supplement drink that he routinely drinks. "Why

like coffee?"

"Because of bitterness"

Shane laughed softly at my words that I didn't mean to be funny. "Sheryll, she's a good girl huh. When I drove her home, she asked me to take care of you"

"Hm. He's a very good friend. We were almost like twins" I said. "Ah, but precisely because of that

I can't let anyone drag her into the world of vampires"

Shane seemed a little surprised by what I said. But then he smiled. "That's not what I meant to ask. She's sweet, but you can rest easy, I don't intend to make it

my boyfriend is"

 "Good" I replied with a small smile. Sheryll has an oriental face and skin color

browned. She's sweet and kind. Where I might not be worried. I grabbed my cup and sipped hot coffee.

"By the way, Key, that time..."

I turned to look at Shane who somehow seemed to have trouble finding words.

"That time, you don't have to apologize"

Eh? 'Timing'? What did it mean when I hugged her in the woods?

"Um.I mean.don't feel so guilty" he continued. "You might hear my heartbeat

craze. But it's not at all what you thought" Shane turned his head

looking at me so our eyes can meet. "I never felt afraid

at you"

I'm not sure where this conversation is going. But if my estimate doesn't miss, Shane puts it

great trust in me. Big enough to be called a partner. But I don't know why

his expression looked even more serious. As if there was more to it than that.