The Witch and the Vampire Prince

03 — Neighborhoods Around

The forest has existed for thousands of years. No human dared to set foot further than the lips of the forest. Just looking for dry wood. The hunters do not want to go too deep. Rumors are that many residents are desperate to enter and never come back again.

In addition, the news of the existence of strange and terrible creatures made the hunters shudder. Many eyewitnesses say it.

In fact, the creepy creature was made by Merlin. Is correct. Their home was indeed quite far in the forest, but that did not mean ordinary humans never approached the surroundings. Merlin was already making illusions around to scare them.

Regarding the citizens who never came home was not Merlin's doing. In the forest there are many wild animals. Sometimes Merlin found a human body that had been torn apart or just a skeletal skeleton. Even so Merlin still buried it properly.

The trip was very far to get out of the forest makes Louis tired. It was fortunate that Merlin prepared a clay jug to store a drink. Merlin showed it to Louis who had been complaining of thirst.

"I'm just drinking blood! Since last night I've been starving and you've been torturing me. Is this the true nature of witches?" ask Louis ketus.

Merlin put his pitcher back into the robe and walked with Phyllis.

Finding that super cute response, Louis increasingly dislikes it. "Normally humans hate witches" Louis muttered deliberately to make them hear him.

Instantly the magician's second steps stopped. They stared at Louis. A look of sadness was seen in both of his eyeballs. Louis fell silent and turned his face away.

"Do human blood-sucking vampires deserve to be loved more?" asked Merlin in a heavier voice. That was Charlie's voice. For the umpteenth time Louis was taken aback. But the vampire did not respond more.

Afterwards Merlin took Phyllis to walk faster, leaving Louis behind. A fool with Louis' fate. Pounced on the tiger or bitten by the poison snake, they did not care. It would be better for that vampire to die here and just bury him.

Louis knew the nature of the brothers was indifferent, but this time it was different. I don't know why there was a feeling of guilt in his mind. Although Louis was not a callous vampire, he felt that there were wrong words. Unfortunately, he did not know where his mistake was. During his lifetime of hundreds of years, Louis knew humans hated witches.

Many cases of witches mingling with humans and abusing magic. According to the vampire nation, being a chameleon among the prey is very cunning. They think being a bloodsucker is more dignified and honorable than a trickster witch.

Louis followed them. Where else would you go if not the Cayenne brothers? Louis doesn't know the territory here. This forest was only one among the hundreds of forests around his royal territory. And to return to the kingdom is a suicide.

Their journey to the forest. There were people around who picked up wood.

"Good morning, Phyllis and Merlin. Ah, there's a friend of his too, yes" said an old man who was carrying logs on his shoulders.

"Good morning, Uncle Gill. And he's Louis. We met in the river while fishing," replied Merlin kindly.

Uncle Gill nodded his head as he looked at Louis. But at once his friendly face turned cold as he watched Louis's face. With a resolute move, Uncle Gill approached him.

"Merlin's. Are you sure this is your friend?" asked Uncle Gill in a heavy tone. Seen a look full of emotions highlighted in his net. The thick aroma that came out from under Louis's cloak could be sniffed easily.

The smell of blood predators. Uncle Gill turned to Merlin and Phyllis. He could not do more because there were many ordinary people around here.

Merlin immediately tightened his body. "Uncle Gill. Her fangs have been softened by Phyllis. Calm yourself" said Merlin, pulling Louis' chin to look him in the eye. Louis was silent because he was afraid. Who is this Uncle Gill?!

"just good. Be careful in the woods. There are so many caterpillars."

"Thank you, Uncle Gill. We go first."

The three then went over the wooden bridge connecting the forest and the population area. This road was not separate. But because of the tragedy decades ago when the wild animals prey on humans blindly, finally the surrounding residents decided to make a river flow that surrounds the forest.

Although the method is not so effective, but some animals eventually do not want to cross. But because humans still need firewood, eventually build several wooden bridges in each region. And apply the rules not to look for wood deeper for safety.

"Hey, who was he?" louis to Merlin. Merlin did not answer and continued walking.

Not far from where they are, it looks a pretty crowded market. With the scorching sun almost overhead made Louis agitated. In the end, he stopped by a shop. Armed with a piece of metal, Louis bought warm milk while waiting for both Cayenne shopping.

Meanwhile Phyllis was shopping for the ingredients she wanted. Merlin went around to sell his crops in one of the medicine carts.

"Son Merlin. Did you bring the materials?" ask the seller. Merlin showed her the basket and gave some to check.

Both of the old woman's eyes were extremely observant. Observing the item Merlin had brought and smiling in satisfaction.

"I always wait for your harvest. I bought everything. Where's my little Phyllis? I want to see it." The seller took Merlin's belongings and exchanged them for silver pieces. Not to forget he put two sourdough buns.

"Eat. You must be tired after a long journey."

"Thank you, Aunt Gill. Phyllis must be happy. Now he was buying milk and other groceries" Merlin replied casually.

Before long Phyllis came carrying a basket full of groceries. Aunt Gill stroked Phyllis' head gently and affectionately. His eyes were filled with a feeling of longing. Phyllis hasn't seen him in a long time.

"Dear phyllis, aunts and uncles will play at your place later in the afternoon. I miss. You're eating enough, right?" Aunt Gill held onto Phyllis's cheeks and twisted the girl's body, checking if anything was lacking. But it looks like Phyllis is growing healthy.

"Mmm, aunt. Can we meet at our usual place later? We met Uncle Gill. Something is happening" whispered Merlin. Aunt Gill stared at Merlin.

Without answering him, Merlin already knew Aunt Gill's answer. Something very important. After that, the two said goodbye when the buyer came to Aunt Gill's cart.

They came to Louis who was at the store and took him home.

"For a long time," said Louis had almost fainted from boredom. He was also weak because the smell of blood disturbed his sense of smell, making the milk he had swallowed useless. His stomach is getting hungry.

"I bought some more milk. While you drink milk," Phyllis replied. Louis did not respond and followed them over the bridge.

On the edge of the forest, the number of people searching for wood has begun to decrease. Some went home or went into the forest. There was only Uncle Gill and a few of his friends sitting casually under the tree while observing the three of them entering the forest.

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