Chapter 21: Vulnerable

POV: Lianne Dievin



"Li? What's the matter? You look sullen," Jen asked me directly as soon as I returned. They were all staring at me, confusion clear on their faces, and I had a feeling they knew something wasn't right.

I needed to lie to them again. If there was such a thing as a white lie, then this was definitely it. Before that platinum-haired man drags me out of this airport leaving my friends stunned and afraid of my welfare, I had to do this now.

"I uh...I'm so sorry guys. I really need to stay here. There's some emergency I need to go to," I said with heaviness in my heart. Jen stood up and took both of my hands, looking at me with understanding.

"Go ahead Li. Don't hesitate to leave us. I knew already this would come. We were actually waiting for you to say it."

'Huh? Say what again?' I was now the one that was confused.

Alona stepped forward and placed her hand on my shoulder. "Don't be shy to admit it, Li. We know it would be hard to part with your man. Before you would be miles away from him, go ahead and spend more time with him."

"Yeah," Rachel butted in. "Unlike Jen here whose boyfriend lives in Fortville also. You should listen to the calling of your heart and be with the man you love."

'Oh my... they are misunderstanding this. But, whatever. This is much better actually. They wouldn't be worried of me.'

I wonder though. If this would be the right thing to do. Being with Cain again who most openly showed his affections for me, I am pretty sure this could be a trap. And what about Ruen? He'd be angry when he finds out. However, I would prefer to solve this problem myself. I don't want for his life to be in danger just like before.

"Thanks guys. You are the best!" I hugged each of them tightly and smiled in appreciation. Good thing they didn't pursue asking what kind of 'emergency' I was saying. "Do text me when you guys arrive in the airport. Okay?"

"Sure," Jen replied. "And you," she pointed her green nail-polished finger on me, "take care, okay? Don't let Ruen ravish you so much!"

I glanced at the platinum-haired man and saw him watching his wrist watch, looking rather impatient.

"I better go," I finally said, taking my luggage with me.

"All right, Li. Be careful," Jen nodded with a smile while Alona and Rachel waved their hands.

Flight 356, MidAir Travel Airbus, going to Fortville City, passengers are requested to board bridge two now.

I heard an announcement of our flight.

"Well, that's our cue too!" Rachel exclaimed.

"Bye guys, take care!"

We waved at each other and went our separate ways. I intentionally let them get to the bridge first before I turned and approached my 'chaperone.'

I despised this idea, but knowing the necklace was an integral part of my past, I needed to get it from Cain. I didn't miss him say back then that it still held power.

Yes, most of my past memories had returned, so I had an idea that the necklace was my family's heirloom and that it was 'magical'. The fact also that I was reborn and Ruen, transcending space and time because of the necklace, would be proof enough of its power.

Another thing also.

Cain.

He stood as the third proof.

I hadn't remembered much about him, but a part of me wanted to remember him... of what he was in the past and what we had back then. This was exactly why I'm feeling nervous now. I am afraid of what visions I might see. However, as much as I had this feeling of instant animosity towards him, I would like to still understand him and know the reason why he was so willing to go through such length in order to possess me. I thought that we were best friends in childhood as what the vision showed me a few days ago. I wonder, what happened in the past for me to feel this unwelcoming towards him?

This must be exactly what I must patch up. Living in the present wouldn't be as peaceful as I wanted it to be if I'm still dragged with whatever ill feelings I had of the past.

The platinum-haired man stared at me as I stood a few feet in front of him. He then smirked, pulled his black sunglasses out of his dark violet coat, and placed it on his face to cover his eyes.

"Come with me," he said and then turned around, walking towards the escalator down to a basement parking lot.

I shouldn't cross with this man. He looked menacing enough to hint me a warning.

I quietly sat inside the Bentley limousine, never bothering to ask him where we were heading to. It was clear already that we were going to where Cain was.

As he drove to our destination, I found it hard to suppress my quickening pulse. I was beginning to feel nervous. The sparkling wine in front of me placed in a customized cooler didn't even help me as I took a sip on it.

A few minutes later however, I started to feel groggy and sleepy which was weird. Why would I feel this way now when I'm about to meet Cain?

My body felt like it was on cold ice, numbed. Or like I just drank a whole lot of alcohol, my body floating high up on the clouds.

And then my eyes fell on one object alone. This could be the reason for my unexplained sudden reaction. It seemed the platinum-haired man drugged the wine.

My brain seemed to swirl round and round and eventually, I hit my head on the cushioned seat. The last thing I saw was my driver checking me on the front-view mirror and then black.



~ 0 ~



POV: Ruen Waitsince



I was driving my car as fast as I could to my foster father's villa. He had one at the outskirts of Since and luckily, today he was there for a three-day vacation. Talking with him shouldn't take a while. Lianne would be flying back to Fortville this afternoon, so I still had time to talk to him.

Inside my coat's pocket was the emerald necklace... or should I say the fake one. The minute I saw it on Lianne's neck, I knew it wasn't the original.

Mr. Rafael handed the original to me a day after he found me on the side of the rode, a kilometer away from my rest house now. I was admitted in Since Medical Hospital for four days, with all the bills paid by the owner himself, Mr. Rafael, of course. He was a wealthy man, very wealthy in fact and at that time, he was looking for new ventures in the economy and commerce of Since.

Although I was still confused that time, he took me in his household as a guest and eventually I became his personal bodyguard. It was just five years ago when he made me his sole heir of his wealth after finding out of my true birthright.

'That damn old geezer.'

When he first gave me the original necklace, he said he knew right from the very start that there was something mysterious about me. He used the term 'magical' being that he was an avid fan of extraordinary stuff. He said that I was holding the necklace in my hand when he found me unconscious, slightly covered with snow on the ground, had a deep cut on my forearm but no traces of blood.

I took the necklace of course. This was the only reminder I had of my existence in the past. Whatever its work of magic, I realized then that it must be working on Princess Lianne too. She might be somewhere; transported in the present time just like me. When I realized the possibilities, it gave me hope.

Having trusted Mr. Rafael of my past, I shared to him also my purpose in life at the present. That was exactly the reason why he advised that I should donate the necklace in the Since University Museum. He had a theory that if Lianne sees the necklace in the museum -being that it was a public place-, we might be together again. I conceded to that and I did hope that it would happen.

It was a big mistake however.

After two days in the university museum, the necklace was stolen.

Shit.

Maybe thieves took a liking on it, but I had a notion already that it wasn't the case...

Now my suspicions were confirmed. Cain must be behind the stolen necklace and I am heading towards my foster father to talk to him about it and request him something.

*

*

*

"Who would have known that your rival had the necklace all along?" Mr. Rafael commented as he sat on his favorite couch in the parlor room. He was facing the fireplace with a tobacco pipe on hand. The smoke from the pipe rose slowly, condensing into clear air before it hit the crystal chandelier.

The room was dimly lit by the fireplace. Thick curtains covered the floor-to-ceiling glass windows and an earthly wood scent surrounded the room. Ruen was standing inches away from the hearth, staring at the charred remnants of the fake necklace. The flames were dancing vigorously, teasing the once-king to toss some more offering to their incinerating touch.

"Fate...is playing its game on us. Lianne. Me. And now...it has included Cain. He shouldn't have been reincarnated! Now that I know that he has the real necklace, it brings me great fear." Ruen's eyes smoldered with anger. He clenched his teeth and spat out a silent curse.

"I am just wondering, Your Majesty. You did tell me that the emerald stone only holds power when it is merged with Lianne's blood or descendants of her family. That was in the past. Centuries ago! Isn't her blood unacceptable now, knowing that she is already reborn? The blood running in her veins now isn't from the Vhillana family. Isn't it considered void?" Gillard explained in exasperation. Seeing his adoptive son to be in such a precarious situation didn't comfort him at all.

Ruen cleared his fogged mind and inhaled the room's earthly scent. "That is possible. But we can't know for sure. Right now, what is important is that Lianne shouldn't be with Cain. I don't want history repeating itself again."

"Then you should go to her now. Protect her as much as possible." The old man's voice was raspy. He stared at Ruen and in just a second, he could see the turmoil in his soul.

"I need to ask you a favor," Ruen said, turning his face to his foster father. It was weird for Mr. Rafael to call him a son, but it was even weirder to be called on his past title - Your Majesty.

"What is it Your Majesty?"

Ruen's brows flinched slightly.

'There it is again. That old geezer is surely enjoying it.'

"I need a few of your men to mobilize soon."

Ruen pertained to Mr. Rafael's spies in Cain's corporation, and his own fellow bodyguards -slash- special agents to whom he was taught modern combat skills in his first few years in Mr. Rafael's household.

"Yes of course!" Gillard willingly stated. "They are always willing and ready to accommodate you, Your Majesty. Just say the word."