Chapter XXXII: Painted Men

Drake was the one driving and Amalia was in the front seat next to him. While I sat on the second row and next to me is Caden who was peacefully sleeping on my shoulder, so I am having a hard time breathing and I felt like if I moved even a bit, he will surely wake up.


I felt sorry for him, he looks so tired but he’s still incredibly handsome and I feel like it is so illegal to steal glances but I can’t help it.


“We are here,” Drake announces and that what pulls me from reverie.


He carefully stopped the car, and when I looked outside I saw nothing but darkness.


The others gathered themselves outside, while me and Caden were left inside. I don’t want to interrupt his deep slumber but we have to move now.


"Caden,” I whispered to him and softly poke his cheek.


He looks like a gentle creature when sleeping. I quickly averted my eyes when I felt him move and straighten up.


“I’m sorry. I didn't realize t-that I—” He stutters as his face started turning red.


"That's fine with me." I smiled at him. He could sleep on my shoulders and I won't complain.


He scratched the back of his head, while looking around and saw that we were left in the car.


“Let's go outside? They’re already waiting for us…”


Caden nodded and get off first. I was surprised when he held out his hand and helped me down. I felt my whole face turn scarlet red when I saw them staring at us. The twins had this teasing smile on their lips, while Amalia almost killed me with the evil look on her face.


“Our car can only run up to here. It is necessary to walk and enter that forest. At the far end we will find the Giant Hill. When we went down that mountain, there was a waterfall. Are you guys familiar with the Sacrificial Falls?” Caden started giving brief information as we gathered together.


“Just be careful once we arrived at the mouth of the falls. We’ll cross the river to get to the other side, and that’s how we arrived at the foot of Hollow Heights. I hope we can get there before the sun rises the next day.”


I hugged myself when the strong breeze started blowing. I glanced at my wristwatch and it was exactly three in the morning. We haven't entered the forest yet but I feel like there are people watching us right away.


“We’ll enter the forest now. I want you guys to alert all your senses. We are not familiar with the place so better expect the unexpected,” Caden reminded once again.


I was startled when he held my right hand. "You will stick with me, Missy…"


The look he gave me was heartwarming and nerve-racking at the same time.


"You lead the way, buddy." He faced Drake who quickly followed his order. "I'll take care of it here in the back."


As we entered the forest, the chirping of birds and cricket were the first to be heard. Caden and I were behind them.


“This place is creepy,” Sanya commented. I saw him holding Jasper's arm.


I heightened my senses. I already knew earlier that someone was watching us, waiting for the right time. We all continued walking, sometimes stopping when a crackle was heard.


“Scudo Attivato!” I casted immediately when I sense danger coming towards our direction.



A shield protection covered us all.


I was not mistaken because just a few moments later there were flying arrows and spears coming towards our direction, but it just bounced back when it hits the protection around us.


"Oh my gosh!" I heard the girls exclaimed.


"What was that?!" Carmel said sighing in relief.


"We have an aggressive host here." I heard Tanya whispered, which I agreed.


"Let's thank Amaris for saving us." I shyly looked at Drake. He smiled sweetly at me and I felt my whole face blush because of that.


“Uh, that’s nothing! We are a team remember?” I shook my head at them as they were equally grateful. I am always willing to help and protect everyone.


We heard crackling in and around. Caden pulled my waist to get closer to him. I just ignored the abnormal beating of my heart, and tried focusing more on whatever was about to come out in our surroundings.


"Trespassers." A guy from the dark appeared in front of us.


He was not alone, numbers of creatures appeared behind him. They were all men and have the same face painting. They are all topless, and oly the lower part of the body has a cover. These creatures holding arrows, others are with spears.


“We are sorry for trespassing in your territory. We are just on a mission,” Caden said to the man on the center. He was the only one with a different colored of face paint.


Caden blocked my vision when the man roams his eyes and settled on my direction. I grabbed the hem of his shirt.


"We want some offerings,” their leader said.


I noticed how the boys shifted from their stances and immediately went in front of us, as if they are protecting the girls. I want to look at those creatures, but I can’t have a glance, since Caden’s back is covering my sight.


“What do you want? We have no golds to offer, but we have foods here.” Drake hold the bag of foods from all of us.


“We don’t need foods. We have a lot of that!”


Oh, wow! Maybe we can ask for some? Just in case we run out while we are on this mission.


I poked Caden's back and he immediately turned around to look at me. I was even surprised when our eyes met immediately.


"I have golds in my bag." I smiled at him but he just frowned at me. “I really have golds in my bag! Do you think I'm lying?”


I raised my right hand but he just remained looking at me still with creased brows.


Since he has no plan on believing me, I put my bag in front and took out a bag of gold. Mr. Bear gave me this. He said that we will definitely need this during our mission. He thinks in advance, thanks to him!


“Give me that and keep quiet. Just hold my shirt and don’t you dare leave.” He let out a soft growl.


I pouted. I am just helping.


He pulled the hood of my jacket and carefully put it on my head.


"I’m hiding you, and here you are being so nosy!” I heard him whispered and that made me confused.


I bit my lower lip. Why do I have to hide? I just adjusted my hood and grabbed the hem of his shirt once again since that was his order.


"I have some golds here." Caden threw the bag of golds on the ground. “Let us leave. We still have some creatures to help!”



He is now becoming impatient and it is not good.


“Thank you for the golds, but it’s not enough. You are ten within the group and you will only give this? Only two creatures can pass!” The man's voice boomed all over the place that almost makes me quiver.


“That’s all we got, sir. What do you still want?” Ashton asked them and I heard the loud laughter of these unfamiliar creatures.


“So impatient, little boy. Will you let me choose one of the women with you?”


“The woman wearing black hoodie smells the sweetest, leader. I am one hundred percent sure she also tastes great!” I heard someone said.


I looked at the five of us and I was the only one wearing a black hoodie. Oh my gosh! Am I the one he is referring to?!


He has a great sense of smell! I was meters away from them but he could still smell me. And of course, I would smell sweet because of my perfume. My favorite is the vanilla scent, even Mamita likes this perfume of mine.


“He likes the smell of my perfume. Shall we give it too?” I poked Caden’s arm once again, but I almost jumped when he looked at me pissed off.


“I said keep quiet! If someone dares to touch you, poke his eyes!” His face darkened as he said that. He keeps on frowning!


I was about to take the bottle of perfume in my bag when he turned his back on me again. I'm just suggesting, it might help us though.


I pouted as I looked at Sanya to ask for sympathy, but the latter just grins at me.


“They don't want that perfume, Amaris… They want you.” She emphasizes the last word. “And I can feel the rage coming from the King.”


My forehead knotted. What? I don’t get it. But I wasn’t given a choice to ask again when Caden grabbed my arm to get closer to him. I am almost hugging him in our position.


"Don't stay away from me, Missy..." His face became darker even more. And he is once again being surrounded by a deadly aura.


"Give us that woman and I will let you pass this forest, peacefully…" I heard the sound of spears being propped up on the ground. They look like they're having fun. "You can have this gold, and let me have the woman!"



The man who stands as their leader let out his tongue and licked his lips while looking at me like I am some kind of a good food.


“No one will touch the girls especially the woman with the black hoodie. I will kill everyone who dares!” Caden let out a dangerous growl.


His aura says like no one must dare fight him, for he will just meet his early death.


"Just a taste of her and we are all good." The man didn’t flinch, and has this wide grin on his lips.


How many of them have I told that I am not delicious!


“Then die!” Caden dangerously whispered and in just a snap, he’s now at the back of that painted man. I could no longer close my eyes when Caden twisted the man's head. In less than a second its lifeless body fell to the ground.


"Who wants to follow?" he made a stern promise to the remaining creatures.


I saw them retreat, traces of fear and shock on their faces. There were a few who recovered and dared to rush to Caden but he effortlessly beheads them. The King of Elites moved quickly and I just found those creatures simultaneously falling on the ground, lifeless.


“I was about to warn them not to awaken the beast inside him but it’s too late. Well, serves them right!” Stephan seems enjoying what’s happening.


"Aren’t we going to help Caden?" I'm worried about him.


We were just watching. They seem to have no intention of helping Caden.


“Miss Amaris, do you think he needs some help? He can kill all those creatures with his eyes closed.” Ashton laughed, looking so proud for their leader.



I was just stunned as I watched Caden finish them all. He wiped them out, without a single bead of sweat.


He confidently and dangerously walks back towards our direction. He doesn’t even look exhausted at all.


“C-Caden…” I was startled when he took my bag from my hand and quickly slung it over his shoulder. He then holds my hand, that brings spark in my whole body.


"No one can f*cking touch you, Missy…” My lips parted as I watched his unsmiling face.