Accepting what I am

WAYNE'S POV
We began to walk towards the woods.

           

     “And how am I supposed to know what that means?” Damien snapped.




     I turned to Damien and shook my head as a wry smile played on my lips. I wanted to explain to my brothers that the Amnion crepe was a group of female assassins, which were under the command of the Alpha, trained with a peculiar fighting skill that can merge with the use of tricks.




     I also wanted to tell them to be wary of one, as those creatures were venomous beings that were able to kill or suppress a martial art guru with their tricks. However, circumstances failed me and I did not have the chance to do so.




     I suddenly had a fuzzy vision. The world before me revolved, and I found myself pulling even my brothers down with me. The last thing I knew before consciousness left me was Lucerne anxiously calling my name.
~~

     “Will he be okay?” I picked up the faraway voice in my head.

     “He should be recovering soon,” another said, and my eyes fluttered open.

    
     “Wayne!” I heard Lucerne's still anxious voice call as I felt his hands on mine. I opened my eyes to find his pair of jade eyes searching my face with concern. He had an eye-bag, and his orbs were teary and red as if he had spent the entire time in tears.

 

     “How do you feel?” He rasped softly.

     I gave him a reassuring smile, “a bit dizzy, but I will recover soon.”

 

     Lucerne smiled, throwing a glance at the physician who stood beside the bed. “Thanks to him, we found out that you were sort of affected by an uncommon poison. But fortunately, the physician took it out through your veins.”

 

     I nodded, realizing my brothers were not complete. “Where is Damien?” I asked, craning my neck to look around. It was just Anastasia by the door, the physician and Lucerne, aside me, in the room. Lucerne's expression suddenly turned glum, he looked down and tightened his hold on my hand.

 

     “Well?” I urged.

     “He decided to leave, still.” Lucerne mumbled, and his head still hanging low.

     “And you let him go?” I tried to lift my upper body off the bed, but Lucerne forced me down.

 

     “I did not. He met the Chiefs instead.” Lucerne turned to the physician and nodded at him. The older man understood the gesture and took Anastasia with him to leave the room. My elder brother then got up and sat on the stool at the foot of the bed. “He told the Chiefs a lie that I sent him to them and they, believing we three had the same mind, let him go.”

 

     I huffed, finally getting the chance to sit up. I turned to Lucerne just as I wanted to comment on what he just said, but I saw the need to let it pass, seeing that my brother did not look so good to me. His skin was a bit pale and his eyes looked unusually big with the eye-bag. However, the pearled, scarlet, velvety robe he wore depicted that he was dressed up for an occasion.

 

     “It is the Lordship announcement in a bit,” He said, confirming my thought. I scratched the back of my head, noticing a smidgen of nervousness in his bearing. I could not help but think that aside from the announcement part, Lucerne was very uncomfortable with Damien’s departure.

 

     Nevertheless, if Damien finally decided to find the Vamps and go after the mysterious Lady, he should have at least considered that what happened at the seashore was just a beginning. How sure are we that she does not have more tricks up her sleeves? Moreover, the look she gave me before leaving bothered me.

 

     Lucerne gagged and my eyes darted to his direction. “Are you okay, brother?” I asked anxiously, yet got no reply. Instead, Lucerne’s hand moved to caress his throat as he swallowed hard; he seemed to want to throw up. I stood up on my feet and approached him.

 

     “I am fine,” He uttered curtly, looking up at me with a smile, even if he knew I would not buy that reaction. Lucerne was ill or something; the eye-bag and color of his eyes could not have been that he had cried. I would have said he was poisoned, but he did not come close to the witch.

 

     “Are you really--”

 

     “If you cannot attend the announcement, then it is fine. I would find an excuse for you,” Lucerne cut in, changing the topic. It was obvious that he was literally shutting me up about the fact that he was not feeling well, but it was okay. I would not speak of it unless very necessary.

 

     I shook my head. “I will not miss it for anything, though I suggest you start without me.” Lucerne smiled and stood up to leave. I watched him go, hoping he was only worried about his new position and Damien.

 

     The front of the Castle was massed with demon citizens by the time I arrived at the front veranda. I tugged uncomfortably at the tight sleeves of my smooth, cerulean robe as I walked through the open door.

 

     I extremely hated when I had to put on these formal attires; I preferred my simple servant-like clothes, which were much easier than having to confine myself in this robe, it was quite exasperating.

 

     I stood next to my brother, the eldest Chief standing beside him on the other side; whereas, the rest of the Chiefs stood behind us. I craned my neck to peek at my brother’s face; he looked dead serious, as if he intended to silence anyone who would dare to oppose his Lordship with just one look. I smiled, I had noticed Lucerne was never ready and willing to take up this position, but fate was like a two-edged sword; it could be brutal, yet could also be benign.

 

     Everything went by and so far, I could say things went well with the new Lordship. I remained in my room after lunch, focusing on my books with my legs crossed on the bed. Lucerne and the Chiefs were still in the Throne hall settling some matters and I decided not to meddle. I would only have the chance to see my brother after he was done with them. However, I did not know when I drifted to sleep.

 

     The dream stole unbidden into my sleep, traveling by time. I did not know precisely how the feeling came, but I suddenly jerked as it felt like I rolled down from the bed to the floor― it was like going up a rollercoaster. I awoke shortly at this, took in a blurred view of my door, which overlooked me, and slept off again.

 

     I then found myself standing within a cave, a dark one. Instantly realizing I was lost, I screamed out if anyone could hear and help me, but only the echo of my own voice responded to me. I did not need someone to tell me that the witch was here again.

 

     However, this time, I was able to move, so I moved further into the cave, seeing despite the pitch darkness that someone approached me, and that it was the mysterious woman. She walked towards me in an elegant manner, her demeanor emitting a chilly feeling that overwhelmed the cave.

 

     She stood a few inches below me, yet her face met mine squarely. There was an imaginary flame in those cold eyes and they burned into my eyes with so much intensity that I failed to take my eyes; it felt like I was hypnotized by her stare as we locked gazes. The witch’s mouth parted open with ease, her eyes narrowed, and her head tilted to a side; in a way that I could not help but feel my legs quiver.

 

     “I have taken your freedom of choice,” She finally announced, cutting the line, which connected our eyes, when she looked away. I staggered backward from the effect, regaining myself. “I once gave you one, but you did not feel the need to do the needful. Therefore, I am done with trying to persuade you.” She walked past me only to stop behind. I also turned around to face her in case she had a trick up her sleeves.

 

     “I know a core thing or two about you and your brothers and I will state them. The demon has the ability, but fears it cannot be sufficient to do a thing; he is so insecure of himself and is scared he would disappoint you all. The vampire...” She tilted her head to the side and twitched her lip, “well, he has the aptitude, but not the brain. He relies too much on his powers and reacts on impulse. You on the other hand have a good thinking ability, but lack the strength, which you wish so bad to have.”

 

     “What do you really want?” I blurted before she could speak further. I would have attacked again, but my Instinct told me to do better than that, so I stayed back. “This is not just about accepting who I am; you are looking for something else. What is that?”