28. Farewell Part 2

8 hours and 15 minutes later, we are buckling our belts to land in Germany. At first, I thought we were heading to some city, but the lustrous greenery of the forest and mountains told me otherwise.

I watched with curious eyes as the plane diverted to a tarmac in the middle of the mountain. It was empty of any other craft except for ours that was about to land.

All through the flight, Adonis and Hector kept to themselves without paying me too much attention. It was odd, since it was just us, but they seemed busy on some things which gave me enough time to rest and read while pondering on the reason why I was brought to this faraway place.

It’s been a long time since I’ve last gone on a trip.

After my incident with my sister, I secluded myself in the mansion where I knew no one would be judging me because of my looks. My mother also became strict about keeping me locked away from her friends and close family, for which I don’t blame her. I’m not the most attractive thing to see.

I touch my face slightly as I spot my reflection watching me back from the window.

“Let’s tighten this more.”

I startled like a cat as Hector tightened my belt around me. It was just his way of telling me he cared, but you can never tell with them.

“Are we going to some house hidden in this place?” I asked, expecting a quick response, but Hector remained quiet for the rest of the flight until the jet came to a stop.

I don’t know if it was part of my imagination, but I felt like both Adonis and Hector seemed kind of off. Like something was making them feel stressed out or tensed.

Don’t ask me how I know, but I could sense it from the moment the pilot announced we were two hours away from our destination.

Hector leaned over once again to help me with my belt. I didn’t ask any more and kept to myself as we moved to get our belongings.

Hector was kind enough to let me carry my small personal bag since he was adamant about carrying my luggage. Adonis, on the other hand, seemed busy giving out orders to even pay a lot of attention to us.

As we headed for the exit, I recalled the small box Callisto gave me. I pulled it out of the bag, inspecting it.

I had no idea what was inside. Anyone could think it was a phone but something told me otherwise.

Following Hector, I fiddle with the box until I finally release the top part and see what’s inside. I wobbled to the side as my eyes widened in shock.

Adonis was the first to notice I was not moving.

“Yophiel?”

I looked up from the box at him. He must have seen the face I had because he was skipping back up the steps just to stand before me.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, holding my shoulders, and checking me from head to toe.

He kept repeating the question but I had no way to answer because my mouth just didn’t want to move. He must have sensed I wasn’t going to answer when his eyes stopped on the box.

A crease quickly formed like a V between his brows and his expression changed from worried to pissed in a second.

I had no idea why the sudden change but he let go and took a respectful step back.

I waited for him to say something but instead I got another response. “Get down from this airplane, now.”

Way to tell me to get the F down before he actually drags me.

Without a word, I did as he asked because something had angered him and I was not going to stand there and wait for him to erupt like a damn volcano.

I sighed and followed. Once everyone had gotten off the plane, Adonis literally pushed me into a car that was waiting for us.

I grumbled a curse, annoyed that I was being left in the dark again. It’s not like I could deal with Adonis, the man already hated me even though he was confused sometimes by his tenderness one moment and then his sarcastic and offensive comments the next.

I sighed and looked down at my hands where I still had the small box. Biting my lip, I reached for it and slowly pulled it up. The necklace dangled with its red pendant the size of a lemon that seemed to be glowing inside the dark shadows of the car.

Why had Callisto given me a necklace?

I watched it with curious eyes as the thing swirled. On closer inspection, it seemed like what was inside was moving.

Maybe it was my imagination or the movement of the car, not that the road was paved. The car bumped awfully into the rocky surface as we drove deeper into the dense forest.

I was so focused on the pendant that I didn’t notice both vampires were watching me with what could be described as anger and scowls.

“Is something the matter?” I couldn’t help but ask, since none of them were telling me anything and just kept staring like I did something that offended them.

“Who gave you that?” Adonis hissed, almost choking on the words.

I blinked, then sighed. “Callisto, why?”

Another moment of silence. I annoyedly rubbed my face before placing the necklace back into the box.

“Alright, are any of you going to explain what’s wrong?”

Adonis scoffed and looked away, his attention now on the window. I turned to Hector in hopes he would at least give me a vague answer. But no, he kept silent, just watching the box and not me.

I muttered under my breath when the phone started to ring. Adonis reached for his pocket and stared at the phone before handing it to me.

“For you.”

I hesitated but took it. Answering, I waited for the other person to speak.

“Did you have a pleasant flight?” I still as I take in Callisto’s voice. “Phi? Are you there?”

A breath and tension I didn’t know I had left my body, making me slouch on the seat.

“It was good,” I answered after a moment. I looked back up and saw that neither Hector nor Adonis were paying attention now. They had their faces on paper or tablets.

I twisted on the seat and leaned on the door, watching the forest, which reminded me of the two times I traveled to Brazil to visit the Amazonian forest.

“Good, I thought you would be having a hard time.”

“Nope, I slept most of the flight, read a few things and watched a movie, but then I fell asleep again. What about you?” It felt strange to be talking like this, when usually it would be face to face, and to be honest it felt good.

Being away from him also made me realize more of my feelings for him. But I still couldn’t bring myself to say anything. I was afraid of getting rejected although I could feel that it was mutual.

“Busy, but if things go as planned, I might be there in four days.” He said. “Did you open the box as I told you?”

Because of that, I looked at both men in front of me nervously. I still had no clue why they acted mad when I didn’t know a thing about this mysterious gift.

“Yes,” I whispered, leaning closer to the window. My eyes moved up where the sun was coming through the trees.

Callisto hummed before telling me to give him a moment. I impatiently toyed with my hoodie as I heard muffled voices on the other side.

Somehow, the line got cut off, making me frown. Adonis saw me staring at the screen. “Something the matter?”

“The line cut off,” I responded and dialed back.

The line sounded busy, so I tried again, but still nothing. I started worrying when the screen came to life and a text message came into view.

I will call you back in a few, C.

I pondered whether to answer back or not, but speaking frankly, it would seem like I was desperate or something, so I diverted my attention back to the necklace. The black background makes it contrast as if it was blood instead of a stone.

It was odd, but then something clicked inside my head and I looked up at Hector, then Adonis. Then back to the necklace, then back at them.

How stupid.

I opened my mouth to ask them something when the phone rang again and I answered.

“Sorry, Darcy and his stupid way of acting disconnected us.” Callisto grumbled something afterwards which sounded like a curse in Korean, making me chuckle.

“I want to ask you something before anything,” I cleared my throat and lifted the necklace once again so I could have a better view. “Is this what I think it is?”

“You mean the necklace?” Callisto said as I heard a swooshing sound on the other side. It seemed like he was alone now. “What is that you think it is?”

I smiled. “Well, it’s a necklace but not a normal jewel, right?”

“Go on.”

“This,” I said, twirling the thing in the air. “Is like the earrings you carry. More specifically, like yours, am I right?”

Callisto chuckled. “Not bad, but to answer yes, it’s a necklace like the earring we all carry, but it’s not a jewel Yophiel, what’s inside is blood. To be more specific, my blood.”

“Your what?” I blurted out. Now Adonis and Hector were focused on my conversation.

“I see none of the guys have told you anything…”

“If you mean why they are pissed, then yes,” I cleared my throat and looked away from both men. “I mean they both are looking at me like I just murdered their pets.”

Callisto laughed this time, then asked me to put the call-in speaker. I did and waited.

“Can you guys cut it off?” he said in a tone that didn’t give them a chance to argue back.

“You didn’t warn us,” Adonis hissed.

There was a pause. Then a loud scoff.

“I have no need to give explanations of certain things I do. I am the head of bloodlines and you have no right to tell me otherwise.”

“At least give us a warning!” Adonis retorted, sounding angrier than before.

“Adonis, easy,” Hector warned from the side.

“You keep forgetting who you’re speaking to, Adonis Billiot. Watch it, I don’t want to force you down like I did with Seth and remind you who rules here.”

A chill ran down my back as I listened quietly. Even though Callisto wasn’t here the way he said, that still made everyone present submit to him.

“Now, Yophiel has the necklace, so while I’m absent she is in charge. No one goes against her, and no one, not even you two, dares say otherwise. She will command and anything that needs permission to be done or supervised will go under her knowledge. Are we clear?”

My mouth fell open wide as I stared at the phone. Did I just mishear him?

“Anything that she needs help with you assist her just like when I give an order to you. She is new to this, so be her guide. I trust you can at least do that right Adonis?” Callisto snarled the last words.

Hector smiled wickedly as he watched Adonis from the side. Something contorted on Adonis' face before he closed his eyes and then answered in the calmest voice, I’ve ever heard from him.

It was creepy to watch, but whatever happened was in a split opening of our eyes.

“Yophiel, I know this is sudden, but Adonis and Hector will help you while I’m not there. Make sure Alex doesn’t go around harassing her. I don’t want Yophiel to feel scared.”

“Alex?” I repeated the name.

“Alex is the scientist in charge of the lab where we are currently heading to. He is quite the opposite of Darcy, but he is a nice vampire, so don’t worry,” Hector winked.

“Unless he hasn’t fed,” Adonis scoffed, his arms crossed over his chest.

Now I was starting to worry. I didn’t want to end up dry like a branch.

“Trust Hector words. He won’t do you anything. I will video call you in an hour after you settle down. You can ask me anything because I know you’re curious.”

I tapped the speaker button and placed the phone in my ear. “Why are you doing this?”

Callisto sighed, “Can you trust me for this?”

“But I don’t know what you’re trying to do. You haven’t even told me why you brought me here!”

There was silence on the other side before I heard him sigh again. “Phi, I will answer all that in an hour. For now, I need you to let Adonis and Hector be your guide and don’t roam outside the lab, please.”

At that precise moment, the road opened wide and an enormous building hidden between enormous trees came into view.

I watched in awe at the green and grey building that was mostly covered in vines, making it camouflage in this secluded place where I was sure no human could easily come.

“Phi, did you hear me?” Callisto managed to pull my attention away from the building. “Promise me that under no circumstances you will leave the building premises unless I’m there. Once I arrive, I can take you around, but don’t go out with no one.”

The cars came to a stop and everyone started getting down.

“Do you promise Phi?” Callisto now sounded more urgent.

I sighed and rested my head on the seat while I watched everyone gather around. “I promise.”

“Thank you,” he whispered. I smiled wryly. “I’ll see you soon, alright?”

“All right,” I responded and started to pull the phone away when Callisto whispered my name. “Yes?”

“I…” he stopped, then sighed. “I will tell you in person.”

With that, he hung up, leaving me confused.

I shrugged it off and grabbed my things. The blazing sun burned down from where I stood. An umbrella quickly landed over my head but I scowled feeling that it was unnecessary since I really wanted some warmth.

“Do you really want a tan?” Hector crooked a brow.

“Yes, at least I won’t burn into ashes,” I smiled and started following the group.

“That’s bullying, you know?” Hector shouted from behind. I waved my hand, smiling.

Although I said the words jokingly, I somehow felt that sooner than expected I wouldn’t be able to walk like this under the sun.