LUNA ASTERBELLE’s POV
The scar that King Dawn encarved on my forearm wasn’t that much visible to the eyes of other people unless they would look up close. It still aches from time to time, but it wasn’t as bad as how it almost killed me before. Just like what he said, no one from the Dark Shadow Clan actually recognized me while I was on my way out of the main building. Even Jazpher didn’t bother to greet me when we crossed paths as he was about to enter the lobby. The guards that were standing by at the gate didn’t bother to interrogate me about my identity and the purpose of my visit.
I took one final glance at the building with the king’s face in my mind, when all of a sudden, I caught a glimpse of Yve who was crouching beside the plants which she was spraying water on. As if we shared the same brain, she randomly looked behind where I was located
Our eyes met, but there was no expression on hers as if she didn’t know who I was.
I bit my lower lip in realization that even my dearest friend doesn’t remember anything about me anymore. “Glad to see that you’re fine, Yve…” I whispered to myself, unsure whether she’d actually understand what I said from afar or not. It’s kind of beneficial for the both of us, since the fact that I was the one who turned her into a vampire wouldn’t exist in her memories any longer.
There wouldn’t be any reason for her to despise me and our kindred.
Joseph approached me the instant that I got out of the clan’s premises. “How’d it go?” he asked, which made me gasp. “Is there something wrong?” There was a hint of worry in his tone.
I immediately shook my head. “N-no, that’s not the case. It’s just that… Everyone among the Dark Shadow Clan’s members had totally no idea who I was, and I wondered why you still knew me. Weren’t you affected by what the king did inside?”
He slightly furrowed his brows. “I don’t particularly know what you’re saying, but I guess I wasn’t affected because I was waiting for you out here the whole time that we’ve been separated? Or because I’m not entirely a part of the clan?” he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. “Whatever the reason is, all that matters right now is that you made it out alive. You actually passed all of the trials!”
The way that Joseph smiled influenced me to form a curl on my lips as well, he’s genuinely glad with what I’ve achieved. “It was horrifying, really. I’d rather go on for a week starving rather than go back there and redo all of the trials,” I jokingly said.
Joseph faked a cough before his expression became serious. “Don’t think badly of me, Luna. I’m just curious…” He breathed in and out heavily, so I nodded my head to give him a sign that I wouldn’t mind what he would say. “If ever that you’re qualified to be a huntress… Will you be able to assassinate those of your kind — whether be it a vampire or a werewolf — even if you highly consider them as one of those you love?” he asked.
I was taken aback by what he said, “I still haven’t thought about that yet, Joseph. And besides, I have no one close to me to treasure, so maybe, yes?” There was a bit of hesitation in my response. “I have no friends. And another thing, both Mr. and Mrs. Asterbelle are just my adoptive parents who I resent the most right now,” I added to support my answer.
“What about me?” Joseph pointed to himself, which made me tilt my head.
“What about you?” I repeated his query.
Joseph sighed. “Maybe the trials that you’ve gone through made you denser than ever. Let’s just go back to the Blood Moon’s pack house.”
Silence overtook us as the aura between us got awkward ever since Joseph asked that one. I didn’t have any idea what I should be saying in situations like this one, especially when I know that he should be back on Andrea's side. It literally feels like he’s trying to flirt with me, and whether I keep it to myself or not, I’m most probably making it obvious that I’m disgusted with what he’s doing.
Minutes later on, we got stranded in some kind of maze that was made out of numerous hedges and shrubs. Considering how Joseph was the one leading the way, I got kind of afraid that he would eventually run off somewhere and leave me behind without prior notice.
“H-hey…” I softly muttered. He didn’t turn around to look at me, so I tried to reach out to him to tap his shoulder.
“What?”
“D-don’t walk at such a hasty pace,” I said.
He consecutively blinked in amusement. “Though you seem to have a brave front, I didn’t know that you’re a scaredy-cat inside, huh?” He laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll stick right beside you from now on,” Joseph assured me, then stepped backwards to match my current position.
Our arms kept bumping on one another and I could feel his warmth. His presence was enough to make me relieved.
“Do you wanna hold my hand?” Joseph asked out of the blue.
If only he wasn’t anyone’s lover, I would’ve given in despite all of the thoughts that I had a while ago. “No thanks,” I flatly rejected him, even if I knew that it was for the sake of better security.
Joseph’s loud chuckles kept on getting farther away, as if he was no longer beside me…
And I wasn’t mistaken at all.
The moment that I glanced sideways, I didn’t see the figure of the doctor who was supposed to be standing on my right side. I couldn’t even see his silhouette at the very least.
“You’re such a liar, Joseph…” I gritted my teeth at the same time that my shaky fists formed a tight ball.