74. The cause of Bella's death is unknown

The grief is still spreading in Angel's heart, and it hasn't even been healed by her bedtime activities with Erick last night. This morning, he was at the funeral home to deliver Bella's body to be cremated.

Angel was seen holding baby Erlena, approaching the chest containing Bella's body. He stood by her side, looking at Bella who looked beautiful in an all-white dress inside.

"Hi, Bell... this is Erlena, my daughter." Angel smiled bitterly with tears in his eyes again. "He's not even three months old, but he's already very big."

"Aaauuummm...." Baby Erlena roared as if she wanted to talk.

"Isn't she very beautiful, Bell?" Angel brought baby Erlena's body closer to the chest. "You should be able to carry him, Bell."

Angel's chest felt so tight again, her eyes started to heat up. However, he was too tired to cry, so he finally chose to hold back the sobs which made his heart ache even more.

"The person... who..." Suddenly Erlina's baby whined, bringing her body towards Bella's body with both hands as if to reach out.

"Honey, what do you want?" asked Angel, who was overwhelmed by her daughter's active movements.

"Just leave it," said Erick, who came closer. "He just wanted to touch Bella."

"Hah?" Angel turned to Erick with wide eyes. "So what?"

Erick shook his head slowly. "I don't know, I don't know why Erlena wants to touch Bella, but just let it go."

Finally, Angel followed Erick's orders, bringing baby Erlena's body closer to Bella's face. Sure enough, her daughter immediately calmed down, with one hand stroking Bella's very pale face.

"Honey, what are you doing?" Angel muttered softly.

Baby Erlena seemed to be pulling her hand away, turning around and whining at Erick.

"Let me carry him." Erick grabbed the tiny body, because he knew that baby Erlena wanted to be with him.

"Could it be that he wants breast milk?" Angel seemed to frown.

"I don't think so, let me take her out for a moment," said Erick with a faint smile, reaching out a hand to caress the side of Angel's face.

"Don't cry anymore, because I don't like seeing you cry."

Erick walked away from Angel, passing by the mourning guests. No one would know that he wasn't human, because there was nothing different apart from his slightly pale skin.

"What's wrong with you, hm?" Erick kissed baby Erlena's red cheek, took the baby for a walk in the park in front of the funeral home.

Baby Erlena's tiny hand seemed to be pressed against the side of her father's face, with her gray eyes suddenly tinged with red.

"Erlena?!" Erick shouted, immediately stopping in his tracks, his eyes widened when he saw the image transferred by baby Erlena through the touch of the baby's hand. "You- aren't you wrong?"

"That's what I saw, Daddy," answered baby Erlena through her thoughts.

Erick closed his eyes with his jaw clenched. "Father hopes you don't tell your mother first."

On the other hand....

Angel appeared to approach Bella's mother who seemed silent near the coffin. Bella does have a fate like her, as an only child and only lives with one mother. That's why they are so compatible because they seem to be able to understand each other's situations.

"Mrs. Kneth," said Angel gently as he rubbed the woman's shoulder.

"Angel, sit down."

Angel smiled faintly, then sat beside Mrs. Kneth. He could see the deep sadness on the woman's face, even though there were no tears there anymore.

"He misses you," said Mrs. Kneth looked straight at the chest. "He said that you haven't contacted him anymore."

Angel grimaced as he felt his heart becoming increasingly painful. Guilt hit him again, especially when he hadn't had the chance to meet Bella face to face after losing contact for months.

"I went through a lot, and that night - I apologized to Bella," Angel replied, squeezing her own hand.

"That night-" Mrs. Kneth turned to Angel, his flat face suddenly changed to a confused expression. "I heard him scream."

"Did you see why Bella was screaming?" Angel asked with a serious face.

Mrs. Kneth shook his head weakly, his face sad again. "I ran to her room, but Bella was already lying stiff when I entered."

"Was there anything strange in his room when you came in?"

Mrs. Kneth took a deep breath, his eyes wide as if he was re-imagining what happened last night. "Bella's eyes were still open, but she only had one breath left. But she had time to say-"

"Say what?" Angel interrupted impatiently.

"She is a female."

"So?"

Again Mrs. Kneth shook his head weakly. "Just that, then Bella's eyes closed and-"

The woman was no longer able to continue her sentence, instead lowering her head deeply to suppress the sobs that were ready to come out again.

"What actually happened to you, Bell?" Angel muttered to himself.

***

"You can always put her to sleep," muttered Angel with a gentle smile as he looked at the peaceful face of baby Erlena who was currently sleeping in his lap.

Angel turned to Erick who seemed to be driving the car. He frowned when he found the man was silent as if he hadn't heard what he said.

"Erick..." Angel's hand reached out, rubbing Erick's shoulder gently. "What do you think?"

"Ah no..." Erick blinked quickly, putting on a smile that looked stiff.

Angel sighed softly as he leaned against the car. "Earlier I spoke with Mrs. Kneth, Bella's mother."

"Hmmm."

"He said that before he died, Bella said something."

"What?"

"She is a female."

Erick's jaw immediately tightened, his grip on the steering wheel even tightened. "We should return to the castle."

"Why?" Angel looked back with a frown.

"I have business in my world," answered Erick with a stiff face.

"You can come back and we'll still-"

"I can't," Erick interrupted with a firm look. "I can't leave you guys like this. It's clear there are crazy vampires playing around in the human world, and I can't have my soldiers here."

"Did you forget that I also have powers."

"I know, but I still won't be at peace if I don't take care of you guys myself. So-"

"Tomorrow," Angel interrupted firmly. "Give me one more day with mommy here."

"Okay, we'll come back tomorrow."

Soon their car arrived in front of the house. Angel got out of the car and went straight inside, finding Anne waiting. The servant didn't come, because his appearance was too different, and it would attract everyone's attention.

"Please take her to the room," said Angel as he gave baby Erlena's body to the woman.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Angel took a deep breath, stepped towards the kitchen. That's when he met his mother who seemed to be struggling in the pantry. "Mom, what are you doing?"

"Mommy is cooking your favorite food before Mommy leaves," answered Mrs. Matthew with a gentle smile.

"Mommy's working?" Angel frowned deeply.

"Yes, darling... Mommy has to go to the hospital now."

"Didn't mommy take leave while Erlena and I were here?" Angel protested with pursed lips.

"I'm sorry, Mommy... Mommy just got news that Mommy's substitute doctor had an accident. So, today Mommy has to come in, and tomorrow Mommy can have a day off."

"Tsk...." Angel chuckled in annoyance. "Even though we have to go back tomorrow."

"Why are you guys in a hurry?" Now changing to Mrs. Matthew frowned.

Angel was silent for a moment. He chose not to tell the real cause of Bella's death, because he didn't want to make his mother scared again like before.

"Erlena can't be in the human world for too long, Mom... she still has to adapt. So, we decided to come back sooner," explained Angel with a stiff smile.

"Ah okay, mommy understands." Mrs. Matthew smiled gently. However, suddenly his face turned sad. He drew closer to Angel, cupping both sides of his daughter with a close gaze. "Lily, mommy loves you very much. Mommy wants you to always live happily even without Mommy in the future, and Mommy is sure that you can live happily together with Erick."