An immeasurable beginning, ending with desire and hope.
Jeffry Ernest Luxion
***
Lord Blanchard's irises lit up as red as blood, his breath heaving with rage. The horse he was riding sped as fast as a shadow through the vast forest. The fangs on both sides of his mouth were sticking out sharply. The darkness and the thickening fog didn't make Jayden Galandra's anger a bit subsided.
Rico behind there stomped his foot hard on the horse, keeping pace with his brother's horse speed. In a situation like this he must always be near his brother. The sister who is so patient must control her brother who is difficult to control his anger.
Jayden again sighed in exasperation, his eyes closed several times revealing flashes of the past that filled his mind.
"Please always take care of Zara, baby, think of Zara as your real sister." the woman who was Zara's mother crouched down, aligning her body with the prince Blanchard. His hand stroked the little boy's black mane lovingly.
"Okay aunty Mee Ren. Jayden promises to always take care of Rico and Zara." Jayden glanced briefly at the two small children who were sitting together, playing with dolls in front of the palace balcony window.
Mee Ren smiled faintly, the little prince in front of him was known for his strength mixed with Demon blood. They are wrong. To Mee Ren, this little child in front of her was an angel.
Mee Ren's two hands pulled Jayden's head closer and landed a kiss on the forehead of Prince Blanchard's figure with affection, like a mother.
"Brother stop! Calm yourself!!"
Rico's shout made Jayden's mind come to his senses. His heart was beating more and more irregularly. The promise he had made to Mee Ren's aunt made him even more worried about Zara's current state.
Rico has now managed to keep up with his brother. He was worried that his brother's anger would put them both in danger.
"Did you hear me sis?!! Stop your horse!!"
Jayden decided to pull the saddle. His legs went down and now he stood motionless beside the horse. Rico quickly approached him and hugged his brother tightly.
"Sorry." Jayden spoke softly and returned his brother's hug.
"Zara..."
Rico pulled his body and stared at Jayden's irises which were still burning bright red. "Zara won't get hurt. Did you forget bro? I'm also her sister. I also promised Mee Ren aunty to always protect Zara. Right now, I'm also worried about her condition."
"Assassins won't hurt Zara, they won't risk confronting our clan. Calm down sis Jayden." Rico's firm hand patted Jayden's shoulder with confidence.
Jayden's eyes dimmed slightly. His mind was really confused just now, considering that the Assassins could do anything to Zara.
"What a coincidence, Sis," Rico took a deep breath, his head slightly tilted upwards permeating his sense of smell.
"They're coming to us."
Rico stepped back and stood right behind Jayden. The ringing and galloping of the horse's hooves was getting louder and clearer. In the dark and thick white fog the seven Assassins appeared like a shadow.
Of course, Lord Blanchard gave a petty smile. And the surrounding aura was shrouded in black aura.
"The show begins."
Rico drew his sword at the same time the Assassins were standing parallel to the two of them.
***
her body now turned her back to Jeffry. The tears that almost dried up in the corners of Zara's eyes she wiped with the back of her hand and held her breath for a moment.
Zara turned to turn her position and now faced her guardian who was sleeping with a cold face.
Zara seems to have a small smile on her face. "Jeff,"
Jeffery's eyes opened slowly. Zara was happy because it turned out that Jeffry really did not mind the call he made.
"I am hungry."
Jeffry looked at the two brown irises for a moment then nodded.
"Wait here, I won't be long." Zara nods in response.
Jeffry was gone for a long time, making Zara start to get bored until her eyelids closed a few times from holding back sleep. "Jeffry why are you taking so long, should I look for him?"
Zara thinks with the remnants of her consciousness, and finally she chooses to sleep. After that Zara began to close her eyes, leaving a small snoring sound from her mouth.
A few moments later...
Duarr
"Jeffry!"
A very loud bang managed to force Zara's consciousness back. Zara's gaze wandered around, but Jeffry wasn't there. Even the situation is still conducive as before.
Not wanting to bother, Zara lay down again, but suddenly flashes of light grabbed her sense of sight. Zara's eyes are now fully opened to see a red flash mixed with loud bangs booming in the thick night sky.
"What do you see?"
Zara is surprised by Jeffry's sudden arrival, coupled with her curiosity by the horror she is witnessing.
"What's that?"
Jeffry followed Zara's index finger. For a moment Jeffry also thought because the bangs and red flashes in the sky must have come from someone who has great power.
"That's your brother's doing." The answer is short.
Zara was stunned for a moment, her expression turned confused.
"Most importantly it doesn't put you in any danger. Eat this, I only found some wine, but I think it's enough to fill you up a little."
Never getting a reply from Zara made Jeffry's patience thinning.
Jeffry put one wine into Zara's mouth quickly. "Eat well and swallow!"
"Jeffry Ernest!!" irritably Zara chews her food. His gaze returned to the direction the flashes had flashed.
In no time Zara's wines were gone. Jeffry turned to observe, his eyes darted around Zara's smudged mouth.
"Clean your face, then rest!"
Zara nods and walks towards the river bank. "By the way, thanks for finding me some food."
"Aren't you hungry, have you drank..." Zara paused, her gaze now shone with fear on Jeffry.
"blood."
"I'm hungry and for a while, I haven't been drinking blood..."
"If you just wanted to give me a little of your blood, I'd probably be very full."
Jeffry's gaze turned sharp, making Zara even more frightened and regretting her question.
"Quickly finish so you can get some rest soon!" Jeffry wanted to lie down again but his sense of hearing caught something odd.
Witnessing Jeffry's actions, made Zara wary. "Anyone going to attack us?" Jeffry nodded along with a red flash that had filled his hazel irises.
Jeffry took the robe and hastily put it on Zara's body. "We have to go now!"
"Looks like there's no rest time, huh?"
"Yes Zara, stay focused and obey everything I say." Zara nodded and put her body in Jeffry's arms. They entered the forest again, dashing through the dark night.
Crash
"Elves."
An arrow shot and managed to graze Jeffry's arm. The bow that Jeffry guessed belonged to the Elves.
"Jeff! Your arm!"
"Not bad, I can still hold on."
Zara is now really wary, and can't understand why all the creatures here bother her so much and want to kill her, and Jeffry is always a victim because of it.
Jeffry shot off as fast as he could, not caring how weak his body was at the moment. He had to defend Zara, no matter what. That's his job as a guardian.
The creatures were still chasing, several times releasing bows but Jeffry nimbly dodged them.
"Are you alright Jeff?"
More and more, Zara felt Jeffry's steps slowing down. The irregular breathing hitting the top of his head made him think that Jeffry was so exhausted. Zara's gaze was looking straight ahead, in a moment, they would arrive at the end of the forest but suddenly Jeffry stopped and held his head which was throbbing violently.
"What happened Jeff?!"
Jeffry was silent, enduring pain all over his body. His head was throbbing so violently that Jeffry was in so much pain.
"What about you?!! Please don't make me panic."
Jeffry's body slumped to the ground, but his knees managed to support him, Zara swiftly caught Jeffry's body.
"Jeffry!!" Zara immediately brought her hand to Jeffry's face, holding him tight.
"Please say something, what should I do?!"
With difficulty, Jeffry finally spoke up.
"Hide."
"You're crazy!! Then I'll leave you alone! I won't leave without you."
Zara hears very clearly that someone is coming. Zara's vision became blurry due to the puddle of water that filled her eyelids. Seeing Jeffry in pain plus the creatures who want to finish him off makes Zara regret her fate now.
Practice being brave Zara. I think from now on you should know exactly where you are now.
Jeffry's words at that time, suddenly crossed when Zara was about to give up. Zara rudely wipes her tears and stands up confidently. His eyes looked in all directions looking for a way to save Jeffry and survive the enemy's pursuit.
A large but very dry tree caught Zara's attention, her steps approaching a tree that was certain to be hundreds of years old or maybe even thousands of years old. Right standing in front of the big tree, making Zara flabbergasted with the crescent moon light that seemed to illuminate the tree in front of her.
"Eternal blood."
Crack
The idea crossed Zara's mind, she grabbed a sharp branch from the tree and scraped it into her hand, a scratch long enough that the branch was stained with Zara's blood.
In the midst of enduring pain all over his body, Jeffry suddenly fell silent, smelling a very familiar scent. That is the scent of eternal blood. Zara's blood.
Zara smiled crookedly looking at the branch which was covered in blood. "This method definitely works to trick the enemy." He hastily tore the cloth of his shirt to bandage the wound on his hand from the scratch he made.
"Arrgh!!"
Hearing Jeffry's growl made Zara hastily run towards the end of the forest which was only a few meters from where she was standing, then threw the branch far down. After that Zara ran quickly to Jeffry and lifted Jeffry's body carefully.
"We'll be fine Jeff! Please hold on. I'll try to protect you, don't worry."
When Jeffry and Zara have been far enough from their original place, the two creatures have just arrived, pointy-eared creatures called the Elves.
Sure enough, they fell into Zara's trap and ran towards the end of the forest following the scent of immortal blood which was actually just a twig covered in Zara's blood.
Jeffry's steps were getting wobbly when he felt his heart beating so fast it caused heat to spread throughout his body.
Jeffry can no longer walk, his body limp to the ground but Zara quickly restrains him. Zara's eyes shone with fear and sadness at the same time. "What the hell happened?! Why are you suddenly in pain like this!!" Zara screams in frustration seeing Jeffry who is in constant pain and in fact, Zara doesn't know the cause.
"Blood."
Since earlier, the smell of Zara's blood had really bothered him. He wanted blood. Really want it. And that adds to the pain in his body.
"Blood, you want blood don't you? I will give it. Drink from my hand!"
Without thinking, Zara untied her hand then brought her hand in front of Jeffry's mouth. Now, regarding Jeffry, even his blood he would give. At this time, Zara is increasingly realizing that she no longer likes her guardian vampire figure. But I love him very much.
Drop after drop of blood flowing in front of him made Jeffry go crazy. It wasn't Jeffry who wanted it, but something that resided in his body. With the rest of his strength, Jeffry actually pushed Zara to bounce far or the risk would be greater than this.
Zara's bones felt broken at the same time, she couldn't understand why Jeffry would attack her. "Are you crazy Jeffry?!"
"Get out of here!!"
Jeffry's screams were so loud that Zara's heart broke to tears. "I won't go, I'll stay here..." Zara replied in a barely audible weak voice.
"If you don't go, I will kill you Zara!!"
"I don't care, I still won't go!!" Zara stepped closer to Jeffry, even though her heart was hurt by Jeffry's words. However, whatever happens he must save Jeffry.
Not halfway there, Zara stopped and froze. His lips seemed numb as he watched Jeffry spit out a lot of black liquid from his mouth.
"Arghhh!!"
Jeffry growled with his irises as red as blood followed by sharp fangs sticking out of his mouth.
"Jeffry," Zara said quietly as their eyes locked. Until finally Zara realized that the figure in front of her was not the man she loved but a monster who wanted her blood.
The thing Jeffry feared finally happened tonight. The crescent moon has reached its phase. It was Jeffry's routine, as the owner of the crescent moon sign, he would camouflage into a demon that resided in his body.
Two large black wings protruded from behind Jeffry's back. This is the perfect phase, the demon has taken over his body. The crescent mark on his shoulder shone as bright as the crescent moon in the sky, his eyes had also completely blackened and black tattoos were engraved along his right neck.
"Blood."
he mumbled softly but was able to make Zara's whole body shiver. Is this the end of it all? Zara asked herself with tears in her eyes looking at Jeffry who had turned into a terrible monster.
"Actually who are you Jeffry?!"
Jeffry's head lifted to look at Zara who looked back at him helplessly.
"Jeffry?" The figure actually asked back with a small smile.
"A stupid prince who always cares about other people's feelings. A weak man with many wounds from his past. A person who is always taken advantage of by others, but he is too stupid not to finish them all."
The demon laughed loudly, booming in the silence of the night accompanied by a gentle gust of wind.
"You're not Jeffry!! Jeffry won't treat me as badly as you!! You're the devil!!"
"You're wrong Zara, this is who she really is. It's just that this guy is too stupid for not choosing me to rule over him and become the strongest immortal being ever. Hahaha!!"
"You really are a monster!! Give Jeffry back and get out of my sight!!" Zara got up and resumed walking closer to the monster in front of her.
"Come closer I really like the smell of your blood. Come to your death Zara!!!"
"Death? You're the one who's going to die, you damn demon!!"
Zara holds back her steps, she actually doesn't understand how to beat that damn demon at all. But, one thing Zara is sure of. Jeffry would never leave him. Jeffry will save him.
"Jeffry, I'm sure you're still there!! Please come back!! You can definitely defeat this stupid demon in front of me."
Jeffry was in there trying to take his body back. But the chains that bound him were so strong. Even though he hears it, Zara's voice keeps calling for him, but all he can feel is darkness, pain, bad past, and all forms of sadness in his life.
The demon was really very angry hearing the words that came out of Zara's lips. Plus the pain in his body when Jeffry struggled to take over his body again.
In a flash he flung his sharp nails at Zara and ran as fast as a gust of wind. Zara is silent and starts to close her eyes.
"I love you Jeffry Ernest Luxion."
The meaningful words that escaped from Zara's lips stopped Jeffry's hand from moving in the air. Not Jeffry, but the demonic figure was hit by a spell that would make him trapped in Jeffry's body and unable to control it anymore. The mantra that Jeffry had wanted to hear.
Declaration of Love from his Mate.
"You!!" The demon spoke with pain as thousands of bows rained down his entire body. For hundreds of years, Jeffry's curse has finally disappeared. Because death has come.
Zara slowly opens her eyes, their eyes meet again. The devil has returned to the deepest side of Jeffry's soul. And now, the pair of eyes staring at Zara belonged to Jeffry. The cold gaze that always makes Zara feel the Guardian's warm attitude.
"It's you?"
Jeffry nodded weakly unable to hold his body anymore and collapsed hugging Zara. "Jeffry, you're back!"
"I know that. You will never leave me." Zara said and wept bitterly hugging Jeffry's body tightly. His hand stroked Jeffry's mane with joy.
He almost lost faith when he saw the figure of the monster that had taken over Jeffry's body.
"Zara..."
"Yeah Jeffry, I'm here with you."
Jeffry pulled his body slightly, he vomited blood again. Zara rolled her eyes seeing the thick red liquid flowing from the corner of Jeffry's lips wetting his chin and neck.
In an instant Jeffry's body fell into Zara's lap. With the rest of his strength. Jeffry turned to look at Zara's face. No, but his dead face.
Jeffry finally found out that the girl he had been with all this time was someone he had been waiting for all this time. Someone destined to be his soulmate. Someone who will complete it. Mardelia Zara Zeanne. The owner of immortal blood who turned out to be his mate.
The two pairs of eyes locked each other until Jeffry's gaze slowly dimmed. His eyes began to close with a smile that actually pierced Zara's heart.
"Forgive me,..."
"Mate."