And fate is not a coincidence...
Jeffry Ernest Luxion
****
Birds chirping and splashing pool water are heard to dominate the afternoon atmosphere in the gazebo of the Blanchard palace garden. You can see a happy smile from there. Ellevine reached out for a cup of rose drink and took a delicious sip.
"Mother!"
Two people were walking towards Ellevine. The Mates now look fine after last night's fight which finally made Yeri burst into tears in Jayden's arms.
"Come here, son! Accompany this old lady to enjoy a cup of roses," Ellevine smiled crookedly.
"Mom is too beautiful to be old." Yeri replied with a happy smile, wrapping her arms tightly around Jayden's arms.
The two of them sat right in front of Ellevine. The garden gazebo looks quite spacious. With a circular table in the middle. It is decorated with various flowers that combine very beautiful colors when you look at it.
"How did Mom ask Jayden last night? Have you thought about it?"
When Jayden was about to speak. Yeri was the first to answer enthusiastically.
"No Mother."
Ellevine looked surprised, making Yeri chime in the next sentence calmly.
"You mean Yeri not right now Mom. I don't mind at all. It's okay if I wait any longer. I'm sure with Jayden Mom, it can be taken care of later. The most important thing for now is Zara coming back to us."
Jayden glanced at Yeri's face who didn't seem to have the slightest hesitation in expressing his opinion. The events of last night suddenly flashed through Jayden's mind. Regret. Jayden deeply regretted what he had done last night.
Ellevine responded by smiling looking at the two of them in turn.
"Mom, it's up to you. All I want is for your son to live happily with his Mate."
In the midst of their conversation, they heard the footsteps of someone stomping in the palace corridor towards the garden gazebo. Considering they were vampires they must have had keen hearing, even if it was the sound of leaves falling on the ground. The sound of footsteps grew clearer along with a very familiar scream in their ears.
"Leo!! Stop... otherwise you won't be sleeping in your room tonight!!
Hearing Rico's screams made the three of them laugh in surprise and excitement. Especially with Jayden. His little brother never changed. Judging from his physique, Rico has grown into a grown man. But only the body develops. In Jayden's eyes, Rico's behavior was not much different from that of a boy who had just started walking.
"Finally you got caught too you naughty rat!!"
Rico swiftly prevented Leo's movement and silenced him with both hands.
"I'm going to make you Leo's dinner soon!" Rico scolded like a mother scolding her child's misbehavior. Rico gripped Leo's body in his grip in a squatting position.
"What about your son?!" said Jayden.
Rico immediately averted his gaze. He was so focused on catching Leo that he didn't realize that he was now near the garden gazebo looking at his sister and mother.
"Ahh sorry I didn't see you guys here." Rico replied with a grin as he stood up to straighten his hair which was a bit messy from his running fight with Leo.
"My son came here!"
Rico crouched down and let Leo go after he lectured Leo with all sorts of threats to scare the mouse away. The sight made Yeri laugh as she patted Jayden's shoulder. "When did he become a man?" Yeri's laughter continued until Rico arrived in their midst and positioned himself to sit next to Ellevine.
"What are you calling me Mother?"
Rico asked as his right hand reached for a cup containing his mother's rose drink.
"This is Mother's. If you want to ask the maid to make it." Jayden glared. Simultaneously patted Rico's hand who politely took Ellevine's drink without permission.
Rico looked irritated but didn't take the cup in front of him.
"What the hell are you Jayden? Let your sister drink it!"
Rico's face instantly turned happy and triumphant then took a sip of his mother's rose drink while looking at his brother with a mocking look.
"If mother continues like this. Her mind will never develop. She will act like a baby!"
"I'm not a baby! If you want I don't mind a sword fight with you. Now!!" challenge Rico to act like a real fighter.
"Enough!! I didn't call you here to fight. Or I'll be mad and won't talk to you anymore!!"
Sometimes Ellevine really couldn't stand the sight of her two sons always getting along. But Ellevine knew they both really loved each other. Rico and Jayden immediately fell silent. Hearing Ellevine's threat there was no need to think twice to silence them. For Jayden and Rico it was the biggest punishment for them. When Ellevine silenced them and didn't speak to them for days.
Yeri, who had been silent for a while, actually held back a burst of laughter when she saw the two brothers who were now frozen stiff with a resigned face. Yeri was no stranger to seeing a scene like this. Since the first Jayden and Rico have always clashed even if it was only a small matter. But after that the two of them will become a very romantic brother and sister.
Like when Rico treated Jayden's hand because he was scratched by a fork that Rico threw at Jayden on purpose at dinner. Rico immediately felt guilty then took a bandage and swiftly wrapped it in Jayden's hand. It is very funny. In an instant they become cat and mouse but in an instant they can be like sticky tree sap that is hard to separate.
For a moment the atmosphere was quiet. The two brothers seemed to have no intention of arguing anymore. They silently stared at their mother waiting for their mother to speak.
"I'm going to tell you a big secret. The secret about your adopted daughter. Zara."
The three of them looked at each other in shock. "Why do you suddenly want to talk about Zara. Do you want to tell me that." Jayden's guess was right.
"Mom actually knows the vampire who kidnapped Zara. I really know about that..!"
"You know?" Yeri asked in surprise and disbelief at the same time. If Ellevine knew, how could he be this calm? When his own daughter is in very big trouble. How can Ellevine want the title of Queen to Yeri when Ellevine alone can solve this big problem. What exactly happened? Yeri knew Ellevine would never play around when it came to her children. Ellevine herself would intervene. Yeri's mind was racing thinking about what Ellevine just said.
Rico who heard that also looked confused. "Why didn't you tell us? How could something as big as this keep you quiet!?"
"Be patient, my son. Listen carefully to your mother." Ellevine is no stranger to the nature of this one son. Always curious and impatient.
"The vampire who kidnapped Zara was her Mate."
The atmosphere was quiet again for a moment. Ellevine's answer just now made Yeri and Rico think hard when they heard Mate's words. The same reaction when Jayden told his mother at that time. When Ellevine hugged Jayden and told him this big secret.
"Mate?!" Yeri was really surprised to hear that word. I don't know if this is destiny or not but this reality is very complicated for him. Zara kidnapped her own Mate.
"Mate?" Rico also immediately responded. His mind wandered with all possibilities. However, he also sometimes becomes a genius even though Rico's childish attitude continues to this day. Thinking how he and his brother want to take Zara back and separate Zara from her own Mate. And in a few moments Rico began to understand it.
He thought of the time how his brother could tell him not to kill the vampire who kidnapped Zara. Even if a mosquito bites Zara, Rico is sure that Jayden won't let that happen. Now all is possible. Rico felt that Jayden had known this from the beginning from Mother. Also considering how difficult it was for them to catch Vampires, there were only one and the six of them were equipped with strength above the average vampire. Even if he wanted to, his brother didn't need anyone's help to catch the Vampire. There's no need to be told again that Jayden has half demon strength.
Various curiosities welled up in Rico's mind. It makes his eyes look very serious. He guessed the reason behind the big secret he had just heard. Zara, her adopted sister, was kidnapped by her own Mate. Weird, and unexpected at the same time.
A glimpse of Rico's eyes saw Jayden who seemed silent and seriously listening. That means Rico's guess is right. Jayden had known this from the start. Now everything her sister did made perfect sense. Maybe for Jayden the search and chase they did last was just a test run. Rico meant like a fit test as Mate Zara.
"How did you know all this? Did the palace spies tell you?"
Yeri's face was not as tense as before. He tries to make sense of any current unforeseen events and find the best solution.
"Not a palace spy, not from anyone."
The three of them waited for Ellevine's next sentence. Jayden, who had been more relaxed, was now also enthusiastically paying attention.
"A book that told Mother. A crescent-covered book decorated with tendrils of leaves around it..."
"What's that got to do with Mother?!" Rico sighed in annoyance waiting for all the answers that were on his mind.
"The book that contains the owner of eternal blood and the owner of the crescent moon sign. The book explains that if the two humans meet then the moon will appear as red as blood, wind and thunder collide to form a combination that thunders in the sky. In short, the owner of the eternal blood and the owner of the crescent moon sign are an eternal couple who have been ordained by a strong destiny. It's not just the destiny of the moon goddess. But destiny itself determines their bond."
Silence, they really listened carefully and at the same time did not expect what was written in the book.
"The night before Zara was kidnapped. Nature was thundering. The wind was blowing hard with the sound of thunder. It was a sign that they would meet at the appointed time. I saw the full moon looking terrible, blood red combined with the wind and the sound of thunder... I'm sure that Zara has now met her Mate. It was none other than the vampire who kidnapped her."
"It's true. I'm not sure about that yet. But if the vampire wanted Zara's blood. He would have done that from the start. Not really. Not until now."
Ellevine's guess was correct but not completely. Because in fact Jeffry was only assigned to bring Zara.
Jayden took a deep breath, adjusting his seat. Hearing Ellevine's explanation. He is increasingly convinced that Zara will be safe. But not completely. Just for a moment.
"Then sis, what about our plan. Do you still want to buy Zara? Or should we let her go?"
"That will never happen. Zara remains the property of the Blanchard family. We will keep looking for them. If Zara is still okay now that's possible. But news of the arrival of the possessor of immortal blood will soon spread throughout the vampire nation,... and the worst thing to be heard by the king of Dracula. That is fatal!"
"Yes Jayden is right. This news is both good news and bad news. The good news is we are a little calmer knowing Zara will be safe with her Mate. But, what about Mate Zara? Do they know each other? If not, this is also very fatal ." Yeri replied seriously.
"I don't think so. If it is, the vampire will aggressively mark his possession. Given Zara's blood that our nation so wants. Or Zara refuses and she doesn't know if that man is her Mate. Zara certainly doesn't know anything about our world. "
Rico laughed bitterly. As if it was very funny to him. He was the only one laughing in a serious situation like this.
"Do you know who the vampire is?" Ellevine shook her head. "I don't know about it yet. One thing I do know. The strength of a vampire with a crescent mark is almost on par with Jayden's, maybe even greater. On par with a vampire with Demon blood."
"But still. Whatever it is, I will bring Zara back and catch the vampire. We will soon find Zara. In the near future."
Jayden's decision was unanimous. He won't let go of Zara even if Zara is now with her Mate. At least he's a little calmer and isn't as rash as yesterday to stupidly take it out on Yeri.
Hearing how much power the vampire had made him not too worried. Also during the quest at that time whose real purpose was only to test how capable the vampire was to protect his sister... Jayden's analysis had convinced him enough.
The little rose drink that was left seemed to witness the conversation and the answer to the big secret between Jeffry and Zara which was finally revealed. A pair of Mates who turned out to be fated thousands of years ago, which is narrated in an ancient book.
Even the two of them are not aware of it now. Because their story is just beginning. Challenges, obstacles, struggles, unfolded to welcome Jeffry and Zara enthusiastically. Only fate can tell how they will survive or fate says otherwise.
Of course it's all still a big puzzle.