Chapter 17: Ren's Errand

He mustered all the courage he has and took a deep breath before giving the box to her.

"Here..."

"What's this?" She blinked and tilted her head to the side, wondering what's inside the box.

"Just take it and see for yourself." He grabbed her hand and placed the box on her palm.

She chuckled and opened the box.

"Rain, this is..!" She took the small circular object inside.

"It's a ring... and don't worry, I didn't steal that. I bought it. Though, it's the cheapest one there is." He said and saw her stretching her hand towards him.

"Please wear it on me." She smiled with that angelic face.

If it was the old him, he would say, 'Can't you wear it yourself?'

But right now, it's different. He has changed and the way they are has changed. He sighed in defeat and took her hand and the silver ring.

"Astrid... I don't have anything to give you except for this promise: I'll forever love and cherish you with all of me no matter what happens." He softly whispered and wear the ring on her finger.

Tears ran down her cheek as she stared at the simple silver ring. She is happy. Truly happy.

Not just for the gift but more than anything else, his promise is what made her tears fall down.

"Me too... I, Astrid, will love Rain forever... no matter what, even death could never take us apart."

She suddenly pulled him for a hug and cried in his arms. Rain did the same and gently rubbed her back in circles.

How he wished he could dream more. But it all ended so sudden.

With that, the priest heaved a sigh and got up from his bed. He went to the bathroom to wash his face and looked at himself in the mirror.

"You kept haunting me in my dreams, Astrid... But where can I find you?" He clenched his fist with a painful expression.

"I want... to see you..."

After that moment of silence, the priest decided to forget temporarily those feelings as he started the day. He stretched his arms in the sky as he was about to begin cleaning the backyard when he saw a familiar face.

"Mr. Helsing, what brings you here?" He blinked.

The lad smiled apologetically, "Sorry to disturb you, father."

"Woah! So cool!" Rin and Ren exclaimed after seeing what's inside of Damien's suitcase.

"I invented those things." He proudly said.

"What does this do?" Rin asked as she raised the choker necklace.

"That thing will make you invincible by the sun."

"Really!?"

Ren wore the choker, "Let's try it!" She opened the door and jumped outside.

"Ren, wait! We don't know if--!" She was about to stop her sister but it's too late.

She already stepped under the sun but it didn't even burn her.

"How did it..?!"

"See? I told you so." Damien chuckled.

"Hey nerdy, does this thing have a time limit or something?" Ren asked.

"It's Damien, not nerdy. And no, it doesn't have limits. Just make sure it won't get wet or break."

Ren suddenly patted his back, "That's amazing! I kinda like you now, nerdy!" She laughed.

Damien almost cough, "Thanks. And it's Damien."

'Her hand is so heavy despite being a female vampire.' He said to himself as he thought his back might break from that hand.

"Oh my, what's this about?" Ran came and heard their noise.

"Sister! Look! Ren can now walk under the sun without applying the lotion! It's all thanks to Damien!" Rin announced.

"Perfect timing." Ran said and gave Ren a list.

"What's this?"

"We're out of some ingredients. Can you go and buy those? I'll be needing them for that day."

"Tch! It's my day-off and yet I've some errand to do? So lame!" Ren complained.

"Oh c'mon! You're well aware that that day is very important. Besides, you won't get to eat big sister's cooking if you act like that!" Rin scolded.

Ren flicked her tongue, "Tch! Fine! But I'm doing this for young master not because you told me so."

"Hey nerdy, I'll be borrowing this, okay?"

"Sure, and like I said, it's Damien." He sighed.

"Tss.. Whatever. I'll be off then." Ren waved goodbye before she left.

"May I ask, what's that important day you're saying?" Damien asked Rin.

"Oh that?" She giggled, "Tomorrow is young master's birthday. And we'll threw a surprise party for him!"

"Oh? That sounds... fun.." He mumbled, finding the right word to describe it.

Truth be told, he doesn't attend royal parties that much. It bores him to see the politics behind it.

"You bet! And since you're part of our family now, you'll help us to prepare!" Rin said and pulled him inside.

"Eh? Why me?" Damien didn't get the chance to escape as he was already pulled by her.

"That would be 1738.39 php." The lady in the cashier said and Ren handed the cash to her.

"Keep the cents." Ren said and took the plastic bag and left the grocery store.

"Hmm... Where should I go next? I don't want to go home yet." She mumbled.

"E-excuse me..."

Ren turned to the lady beside her.

"Y-you're... Miss Ren, right?" She asked.

Ren blinked few times and frowned.

'Who is this girl? How did she know my name? Do I know her?' She asked herself.

"Yes, that's me. What do you want?"

"I knew it!" The lady beamed, "Don't you remember me?" She asked.

Ren stared at her intently trying to remember anything.

She has this short curly black hair, fair skin, long lashes, cute little nose, some freckles, and pinkish lips.

Those features are indeed familiar to her. She tried to recall. And a memory suddenly flashed in her mind.

"Hazel?" Her eyes widened as she finally remembered the girl.

She nodded happily, "Yes, it's me!" She jumped and suddenly hugged her.

If she's not a vampire, she would've lost her balance and fall. And good thing she is.

"You've grown so much! How are you?" Ren asked and messed her hair.

"I'm doing fine. And you look the same like the first time I met you." Hazel grinned.

"Oh I know, let's grab a bite and eat!" She pulled her hand and went to the nearest restaurant.

"Uhh Hazel? This place is kinda fancy." Ren whispered and became nervous. She doesn't have any extra money with her.

"It's fine. This is my treat."

"Woah! Really?"

"Yeah! It's for saving me back then."

"Awesome! If all humans are nice like you, I might save them all!" Ren said and Hazel giggled.

"Mr. Helsing, what brings you here?"

The lad smiled apologetically, "Sorry to disturb you, father."

"Today's the last day of our class. Our semestral break came earlier than expected so, I thought of paying you a visit." He added.

"Is that so? How thoughtful of you." The priest smiled and invited him inside his room.

He prepared some tea and placed their cups on the table.

"May I help you with something?" The priest asked.

"Father, I want to thank you for helping us back then. We couldn't make it without you." Rae smiled in gratitude.

The priest sat on the chair, "Don't mention it. I'm just doing what is right and my duty as a hunter."

"Also, I want to apologize for the trouble of keeping our secret. We do appreciate your kindness, father!" The lad bowed his head.

"Don't worry about it that much." He smiled.

'I already lied to them so... I have no room for regrets.' Father Stephen thought.

"So, is that all you're going to say?" He asked, "Surely, you didn't come here to apologize and thank me, right?" He smirked as if he can see right through him.

The lad gently rubbed his nape and made an awkward laugh.

"You got me there, father. I'm really bad at hiding things."

"Well, is there something you want to talk about?" The priest asked as he started to drink his tea.

Rae looked down, 'To be honest, I don't know why my feet always bring me to this place whenever I'm troubled. But he's the only one I know who can help me. And here goes for nothing...' He thought and gathered all his courage to ask.

"Father Stephen, have you ever fall in love?"

When he heard his question, the priest almost spit the tea out of his mouth.

He coughed, "W-why did you.. suddenly ask?"

"Well... I want to know how it feels to fall in love. I've read that your heart beats fast when you're in love. But you can also feel that when you're scared. Some books say love is when you feel butterflies in your stomach. I don't quite get it, how would I know if what I'm feeling in my stomach is exactly what has been said, not the other way around? Some says you're in love when you blush. But how could I check my face when I'm blushing. That would be weird." The lad explained and heaved a sigh.

"Father, how would you know... if it's already love?"

The priest remain silent for a moment. To be honest, he doesn't know how to answer that question either. He wasn't even sure if he's worthy enough to answer that.

But for some unknown reason, he can't seem to turn down this boy's curiosity. Why can't he seem to refuse him?

Father Stephen took a deep breath, "I have..." He said in response to his first question.

"And it was the best feeling I've ever had." He smiled as he recalled something.

She covered her mouth, trying to hold her breath. She can't afford to get caught after getting this far. But her heart won't stop beating so fast.

"Come out wherever you are, little girl." A man's voice echoed around the dark alley.

When she thought he walked passed through where she's hiding, she saw him behind her, grinning menacingly.

"Found ya~"

She ran as fast as she could. She can't scream. Her voice won't come out. All she could do is cry.

Just like in the movies, she got tripped and fell on the ground. Her legs are shaking, she's too tired to stand. She's been running half an hour ago. But she can't give up. She has to move!

She crawled and crawled. But it was useless. The man grabbed her curly hair and pulled it.

"If you just obeyed your uncle earlier, this won't happen to you. Now don't blame me."

She struggled, but it's no use. She's shaking and felt too weak to deliver a punch.

"N-noo..!" She managed to say when her uncle grabbed her clothes.

"Hold it right there, old man!" Someone shouted from behind.

When her uncle turned around, she saw a teenage girl with a ponytail.

"Hey, hey, can't you see I'm busy?"

She flicked her tongue, "I don't care. Just get away from her."

Her uncle laughed mockingly and stood up.

"Fine. But you'll pay the price instead." He was about to grab her when her eyes turned red, grabbed the man's wrist and twisted it around.

He groaned in pain, "You! How dare you!" He used his other hand and was about to punch her when she stopped him using her index finger.

The girl yawned, "Y'know, I hate pathetic guys like you so... screw up!" She said and flicked her finger on his forehead. Then, the man flew and hit the wall.

The little girl was shocked. She blinked fast and rubbed her eyes but it seems like she's not dreaming. How did she do that?!

Then she glanced at her savior who was about to leave. This little girl gathered all her strength to stand and ran towards her.

"Wait!" She exclaimed, "Thank you for saving me!" She bowed her head.

"Tch! Listen, don't let anyone bully you. Be strong, got it?" She said.

"How can I be strong like you?"

She blinked, "You mean that? That's impossible. I'm a vampire that's why I managed to kick his ass like that."

"A... vampire?"

"But know this, whether you're a vampire or not, it doesn't matter. Don't let men get into you."

She nodded eagerly, "I understand."

Then, she chuckled, "What's your name? You can call me Ren."

The little girl smiled, "I'm Hazel."

"I still can't forget how you saved me that night. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be able to achieve the things I wanted to do." Hazel said as they sat on the bench.

"Man! Time sure flies fast. You look a fine lady now!" Ren grinned.

"Yes. And I took your words in my heart. Before, I was afraid of men. And because of what you said, Ms. Ren, I became wiser around people." She said and tucked her hair behind her ear.

Ren noticed a circular object around her finger.

"Hey, is that..."

Hazel noticed it and showed the ring to her.

"Ah, this? I've been wanting to tell you if we ever meet again, Ms. Ren. I've always been afraid, but... I can't stay forever like that. I've become wiser around guys because of what you said. And now, I'm engaged." She smiled brightly.

"Is that so?" Ren saw how happy Hazel was and that's enough for her to be happy as well.

"Hazel." A man suddenly approached them.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Ren blinked and glanced at Hazel, "Is he..?"

"Ah yes, he's my fiancé. Don't worry, he's different from other guys." She chuckled and went beside the man.

"We'll be going then, it's nice to see you again, Ms. Ren." Hazel smiled.

Ren stood from her seat and glanced at the man.

"You'd better take care of her, got it?" She said and the man nodded.

After that, Ren went home as well. Seeing Hazel once again made her realized something. Human lives are so fast and fragile. Far more different than vampires like them. Even so, they get to find happiness and live the most out of their mortal bodies.

Somewhat, she feels envious.

"I've meaning to ask, Cal..." Primo said while staring at the sleeping figure of the queen.

"What is it?"

"I've been wondering, where does the queen's ring come from? It's silver and cheap, surely it doesn't come from her family's jewelry."

"I don't know either. But before her majesty fell asleep, she asked me not to remove it. She's been wearing that ever since..."

"Ever since what?"

Calcifer shook his head, "Nothing. I forgot." He lied. He's not entirely sure if his memory serves him right.

"I'll be going back. You stay here and look for her majesty."

"Tch!" Primo groaned, getting disappointed on the good part of their conversation.

Calcifer went back to the library and closed the passage. Just then, Damien passed by.

"Man! Those triplets are sure weird and crazy." He mumbled.

Calcifer narrowed his eyes at him, "Not because they already liked you, doesn't mean you've won my trust as well." He glared before walking away.

"Tss.. such a hard one." He smirked.

And then, his phone suddenly rang. It was Edward, calling him.

"Yes, brother? Have you watched the video I've sent you?" Damien snickered.

'Indeed. And that's why I have decided... I will meet him soon.'