F(r)iendly Exchange

Eve immersed herself within the coolness of the tranquil waters. The sunlight kissing her skin was warm, and the dampness enveloping her body felt cold. The combination itself was pleasant.

She flicked her limbs afloat and letting herself enjoy such delight.

" Eve." A low voice summoned her back, setting her in place.

She opened her eyes and looked at Carla. He is dripping wet, sitting by the edge of the pleasure boat.

" Aren't you tired?" He asked after sipping a yellow-colored drink. She's been swimming for some time, and he was concerned she had turned pruney in there.

Squinting her eyes to take a better look, she was positive it was a mango shake. She swam towards Carla, ready to get a glassful of her own.

Seeing her approach, he smiled, extended his hand, and offered.

" Need a hand?"

Of course, Eve took his without a second thought and boarded.

" Thank you." She headed straight to the cooler located under the counter, got her mango shake, and returned to where Carla was.

She dipped her feet upon the lake as she savored the fruity treat. Carla merely observed all her actions, not putting into words the thoughts circling in his head. He finished his drink in three forceful sips and mounted the empty glass beside him.

He then watched Eve's leg flicker within the dark waters.

" Eve, do you know why no one swims in this lake?" A question came out of his slightly curled lips.

There was no response, but two pairs of azure eyes met. One is vibrant but impassive, the other spunky and unrestrained.

She doesn't know, but according to Halfsie, this ancient lake also has tales of its own. However, it wasn't surprising given the history of the family and their territory. The gist was that many have perished within its pristine waters. It's a picturesque site, yet perilous. Somehow, it mirrors the ancestry who it guarded among the castle walls- deceptively dangerous.

" Not adding the rumors, but the real reason nobody wants to submerge themselves in is because of one thing- underneath the lake is countless remains." He gazed at her, not missing any of her reaction, and resumed.

" There's not an inch below that is not covered with skeletons, you know."

Curious, Eve questioned Halfsie the validity of his claim. It only took a moment for the furball to enlighten her. It also added that beneath are many weapons, armors, and even some treasures like jewels and gold coins. If one is brave enough to search, they would be able to gather wealth.

" Interesting. It's like we're swimming in a massive bone soup."

" Yeah." Carla chuckles upon hearing her unexpected reply.

It took almost a week to build the pleasure boat, which is Carla's gift to her, as thanks for rubbing off her golden dust of luck. He had it made after she proposed dipping in the lake, a proposition that took everyone by surprise. The rest didn't hinder her since they knew it was safe. The things beneath were only relics of their bloody past, nothing more. They only refused to treat it as an ordinary body of water out of preference.

" You don't seem surprised. Have you heard about the talks about our kin?"

" That the Cross' are like fairies?"

" Hehe. Let me tell you a little secret."

[ A secret?] Eve's gossip cells instantly perked up.

" We are not only similar to them appearance-wise, but turned out, we are descendants of that being."

( Is that true?) She consulted the also gossiping system guide.

( Yeah, host. A long time ago, a fairy fell in love with a mortal and got banished for that. She remained with that man and gave birth to your ancestor.)

( Why are you only telling me this now?)

( Well, host, you didn't ask?) Halfsie popped question marks on its furry forehead. Why is the host asking the common sense? It pondered.

Eve silently listed a note "x2" on Halfsie's strikes. At this speed, it's no question that soon enough, the furball will be able to accomplish a complete BINGO for its death reward.

" What, you don't believe me?" Carla nudged as he failed to receive the other's response.

" It's true, I tell you. I accidentally stumbled upon this fact. I think it's some kind of document that only the head of the family will know. Even that prick, Tess, doesn't know it yet. Hahaha. " He laughed at the thought of being ahead of his older brother, who reeks of superiority. So what if he's better at him at everything? At least he's more beautiful than him.

Eve doesn't know his brain circuit, only contemplating that since fairies had existed before, then the possibility of those rumored spirit-laden fireflies might be real.

" Eh, why aren't you speaking?" Carla pouted.

" Well, what do you want me to do with this life-changing revelation?"

" Ahaha, well, you're right. It doesn't matter. Truthfully, I'd rather it's not real." For a moment, his eyes dimmed as he stared at her. It was only momentary, as he regained his feisty aura a second later.

There's one thing he had not told her. It's that the females of their kin are both blessed and cursed.

In addition to beauty, wit, and intelligence, they are blessed with a peculiar ability that defies nature, allowing them to stand among the masses. Listed in the document were some of the powers that they've encountered. From seeing a glimpse of the future to outstanding talent in medicine, all of which are random. Among them, his aunt Lilian is mentioned to be stellar in business. Even Lucian wanted to yield the family businesses to her, but she refused, saying she was bored of it. Then one day, she returned from wandering the world, saying she found the one. He remembers because from time to time, his old man would be laughing now and then, like a neurotic. He would look melancholic, then chuckles, and mutters to himself as he reminisces memories of his block-headed sister.

It also validated another truth about the females of the Cross bloodline.

That is, within them lies an inherent eccentricity, that when ignited, no one could ever stop. That explains why Eve is so damn crazy. Well, not that he dislikes it.

His gaze went on Eve's profile again. Perhaps his focus is too strong that it attracted her eyes. Then she proceeded to ask,

" Why do you look at me as if I've grown a banana on my face?" With a deadpan voice.

A soft chuckle escaped from his lips.

" Eve, you must not die." Carla uttered as he rubs her semi-dry hair.

That's right. All of them are cursed to succumb to death.

Despite their beauty and extraordinary talent, no one envied them. No one, for they knew these outstanding souls are fated to die.

As if mocking that there's no escaping the punishment of that betrayal, they are eternally doomed to return to dust.

He only scoffed when he first read it, saying it was mumbo-jumbo superstitious stuff needed to spice up their history. However, after interacting with Eve, he somehow felt it to be authentic.

And he is disheartened to know that sometime soon, this quirky cousin of his would die, one way or another.

" I won't die unless I wanted to." Eve doesn't know why Carla's head weaved such brain supplement but answered honestly.

Carla's selective hearing abilities filtered Eve's "unless I want to" remark. He's busy formulating preventive measures so Eve won't die.

That sparkling, determination-filled eyes told Eve that he is up to hunt Uncle Lucian's coffers again.

Then out of the blue, he heard her inquiry.

" Leon, have you spent it all already?" Casting aside what he spent for the pleasure boat, a considerable sum should have remained.

They had just won aplenty in the Black Playhouse a while back, and he had just conned her uncle a few days ago. Yet, looking at his scheming, prodigal aura blasting off the charts, she could tell. In all honesty, Eve appreciated Carla's capacity to spend money like flowing water. He's so proficient it should be called a skill.

" Cousin, do you have any idea how expensive information is?" He sulked as he recollected the dough that had flown far away before it could stay long enough to warm his hands.

Obviously, Eve doesn't. She has a cheat and knew things. Despite its hideousness, Halfsie proves it is almost all-knowing.

Considering his lengthy history of modus operandi, he should be squandering money for a long time.

" What are you looking persistently for?" Her gossip cells are all online, part 2.

" Not what, but who." Carla's eyes became minatory. Unmistakably, his bloodlust stimulated by those words.

Getting an idea of who he is searching for based on his ignited menacing aura, she doubted.

" I thought you already found them and punished them all?"

He cast her a meaningful glance but didn't interrogate her how she knew.

" Found them alright, but that son of a bitch master of theirs is quite capable." Carla stood, went to take a can of beer, and returned. When he saw Eve's eyes glued on his naked torso, without flinching whatsoever, he grinned.

" I'm quite glad you're not disturbed by it."

" Should I be?"

" Well, every time Mom sees it, she sheds tears, you know. Her eyes look at me as if I'm back to being a five-year-old dying kid. Even the old fart looks at me with such disturbing eyes. It gives me the creeps." He chugged the beer and flickered his foot in the waters.

" I think it looks okay." Her surprising answer caused his brows to raise in confusion.

" It just shows you survived 31 days in that place, and your heart, despite being pierced, had not stopped beating. Your scars are proof of your tenacity. That when facing death, you didn't back down." Her eyes were still the same languid blueness, but Carla, can't stop staring at them.

On Carla's left chest, just above the position of his heart, lies a scar, and on his back, marring his skin, are multiple scars from cigarette burns. Laid out in a neat seven rows by five columns, the 31st scar was placed below, in the middle. The whole design was like a morbid joke.

He got it after his abduction ages ago. At that time, the Eastern Region was in turmoil. The previous head has just died few years prior, and the power that lay low within the shadows moved. Lucian did his best to protect his family, but something went wrong. In the end, Carlaeon got rescued a month later. He was discovered in a ditch, lying in a pool of blood. Covered in bruises, wounds large and small, his tiny body was on the verge of collapse. Still, he survived.

Carla laughed upon hearing what Eve stated. But, it was different from his usual flagrant roars. It was soft, unrestrained but pure, like a teen that had not tasted life's cruelty at all. It's a very distinct flavor from his usual reactions.

" I agree with your every word, cousin because I think so too. These hideous scars are my badge of honor." He ran his finger on the inch-long mark on his left chest, his eyes more lively but contained a more dangerous glint.

" But, I'll have to correct you on one thing. They did not pierce my heart. They missed it by this much." Carla stretches his index and thumb across his sternum, displaying the width of the missed area.

" I have a dextrocardia." He grinned and resumed speaking,

" A miscalculation they'll regret with their lives."

" Have you killed them?"

" Aside from their turtle boss, I had." They exchanged glances. Finally, the masks are off.

" Aren't you afraid of me, my cousin Eve?" A fiendish expression painted his handsome face.

" Why should I, cousin Leon?" An equally devilish smile bloomed on her lips.

" Hahaha! That's why I like you, Eve." Carla once again rubbed her head.

[ Like me? Can't blame you, I'm great.] She narcissistically thought as she moved away, escaping his attempt to wreak havoc upon her mane.