(Chapter 54) An Oath

Mr and Mrs. Tuhs were both pretty worried when they saw Winoa had come home without Astrid. But when Winoa said she was still working, they stayed quiet.

It was unusual, normally Astrid would call one of them to say what she was doing, but this time she didn't. They could only imagine what she was doing now when it was nearly time to eat...

Then Mr. Tuhs got a call from Astrid. Mrs. Tuhs urged him to answer quickly, which he did.

"Dad, I won't be home tonight, I have some things to do at the business for the night." Astrid's voice came through on the speakerphone.

Mrs. Tuhs was quite surprised. She never thought he daughter would turn down food for work...

Winoa could hear from a distance and suddenly felt shuddering. 'I said I would follow Young Miss. But I still feel fear of her. No matter how kind she is to me and others, I feel she hides an innate darkness within her.' Winoa couldn't help think back to the businessmen and stockholders she killed earlier. Was she going to do that throughout the night? Or was she going to work on some papers? Winoa learned that she didn't know a lot about Astrid at all...

"Okay, just be careful. I'll come to pick you up from the company at 8 tomorrow morning." Mr. Tuhs spoke in a tone that Astrid couldn't argue back against.

On the other side. Astrid sat on the sofa with her hands and face covered in blood. Her black outfit had turned half crimson. And she kept a wide, but warm smile on her face. "Don't worry dad. I'll be there." She hung up the call with a chuckle.

Astrid looked back at the mess she made and sighed, she couldn't clean all this up on her own quick enough. She would need to make it seem like a serial killer came in and had a rampage...

.......

After 2 hours of tampering with evidence, Astrid finally felt comfortable going back to the company. She hadn't changed her clothes and now she would need to throw them away. But at least at this time no one would be able to see her in the darkness.

Astrid got back into the company and cleaned up in her room. She made sure to throw out her clothes and also took a long shower...

When she was done, she took a seat on the sofa she had. It was the same as the one at home, it made her feel better...

'This body isn't human. The pleasure I felt in taking fresh blood is evidence for that. And also...' Astrid couldn't believe she lost her cool like that. Never, ever, had she done that before. She normally killed with a purpose, not for the fun of it.

Astrid then took a packet of cigarettes from her desk. She had asked Wu to get some for her. Although he didn't agree, just a bonus and some lessons made him sway.

She sat there smoking, as her room filled with the smell. She could feel her mind becoming clearer.

'I can't go and do that again. I'd get caught immediately. Maybe I already need to establish a presence in the Mafia, or maybe in the underworld as a whole.' Astrid felt this change in her body was an issue for her. She knew if she ever got caught. She would either be experimented on until death, or be killed immediately.

The night was a solitary one for Astrid, sitting and smoking, which gave her a lot of ideas for the future which she would implement...

......

And like that, it was time for Astrid to leave school.

Francesca started to weep and sob about leaving school. While Leone was left taking subtle gazes at Astrid. Winoa was consoling Francesca and also motivating her.

"We should swear an oath!" Francesca suddenly blurted. Making Astrid look away from the trees she was looking at.

Francesca put her arm out. "I swear that I will forever stay friends with you all. No matter how busy I may be, I will make time for you all." She looked uncharacteristically serious while swearing her oath.

Leone giggled watching Francesca be so serious. He placed his hand above hers. I second that, if I never met you all. I would still be lonely and not have decided on a goal for myself to work on, now that I have friends. I will always make time for you all." Despite him for making fun of Francesca, he said an equally serious oath.

Next Winoa placed her hand above Leone. "I swear that I will never forget the great times we have had together, I will never become estranged to any of you." Winoa had a light smile on her face, she felt incredibly lucky to have these true friends.

She had started to see the dark side of society. Treachery, profit, benefits. So having friends beside her that she can be relaxed with, was nice.

They all then looked at Astrid, who slowly placed her hands under Francesca's. "I swear, I will always make time for you all. If you require any help in your future endeavors. I will provide the support you need without hesitation." Astrid spoke a lot, and had a shift in expression.

They all looked at her in shock. In recent months Astrid had become a little closed off. Even more so then usual, but seeing her be so serious now. They all smiled at her.

"3,2,1. Biscuit!" Francesca then sealed the oath...

Leone felt his eyebrows twitch. "Biscuit? How insensitive to seal an oath like that." But then again, it suited Francesca's personality quite well.

Francesca giggled. As Astrid's eyes flashed seeing her car arrive. "About about coming around my house for a bit?" Astrid offered to them all.

Leone was quite shocked, he had been invited a few times but couldn't go those times. But still, being invited around Astrid's house still shocked him.

They all nodded. Of course, this would be the biggest shock to Leone, who still doesn't know Astrid's identity despite having snippets of information from Francesca's birthday.

So the 4 all entered into Astrid's car. The driver didn't seem surprised and began to go back to the house...

......

"Woah, is your family rich Astrid?" Leone was quite in awe. The 'house' would be more accurately described as a mansion. Although it wasn't the largest in the world. The renaissance architecture and stunning garden immediately caught his sight.

Francesca couldn't keep her laugh in much longer. "Hahaha, let me tell you now Leone. Astrid's family is much richer than mine. Both of her parents are quite well known." She spoke with a small smirk.

That was when Leone realized it. "Hey! How long have you known!?" He was fuming! He didn't know Francesca was going around Astrid's house close to every day after all...

Francesca smirked at him. So Leone decided to go sulk to himself. Maybe his friends don't care about him indeed...

"Young Miss, Master said he would be coming home early." As the driver parked the car and everyone was already out. He told Astrid.

Astrid nodded. And left the car without saying anything. The driver then did his job of maintaining the car as the 4 went into the living room.

Leone was quite amazed at the house inside, it was open and warm. It had the feeling of being cozy while also being incredibly expensive.

"Oh? You brought your friends home?" Leone was stopped by a middle-aged woman's voice.

He turned to the direction of the voice. Then was momentarily stunned.

"Mum, this is Leone." Astrid 'introduced' her friend who was looking at her mother with a gaping mouth.

Mrs. Tuhs chuckled. "I see, tell me if you need anything. I'll be in your father's office." Mrs. Tuhs recognized the young man as the younger cousin of Lewis. Who had made her husband fume for a few weeks...

Astrid nodded and then sat down to eat. She was hungry.

Seeing Winoa and Francesca act so naturally Leone felt out of place. Winoa sat down beside Astrid and ate beside her, while Francesca had already stopped Mrs. Tuhs to talk to her about what she was doing.

"That's good, I won't have time to watch you at your first set. But I'm sure Astrid has time." Francesca told Mrs. Tuhs that she had accepted her first movie offer, she had been working on her school work quite hard. So this would be the first opportunity for her to be involved in something.

Francesca moved her gaze over to Astrid. Seeing her nod at her, Francesca was quite relieved.

Leone decided to go join Astrid and Winoa. Winoa started to talk to him. While Astrid continued to eat biscuits with no words.

'Was that the reason the oath was sworn with a biscuit?' Leone was stunned, he knew Astrid ate a lot for lunch. But he didn't expect her to eat a lot of snacks as well...