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 small box.

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

She chuckled and opened it.

"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 explained and saw her offering her hand towards him.

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

Before, he would say, 'Can't you wear it yourself?'

But right now, it's different.

He changed, and the way they are has changed. He sighed in defeat, 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 wore 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.

"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 gently rubbed her back in circles.

***

How he wished he could dream more. But it all ended so suddenly. After all, dreams are made like that, a fragment of your bliss, memory, and even your fears.

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 those feelings temporarily 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 Damien's suitcase.

"I invented those things." He proudly said.

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

"That can make you invincible in 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 coughs, "Thanks. And again, it's Damien."

'Her hand is so heavy despite being a female vampire.' He said to himself as he thought of his poor back which might break anytime soon.

"Looks like you're all having fun." Ran came when she 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 got 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." Then, she turned to Damien, "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 all saying?" Damien asked Rin.

"Oh, that?" She giggled, "Tomorrow is Young master's birthday. And we'll throw 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 dragged by Rin.

***

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

"Keep the cents." Ren said, 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 who approached her. If she's not mistaken, this girl goes after her in the line from the cashier section.

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

Ren blinked few times and frowned.

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

But since it's Ren, she hates thinking complicated things. She just shrugged it off and chose to respond, "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, gazing from head to toe, trying to remember anything.

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

Those features are indeed familiar to her as she tries to recall. And a memory suddenly flashed in her mind.

"Hazel?" Her eyes widened as she finally remembered this 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 as the first time I met you." Hazel grinned, "Oh I know! How about let's go and grab a bite? If that is... okay with you." She smiled bashfully.

Ren shrugged, "Sure."

The girl beamed again and suddenly pulled her to a certain place.

And Ren was astonished when she saw a huge restaurant.

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

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

"Woah! Really?"

Hazel nodded, "Yeah! It's for saving me back then. I always wanted to thank you."

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

***

"Mr. Helsing, what brings you here?"

The lad smiled apologetically, "Sorry to disturb you, Father." He gently rubbed his nape and looked away, "Today's the last day of our class. Our semestral break came earlier than expected so, I thought of visiting you." He added.

"Is that so? How thoughtful of you." The priest smiled and invited him inside the small cabin.

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

"May I help you with something?" The priest asked, he already has a hunch that Rae didn't come to just have an idle chat.

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

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

The lad fidgets his fingers, "Also, I want to apologize for the trouble of keeping our secret. I know it would be hard on you and you'll be in trouble for doing so. 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, recalling his conversation with a fellow hunter.

"Well then, surely, you didn't come here just 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."

"Hmm... If there's something I can help with, I'm willing to hear you out, Mr. Helsing." The priest said and started drinking 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 been in love?"

When he heard his question, the priest almost spits 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 will beat fast when that happens. But you can also feel that way 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 say 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 love that you're feeling?"

The priest remains silent for a moment.

In all honesty, 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 past through where she's hiding, she saw him behind her, grinning menacingly.

"Found ya~"

She ran as fast as she could. She can't bring herself to scream. Her voice won't even come out. And all she could do is cry.

Just like in the movies, she got tripped and fell to 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, they saw a teenage girl in a ponytail, wearing a shirt and denim jumpers.

"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.

"I said I'm busy... Don't you disturb me!" He was about to grab her shirt when the girl's eyes turned red. Suddenly, she grabbed the man's wrist and twisted it around.

He groaned in pain, "You! H-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?!

When she came back to her senses, she noticed 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.

"H-how can I be strong like you?"

She blinked, "You mean that?" pointing at her uncle on the tattered wall, "That's impossible. I'm a vampire that's why I managed to kick his ass like that."

"A... vampire?" the girl echoed.

"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.

They just finished eating lunch at the restaurant and now they're resting in the park.

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

"Yes. And I took your advice in my heart. Before, I was afraid of men. I couldn't even look them in the eye. But 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. I found someone who truly cherishes me." 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 of it.

***

"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, "It's nothing, I forgot." He mumbled. There's something that suddenly flashed inside his head, but 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 in the good part of their conversation.

Calcifer returned 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 as he walked towards him, "Not because they already liked you, it doesn't mean you've won my trust as well." He glared before walking away.

"Tss.. such a hard one," Damien 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 I have decided, I want to meet him soon.'