Chapter 169 Upcoming Eclipse

Zeke was walking alone. His senses were heightened. It appeared being declared dead has its own advantages; he was now strangely transformed into whatever he was right now. But one thing he was so sure of is that he has power over the dead. He was once again going to Ares' office where his death occurred days ago.

"What am I doing? I am supposed to be far from them. Those people are blood-sucking demons, and they are dangerous. Messing with them was asking for war," Zeke reasoned. Then he finally decided he must know if Nadine was truly the one they wanted or Slyvia, because as it seems, Slyvia possesses strong powers which he felt like she's hiding for whatever the reason might be.

But Ares was not ordinary. He knew from his ugly encounter that he was a vampire. But something tells him that that's not all; he was more than that, and he was not sure he was ready to find out. But he needed answers to be able to solve the raging issues. So coming to the staff quarters, he realized Ares was not around. In fact, the staff reported they haven't seen him throughout the day.

Ezekiel frowned. Why that? He just felt an internal rage. He couldn't believe he let Ares fuck him and, like that, dump him like a used product. That wasn't him. Just because he wanted to please him. And worse, that was his first homosexual sex, and Ares destroyed it for him. Then he began walking back, and then shadows began hovering around, forming from nothing till it became a terrifying image Zeke couldn't fathom.

"What the..." Zeke was shocked. But looking up, he saw Ares beside the creature, stroking the abomination's back. Zeke's jaw dropped. Was that a pet? That hideous being?

"Ezekiel, finally we see. I thought I buried you deep where no living soul could reach you. I wonder what changed," Ares' cold voice drifted through the cold air which was now hovering around the atmosphere.

Zeke didn't flinch, maybe because he doesn't feel threatened or because he felt that Ares wouldn't do anything to him.

"Why did you do that, Ares? I thought you were into me," Zeke's hard voice came, almost calculating.

Ares began laughing. He was tilting his head, laughing so hard.

"Oh, please. You wouldn't think I will fall in love with you. Oh, you're so delusional. And let me say something. The sex we had was just a means to an end. And most importantly, I am a high-born. I don't associate with mortals. It's a disgrace," Ares fired with a look of disdain.

"Especially with a pure-blooded vampire as me and an Original. Oh, please, what do you take me for?" Ares shot, asked. But Zeke wasn't sane to answer that. Ares just called the sex they had a means to an end, emphasizing the fact that he was used. Him, Ezekiel Sawyer, used. He was finding it hard to even believe himself.

"You think you're a big shot. Tell me, what's your purpose of coming to the school? If you're a vampire, shouldn't you be hiding?" Zeke asked. Amidst confusion, he remembered being told vampires burn under the sun. So what's he seeing? Because Ares was harmlessly walking in the broad daylight.

Ares then let out a dark chuckle. "Aren't you too inquisitive for your own good? Yeah, it appeared you have good eyes."

"We don't relate with sunlight. Have you heard of the legend of the sun and moon? If you have; we vampires are enemies to the sun, while the werewolves are to the moon. That's it. You believe in those?" Ares deadpanned. His crystalline eyes were dancing with mischief, and Zeke shifted back uncomfortably. He does not want unexpected surprises.

"So is that why you're here? To give me a prep talk about supernaturals around?" Zeke inquired deeply, staring into Ares' dark, unfathomable eyes, which seemed to bore a hole so deep Zeke shivered so much. For Ares to have this aura around him, then he was really powerful, if not extremely powerful.

Ares' eyes then changed to golden, emitting a more deadly aura.

"And what makes you think I will indulge you, Zeke? Because I fucked you? Oh, what a pity. I actually want to eliminate you forever because you have the effrontery to kill my vampire friends." Ares' eyes gleamed while approaching Zeke.

Zeke walked back, eyes calculating. The menacing figure with crooked bones and a huge mouth like a straw, not to mention its hands that looked like those of a centipede, was horrifying.

"So let's do this. Since I am about to kill you, let me let you in on my little secret. We are looking for the Divine Being, a child of light and controller of fates. I want them perished from the surface of the earth. And through my calculations, the Eclipse is coming next week Friday, so the child of light shall be awakened, and your blood will be the host," Ares revealed. And after that, he clapped his hands, and the horrifying creature attacked.

Since they were at the lowest ground of the school building, no one took notice of the anomaly even going on. Ares stood at a corner observing. Finally, he would unravel what Zeke actually is, because after being shown the mauled body of his vampire friends, he became genuinely afraid. Because that's one of the hidden powers of the Red Oak Tree: power over the dead. And if a person has that, the vampires then are truly in danger.

The creature suddenly screeched, and it was enough to make Zeke's ears bleed. The voice was like a thousand souls screaming from hell, and Zeke hated that sound with passion.

So when the noise subsided, the creature suddenly multiplied and rushed to Zeke at an inhuman speed. Zeke, who watched the demonic act, raised his hands, and a red light enveloped his fingers, glowing in an eerie manner. And a powerful red beam was let out, tearing through the building around. And the blast gave a massive strike at the creature, instantly obliterating them from the surface of the earth.

Ares blinked in shock and smiled. Finally, he has figured it out. Truly, Zeke encountered the Red Oak Tree, and he has one of its abilities. Before retreating, Ares played one of his cards.

"I know why you truly came here, Zeke. It's to find out my real mission, whether it's connected to Nadine. But unfortunately, I have gotten you there. Nadine, as we speak, is on probation. She has been exposed as a guy hiding under the disguise of a girl, and also a murderer. So, Zeke, my search now is over."

Ezekiel knew what Ares was doing, and he played along.

"Mr. Ares, sorry to burst your bubbles, but Nadine Anderson is now under my protection. And trust me when I say this: if you touch a strand of hair from her, you're dead. And now I have gotten what I want, so see you never, dude. And fuck you and your little dick." Zeke walked out, frowning. He won't lie, the news of Nadine's leaked secret shocked him so bad, and he was so worried what's happening right now.

---

Ares bent down on the floor where the creature's ashes were. And observing it, he began giggling.

"Time isn't on our side again. The Red Oak is already recruiting its guardians. So before the Eclipse, Slyvia and Nadine will die." Then his mind moved to Zeke. Why was he turned on by Zeke's defiance? Wow, it appears he's making Zeke his mate. Imagine having a powerful partner as your mate. That would be terrific. So he's marking Zeke within this week....