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Chapter 6 - Chapter 6 - Friendship And Truth

Kael had been searching non-stop for Penelope for an entire day. As midnight approached, he decided to take a rest under a tree, having hunted for his dinner earlier. While resting, he felt a strange power emanating from a certain part of the forest. He stared intently at that area, his eyebrow raised in curiosity. "Strange," he muttered. "Where are you?"

He sat on the root of the tree, gazing up at the stars. "I'll find you, no matter what," he vowed, softly kicking at the sand. His eyes remained fixed on the stars when a bat with shimmering grey fur flew towards him. "What the—?" Kael stood up, and the bat landed on his shoulder.

"Vesper, what are you doing here?" Kael asked, his voice tinged with surprise. "Did my father send you to find me?"

"Who else would?" Vesper retorted, rolling his eyes. "I'm sure it's not your girlfriend. I mean, come on, you're not exactly the most... aware person, are you?"

Kael answered "It's a rhetorical question."

Vesper looked puzzled. "What does that mean?" He flew to a nearby tree branch.

"Not now, some other time." Kael's gaze followed Vesper "What did my father say?"

Vesper settled on the branch. "He's asking you to come home."

Kael's expression turned resolute. "Tell him I can't. Not now, not tomorrow, not in 10 years' time. If I can't find her... and I hope it won't take that long."

As Kael spoke, he stretched out his hand, lost in thought. Vesper flew to his outstretched hand.

"Find who?" Vesper asked, his voice tinged with concern. "Penelope? What happened?"

Kael's eyes clouded over. "Penelope is missing... or should I say, she escaped."

He stroked Vesper's fur slowly. "When did this happen?" Vesper's expression turned worried.

"When did this happen?" Vesper asked, his voice laced with worry.

"I don't know," Kael replied, "but I want you to tell Dad this." He turned his head, avoiding eye contact with Vesper. "Go."

Kael's abruptness didn't deter Vesper. "Kael, will you be okay? Do you need help?" Vesper stared at him, concern etched on his face.

"I'll be fine," Kael said firmly. "And no, you should go meet my father." He stretched his hand towards the sky, and Vesper took flight, disappearing into the clouds.

Vesper's thoughts turned inward. "I've got to do something for him; I owe it to him." Memories flooded his mind. Kael had found Vesper when he was young, washed up at sea on the brink of death in Vampdom. Feeling pity for the bat, which some ignored and others tried to kill, Kael took him in and trained him, treating him like family.

At that time, Kael's mother had just passed away, and he was struggling to come to terms with her loss. Some kids laughed at him, saying the future king of Vampdom shouldn't be a "softie." But Kael didn't care. Now, Kael shouldn't worry about what Vesper would think; he needed help finding Penelope, and Vesper was willing to offer all the help he could.

Kael stared up at the sky, his face etched with worry and sadness. He let out a stifled breath and slumped hard to the ground. "Gosh, what should I do?"

He leaned against the tree and sighed sadly, staring off into the distance as he tried to plan his next move. Kael was deeply lost in thought when he saw a flashlight approaching from the same direction he was staring.

"Who's there?" Kael sprang up with lightning speed, his eyes emitting an amber-like glow.

"It's... it's me," a voice stuttered. The flashlight was turned off, revealing a dark-skinned man with a blonde crew cut and brown eyes. He wore a guard uniform, which was red and brown in color with golden stripes along the sides, and a badge featuring a galloping horse and sun.

Kael's eyes narrowed as he gritted his teeth. "The palace guard," he spat. "What do you want?" His face twitched with anger.

The guard froze, constantly biting his lower lip, which was now red with blood. "The... the queen asked me to get you," he stammered.

"I've been searching everywhere for you," he took a deep breath. "Why should I believe you?" Kael took a step forward. "Because it's the queen, here is a letter of proof." The guard took a few steps back, struggling to retrieve the letter from his left breast pocket. "Here it is," he said, handing the letter over to Kael, who accepted it cautiously and began to read.

Kael I apologize for sincerely for the King's misbehaviour , and I hope you forgive him. He's just stressed about his missing daughter . If you don't mind , which you shouldn't considering it's about Penelope, please come to the castle immediately upon receiving this letter. I would like to take you up on your offer "

Queen Celine

Kael clenched the letter in his hand tightly. "Lead the way," his voice carried a lot of command. The startled guy rushed forward, leading the way, and turned on the flashlight. Kael followed.

THE NEXT MORNING AT THE CASTLE

Everyone looked restless and deeply troubled about the missing princess and the King's health. It had only been a day, and the King's health had deteriorated badly because he was consumed by thoughts of his daughter's safety. His high blood pressure, which he had been managing, had gotten out of control since Penelope's disappearance. Tracy went to Penelope's room, lightly stroking the objects that lay in her path. She sat on the bed, reminiscing about the time they had spent together and the fun they had shared. As she looked out the window, she cried out loud

"Come back, Penelope, please come back." Her voice trembled, and her hands shook.

She stretched over to the mini drawer beside the bed to retrieve an octopus plushie, the one she had given to Penelope on her tenth birthday as a token of their friendship. As she stared intently at the smiling yellow octopus plushie, she thought, "I haven't even told you the truth about me, about how I feel." She wiped her runny nose with the handkerchief he always carried with her - the blue handkerchief that Penelope had gifted her when she found out that Tracy was highly sensitive to cold. Tracy stood up, cuddling the plushie to her chest, and gazed out the window, looking down into the garden, where a memory came flooding back.

=FLASHBACK=

15 years ago, Penelope sat on the garden swing, and Tracy sat on the swing beside her. "Oh, Tracy, I can't wait to get out of here and meet a handsome guy. I don't care if he's a prince or not, as long as he loves and cherishes me," Penelope said in a dreamy voice. Tracy furrowed her eyebrows. "Your parents won't marry you off to a commoner," she said, her tone laced with a hint of jealousy. Penelope noticed and asked, "Are you jealous?" Tracy's face flushed a light pink as she turned her face away. "No, I'm not," she replied. Penelope put a hand on Tracy's shoulder. "Don't worry, Tracy. No one can break our friendship - not even a lover or my parents." Tracy looked her in the eyes and said, "It's not that." Penelope removed her hand from Tracy's shoulder and adjusted her silky blue floral dress. "Then what's it?" she asked. Tracy gulped. "I... The thing is, I..." Before she could finish, Julius called out, "Penelope! Your parents are here." "I've got to go," Penelope said, standing up and running out of the garden. "You can tell me later," she added, leaving Tracy alone with her thoughts.

=END OF FLASHBACK=

=BACK TO PRESENT=

Tracy's voice trembled as she spoke "I-" . Before

she could continue, Cedric walked in, cutting her off. "Tracy, here you are," he said.

Tracy quickly dried her tears and turned to face Cedric, trying to compose herself. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"The queen calls for you," Cedric replied, his gaze lingering on Tracy's face. He had harbored a secret admiration for her since his first day on the job, when she was just 14 and he was 16. However, he lacked the courage to approach her, fearing rejection.

Tracy's eyes welled up again, but she dashed out of the room, trying to hide her puffy eyes. "Okay, excuse me," she muttered.

Cedric called out after her, "Tracy, wait!" Tracy stopped in her tracks, her back still facing Cedric. "What is it?" she asked, her voice strained.

"No, nothing," Cedric stuttered, frustration evident in his voice. Tracy left, and Cedric muttered to himself, "Stupid, stupid." He slapped his forehead in exasperation. "You could have just said it. You're a brave warrior, for goodness' sake. Just tell her." Shaking his head, he exited the bedroom chamber.

Meanwhile, Tracy navigated the winding hallways, taking several turns before arriving at the king's chamber. The grand room was a testament to the kingdom's wealth and power, with intricate carvings, stained glass windows, luxurious fabrics, and majestic velvet furniture. The queen had refused to leave, and Katherine sat beside her father, who lay weak and sleeping on the bed.

Tracy entered the room and bowed. "You called for me, Your Majesty?" The queen, looking tired and stressed, sat on the velvet sofa. Her voice was commanding, yet laced with fatigue. "Yes, can you please take Katherine to her room and get her washed up?"

Katherine clung to her father's sleeping form, her voice trembling with sadness. "Mummy, I want to stay with Daddy. I don't want to lose Daddy like we lost Penelope. If only we had kept her by our side, this wouldn't have happened."

Tracy's expression faltered slightly upon hearing Katherine's words, but the queen handled the situation with poise. "Kath baby, your dad will be fine, and your sister will be home soon. She's just on a vacation," the queen said, trying to reassure her.

Katherine's brow furrowed in concern. "Then why's everyone so sad about her leaving, and how are you sure Dad will be fine?" She tilted her head to the side, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

The queen's voice was gentle. "They miss her, darling, and we have the best doctors coming to check on your dad. He will be fine. We all miss your sister, don't you?"

Katherine nodded solemnly. "I do."

The queen smiled, her expression softening. "Alright then, go wash up, hmm?" She turned to Tracy, her voice calm and soothing. "Take her."

Tracy curtsied slightly. "Okay, ma'am." She took Katherine's hand, and Katherine bid her parents farewell. "Bye, Mummy. Bye, Daddy." Katherine blew her parents a kiss, and they left the room together.

Queen Celine sat down beside her husband and gently stroked his red hair. Before falling asleep, the king had apologized for his harsh words, telling her that he loved her and was only stressed and angry. "I forgive you, darling," she whispered. "Everything will be alright. We'll find her, and you'll be fine." Tears dropped down her cheek as she leaned in and gave him a quick, loving peck on the cheek. "I hope Kevin finds him soon," she murmured.

=TIME SKIPS=

It's afternoon. They have been working for hours, and the sun is scorching hot, like it would set the forest ablaze at any minute. Kevin, the dark-skinned guy, kept lamenting about the hot weather, his uniform drenched in sweat, while Kael barely broke a sweat.

"How do you do it?" Kevin asked, stopping to take a short break under a big oak tree. He sat on the ground, exhausted. "The weather is really hot, and you hardly sweat."

"I'm not human," Kael said, leaning on the tree with his shoulder.

"I know that I'm just...," Kevin hesitated. "I've heard your kind eats humans. Is it true?" Kevin stared at his feet obliviously.

"Yeah, it's true. We do," Kael said, licking his lips hungrily. "And we love people with low haircuts, their blood hits differently." Kevin rushed to his feet, reaching for his pistol. Kael stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Kevin. "You're tempting me."

BAM! Kevin shot at Kael, the loud shot sending birds flying away. But Kael dodged it at lightning speed, appearing at Kevin's back and whispering in his low, deep voice in Kevin's ear, "Relax, I don't eat humans or drink their blood." Kevin turned, but saw no one behind him.

"Ouch!" An acorn fell on his head, and he looked up to see Kael sitting on a tree branch. "How am I sure you're not lying?" Kevin asked.

"I would have killed you in the snap of a finger," Kael said, demonstrating by snapping his finger. The big oak tree tumbled down backward with a loud crash, sending birds flying again in a frenzy. "Christ!" Kevin lowered his weapon.

"Then how do you survive?" Kevin asked cautiously.

"I and my father survive on animal blood," Kael replied, walking forward with Kevin following behind him warily. "Occasionally, I get human blood from the hospital blood bank. I do that every full moon, when all vampires are at their strongest and most powerful state. We need a lot of energy to absorb the powerful energies and become stronger."

Kael stopped in his tracks, taking a deep breath as if absorbing the tree's energy. With an amused look, Kevin asked, "How do you walk under the sun without getting burned?"

As the wind rushed through his hair, Kael turned, laughing. "Certain vampires are born with a rare bloodline that makes them resistant to sunlight." He continued walking, gazing into the distance. The castle's slate-tiled roofs and gleaming spires, which seemed to touch the sky, came into view. "We are almost there," he said, pointing at the castle. "We need to hurry up."

Kevin walked slowly, panting. "I'm sorry, this is how fast I can walk." He stopped in his tracks. "So that means you have a rare bloodline," it sounded more like a question than a statement.

Kael walked up to Kevin and put Kevin's arm over his shoulder. "Come on." They walked a little before Kael answered, "Yes."

"That's cool. Your father and mother can also walk under the sun, too?" Kevin asked.

"Hmm, apparently my father can't. I got it from my mother. She was a queen," Kael said, avoiding eye contact with Kevin.

"Was she the one who handed the throne to you?" Kevin asked, looking at Kael with a straight face.

"No, she's dead," Kael said in a final tone.

"Do you want to walk any faster?" He smiled at Kevin.

"Yes, but with my strength, I can't, and the sun is a no-go," Kevin replied, pausing. "Sorry about your mother."

"Then you don't mind," Kael said, ignoring Kevin's condolences.

"Mind what?" Kevin asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Hold on tight," Kael smirked.

Before Kevin could respond, Kael took off at a mind-blowing speed, leaving Kevin screaming like a banshee. It didn't take them more than 10 minutes to reach the castle gate. As soon as they stopped, Kevin stumbled out of Kael's grip, dizzy and disoriented, and threw up immediately in front of the gate.

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