Dahlia opened her eyes
She was met with the ceiling of her bedroom
Her parents and brother sitting on the edge of her bed
Her Nanny, Jasmine was standing with the maids near the door
When her parents and brother noticed that Dahlia woke up
They were relieved
"What's wrong?..." Dahlia asked confused as she felt dizzy
"Oh... dear... you were found by your brother in the garden... laying flat on garden... unmoving... You also had a high fever..." Douchess Guillebeaux explained as she pats Dahlia
"You were unconscious... for a whole day..." Duke Guillebeaux mumbled quietly but was audible enough to hear
"Oh..." Dahlia was surprised but soon calmed down. "Guess it's the after effects he said that I will have..." she thought internally
"What were you even doing on that garden for so long?" Jhony asked as he narrowed his eyes, worried yet angry at Dahlia for being careless on herself
"I- uhh..." Dahlia tried finding an excuse cause she knew that she can't say the truth to them... not for now...
"I was taking a stroll around the garden, gathering flowers... and I was feeling dizzy before I know it... I fainted... So guess it took a toll on me by taking that stroll..." Dahlia said
"You really should be careful... what if something happened if your brother didn't find you!" Douchess Guillebeaux said sternly
"Honey... Calm down... she is safe now, let it be. I am sure Dahlia will be careful from today onwards" Duke Guillebeaux said, as he put a hand on Douchess Guillebeaux to calm her down
"She better be..." Douchess Guillebeaux said, slightly calmed down
Jhony didn't said much as he hugged Dahlia, surprising her
"Brother?" Dahlia called softly, in surprise
"I was... scared when I found you... laying on ground... I... I thought I lost you..." Jhony trembled slightly as he held back tears. Remembering how he felt his world turn upside down seeing his own sister laying on ground... like a dead person
And the relieve he felt when finding out that she is only unconscious by checking her pulse
"I am fine... brother... Don't worry" Dahlia pats Jhony on his back as she felt slightly guilty but felt her heart swell... knowing just how her own annoying brother loved her
Just like that
A week passed
"How is your body now, my sapphire?" Her guardian asked her again. He has been continuously asking her this ever since she regained consciousness
He is worried about her, but doesn't shows it
"I am fine, I feel enough strength!" Dahlia tried flexing her arms to show her muscles. But there is none cause she is still a child and too thin
Silence
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"Forget it" Dahlia said as she was red, embarrassed
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It was a long silence from her guardian before
Her guardian chuckled softly, finding Dahlia's embarrassment cute yet funny
Dahlia was surprised
She never thought that her own guardian would laugh...
He was always so serious... and stoic
She just assumed that he is emotionless...
"You sound nice when you laugh" Dahlia remarked as she smiled
Her guardian was surprised but soon calmed down
"Just... focus on getting better, my sapphire" He changed the subject as his voice disappeared as usual
Dahlia was confused on why her guardian was behaving weird after mentioning that he laughed?
Suddenly
Dahlia felt something on her chest
As if a unfamiliar emotion
She got a feeling that it was her Guardian's emotions
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It was embarrassment
Dahlia chuckled softly sensing his emotions through the bond they have
She couldn't believe that she is capable of feeling how her guardian feels
Dahlia went on with her day, practically reading, writing her diary and so on
She was bored
Suddenly, her nanny Jasmine comes to her
"My lady, the youngest son from the hunts family, Lord Xinhua. Has come to pay you a visit" Jasmine said
Dahlia perked up
"Wait... at this time?" She asked, confused and worried. As she looks at her room's clock
It was 10 p.m
"I don't know too, my lady. He just came here. He also looked... a bit... troubled" Jasmine replied also sharing the same feelings as Dahlia
"Alright... I shall go and see why he is here..." Dahlia said as she got up
Jasmine only nods as Dahlia started walking off to her room, with her nanny following behind
They soon reached the guest room
As the door opened
Dahlia was met with a sight of Xinhua
Wearing a black cloak around him
"What's with you, Xinhua?" Dahlia asked, surprised by his appearance
"I can't say much! I also came without my guards cause of reasons! I just want to ask a favor of you" Xinhua said as he sounded both scared and troubled
"What is it?" Dahlia asked as her worry and confusion only increased
"It's... can I have the gift that your brother gave you?" He finally asked
"Wait- why?!" Dahlia was taken a back, along with Jasmine
"Its- IT'S IMPORTANT!!! I CAN'T TELL YOU YET!!! JUST- Please..." Xinhua hiccuped as tears formed
He soon fell on his knees, breaking down
"I-I... will only burrow it... I will return that gem to you later... just please... Lady Dahlia... let me burrow it for a moment..." He asked again while still hiccuping
Dahlia was hesitant but seeing his expression... she knew that something is wrong just by seeing his expression. She soon looked over at Jasmine
"Please bring my brother's gift, Miss Jasmine..." Dahlia said to Jasmine
Jasmine nods as she gone away to retrieve it
Dahlia soon looks at Xinhua who was now curled up on floor, crying
She sat besides him and pats his shoulder
"Xinhua... you are like a lil brother to me... so... I am worried..." Dahlia started speaking, gently
"I have to handle this carefully cause... just seeing him this tense up... I can only guess he... must be... in a dangerous situation..." She thought internally as he grips his shoulder slightly, to show that she is here for him
"Just... why are you asking for this artifact? Just what is going on?..." Dahlia asked
Xinhua only hiccuped and cried
"Hey... calm down..." She sensed that it is not that he doesn't just wants to speak about his problem...
It seems
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As if someone... or something warned him not to say anything
"Just... give me a slight clue... anything! I will understand immediately and will do everything in my power to help you" Dahlia said seriously, as she tried reassuring Xinhua
Xinhua thought for a while
His cheeks and eyes both red and puffy, evidence that he has cried a lot before coming to her estate
"I... I can't say anything... I... Just..." He paused as he chose his words carefully as if to not alert anything
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"Just... today's night... if I can't reach my destination today without any obstacles... I... I... will... survive..."
Dahlia froze up
"What you mean-" Suddenly her guardian spoke up in her head
"Don't!" He warned
Dahlia was confused but took in the warning of her guardian
Not saying anything more
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Soon Jasmine arrived with the artifact
Xinhua immediately took it
"I-... I will see you tomorrow... probably..." Xinhua wiped his tears as he ran off
Jasmine was startled, but soon looked at Dahlia
"My lady... what is wrong with Lord Hunts?" She asked, feeling more worried
"It's nothing..." Dahlia said as she stood up. She soon walked pass Jasmine "I will be in my room... resting" She said simply
Leaving Jasmine in the room who with her worries that only increased
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Finally, Dahlia reached her room
She got inside
"What was with the warning earlier?" Dahlia asked her guardian in her mind
Silence
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"Cause... that child was being watched"
Her guardian said, his voice more serious
Dahlia felt shivers down her spine
"Watched?!" She asked shocked
"Yes... watched... there is a negative energy... just outside where you and that child were sitting at..." He replied
Dahlia felt more worried for Xinhua
"Is that the reason why he doesn't wanna tell me anything?" She asked again
"No... there is more..." Her guardian replied
"What?" Dahlia asked again, growing anxious
"If he told you what is happening to him..." He began speaking
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"Not only will he be in danger... but you will also be in danger... you will be able to see it..."
Dahlia gulped
"See... see what?..." She asked, feeling dread creeping up
Silence
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"The ghoul"
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Dahlia paled a lot as she soon started becoming uneasy
"Now... what?!" Dahlia asked anxiously
"Just have to hope that child safely reaches to it's destination" He replied
"Where?" She again asked
"To his home" He replied again as thunder struck, startling Dahlia
Dahlia looked outside her window
It was raining heavily
"Will he be... alright?" She mumbled
"Hope so" Her guardian answered her
Meanwhile on Xinhua's POV
"I hope I can reach my house" He thought as he ran through the heavy rain in the dead streets
No one was around... except him
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And the Ghoul
Xinhua cludged the artifact that Dahlia lended him. He was holding on to it like a lifeline
If he only makes it home
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He will be safe
But it won't easy
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The ghoul extends it's hand as a vein came out from the ground, making Xinhua fall on ground by tripping on that vein
The artifact fell out of his hand
Xinhua felt his whole body turn cold as dread crept in
He tried desperately, reaching out to grab the artifact as tears started falling down on his cheeks. "I- I... I don't wanna end in that creatures hands!" he thought as he tried reaching for the last bit hope he has left
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"Your time is up, lil boy"
The ghoul was now behind Xinhua as it spoke
It's voice eerily calm with a sinister tone of amusement and something dark
Xinhua froze as he slowly looked up
Pitch black
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End of Xinhua's POV
"Dahlia..." Jhony came inside Dahlia's room, he leaned against the door frame with a serious expression
Dahlia was reading as she looked over
Her purple eyes shimmering in the sunlight
"Yes, brother?" Dahlia was confused on why he is here with a expression like this
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"Xinhua... youngest son of the hunts household... has gone missing" Jhony said