The vampire got close to Everie in a blink of an eye. His mouth that was messy from the woman's blood was now grinning like a dumb kid.
Everie who was still in shock just sat there with a spooked face. Not until the vampire finally spoke again.
"I-It's really you right?! It's you, the Black Hood!"
"I'm… what?"
The vampire stood up as he jumped around excitedly.
"It's really you! The cold thief who stole the hearts of people like me! Please take me as your apprentince!"
He then bowed 90 degree infront of Everie who was still processing what had just happened.
'This idiot thinks I am the Black Hood? Is it because of my robe? Or my demeanor? Even so…'
Everie thought about it for a while before getting up.
"Right. It takes more than that to be my sidekick," he said with a straight face, gripping his knuckle tight to not show that he's shaking.
'If I tell I'm not, won't I just die here? This guy is clearly dangerous!'
The vampire's happy face was torned off immediately. His smile was now droopy.
Everie felt panic surged inside of him. The second he tried to talk him out about it, the vampire suddenly grinned again at him.
"I'll make sure I get stronger the next time I see you, master! I promise!"
He didn't respond at first, only let out a soft nervous laugh.
"Right. Good for you. Goodbye then…"
Everie slowly walked away from the place. He didn't look back but he could hear footsteps following him.
'What the hell is he scheming?!'
He then finally turned to his back to scold the vampire.
"Could you please leave me alone—"
BAM!
A red orb was suddenly shot just a few inch beside Everie's head. Making him slowly turn back to the front in shock.
Infront of him was a mischievous man. His expression full of resentment.
"Grr…! How did you dodge that?! So you are the Black Hood."
Everie wanted to deny it fully understanding that this man didn't want to kill him, rather the Black Hood. But he also realised how the vampire was still standing behind him.
'Damn it. Damn it. Please just go away!'
"I'll end you today!" the man shouted as he threw another orb towards the powerless Everie.
But before it could manage to even get close, the vampire had already shoved Everie to the side. His red eyes glared sharp at the man.
"Oho, you have a little bat friend huh?"
The vampire grit his teeth before his claws got out. Long and sharp enough to pierce through a person.
"Leave him alone. You're not worth his time!"
The man let out a bored yawn before throwing another orb towards the vampire. But there was an obvious power gap once his sharp claws reached the man's chest.
"Kergh—!!" the man groaned as his heart was shoved out by the vampire.
The man fell down on the ground, cold. Then the vampire took a bite of his heart before turning to Everie with a smile.
"Master, how did I do—"
His eyes opened wide when he saw that Everie had passed out from shock.
"M-master?! Did I throw you too hard..?!"
He rushed to him. Tossing him around and even slapped his face.
The second his bloody hand reached Everie's face, he stood up immediately, breathing heavily.
"I-I..!" he stuttered in panic.
'He must have found out how weak I am. There's no way he still thinks I'm the Black Hood!'
But instead of looking angry or dissapointed, he looked rather sad. A frown on his face.
"I must have took too long that you fell asleep out of boredom…"
Everie was silent.
"I will be faster next time, master! So wait for me until then!" the vampire said with a smile.
Then he finally stood up, patting the vampire's head with a soft smile.
"You'll do well."
But in reality, he was screaming inside.
'Dang it, just leave me alone already! I'm too young to die! Hopefully he doesn't feel the shakes in my hand…'
The vampire's eyes were filled with tears before he hugged Everie's legs, sobbing. Everie flinched in return but he just froze in place.
"Waaah, you're the kindest villain, master! I swear my loyalty to you forever!"
He finally wiped his tears and got up, grabbing Everie's hand then spoke with determination.
"I'm Ciel! I'll make sure to give you my all in order to become your partner in crime. I promise!"
But all Everie could focus on was how his hands were now smudged with blood all over. He gave Ciel a cold fake smile as he finally left him alone.
He then let out a loud sigh of relief before heading back to Dean's house.
'I don't want to see him ever again!'
He couldn't sleep at all that night. Or maybe he wished he couldn't. Because clearly the vision he had wouldn't leave him alone.
—
Morning came and he felt as restless as ever.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
'It must be Dean…'
Everie opened the door to his room. There, Dean stood infront of him with a nervous smile.
"U-uhm! I remembered how you said you forgot your memories… I might just have the solution to that."
His eyes widened at Dean's words then he replied.
"You do? How so?!"
The both of them sat at the dining table. Then Dean gave him a small paper.
"I happen to know a psychic. She might be able to give you some answers… Even if it's just a little."
'A psychic…'
There are little to no more psychics in the whole world. Making their identities usually a secret to prevent assassination. Their powers let them tell a person's fate, the past and even the future. It was said that there were only one left in this whole kingdom.
'So she went hiding here…'
"Can you really just tell me about this?"
Dean gave Everie a smile and a nod.
"I'm sure she would be delighted to see a dragon in person."
He thought about it for a while before giving the place a try.
—
The place seemed to be a flower shop in the town.
'Can she really help me?'
There was a boy who was watering plants. Suddenly, his eyes darted to Everie. Up and down until his eyes widened.
"Oh! It's you!"
Before Everie could respond, the boy suddenly shouted.
"Mom!!! The client is here!"
"Coming!" a woman's voice was heard from inside the shop.
"It must be you, Everie! I'm Flora Rubert, nice to meet you!"
Flora was a woman with long braided brown hair. Her green eyes were calm. Suddenly, all Everie's worries left him.
"You know me…?"
Flora chuckled before opening the door behind her.
"Come inside. Dean told me a lot about you!"
The inside of the shop were completely filled with flowers.
"They're pretty…"
She led him to a staircase that brought them to the inside of her house.
"It's not a big place so bear with me…"
Everie nodded then sat near the window. Flora placed a cup of hot tea that she had just prepared on the table then looked up at him with a smile.
"So, a dragon really did came to this small humbling nation, Elzàr. I heard you were drifting in the ocean."
Everie froze at her words then sighed.
"I did not come here by choice it seemed."
Flora smile softly.
"Could it be fate that brought you here?"
"Shouldn't you know that? You're the psychic here."
Suddenly, she placed a hand on Everie's. A warm surge of mana were felt entering his body.
But then she immediately took her hand off of him as if she was electrocuted.
"Ouch!"
Everie looked at her in shock, panicking.
"Are you alright?"
Flora nodded as she rubbed her hand.
"It seems that…" she uttered as she glanced up at Everie.
"Someone must have sealed your heart."
'What does that even mean?!'
To be Continue