Strings of Fate

8th String: Hard-headed

I felt my jacket whip around my body because of the speed of the motorcycle. I was going so fast that I wouldn't be surprised if a police officer suddenly called me over to get my license. Problem was, I didn't have one, but my Mountainville University identification card is enough. Students sometimes were tasked to go outside the school premises for their first hunt. But for us first year students, it wouldn't happen till November this year, but still, the ID is enough to make any police officer back off.

Well, it's not like I'm going to stop if ever someone calls me over. Even if a police car chases me, I would just increase my speed. I'm not afraid of accidents. I've dealt with a lot more, I tell you. I've actually fallen 15 meters above the ground once. Broken my bones, got a concussion, went through a comatose state, but alive nonetheless.

"Dang it, Natalie, why are you going so freaking fast?! We're not even in a race for Pete's sake!"

***

More drifts and and gas later, her car finally skid to a stop. I stopped behind a tree, careful not to let her see me. Who knows what she'll do to me right now. It's not like I don't trust her, but with her in that state? That bloodthirsty state? That's not Natalie. And if she saw me, she would probably think of me as an enemy. A Vampire Princess attacking me would actually be the first thing I need right now. Hey, take note of the sarcasm, please.

I continued to watch her as I hid. She was just standing there. What, isn't she gonna move or something? Is there really no one she wanted to save, and just wanted to watch that huge mansion over there? Yes, you heard it right. She was standing and staring at that mansion with the high walls. And believe me, when I said huge, I meant like, really huge. Enormous would probably be the best word to describe it. It actually looked like a castle, except it looked like it was only 5 storeys, and no towers can be seen. The flag only added to the castle vibe.

Wait, what? A flag?

I squinted at the red fabric. It was fairly far from here, but since I have some... Uh, skills, as a Hunter, I was able to read what was written.

Lithieum.

Well, shit. This is their clan building?! What the hell is she doing here?

Is she gonna return to her clan? Is she going to leave the school? Leave us? Her friends? Armand? Alex? Me?

I mentally kicked myself. No. Of course not. Natalie wouldn't do that. She's not the type of person who just leaves her friends hanging.

But...

Why in the world did she go here?

My answer got partially answered when she chanted some words, and the temperature of the place suddenly dropped.

"Voi pyhä henget maapallon
Huomioi kutsuni
Tarvitsen voi mallasi
Riko kirouksen pahat
Hyväksyn voimiasi varauksettomasti!"

The wind was so strong when It slammed into my body that I was tossed aside and I landed exactly on the root of a tree. Yeah, my butt landed there.

"What the heck?!" I rubbed my butt and kneeled on the ground. "Stupid root!" I grumbled. Dammit, now my ass feels like it had been punched 50 times! Urgh. With how I weigh and how rough and hard a root is, this is just expected. It's not really a surprise. But there was another one. This time, it was a real surprise, which almost made me pee my pants.

I know that that was not really manly, but why don't you try sitting on the ground with a red-eyed vampire princess staring at you?

And did I mention that her talons and fangs were elongated?