Orpheus never ever thought that he—who had been the one to take away someone's life—would give life. But even if he had thought of giving life, it wouldn't be the right one. And that was the case for Kimi. Orpheus didn't know what he was doing when he accepted to do just that. One frightened bite after another, Orpheus sank his fangs into Kimi's flesh, battling the hunger that the claret forced onto him. But he tried and he succeeded—with encouragement from the others—after the fifteenth bite. Happiness filled his pale, sweaty face when he vividly heard Kimi inhale deeply, life returning to his body.
Silver's breath shuddered in gratitude when he saw Kimi's eyeballs roll under his eyelids. His hands flew to his mouth. "Thank goodness. He's alive."
Haruna shook her head, a pained expression on her face. "No, not really." She looked at her son and smiled sadly. "You did well... but the process is not complete. Do you... still have it in you to give blood?"
Orpheus nodded stiffly, his expression grim as he unhanded Kimi's wrist and bit his inner wrist. He gently parted Kimi's lips with his fingers and held his wrist to his mouth. They all watched as blood dripped into Kimi's mouth like a faulty tap. They kept on staring, observing as the more blood dropped into Kimi's mouth, the sharper he inhaled through his nostrils.
"Look. He's starting to resurface," Zee whispered, her hands on her knees as she leaned forward, nudging her head at his fingers that were twitching. "Incredible."
Haruna looked up at Zee. "You've called Lydia right?"
Zee nodded. "Yeah." She smiled lightly, her eyes trained on Kimi's twitching fingers. "Lord Caedis is awake."
Orpheus closed his eyes and exhaled gently. "Thank goodness. At least this time around he didn't sleep for a decade or—" He shut up, his eyes flying open as his hand was gripped tightly. He rested his gaze on his wrist, looking as Kimi unconsciously feasted on his blood.
Kimi's eyeballs rolled violently under his eyelids. His breathing became quicker. Soon, his fangs sank into Orpheus' flesh and the young cadaver grunted in pain.
Haruna pressed her hands to her chest. She stared at her son with a sad expression. "Soon..."
A good three minutes passed before Kimi tossed Orpheus' hand away. Orpheus stood and shuffled away, nursing his hurt hand. His mother flew to her feet and rushed to him, her palms immediately closing around his bleeding wrist.
Silver watched as his cousin threw his head from side to side, his top lip raised to reveal sharp fangs. Please let it work. Please, please, please.
Kimi's body trembled as he slowly got back a pinch of his life. When he stopped jerking and sluggishly opened his eyes, the first thing he felt was rage. It spun in his chest like a spiderweb, winding it's way around his heart. His eyes glowed silver, his nose flared. Silver reached out a hand, only for it to be gripped by Kimi. Kimi eyed his hand, snarling lightly. Zee backed away, her eyes going wide. Orpheus and Haruna looked at him, worry on their faces.
Silver licked his dry lip. He laughed wispily. "Kimi? It's alright... I—we're here." He tried to take back his hand but Kimi tugged it closer, dragging Silver along. He drove his strength into his hand as he threw Silver over his body and rolled onto his feet.
"It worked," Haruna whispered, fear in her eyes. "But..." She swallowed and looked at her son. Orpheus was sporting a small, worried frown, his forehead creased.
Silver groaned as he went on his hands and knees. He shook his head and squinted at his feral cousin. Kimi was staring from one person to another with the expression of an angry lion, snarling softly. Silver gently stood with the help of a desk and winced due to the pain that sharply raced up his spine. He groaned as he stepped towards Kimi. Haruna shook her head, her eyes telling him to stop. Despite the warning look in her eyes, he was relentless and went on. But he got his reward when Kimi hissed loudly and punched his stomach. Kimi kicked him off his feet, sending him tumbling into a roll of desks. Thuds filled the classroom, accompanied by Silver's shout of pain.
Haruna rushed to his side to help him. Moments later, Kimi was in front of them, his claws raised. Zee was quick, stepping in to hold him back, restraining his hands behind his back. Kimi rattled from side to side, rage clouding his face. Zee struggled to keep him in one place and soon he was quickly moving backwards. Zee cried out as her back made impact with the wall. She still kept her hands on him and he growled louder.
The tunes of the rainstorm blasted even louder, pushing rainwater into the classroom. Orpheus joined in keeping Kimi in one place. They were finding it hard, groaning bitterly as Kimi kicked and gnawed. But their troubles were reduced when Aurum dashed into the room, accompanied by three cadavers who were equally covered in torn cloths, wounds and blood.
Aurum eyes got stuck on Kimi and he rushed to him. "Kimi..." He held his face and looked from Zee to Orpheus. "What's happening to him?"
Zee shook her head. "I don't know. He's supposed... to be unconscious... but... he's..."
What's happening? Aurum thought in confusion. He began jerking Kimi's shoulders and Kimi growled at him. "Kimi. Please calm down. You're fine. Everything is fine." He dropped a hand on his wet, kinky hair and smiled weakly. "You're alright love. Please, calm down."
Kimi didn't listen and growled at him. He leaned forward and tried to bite off his face. Aurum sharply leaned his head back, saving his face. He clicked his tongue and pressed his fingers into Kimi's face. Aurum frowned deeply, inclined his face forward and pressed his lips into Kimi's. He deepened his kiss, fangs battling fangs.
Sleep, sleep, sleep, he sang in his mind, letting his powers dilute Kimi's senses. Soon enough, Kimi was falling limp in Zee's arms, becoming unconscious. When he was totally asleep, Aurum dragged him into his arms and went on his knees, cradling Kimi.
Haruna left Silver to the other cadavers and rushed to Aurum. She started healing his wounds, wincing as she saw the deep gashes. "Lord Caedis what happened?"
Aurum frowned deeply. "The mansion was attacked. Ace Jaeger's the one behind all of this."
Zee's eyebrows flew up. "What? Why would he do such a thing?"
"I don't know. But I think he's trying to revive and kill Kidagakash. He wants to end all cadavers." He paused and looked at Zee. "You called. How is it possible that Ace got what he wanted? How did they know that Kimi had Kidagakash's heart meanwhile even Pristines don't know that?"
"Maria," Haruna said, healing the wound in his neck. "Maybe she had read someone's mind. But who?"
Ace frowned icily. "Kara."
Haruna was about to say something when a loud thunder sounded. Aurum looked at the shattered windows. He frowned and began to stand up.
"We need to get back to the mansion before it's late. Help me get Kimi on my back."
*
Running into the mansion, Aurum furrowed his eyebrows at the battle that was no more. Bodies and limbs hung from places, blood staining the floor and the water in the fountain. Aurum perused the area and his ears caught the sound of murmurs. Aurum followed the sound to the cemetery, the others following behind him. They were all ready to face Ace if he were still standing but they froze in shock at the sight of their maker.
"Lady Kidagakash," Aurum rushed to say, bending forward at his waist; Kimi almost slipped out of his hold and he tightened his grip. The other cadavers behind him followed suit and Kidagakash nodded at all of them. Aurum straightened his back and raised a brow. "My Lady... you're... alive."
Kidagakash nodded and gestured to Ace's unconscious body that was by her feet. He was tied up in ropes. "Thanks to this man over here."
Aurum glared deeply at Ace. He looked back at Kidagakash and raised a brow at her perplexed expression. She was gripping her chest. He trailed her eyes to Kimi's body. "Oh. He's—"
"My brother," Kidagakash said and everyone gasped loudly.
Aurum frowned in confusion. "How...?"
Kidagakash shook her head. "I want you to take this man and my mother"—she pointed at Kara and everyone paled—"inside. Get her a healer." She held out her hands and her expression became sad. "Give me the boy."
Aurum gulped, his throat bobbing. He watched Haruna as she rushed to Kara, some cadavers helping her. Meraki helped her to carry Kara and they followed the other cadavers out of the cemetery. Some of them were eying Kimi, some having a confused face, some having an envious face.
Aurum heaved a sigh as he stepped closer to Kidagakash. He crouched and sat Kimi on the floor. Kidagakash immediately had her hands on him, holding him to her chest. Aurum wanted to stay but Kidagakash muttered for him to leave. He hesitantly left, frowning in confusion.
Kidagakash palmed Kimi's face, feeling his eyes, nose and mouth. She smiled lightly. "So you are the one mother always spoke of before she left all those years." She placed her hand on her chest and shut her eyes. Kidagakash felt the heart beat under her cold hand. She pressed her fingers into her chest, drawing the heart out. Moments later, she had returned the heart to Kimi.
Kidagakash observed closely as Kimi's skin became alive, his face becoming less pale. She kept her hand on his heart, feeling it beat like a human's. Kimi steered, a frown coming on his face. When he opened his eyes, Kidagakash gasped and hugged him.
He has beautiful eyes but why do they look like they hold pain, Kidagakash thought.
Kimi groaned, holding his head. He squeezed his face, trying to blink rainwater out of his eyes. "Is this... freaking hell?" As Kidagakash leaned away and he saw her face, he sighed. "This is hell. Shit, my sins have been listed out."
"Hell?" Kidagakash raised a brow.
"Yes, hell. I die and wake up to see my dead sister's face." He shut his eyes. "Where's father? Is he here? I want to... freaking apologize."
Kidagakash tilted her head in confusion. "Father?"
"Yes. Michael Mikaelis."
Kidagakash's eyebrows flew up. "Oh. You mean your father."
Kimi frowned, trying to sit up. He pushed her away and blinked rapidly, searching the area. "Wow, hell is lovely. Where's my own freaking grave?"
"You are not dead."
"What?"
Kidagakash sighed and held his face. Kimi flinched away from her freezing hand and she curled her fingers, taking her hands away. "You are not dead. We are not dead. This is a cemetery... I believe."
"Yeah. I can freaking see that. Satan's architect made a big, freaking mistake with hell's blueprint."
Kidagakash shook her head. She reached out a hand and Kimi eyed it before he took it. She helped him to his feet. "Follow me and you will understand."
*
Louder and louder, closer and closer did the sound of life become. Kimi's confused frown deepened the further he walked into the building. He and Kidagakash followed the sound to the building's hall. When they got there, everyone shut up and looked at them.
Kimi raised a brow as he saw his mother. She was being attended to by Haruna. "Mum? I don't... understand." He looked at Kidagakash and that's when it clicked. He looked back at his mother and his eyes widened. "You're... You're my sister. What Mr. Marshall had said was true. You're... You're the mother of all cadavers." He looked at Kidagakash. "How is this possible? You're supposed to be dead. You're supposed to—Aurum." His eyebrows pinched together as Aurum walked into the hall with the other Pristines. His voice was small as he continued speaking. "Aurum did you know about her?" He pointed at Kidagakash.
Aurum shook his head. "We are all as surprised as you are."
Kimi held his chest and moved his eyes to his mother. This time around, she was staring at him, worry in her eyes. "You lied," he whispered, his eyes wide, trembling in fear. "You're... I'm..." He looked at his hands. They were shaking. "I'm a... I'm a... I'm a cadaver."
Kidagakash placed her hand on his shoulder and gently pressed it. "It doesn't matter. It—"
"What do you mean it doesn't fucking matter?!" he roared, slapping her hands away. He turned to her, madness in his eyes. "The one thing I despised with my whole life is what I always was! Do you know what it fucking means to loathe something only to find out that you are that thing?!" Kimi was heaving badly as his voice rang throughout the hall.
"Kimi," Kara whispered sadly. She groaned as she stood up, Haruna assisting her. People made way as she shuffled closer to her son. Kara held her hands before herself as she reached her son. She swallowed. "Kimi... my boy..."
"What?" He glared at her.
"Kimi... I can explain."
"Then do just that. Because the more secrets that are exposed, the more I fucking come to learn that you lie like it's oxygen." He fully faced her and folded his arms. "So... explain."
Kara sighed through her nostrils and shut her eyes. "I... I am a cadaver."
Author's Note: We are almost at the end of AFFTV. 😭 Anyway, this journey has taught me a lot. I wish to learn more from my other stories. See you in the last two remaining chapters.