edited

|Adara De Clare|

It's been three months. Three months! We still don't have a way to take down the organization yet. Nikolai and I have been working non-stop. It's just hard with the two of us.

He tells me not to worry every single morning then he's off to the palace to do work. He tries to figure out how to take the organization down then he comes back here, and we try to figure it out together.

We've been trying to tie in Justina's parents, and the one in charge of the organization to the pictures but it's been difficult. There is only enough evidence to implicate Justina's parents but we still don't know about the one in charge.

It's been hard. We're trying to figure out who's in charge but it's literally impossible. We're even using the Kingdom's resources to find them.

Even though the King and Queen know what we're doing, and are helping us, the organization has managed to hide away from the Royal Family for decades.

I've been doing online school for these last few months and I have to say that it's been nice. Most especially because I haven't been seeing Via. I still don't understand what went wrong between us. She just stopped talking to me altogether, and I have no idea what I did wrong.

My mind goes back to what Nikolai had said about Via being fake. Of course, she isn't, right? I mean, she did just stop talking to me out of nowhere. Maybe she is. No! She can't be, she literally cannot be fake. She's been my best friend since we were freshmen in high school. Literally! I-I can't, I can't lose her.

No, I won't cry again. I'm not a crybaby, I won't cry anymore.

For the next few hours, I eat, and watch some tv, waiting for Nikolai to return. He said that we would binge-watch this series from centuries ago, it's very old. All the actors are now dead. That's scary.

I sit on the couch with my bowl of popcorn when the doorbell rings and I go get it. I open the door, and my heart beats faster.

"Uhh, what are you doing here?" I ask Justina's parents, squinting my eyes at them. They just decide to show up at my house unannounced and for what reason? I don't get it, something's off.

Besides, not to mention that they want to kill me.

"May we come in, dear? We need to discuss some things about Justina." They say and I crease my eyebrows at them, letting them in.

I know exactly what Nikolai would say if he was here. He'd shake me by the shoulders telling me how stupid that was. Unfortunately, he's extremely busy right now at the palace.

I close the door and they sit on the couch. "Well, dear we just needed to ask you, if Justina has been alright lately? Does she seem to be a bit off to you?" Her mother asks me, looking rather concerned.

I have to say they are very convincing. That can't be why they're here. It just can't be. . .right?

"Um, no. She seems fine to me, why? Is she not?" I ask them and they look at one another.

"Well, we don't know that's why we came to you since you two are so close." She says, folding her hands and placing them on her lap.

I look between the two of them, wary. I do not trust nor believe them.

"Justina and I aren't really close. We were only spending so much time together because of that History project but we finished that months ago. I haven't spoken to her in a while." I tell them.

"Really? What about at school?" Her husband, Justina's father, speaks up and I look at him.

"I'm online now actually," I tell them.

"Well, anyway, we just wanted to thank you for not treating Justina differently even though she's pregnant with your boyfriend's baby." Justina's mother takes out a bar of chocolate and gives it to me.

Yeah, no you're lying. She isn't pregnant, I know that for a fact.

I hesitantly take it from her thanking her for it then she looks at me, wanting me to eat it. I unwrap it, and I take a bite. Her face softens and she smiles clearly pleased. They turn round, about to leave when I begin feeling woozy.

"Bye, dear." She says and I try waving at her through my blurry vision.

What did she give me? That horrible woman.

My vision spins and I feel myself fall as darkness welcomes me.

•

I open my eyes and I'm met with darkness. I can still see some things but it's really dark. I try moving my hands but they're bound by ropes. I wiggle my legs and so are they. I'm bound to a chair in a very dark basement, this is how every thriller movie goes.

How am I supposed to get out of this?

Nikolai.

I try calling him but he doesn't answer. What is wrong with him? He said that whenever I called his name, I'd hear it, no matter where he is. Well, that was a lie, he can't hear me apparently because he won't answer. Of all the times I need him to read my mind and hear me, this is the most detrimental moment.

I hear shifting outside the door then the knob turns, brightening up the dark basement. "Hey, darling, are you okay?" Justina's mother kneels before me, and I wish I could move my legs right now but I can't. I desperately want to kick her in the face.

"What do you want with me?" I ask her. I try to show that I'm not scared, but I am, I'm really scared.

She gives me a wicked smile. "I think you know exactly what we want from you. After all, you went through our study. Didn't she sweetheart?" She says, turning around to her husband who appears before us.

He walks into the room with both hands inside his pockets, "Yes, she did. Apparently, she was stupid enough to think that we don't have cameras." He says.

I want to smack myself.

"So, what should we do with her now, darling? I was thinking of something horrendous." Justina's mother says.

My heart begins beating faster as I call out to Nikolai again. Where is he, and why isn't he answering?

"So what? You're gonna give me to your boss so he can kill me?" I ask.

They both smile an evil smile at me. "She doesn't know. Oo, can I tell her, darling?" She asks, basically jumping.

I tilt my head, "Tell me what?"

"He is the boss." She says.

I gulp. Oh, this is just great. She sees the look on my face and smirks. This is literally how I die.

At this very moment, there's something like a smoke bomb that goes off. Smoke fills up the entire room, and Justina's parents look around confused. "What's happening?" Justina's mother asks.

"I don't know." Her husband replies.

Something rushes throughout the room and knocks out Justina's parents. By the time the smoke clears up, they're on the ground unconscious. Whoever knocked them out must've thought it was only going to be them, but more people came inside. Dangerous people.

My mysterious savior begins fighting the people rushing into the room to defend their boss. Just then, someone begins cutting my ropes.

I turn to see who it is, "Justina?!" I ask as surprise takes hold of me.

She smiles at me, "Come on, we don't have much time." She says as she finishes cutting the ropes. I stand out of the chair, rubbing my wrists and ankles then she leads me out the back exit.

There's still another person inside who's fighting off the people coming to defend Justina's parents. Who is it? And why hasn't Nick answered me?

Now that we're outside, and fresh air greets me, I begin feeling better. "Justina? You saved me." I say. I'm so confused. Isn't she in on it with her parents?

She gives me a tight-lipped smile, "It wasn't just me. He also helped." She says, referring to someone who's now behind me.

I turn around to see who she's talking about. It's Nikolai. A huge smile spreads across my face, and I run to him, jumping as I wrap both my arms around his neck. I bury my face in his neck and he holds me tight.

"Hi, angel." He greets me.

"Nick, I-I don't understand. How did you two save me?" I ask.

"It was her," he gestures to Justina, "she came to the Palace asking for me. When I reluctantly saw her, she said that her parents were planning on doing something to you, and wanted to make sure I was protecting you. I didn't believe her because I thought that she was in on it too. So we went to your house, and you were gone.

I then heard you call out to me, and that's when I knew she was telling the truth. We concocted a plan to get you back, and we called the police. They should be here for the many unconscious bodies in the basement soon. But, what I don't understand, Justina, is how you got roped into your parents' scheme?" He says.

"Well, since I was born I knew they had a high-paying job, I just didn't know what it was until they forced me to fake being pregnant with your baby. For years they've been trying to take you down but didn't have a way to do that. The idea came to them when you and I were spotted together after you helped me calm down from my panic attack at that event two years ago.

I didn't really have a choice, they terrified the living crap out of me. I really never wanted to hurt you guys, I promise. I know I hurt you though regardless of whether I wanted to or not. I really wish you and I could've been friends Adara. You're really sweet." She says.

I smile as I go to her and hug her. "It's not your fault. It's alright, I forgive you. Do you, Nick?" I turn to him.

He comes to me, placing an arm around my waist, "I do. Where are you gonna go now?" He asks Justina.

She places her straight dyed-brown hair behind her ears. "My aunt's. She's been more of a mother to me than my own mother. She knows that I was planning on coming up." She says.

"Well, I hope to see you again," I say.

"Me too, take care." She says then a car pulls up and she gets into it.

In the distance, sirens can be heard, and I rest my head on Nick's shoulder. "Well, this was a day―no― year to remember." I sigh.

"It was, angel, it really was. Now, it's over."

"Thank God."

•

Nikolai and I turn on the television and he opens his arms signaling for me to come there. I smile at him as I walk toward him and I fall in his arms. I rest my head on his chest, and he wraps his arms around me.

This feels like heaven.

"What time did it say it was coming on?" His deep voice, vibrates against my hair and I smile. With his arms protectively wrapped around me, I snuggle further and further into him.

I look up at him but it's a bit difficult since I'm lying on his chest. I'm just seeing his chin, it's a pretty chin but still, I really like his eyes more though.

"It said around eight, so just a few more minutes," I tell him, reaching up my arm to play in his hair. It is so soft and amazing, it's great.

He shifts and my body moves a little because I'm lying on him. "Okay."

We wait for a little bit then the news intro begins playing and we focus on the tv. The news anchor comes on and she begins to speak.

"Breaking news: It's just been discovered that the Kennedy's were a part of this secret anti-vampire organization who kidnapped innocent vampires, spread allegations about them then killed them."

The guy, John, beside her appears shocked, "Yes, and also didn't their daughter, Justina Kennedy, come forward saying that she was pregnant with the Vampire Prince's baby?"

"Yes, yes she did and it was proven to be a lie concocted by her parents. Not to mention that other girl who faked it, turns out her parents had something to do with it too. They were all trying to ruin his image. The police station received photographs and recordings of the Kennedy's trying to kidnap and kill the Prince's girlfriend, Adara. It is revealed that they kidnapped her but the Prince and their own daughter, Justina, saved her before they killed her then they took them down." Says Kara.

John's eyes widen, and he leans forward in his seat, "That is just so. . .frightening. Imagine being a lonely sixteen-year-old girl, and then you begin dating this powerful Vampire Prince. You become famous, and then you figure out that there's these people trying to kill you." John says, trying to understand things from my point of view.

"Yeah, it's hard, John, I fell very sorry for her but at least it's over now."

"Yeah, at least." He agrees.

"In other news, did you hear about that event next week? I heard that it's supposed to show who will be the future King. We know how much the Prince wants this. Let's see if he will." Kara says then they begin talking about other news.

I look at Nikolai and he looks away from the tv. He's looking out by the stairs, lost in thought.

I do wonder what will happen. He says that humans will be put in their place if he becomes King, what place will we be put in? Will he change everything? I would be lying if I said that I wasn't scared of him becoming King.

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