Chapter 5 Something is strange

CLEOPATRA

Two weeks after my birthday. "Hey wake up, it's time to leave, Cleo." I only heard the voice, it seemed like I was dreaming or something. "Get up Cleopatra." I heard the voice again as I felt a touch on my arm.

I mumbled in my sleep, then flustered my eyes open. "What?"

"Gosh, I can't believe you slept off when you're supposed to be reading."

That was when it came to me that we were all in the library.

I lifted my head and looked at the face. It was Melisa.

"Are we done here?" I uttered feebly since I was still sleepy.

"No, we are not, we still have like thirty books to read. Get your lazy butt up before I smack it." She said sarcastically.

"Oh, um... That's right, we are done." I rubbed the heel of my hand against my eyes. "So where are we heading now?"

"I think we should head home."

"That's sweet because I badly need a good nap."

She widened her eyes in confusion.

"What's that supposed to mean? You slept for forty minutes and you're still talking about taking a nap once we reach our apartment? Are you okay?"

"I can't be okay because I'm not okay. I think I'm going to starve to death if you continue to bring on more questions." I said. I packed my books inside my handbag.

"Obviously." She also did the same.

"Where's Dailey?"

"She's studying with Karl. She has a test tomorrow."

"She or we?"

"You're getting me confused that I don't even know what I'm saying anymore. I wanted to say we. When others are reading you're here taking a nap."

"Was that an insult because it sounds more like one? Anyways, I don't care." I walked up to the bookshelf and took three books.

"What are you going to use them for?"

"Going to go through them. We are having a test tomorrow." After I handed the staff my borrowed card we stepped out of the library. My phone rang. I was going to get the phone in my bag when someone bumped into me and made the books fall from my hand. She was about to walk away when I dragged her back. I ignored the thought that my phone was on the ground and faced the lady with an angry expression.

"Even if your eyes are useless, so is your brain? Can't you see you just bumped into someone?"

She looked at me with irritation in her eyes. Bravo! She's in for my trouble.

"Oh. I didn't see anyone."

"Is she too little to be seen?" Melisa said. I gestured to her to leave her to me. I'm going to handle the bitch.

"My bad." She covered her mouth. I clenched my fist furiously.

"Pick up the books," I ordered.

"My back aches." I raised my hand even though I didn't know what I was aiming for, in my mind I wanted to hit the lady. A hand held my hand, leaving it hanging in the air.

I looked back and it was Melisa. "Let it go."

"Oh, you're going to hit me?" The lady said. However, her voice only triggered my anger.

"Why would I waste my time on a low-life bitch? Oh, are you scared? My leg is faster than your eyes." I said and before she could caption what I said, I already crushed her toe with my boot.

"Arrrrrrrrrgggg." She cried. "You ficking prick!"

"Cleo?" Melisa called out. I looked at her as if nothing happened. I blinked severally with an innocent smirk.

"Let's go." I crouched down a little and picked up the books. I dragged Melisa along as I ignored the lady as she kept swearing.

"What was that for?"

"Like what are you talking about?" I put up an innocent face.

"You know what you just did."

"The last time I checked, I didn't do anything just now or did I?"

"No, you did not." We walked toward my car. "Aren't we going to wait for Karl and Dailey?"

"Maybe you should wait for them." I hopped in the car. She also stepped into the car, we fastened the seatbelts.

"I don't get what's up with you today?"

"Is anything odd about me today?" She shook her head. I ignited the engines and the car started moving.

"Nothing."

"Okay."

"Are you going home this weekend?" I nodded as I fixed my gaze on the road. She turned on the radio.

"Just want to pick something at home so I might return on the same day."

"Great. That means you're going to accompany me to the hotel." I was forced to look at her with a look of puzzlement.

"Hotel?"

"Yes. I promised my boyfriend to visit so we're going to meet at the hotel."

"Why don't you invite him over to the apartment." She hit her forehead.

"God! Why are you so dumb, Cleopatra? Do you think his assistant is going to agree to that? They have a show to film so... Do you get it now?"

"Literally." I hissed.

***

MELISA DECIDED not to disturb her since she thought Cleopatra might be reading. She was playing a game on her phone when another phone bleeped beside her. She glanced over the bag, it was Cleopatra's bag.

"She forgot her bag here." She took the bag and headed to her room. She decided not to knock, she twisted the doorknob and walked inside. She met her lying in the bed with books scattered on her bed.

"Oh gosh. I can't believe this. She's still sleeping." She checked the time and it was already late. "Cleo," She called out.

"Um?"

"Sleeping?"

"Yeah. Do you need something?" She mumbled with her eyes half opened.

"Aren't you reading?"

"I'm still groggy from the nap so I'm going to read those books later."

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Just that I'm dizzy but I'm going to be alright. I need to..." She shut her eyes. Melisa put her phone beside her. She took a last glance at her before leaving the room.

*

ADRIEN

"How do I explain it, Dad? I'm not avoiding anyone." I repeated for the fifth time with a frustrated sigh.

"Did you and Xander fight again?" Speaking of the devil, the next time I see him I'll surely kill him. "Did you guys?"

"He's not the reason I didn't show up. I just don't like being here, this place is... I can't find a perfect word for it."

"Theresa caused this. I told her never to take you to the city but she never listened and now see what you've become."

"What have I become?"

Perhaps I didn't mention it when I introduced myself. Well, my mother was a human but my dad wasn't. He was a vampire. When Mom found out Dad was a vampire she broke up with him and after a few years they reunited again, and that was how they had that son of a devil. Alexander. They weren't living together, Mom loved to explore the world and that was what she still doing now.

Though Xander was a replica of me, we resembled each other but we were different people. And to be honest, he's strong because he sucked human blood while I haven't. That was how Mom asked Dad to raise us but Xander was different. He's a scumbag.

"I don't know if my grandson is here. why didn't you send the royal maid to my manor when my prince arrived?" Grandmother scolded. She had lived more than two hundred years yet she still looked young and beautiful in her gray hair.

"I was going to do that, Mom."

"Did your brother come along with you? I hope you've reunited after three years of grudging."

"I still find it hard to forgive him for what he did."

"Please Mother, don't talk about Xander now unless you want him to leave and never come back."

"Oh Lord, I can't stand my grandsons hating each other because of the past." She sat down. She was putting up a drama again.

"Mother!"

"Edward, just like your dad you also failed as a father." I chuckled and quickly covered my mouth when Dad glared at me.

"Adrien, let's talk about something outside." I nodded. He led the way out to his library. "Have read all these ancient books but I still couldn't find a way to get rid of Ging."

"He keeps performing new experiments on human bodies recently. Since no one knows where he lives, all we heard was that he lives underground."

"I guess but we need to save humans. Ging was once human, after he was attacked by a vampire and Master D saved him. He became a monster after the death of his master." He sighed. " We need to stop him."

"I can't help you." I blurted out.

"Why?"

"I'm not interested in all this. I just want to live a normal life like a human being. I've never been a good son to you, I think you should trust Xander on this."

"He's reckless."

"But he's stronger than me. He can be the next ruler after you but not me. I have a tight schedule for today, so I should head back."

"Won't you wait for your mother? She's going to get mad at you if you leave with a goodbye."

"She knows where to find me and we are going to talk on the phone."

"Adrien." He called my name.

"Yes?"

"I let you do what you love. Have that in mind." I looked at him and then nodded my head. I knew what he meant.

I walked out of his library. I sneaked out without alerting Granny. I walked toward my car and hopped in.

"It took you a while," Nelson said.

"I thought you might have been dead by now, can't believe you're still alive. Today seems to be your lucky day."

"None of them will come to your guest when they know you're around. But if Xander was around I wouldn't have come this far."

"You're afraid of him?"

"His eyes alone can suck the life out of someone. I don't like him."

"He'll be in town in a few months." Nelson gasped as he held my arm abruptly.

"Is he coming to your mansion?"

"He comes to my mansion uninvited so I don't know. You should be careful when you come around." I made him uneasy by saying that

"What if I mistake you guys? Boom! He perceives a sweet smell of my blood... Oh my gosh, that's too scary." He hugged himself dramatically.

"Drive Nelson and stop talking about him if you don't want him to appear anytime."

"Is he a wizard?"

"Just drop me at the office," I said and closed my eyes. I relaxed in the back seat.