Enrique didn't know how he would react after hearing that revelation from Natasha.
"Is that true? Who told you that nonsense?! Don't make up a story, Natasha!" Enrique suddenly got mad for no reason. Maybe, he didn't want to have false hope. All these years, he kept controlling his feelings, reminding himself over and over again that Marceline was his cousin… that they were blood-related.
"No! Can't you just believe me this time?! Marceline is a werewolf! She is strong… have you forgotten what she had done to our mother?!" Natasha retorted.
"But we haven't seen it with our own eyes," Enrique insisted. But deep inside, he was hoping that it was true. Marceline was not related to them by blood.
"Brother! Wake up! Stop siding with a traitor! Our Dad is still bedridden. Our grandpa is missing. And Mom… our Mom…" Natasha was not able to control her emotions. She burst out crying.
Their family was ruined by an outsider! She couldn't accept this. She wanted to kill Marceline. If she needed to conspire with the vampires, then she would do that, as long as Marceline would die.
"I will take the Zhou Empire back. Marceline has no right to manage our family business! She is an outsider!" Natasha yelled at her brother before she stormed out of the house.
Enrique slumped his body on the sofa. His mind was still processing and absorbing Natasha's words. If Marceline was not their real cousin, then maybe… perhaps, he was now allowed… to love her?
Enrique shook his head and smiled bitterly. It was too late for that. Marceline already had a husband.
"Marceline… where are you? Do you know that I saw Lyca… going to the Kingdom Phantasia…"
After a while, Enrique stood up, his eyes going round in realization.
'Damn! Don't tell me… Lyca and Marceline were together and they both passed through the portal gate?'
Enrique didn't know what he should do once he confirmed that both Lyca and Marceline went to the other world… another dimension. That world was filled with supernatural creatures! What were they doing there?
'I hope… they are just fine. I wonder… if I am also allowed to enter the other world? I want to see Marceline and confirm the truth…' Enrique made up his mind. He would follow Lyca and Marceline!
*****
Meanwhile, Raizel contacted Kira. He asked him to come to their meeting place. Raizel told Kira that he would give him his answer today.
The two decided to meet each other at Northleaf Timberland Forest, near the Zhou Ancestral Mansion. Kira was excited to see his best friend. He was positive that Raizel would never abandon him no matter what. And he was grateful for that.
Aside from being his best friend and loyal general, Kira was treating Raizel like his real brother. He appreciated how Raizel helped him a lot and supported him in ruling the Kingdom of Phantasia.
The two of them worked together to maintain the peace in the kingdom. But all their hard work was put in vain because of Dominique's scheme and Selene's betrayal.
Raizel didn't want history to repeat itself. He was afraid that Dominique would use his daughter again to suppress and hurt Kira. Raizel had a goal in mind: Protect Kira from that threat posed by that she-wolf! He must separate the two no matter what, otherwise, one of them would be killed.
Raizel was the first one who arrived at their meeting place. He was still lost in his thoughts when Kira showed up. Kira had a bright smile plastered on his face when he saw Raizel.
But Raizel couldn't look straight into Kira's eyes. He was about to do something that was against Kira's will. He knew that Kira might hate him after this.
But he was willing to do that as long as he could prevent Kira from destroying his own self because of his foolish feelings towards a she-wolf. It would ruin everything they started.
"Rai!" Kira greeted Raizel cheerfully. With his vampiric speed, Kira closed the distance between them and he wrapped his arms around Raizel's shoulders. "I'm glad you are here! I hope you have already made a decision!"
Raizel just clenched his fists. He was having a hard time just thinking about going against Kira. This was the first time he would do this… betraying his best friend.
But he had no choice. This was the only way he could think of to protect him. Raizel was the happiest man the moment he found out that Kira was alive. He didn't die. He thought he already lost him but he came back after one thousand years!
"Ki… you know that you are so important to me… like a real brother." Raizel began to speak, his eyes filled with different emotions. He turned to Kira and smiled faintly as he held his right shoulder with his left hand.
"Don't give me such a look. You are making me cringe," Kira said jokingly, chucking at his own remarks.
But Raizel didn't laugh. He just looked at Kira with a serious expression on his face.
"Alright! I'll behave. Don't be so serious. Tell me your answer. Will you help me out or not?" Kira asked his best friend directly.
But Raizel asked another question instead of answering Kira. "Ki, do you trust me?" Those four words seemed like they were filled with meaning.
"Of course… If there is one person whom I can trust in this world… it will be you, Rai."
Raizel's heart clenched further after hearing those sincere words from Kira. He folded his fingers until his nails buried against his flesh.
'Can I do this? But… yes… I have to do this… For Kira's sake!'
Raizel suddenly grabbed Kira, hugging his best friend tightly. Kira was caught off guard for a moment. He felt something was off with Raizel. "Hey, are you okay? Are you troubled by something?"
Kira was waiting for Raizel's response when Raizel bit him on his neck. Kira's eyes widened in surprise as he felt Raizel's fangs going deeper against his flesh.
"R-Rai… what are you doing?"
Raizel tightened his grip on Kira's body as he continued biting Kira. Kira felt his body freeze on the spot. Raizel did something to immobilize him. Since it was his best friend, Raizel, Kira let his guard down. He had never expected that Raizel would attack him sneakily.
"W-Why? Rai… w-what is the meaning of this?"
'I'm sorry… Ki…'
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