I am stunned by what Gezer said. I can't believe it to be true. And so my gaze flicks back and forth between the three vampires, trying to understand the implication of what he just said.
"You are kidding, right?" I ask. On the other hand, I also think that his words are valid and sensible.
"We are not. You can do it here. We'll be outside."
"What the hell are you saying?!" I shift my attention to Klevon. "Hey! Tell them how absurd of an idea this is!"
"Don't worry, Kaiya," he starts. "It's fine with me. Just say the word, and I will do it. You don't need to do anything extra for me. I will do all the needed work. You missed my fingers inside you, right?" he teases, winking at me.
"Klevon! This is not the time to kid around!"
"It's the same as all the other kings. Theo has been doing it too despite knowing that it will hurt you," he smirks. "Do it for duty."
I scowl at him. "Duty?!" His expression right now does not seem like he will do it for duty!
Then he guffaws. I glare at him. "Stop laughing!"
He moves towards me, and I retreat. Then he places his arm on my shoulders while his other hand rests on his hips.
"I can do it even with others watching," he says. "It will be embarrassing for you, but it will be a delight for me."
I slap his hand away from me. "You obscene hooligan!"
He laughs. "I think I remember this story. It was a bedtime story meant for the next-in-line Kings. I've always found it weird, but it all makes sense now."
"What is?!" I scowl at him.
"We are werewolf hunters, but as a child, we are told of a story about how werewolves are infertile and the protection given to the Owusu clan members against a curse. It is a star-crossed lovers type of romance, and the two main characters needed to find each other. By the way, these two characters are a werewolf and a hunter."
He approaches and I hiss at him, even if I know that he is not intimidated by any type of aggression that I will show to him.
"What do you think, Kaiya? The story is talking about people like us, huh?"
"I think they have brainwashed you since childhood to instinctively like a she-wolf."
Klevon roars in laughter, so much so that I feel he will destroy the entire library with the vibrations of his laughter.
"Come to think of it, Kaiya. If you have sex with me and we become lovers, it will solve all our problems. You won't be reaped by your goddess. These three vampires will know how to escape their god's hold. The attack on Theo will stop, and no war will come because of the second coming of the Moon Goddess."
He pauses before adding, "I think I should thank my ancestor for this. I will reap all the benefits," he says and laughs again.
"Shut up! You are becoming insufferable again!"
I look at Inanna. She's been in the same situation before. She should be on my side. However, Gezer is holding her arms while whispering something to her. I try to strain, but I hear nothing from their conversation.
Klevon leans closer and whispers, "Seems like we are fated. You just keep on escaping it." He pulls back, an amused expression on his face. "Let's see how you can escape me this time, my dear Kaiya."
"You–"
"Let's talk about it at a later time, okay?" He winks at me before moving to the magic sensor again.
When he starts to fiddle with it, I take deep breaths. This idiot! This barbarian! I want to physically hurt him again! But all violent thoughts vanish when he turns towards me and smiles.
"Kaiya, stop with all the murderous intent." Then his eyes shift towards the other three vampires. "The three of you, you need to push your magic inside the sensor."
The three vampires obey. They circle the sensor and start pushing in their magic.
After getting it calibrated, Klevon turns towards me again. "I think we can finally find this bastard," he says with a satisfied smile.


*******************
We return to the forest, following the sensor's signal. It takes us to the middle of a clearing, where a large tree stands in the center. All around us, forming a circle, are several small trees and bushes.
There is rustling in the bushes behind me. I turn towards it and see a young woman with red eyes peering back at me. I take the first step towards her, but Klevon touches my shoulders to stop me.
"Careful, Kaiya. I think we have just fallen into a trap," he says.
"Why?" I ask and stare back at him. "What's going on here?"
He whispers, "I believe there is more than one vampire in this forest."
"What? Not just Bryer?" I ask as I take another look at the young woman. "But trap? There is only one person here."
"Seems like he started to turn humans," Inanna interjects. She, too, is peering at the young woman.
"Young lady," Gezer starts. "Would you be–"
The young lady bares her sharp fangs at him.
"So, that's a vampire?" I ask as I watch her fangs elongate.
"A very young, newly created vampire," Inanna corrects.
The young lady hisses and comes out of the bushes. She is dressed in a black outfit that looks like something worn centuries ago. I've seen it before when I was a teacher outside the hunting park.
I look at Klevon, who is massaging his chin. "That dress is familiar," I comment.
"It's a theater group's usual clothes," he says. "I've watched the play with that costume before."
The young vampire circles around us. And suddenly, she slashes the air in front of me. Klevon pushes me out of the way while Gezer grabs onto her arms. Her fangs come out, and she snaps at me, but Gezer is still stronger than her.
"It is hard to be a newly created vampire," Inanna says as she comes forward and peers at the face of the woman. "They lack control over themselves."
"Do human-turned-vampires like the blood of she-wolves?" I ask. "Because out of all us, even with Klevon, she chose to attack me."
"If I am to choose, I will enjoy a mage hunter's blood better than a werewolf. It is still worse than animal blood, though," Gezer interjects.
"Hey!" Klevon complains. "Somehow, that is annoying!"
"And human blood is definitely tastier than animal blood," Gezer continues as if he didn't hear Klevon. "It's tasty, but not enjoyable."
Then Inanna moves to the new vampire. "I will check on her," she says and presses her forefinger on her forehead. The young vampire collapses against Gezer's hold, and Inanna whispers something I don't comprehend.
After a while, Inanna looks at me with sad eyes. "It is bad."
"What do you mean bad?" I ask, worried.
"Bryer wants to kill you, so he sends five of his newly acquired vampires to destroy us. This one is just so reckless that she comes to meet us without an order. Seems like she wants Bryer's acknowledgment and praise."
"Oh," Gezer mutters. "Should we run away now? Before the others come to meet us?"
I look around us. "We have three vampires, one mage hunter, and a she-wolf. Only four vampires are about to arrive. Are we going to lose in a fight against them?"
Klevon guffaws. He takes out a sword and then says, "My soon-to-be-lover Kaiya is correct," Klevon says, which I answer with a roll of my eyes. "If they come now, allow me to destroy all of them."
"Such a happy braggart," Gezer smirks at him. "Need help?"
"No. I can do this alone, especially if Kaiya will kiss me after a well-done job."
"Allow him to kiss you on the cheeks," Inanna whispers to me.
Klevon laughs again. "If I am going to kiss her, might as well do it in the mouth."
"Hey!" I complain. "Stop that, or I will think twice about being your friend."
"An advance kiss on my cheeks will be good, too."
I grit my teeth in annoyance, especially when I hear Inanna's restrained giggles. "You are too much," I finally mutter to Klevon.
"I know," he smirks. "But despite that, you still like me."
"What do you mean? You are an ass."
"Just a kiss on the cheeks," he teases and steps closer to me. "We have been friends for a few months. Surely, you can do this as a favor for a begging friend."
I am about to say something when suddenly, his sword slashes into my left. I turn towards it and see a young man who is about to attack me. His fangs are out. Klevon's sword is stopping him from biting into me. And his eyes are as red as the young woman who is unconscious in our midst.
"Ah! Too bad. They are here now. Seems like I will get that kiss at a later time," Klevon says, which I answer with an annoyed grunt.