Chapter 5

 Thanks to Luca,Luke's wall of ego collapsed and was replaced by guilt.He felt very guilty for not trusting his ex-bestfriends,Henry and Emma.Not just that,he even blamed them for his parents' dead and cut ties with them.He felt like a piece of shame and failure as everyday felt like a torture to him.Guilt and grief kept beating him up like a punching bag.

Days later,after thinking deeply,he finally decided to make everything right.He wanted to bring justice to his bestfriends' death and ask King Vincent about this matter.Ever since he read the diary,his mind often question if Emma really did witness the incident and jot it down in her diary in order to vent.More importantly,he really hoped that his 'neighbour',King Vincent Rutherford never planned to betray him and dominate Xofur.

However,Luke refused to tell Luca about his plans because he felt ashamed of himself and guilty for misthreating his own son.

He discussed with his trustworthy men about this issue and ordered them to investigate for anything fishy,especially the vampires.They have been investigating for almost a week,but they didn't have any suspicious stuffs and evidences.

At the end of the week,Luke sighed and decided to walk for a bit since he was stressed from all of those tiring activities.He was about to exit his throne room when a guard ran hurriedly towards him.

"Your Highness!I'm really sorry for bothering your evening,but we found something that may interest you!"

"What is it?"

"A..A dead Xofurian.."The guard stammered for a brief second."..But it has..something peculiar on it.."

"Peculiar?"Luke asked,confused."Well then,lead me to the body."He ordered.

The guard lead Luke towards one of the guest bedrooms.There,they saw a doctor and a nurse,accompanied by two other guards and the dead body,which was laying stationarily on the bed.Upon arrival,Luke saw red blood all over the deceased victim's shirt.

"Good evening,Your Highness."The doctor greeted."As you can see,the victim had probably been killed.You can tell by the number of deep scracthes there."The doctor showed the scracthes.Two on the left side of the neck,another two near the stomach and one across the victim's face.

"What a tragic dead.."Luke sighed,felt a little gloomy over his citizen's dead.

"This is weird.Indeed,humans did send their people to hunt us down,but they could barely leave a bruise at us as we are much stronger than them.However, in this case..no human could give such injury for a creature who were stronger than them,especially by damaging the face..."Luke gave his opinions as he gazed at the scarred face of the victim.

"I agree,Your Highness.But that's not the only case here.I want Your Highness to look closely at the right side of the neck.."said the doctor.Luke nodded and did what had the doctor told him.As he looked closer and closer,Luke jawdropped.

Two small holes.

Former bites.

"N-No way.."Luke's voice shook as he tried to speak.His eyes widened in horror and disbelief.He's probably dreaming.He really wished that what he was witnessing was not true at all.Nevertheless,deep down in his heart,he knew that the thing that he prayed for it to not be realized had happened.

"Doctor,you knew which-or whose former bites are these?"Luke asked,trying to reassure himself.

"It's probably a wild animal's.Maybe a tiger or a bear,but medium-sized scracthes and two small holes aren't suitable for one."The doctor explained.

"Then it's must be the vampires!"Luke said angrily.Everyone in the room was surprised,not expecting that at all.When they tried to deny Luke's accuse,the Xofurian king explained everything,including his arguement with Luca last week.Once they heard the king's words,they understood and discussed about the problem.

"So,here's the plan.."

-

-

-

Luca kept his promise to always keep an eye on Xofur for the sake of his safety.Sure,he hated his abusive hometown,but he wasn't too inhuman to leave it exposed to danger just like that.

"Well,at least your people knew that you're the one who always tried to keep Xofur safe from those vampires!"said Anna.She wanted to reassure Luca who started to felt burdened from his own volunteer job.

"But what if they don't apprieciate me??"

"Shame on them then,not you."Anna said simply."Luca,good ol' buddy,don't give up just yet!I was joking earlier!People don't need to know about your good deeds,it's enough to make yourself proud!"

"Anna's right."Luca muttered to himself as he smiled to himself."I should be proud of myself for being the silent hero...pfft."He convinced himself and laughed towards himself.Everyone,clap your hands for Luca's improvement from being a depressed introvert to a positive person-in-training! 

He walked towards the abandoned forest,his favourite place to be,after Anna's house and climbed up a small hill.There,he could see almost the landscape of Xofur,perfect for sightseeing.

With the help of Anna's father's old binoculars,he observed every single view of Xofur.Fortunately,he saw no vampires lurking around after 30 minutes.After a while,Luca got a little tired and bored.He sat on the ground to rest his legs and inhaled the fresh forest air.

He looked around in boredom and thought to himself,'Hey,I never went up that far,didn't I?'He realized that there were more area of the hill that he had never explored.His curious nature urged him to get up and take a stroll."A small stroll won't hurt a bit.."

Luca got up and climbed a bit further from his sitting spot.There,he saw much more trees and the temprature dropped a little,but the view was trully astonishing.He could see almost everything from there-he could even saw the mesmerizing build of the Castle of Xofur.He can't lie that he really did enjoy the spectacular scenary.

Suddenly,Luca heard a thump.He turned his head around to see a figure walking back and fourth at the top of the hill.From his perspective,he can barely see the sillouhette."Whoa,who is that?"

All of the sudden,he saw something--no--someone else landed from the sky.When the two figures meet,Luca saw the figure who just arrived bowed towards the other one and both of them started conferring."Flying humans?No way,that's impossible!"

Luca couldn't hear the mysteious figures' conversation,so he decided to make his way towards a nearby hiding spot silently.He found a tree,enough for him to listen to the entire conversation clearly.

"Wow,Norman.You finally cut your hair?Cool."The person who was taller than the guy named Norman complimented,but in a plain tone,just like his facial expression.Plain.

"Thanks,Your Highness.I apprieciate your compliment."Norman thanked him.

'Wait,what?Your Highness?Is he a king or something?'Luca thought to himself.

"Yeah yeah whatever.Back to the original plan.We're ambushing Xofur tonight.Go and prepare our troops and we're on it."said the taller man.

"But Your Highness,why now?I mean,it's already evening and we had no time to prepare for tonight's war!"

"Strong soldiers need no time to prepare.Listen here,Norman.If we procastinate this battle,Xofur will rise as the strongest kingdom by time and we have no time for that.Besides,the Rutherfords have been waiting for this opportunity for years and as their sixth generation,I,Vincent Rutherford will make their dreams come true.So let's make Xofur fall for the sake of Akass by tonight,got it?"

"Yes,got it,Your Highness!"

"Good.Now go inform the soldiers.I wanna enjoy this beautiful scenary for a while before it gets destroyed."

"Yes,Your Highness.Enjoy your evening."And so,Norman flew away,leaving the man named Vincent Rutherford alone.

Meanwhile,Luca who had been witnessing everything was shivering in fear.'Vincent Rutherford!The person who's responsible for everything!I MUST tell Anna about this,and would have to tell Father too!This is very urgent!'Luca screamed internally to himself.He tried to leave the area unnoticed,but unfortunately,he accidently tripped upon a tree root.

THUD!!Luca fell on the ground.

"Hmm?"Vincent turned his head towards the direction of the sound.He saw a blue-haired boy,having his face on the ground and wincing in pain.

"Ouch.."

"Hey,are you good there?Not dead yet,right?"Vincent asked as he walked calmly towards Luca.As for Luca,he was already panicking because he had messed up and will run into troubles,probably.

"I-I'm fine,thanks!"Luca said as he got up quickly and tried to run from the vamipire leader.Nevertheless,before he could even lift his foot,Vincent grabbed his arm and forced him to look at him.

"Well,well,well.A Xofurian,huh?"The taller male grabbed Luca by his hair aggressively and asked him for his name."Name?"

"L-Luca.."

"Family name?"

"..."

Unsatisfied with Luca's replies,Vincent pulled his hair harder and almost made Luca screamed in pain.

"Family name."Vincent asked for his name again.

"A..Antonio...L-Luca Antonio.."

"Oh wow,I found a descendant of Luke,awesome."Then,Vincent released Luca's hair from his grip,letting the young Xofurian prince massagging his head from the undescrible pain.

"What are you doing here,kid?"He asked.His plain and boring expression never leave his face,but his heterochromatic gaze was very menacing,causing anyone who locked eyes with him shiver,including Luca.

Taking a deep breath,Luca spoke to him bravely."I knew your plan,Vincent.I heard everything!So stop acting dumb and clueless!"Luca suddenly received a slap from Vincent.His slap stung Luca's left cheek.

"I wonder if Luke has ever teach you manners."Vincent then punched Luca's stomach.Luca groaned in pain and kneeled to the ground with hands pressing his stomach.

Vincent then pull his hair again,forcing the poor Luca to look at him."It's such a mistake to let someone from the targeted land to listen to my plans.I'll make sure to shut your mouth then."

"What.."Luca growled."What are you trying to do to me-"

"Kill you I guess."

Before Luca could even react,Vincent punched his cheeks.Vincent then grabbed Luca's hoodie and lift him."Son of a king,but weak.I guess the rumours that all Xofurians hate you are true."Vincent said sarcasticly in his usual plain tone before throwing Luca at a tree,injuring his back in the process.Luca couldn't do anything.He grunted in agony and pain as he struggled to stand up and fight back.'Oh no..my back..it's so..hurt!'

"Why're you so desperate to live.."Vincent sighed as he started kicking Luca numerous time."Y'know..I'm that kind of person who kills people for fun,it's quite boring."said Vincent as he yawned boringly.

"I.."Luca panted from the lack of oxygen.Vincent noticed and instantly stopped,letting one of his foot rest on Luca's shoulder."What?"

"I..."Luca took a deep breath before screaming,"I still have a future!And I need only one person in my pathetic life..to support and care about me!"He screamed as anger was slowly building up inside him.Abandoning his injuries,Luca launched himself towards Vincent and tried to scracth him using his sharp nails,but failed as Vincent easily dodged.

"You never consume a single flesh or a drop of blood,that's why your timid warefox body is weak,Antonio."Vincent mocked and yawned again."Don't worry,you'll die really soon.No need to waste your energy.You're at the death's door now."

"Never!"Luca exclaimed."I've promised to her that I'll return alive,so I will never give up no matter what!"Luca shouted at the older man as he stood up slowly.His hands were balled into a fist."Vincent Rutherford!I won''t let you do any harm to my hometown!!!"

Vincent shrugged.He didn't really enjoy sparring with this random warefox kid who wears the title of a prince,but he didn't want Luca to spoil his plans.He was left with no choice but to agree.

"Okay."sighed Vincent.

-

-

-

Anna was pacing back and fourth in her house and kept on glancing at the clock and the door.She was extremely worried.Usually,Luca will return home around 5 in the evening.However,it's been an hour and that boy wasn't home yet.

"Luca,don't make me super worried!"Anna sighed as she felt like she was having a panic attack.Anxiety was crippling her mind and negative thoughts were all over the place.

After Anna calmed herself down,she took a deep breath before saying to herself,"That's it,I'm finding him!And I swear if he fell asleep somewhere or hanging out all by himself,I'll beat the crap out of him!"

Anna immediately pack some essential stuffs into her bag in case of any emergencies and left her house,heading towards the forest in order to search for her bestfriend.