The Curse Of A Stranger's Gift 40 Legends Never Die

The red beam of the moon was starting to fade, but the tension below was relentless. Their battle was yet to reach its inevitable conclusion, and it's getting on the nerves of Lauxister. He'd been reckless this time. It wasn't his intention to intervene with Xavier's affair, but he couldn't just ignore Eleanor's plea. He's indebted to her father very much. This was his way of paying him.

It was clear that he forgot to take into account what Xavier's capable of doing. He'd been of comfort knowing that Eleanor and Louise—Xavier's greatest allies—were willing to go against him. Now he thought otherwise. As Xavier made his way to Zheira, he couldn't help thinking that this would be the last time he would open his eyes. It's not because he's afraid of Xavier; it's because of the girl who could control their memories. Her gift was phenomenal. She's supposed to be a mortal, but she's even more powerful than all the vampire's combined forces.

Xavier stopped in front of Zheira. He tilts his head slightly, so he could see Vladimir who's eyeing him like a hawk. Xavier cupped her cheeks, caressing her skin softly. He moved closer towards her until their nose touched. Her rosy breath was enough to arouse him. In a blink, their lips became one. Their kiss was filled with so much l.u.s.t—his hand pinched her a.s.s—their lips still moving playfully to each other.

Everyone's jaw drop. They least expected such a thing to happen. An ancient vampire smooching the lips of a younger one looked to them as an abusive act. However, what caught their attention was Vladimir's reaction. There wasn't a trace of emotion in his face as his eyes flickered. It's like watching a snake peeled its skin, renewing its body to an enormous one.

Vladimir felt the world fell in his shoulders. He lost control of everything. Seeing Zheira kiss the king that way somehow triggered something inside him. A bluish tint outlined his figure. Eleanor has to move away as it releases a vibrance that felt as though it could cut her bare skin.

"What's our chances?" Louise murmured.

"Don't even ask." Lauxister stood, helping Louise to his feet. "This would soon end. The result may favor us or not, but we have to ensure that the aftermath wouldn't be severe." He watched as Vladimir's eyes were splashed with a deep blue color, and a pang of regrets trailed over his consciousness. It was his fault for not securing the Royal Blood. He might not know how it works, but he's aware that it's cursed. Whoever shared that blood would have to live and die together. If it's true that Zheira has the Royal Blood as well, then hers and Vladimir's life depend on each other. But with the looks of it, Xavier's going to make them fight to the death.

"Louise," Lauxister called, "I want you to get some anesthesia in Xavier's laboratory. I am no match at him, but if we can shut his system down, we might stand a chance."

"What are you going to do then?"

"I'll distract him for the meantime." Lauxister clenched his fist. "Hurry!"

Before Louise could go anywhere, a blast of water danced in the surrounding fire. The hot atmosphere reduced to a penetrating cold. He wants to watch how the fight would go, but he has more pressing things to accomplish. So, he dived so high 'till he's able to escape Vladimir's water.

A deep gong-like scream pierced the silence. Vladimir's body was radiating with bluish energy, trying to free himself from Xavier's binding. A ripping sound echoed until the red-like string split into two.

Xavier put his hand to Zheira's shoulder, rubbing it merrily while he grinned at his son's reaction. He nibbled his ears. "This is a one-time favor, Zheira," he whispered, stroking the strands of her hair. "I want you to kill Vladimir."

Zheira smirked. "You needn't ask." She gently slapped his scarred cheek.

"I'll kill you!" Vladimir yelled as he charged towards Xavier like an angry bull. He was so swift that Eleanor could only make out the hem of his cloak before she saw him grab Xavier by the scruff who's smile was still wider, as though the fight was his for the taking. Eleanor stood, rubbing her stinging skin. Those chains were too painful for their worth.

"Watch how you'll end, my dear son!" Xavier murmured. Eleanor screamed when Vladimir plummeted away from them. She couldn't understand what happened. All she saw was a flash of light and boom! Vladimir's knocked to the ground.

"It was Zheira," Lauxister said, "She punched him." His eyes were bulging. He couldn't believe a thing he's seeing.

Eleanor inclined her head when she saw Zheira prowling towards Vladimir who's still balancing himself. With a deep growl, she sprinted towards her. However, Xavier was already smiling in front of her.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"To h.e.l.l!" She dived, and her toes touched the former king's chin, but it wasn't enough to bring him down. She landed cat-like to the ground. "Today you die, Xavier! You'll pay for all the mistakes you've done."

Xavier sn.i.g.g.e.red. "Let me see you try—" He choked when a big arm linked around his throat. Lauxister was trying to cut his head off. Xavier pushed his neck, trying to tie them down. Eleanor—seeing the pain drawing Lauxister's face—jumped towards Xavier's stomach, making him slumped towards the ground with a loud groan. Yet, his head was still intact. Lauxister squashed his face with his bare feet as Eleanor kicked his s.h.i.+n. Xavier wasn't at all pleased, he slashed his hand in any direction, because the two fighters trying to bring him down, didn't give him a chance to fight back. His red-like strings sliced the surrounding stones, and Eleanor had to move back, barely missing the string for an inch.

It was then that she saw a blue and reddish figure clas.h.i.+ng in the air. She couldn't follow their move. They're as fast as the light. She didn't even know what they're up to, but she's guessing they're trying to rip each other's throat.

"Eleanor!" Lauxister yelled. A round reddish beam was plummeting towards her. It was so fast. She couldn't escape even if she wished to. Breathing heavily, she closed her eyes and accepted death as an old friend. Moments later, she felt a soft hand touched her waist and the wind pressed tightly on her skin. When she opened her eyes, she saw Louise glaring down at her. He pinched her nose.

"It could've been you who suffered that." He pointed towards the clearing who was supposed to be filled with the line-up of trees.

"I'm sorry." She wheezed. "I lost my mind for a moment there."

"Clearly," Louise said, "Eleanor, listen, you have to help me inject this to Xavier. This is the only way we could win." He raised a syringe filled with a dull liquid.

"What's that?"

"This is what the king uses whenever he wants to decapitate his enemy. Rubbing them out of their senses is the best way to win."

Eleanor nodded. "So, what's the plan?"

Louise's smiled.

Meanwhile, Lauxister rolled in the mud as Xavier sliced his hand in the air—he's desperate now—the long-range battle was his strength, because of his gift. It was such good timing that the moon was full, since every wound Lauxister gets easily healed.

"How does it feel to be the one pursued?" Xavier whispered, his face was void with any emotion. They've given him a great deal of pain, and he didn't like it at all.

"Di—divine!" Lauxister simply said as he dived away from yet another round reddish energy. It's becoming bigger and bigger now. Though, he could see the weariness in Xavier's eyes, he's still not trusting that he'll drop any moment. He just wish that the other's were doing what they're supposed to do.

At that very moment, a black hole appeared beside Xavier. He didn't notice this until Louise kicked him in the lower region of his stomach. Before he could so much as groan, Louise vanished, together with the black hole. In the split second of Xavier's distraction, Lauxister was able to hide behind a wild tree; trying to regain some of his strength.

Xavier crouched, narrowing his eyes, waiting for the attack he felt to come. Every now and then, a black hole would emerge in front of him, then Louise would aim a kick or a punch from any of his body parts. He knew, Eleanor and Louise were working hand in hand with this kind of trick. He just thought it's a waste of talent. Soon, they'll bow down once more to his side.

A cold smile curved his lips when he felt another hole stretching itself on his back, he waited with bated breath as Louise's presence emerge from it. "Gotcha!" he yelled as he was able to block Louise's punch. However, Louise just smiled at him. A thin needle seemed to have pierced his neck. It was like being pinched by an ant. The one he was able to block was just a diversion. His knees wobbled and he hit the ground. His eyes wandered around him and saw Zheira's back turned, facing a stunned Vladimir who's slumped to the ground.

Before his senses could shut down, he put all his strength in making the biggest round energy he could produce. With a grim smile, he directed it towards Zheira.

"Please, Zheira, go back to your senses!" Vladimir pleads while retreating.

"Zheira has long been dead. You've granted her misery and now you asked me to bring her back? Are you that hypocrite?" She opened her palm, letting fire dance over it. "This is how it should end, Vladimir. You gave me life and in return, I'll grant your death—" She groaned when something so hot hit her back. Her eyes widened as she felt an excruciating pain crawled through her system.

"Zheira?" Vladimir whispered with furrowed brows.

She looked down at him, eyes flickering from gold to red, then red to gold. Deep sagging lines were dancing from her feet towards her face. "H—hel—" Tears trailed down her cheeks as she coughed with blood.

Vladimir stood upright, linking her with his arms. "D—don't leave me," he whispered, burying his face to her neck. "Don't leave me." It was the only thing he could manage to say. Every bit of him was screaming with hallowed pain, and he feared death would knock in his door.

"I'm sorry," Zheira murmured as her puzzled body shrunk. A strong breeze of wind danced around them, reducing her to a pile of ashes. Vladimir fell face-down to the ground as Zheira's presence totally vanished.