Chapter 3 The truth relic
Astrid's POV
My hand tightened around the plastic bag as I turned towards the counter but the guy was no longer there.
My stomach churned with pure disgust. Did I just touch a vampire? And… and thank him?
The hall was dead silent and I could feel sharp gazes trying to cut my soul into pieces. I turned towards the door and began running in the direction of my dorm.
I didn't stop running until I got into my room and banged the door locked.
I dropped the plastic bag and immediately rushed into the bathroom. I turned on the sink tap and began scrubbing my hand so hard that I tore open my skin.
But the pain didn't register in my mind as all I wanted was to cleanse myself of that contact.
“Mother, is… is something wrong?” The little boy's voice came low, pulling me back to reality.
That was when I remembered there was someone else in the room. I turned off the water and grabbed a small towel, wrapping it around my hand.
Without a word, I brushed past him and headed towards the main room. I picked up the plastic bag from the drawer and placed it on the table in the room.
The boy got onto the chair opposite me as I opened up the bag.
“Mother, are you still fighting with father?” The boy asked, his voice barely audible.
My hand froze on the bag. “Father? Who's your father?”
“Koen Hughes.” The boy answered.
My stomach flipped once as the name hit me like a joke. “Koen? The vampire king, Koen?”
The boy nodded his head slowly. “Are you people still fighting? Was that why you were trying to wash his scent off you?”
I stared at the boy like he had grown two heads for half a second before bursting into a wild laughter.
“Mother, is something wrong?” The boy asked again, searching my face.
“Koen is your father and…” I paused, processing what he said again, “and I'm your mother?”
The boy nodded his head again. “Do you want me to bring him here? Do you want to hear him apologize?”
“That's not possible. There's no way I'll have a son with him.” I hissed, shaking my head.
The boy jumped down to his feet. “If I can bring my father here to apologize, will you believe me and stop scaring me?”
I stared down at the boy, unable to find my voice.
“I'll prove it to you, mother.” The boy whispered, racing towards the other end of the room.
He grabbed a pen and prickled the tip of his finger. I just stood stiffly watching him mumble incoherent words while using his blood to draw symbols in the air.
I stood stiffly by the side, watching him.
“You should come eat if you want.” I said after a few minutes passed by and yet nothing happened.
The boy shook his head. “No, I can call, father. I have to call, father.”
“Please yourself then,” I hissed, turning towards the bathroom.
By the time, I stepped out of the bathroom. The little boy's face was buried in the plastic bag. He lifted his face when he heard the door lock click and sadness was boldly written on his face.
“Gave up too soon?” I taunted, staring at him. “What happened to ‘I can call my father’?”
The boy's eyes turned glossy, his lips quivering like someone who wanted to cry.
“Don't be delusional, kid.” I uttered, heading to my wardrobe. “I can't even stand him and you expect me to have a kid with him.”
“You married him, mother. Isn't having a kid normal?” The boy pointed out.
I choked on my saliva. “Married? I…” I paused, pointing at myself, “married him.”
A knock suddenly came on the door before he could reply. He jumped down from his chair immediately, dashing towards the door.
“Father is here.”
“Don't touch the door!” I yelled before he could reach for it. “That isn't your father but my friend.”
“But—”
“Get under the bed and don't make a sound.” I cut him off sharply, approaching the door.
His face fell as he dragged his feet towards the bed. “But I can smell father right outside the door.” The little boy mumbled under his breath.
But I ignored him completely, my hand had already twisted the door knob when it hit me. I was trying to hide him not just from everyone but my own best friend.
“How can you explain to her that you have a child with Koen when you don't even understand.” A voice whispered in my mind.
I nodded, opening the door without thinking twice. I would tell her once I understood who exactly the little boy was.
My blood ran cold as I stared into a pair of bright, green eyes just like the little boy's eyes. That wasn't the only similarity, the guy before me had the little boy's face just that he was older.
“Father,” the little boy squealed, running straight into the guy's legs. “I know you were going to come.”
My world tilted right in front of me. The guy standing outside my door can't be Koen, right?
“What did you just say?” Koen shifted his gaze towards the boy. “What did you call—”
His words cut off the instant he saw the little boy's face as something flashed through his eyes.
Silence stretched between us three for a second before Koen snickered, turning to face me.
“What's this supposed to mean?” The shock on his face was gone, his eyes void of any emotions.
My body reacted instinctively again, pulling both of them into my room and locking the door when I heard footsteps approaching.
Koen's green eyes darkened. “Don't make me repeat myself.”
“Father, you… you forgot me too?” The boy asked before I could part my lips, tugging at Koen's trousers.
For a fraction of a second, I saw Koen's expression waver. But then, he shoved the boy's hand away and turned towards the door.
“Tell your mother to use a better trick or face illusion, next time.” He snarled, iciness dripping from his voice.
“The truth relic,” the boy blurted before Koen's hand could reach for the door. “Since no one remembers me, why don't we do a blood test using a truth relic?”
