?Arius


    Everything felt so cold. It was like I was walking through a snowstorm. The cold felt like it was piercing through my body.


    I walked through pitch blackness unable to determine where I was, why was I here, I didn''t even know why I was walking. It was as if my body was doing it on its own.


    After walking for God knows how long I saw something shine in the distance. It had an orange-yellow glow.


    I paused for a second then ran towards it.


    As I got closer the view became clearer and as I made out the scene in front of me I slowed down.


    There was a fire dancing on the firewood in the darkness, casting it''s orange glow on the old man sitting on the log in front of it.


    I stared at him in disbelief.


    "Huang-fei?"


    He turned his head towards me and smiled.


    "We meet at an odd place."


    Well, no doubt about that. The place is very odd… Something suddenly crossed my mind and I sat down on the log across Huang-fei''s and looked at in horror.


    "Am I dead?"


    He snickered, "What do you think?"


    I gave him a weak smile, "I thought that hell was hot."


    He laughed, "That means you''re not dead son."


    I furrowed my brows, "I can''t decide if I should be happy about it or not."


    "Life is a gift child." He stared at the fire.


    "Not really…" I looked at the orange flames dancing in front of me.


    "It is." He glanced at me and I gave him a brief look, "It''s up to you to decide whether you want to make it a beautiful one or terrible one."


    "..." Do I even have the choice? I sighed and looked at the ground which was nothing more than pitch blackness.


    "You will always have the choice young master." I looked at him in surprise when he answered the question I only thought about.


    I didn''t say anything in return and looked down again at the ground.


    "Where are we?" I asked him.


    "Perhaps somewhere between life and death."


    "Why are you here Huang-fei? Don''t tell me your soul got stuck here because you were too worried about me." I raised my head and looked at him. He wore a rather sad smile.


    "I am already dead." He said soundly, "Where I sit, you can not come."


    "What''s that supposed to mean?" His words didn''t make any sense, "Aren''t we sitting at the same place?" I stood up to go to him but ended up bumping into something, "What the hell!" My eyes grew wide at the realization.


    There was something in front of me. Something I could not see but it wouldn''t let me go any further.


    Like an invisible barrier.


    "Young master." Huang-fei called me and I looked down at him, sitting calmly in the same position with a soft smile on his face, "You are not yet dead."


    I stumbled back and sat down on the log, "Can I only come there when I''m dead." He nodded.


    "Do you wish to die?"


    "I don''t know…" At the very least, I don''t want you gone. Even though I know you already are.


    I stared at the ground again.


    After staring at it for a little while I furrowed my brows and stared at the ground more intensely.


    A closer look showed that it was actually giving out a reflection.


    I saw myself in it.


    My face was filled with worry.


    With fear.


    With concern.


    In that reflection was my answer.


    I looked at Huang-fei and he gave me a nod.


    My surroundings started getting warmer.


    I did not choose death.


    I had a lot to do with my life.


    The dark scenes around us started getting lighter.


    "I wish you a happy life young master." Huang-fei spoke with his fatherly smile as he too started to become lighter. As if he was going to fade away.


    "Huang-fei?" I looked at him with sorrowful eyes.


    "Yes?"


    This was perhaps the first and last time I could tell him this in person but I wanted to.


    "I love you." I smiled as I felt all my emotions swell up.


    As everything around me almost faded I saw him close his eyes, "I love you too son." There was a satisfied smile on his face as he vanished into nothingness.


    ***


    I opened my eyes lazily.


    Everything was blurry. I had no idea where I was or where I was supposed to be.


    My eyes weren''t adjusting properly but I noticed that there was a lot of steam around me and I felt wet and maybe a bit weighed upon too.


    I looked down at my naked skin that was being hugged by another person. Her arms were around me while her head rested on my chest.


    My head throbbed but I still tried to makeout the person.


    "Azalea…?" My voice was dry but she immediately shot her head up to look at me.


    For some reason she was shocked but I couldn''t keep myself to stay awake.


    Even though it felt nice that there was someone with me in pain, I ended up falling back asleep.


    ***


    I woke up and found myself in the hospital.


    I looked around nervously and sat up.


    How did I end up here?


    I scratched the side of my head trying to remember stuff but my memory only took me as far as it could manage and the last thing I remember is Caesar coming to save me on the mountain.


    I stood up from the bed and began walking out.


    It was somewhat hard because I felt a bit sour but its nothing serious. It could be warded off with a little jog.


    As I walked the corridor I realized I was no longer in Lorelai.


    This was definitely not a small hospital.


    I was back in the city.


    I made my way to the counter and tapped the surface to get the attention of the nurse.


    "Yes?" She raised her head to ask me.


    "Can I check out?"


    "Has the doctor allowed it?"


    I nodded, "Yes." I lied.


    "State your name please."


    "Arius Alucard."


    She began working on the process and I looked around, "How long was I asleep for?"


    "Your report says two days."


    My eyes went wide at the news.


    "Two days?!"


    "Yes." The nurse smiled and handed me the document, "Have a good day sir. Your bill has already been paid in advance."


    I nodded and left the hospital in a trance.


    I shook my head again and again to remember anything but nothing came to mind.


    Was I unconscious from the time Caesar came to me?


    Wow…


    I took the cab to the mansion.


    My men and the servants were delighted to see me.


    I couldn''t believe that some of them even cried.


    But that didn''t bother me.


    I was bothered by only one thing.


    The way Caesar and Azalea ignored me when I saw them.


    I first saw Caesar in the lounge. He gave me a glance and then left the room ignoring my presence.


    I called out to him but he didn''t respond.


    That was astonishing.


    He never does that.


    Then I saw Azalea walking in the corridor.


    She too glanced at me then turned her head away, refusing to acknowledge my existence.


    I stood there bewildered.


    What the fuck is happening?!?!