?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?!?!