“Um...”
“Please don’t say no, your Majesty,” I pleaded.
“I will help you. If this is what you wanted, we can discuss this in my room after an hour. A bodyguard will bring you to my place after Iam done with some works,” she confirmed. I didn’t expect it would be easy to get her help. Even though Iam just a student to her, she is ready to help me. I can finally see my parents and ask them why I have been hidden from the universe all these days. But on the other side, Iam feeling guilty. I stole the Queen’s diary. I should have not done that.
“Victoria, Victoria,” I heard the king’s voice calling her from a distance. All other students are already gone to their room. Only my friends are waiting for me. I think something is wrong.
“One student ended up dead. We found her in the forest. The game isn’t supposed to end up dead,” King Peter shouted in tension. I can’t understand what’s going on right now. Everything was perfect after the game. Now, who could have ended up dead?
I jerked as someone touched my shoulder from behind.
“Sydney, it’s...it’s Leo...Leona...” Amelia stammered. Jacen and Noah are behind her in shock.
“What? It can’t be Leona. She can’t be dead. She’s a vampire,” I yell, as a bodyguard whose shirt is ripped and stained with blood. He approached us holding a girl who has a stake in her heart.
Leona’s dead.
“It can’t be. It can’t be. She’s not dead.” I sat on the ground when the bodyguard laid her down. Bloodstain all over her body and there’s a stake in her heart. This game isn’t supposed to kill each other.
“She’s dead, Sydney,” Amelia said, giving up. Tears started flowing in my eyes. I have only known her for a very short time, but she doesn’t deserve this. What must have happened to her?
“Wait for a second,” I said as I remembered about the crystal stone, we all bought to save our life in case of any problem.
“She must have her crystal. That will save her life. Right? Someone tell me,” I shouted, looking at the King, Queen, bodyguard, and my friends.
“Peter, where is this girl’s crystal?” Victoria asked him impatiently. Just like me. Both King and Queen don’t know how it happened. Isn’t it their fault? Someone dangerous or a creature must have killed her. Then it’s their fault.
“She doesn’t have her crystal and neither her watch. I don’t know how this is all happening. No students died in this game. This is the first time,” Peter anxiously told, pacing around the ground. They need to be much serious. My friend lost her life forever.
“How can you all be so careless? This game is responsible for this.” I blamed both of them without solid evidence. All I want is Leona back.
“It’s not our fault. The obstacles in the game never meant to kill anyone. This girl forgot both her watch and the stone. Who can this be our fault?” the king let out those words. How can he say this? He has a worried face too, but he’s not worried about this girl’s death. He must worry about this Academy.
“Unless someone did this,” he said at last. Someone must have done it. That’s right. I know Leona had both her watch and stone. Who can it disappear?
“Maybe someone did this on purpose,” I repeated.
“I want someone to go into the forest. There may be the chance to find the crystal in the forest,” I ordered, and Iam sure whatever Iam doubting is right.
“What are you saying?” Amelia said, wiping her tears.
“If someone did this on purpose, then there will be a clue. Iam sure of it,”
“I will go. Can you show me where you found her body?” Jacen volunteered and asked the bodyguard. They both acted fast and went into the forest.
“I can’t see her like this. She’s a vampire. Can’t we bring her back? There must be a way to bring her back,” I yelled and looked at her corpse. Seeing her like this, going to haunt me all my life. I put my hands on that stake and pulled it out.
“If someone killed her, how can we find it?” Noah asked.
“Iam not sure, but we need to find it. If we can have Leona back to life, she would tell what really happened,” I murmured.
“There’s a way,” Victoria shouted all of a sudden.
“Way for...”
“Way to bring her back. It will be less than an hour since she’s dead. Maybe Kassidy can help us,” the Queen looked at Peter, who nodded in understatement.
“Who is Kassidy?”
“She can see the dead and she has a passage to go to heaven and hell. She can bring her back only it’s not too late,”
“Then hurry up. Please take us to her,” I urged the Queen. Finally, there’s a look of relief in her eyes as she guided us inside the Academy. Noah carried Leona’s body as we all ran behind Victoria. We need to make it in time. We crossed many corridors and halls and stopped right in front of a door. Victoria knocked on the door fast.
A young girl with red hair just like Leona stood before us as she opened the door. She looks like an angel living in the world. She was shocked to see the Queen.
“What can I do for you, your highness?” she asked politely.
“I need you to bring back a student’s life. Come inside,” Victoria said, making way for us. The room is looking like a hall but with many portraits. Portraits of hell, heaven, places on Earth, ravewood, and many more.
“Oh my god, I don’t know whether I could bring her back,” Kassidy told within a minute. That’s it. Can she bring her back?
“Do something!” I shouted without control.
“She’s dead. I can’t bring her back...” Kassidy said, hating my rudeness. This is not how I will behave when seeing someone new.
“I know you, Kass. You can always do things when no one could do that. Plus, this girl’s a vampire. Please don’t give up. She doesn’t deserve to die,”
“I know...”
“You have all these portraits. Can’t you do it?” Victoria suggested.
“What’s with these stupid portraits?” I asked harshly. Iam regretting every word I’m speaking after Leona died.
“I can use this to go to hell or heaven to bring back any dead person.” Kassidy’s knuckles turned white as she spoke, controlling her anger when she’s talking with me.
“Iam sorry. Please do something. Time is running,” I pleaded impatiently. Suddenly the door opened, revealing Jacen standing breathlessly.
“I found her crystal and her watch. She pressed the button when she’s in danger but her watch was thrown somewhere away from her. Her death is definitely not just an accident,”