The Last Embrace

The man-made lake brimmed with laughter produced by no other than the young lovers themselves. They're enjoying splashing water to each other until Nana Aida appeared, they saw her waving from the other side of the lake, motioning them to come closer.

Her waving was frantic...with urgency in her actions.

Adam swam swiftly towards her direction.

"Nana, what's wrong?" he asked.

"Ivy and Nathan are already at the gate waiting for an entry, the guard was asking me if I will let them in-?" Nana said in a worried tone.

Holy Shiit! Trouble! Adam thought to himself, then he frowned. "Nana, I thought it's clear that we can not allow strangers to set foot in the mansion. We got secrets to protect," he said in a soft voice.

"I know. I did not instruct my children to come here. They came on their own," her voice laced with tension.

"By the way, why they're here, Nana?" he asked softly.

"They keep pestering me about Jessy. They wanted to see her. They've been worried sick about her after she disappear from the party. When I told them that she is all right, they won't accept it. They want to see Jessy with their own eyes," she explained further.

Nana Aida's fl.u.s.tered face was painful to watch, Adam sighed. It will be hard for her to decide to turn down her own children and sent them back home.

"It's okay, Nana. They can stay here with us for a few days if they want. I will just fade away into the background. I will stay in my room the whole time they're here to avoid complications. But I hope it will be the first and the last time something like this would happen," he said firmly.

"Yes. Am sorry about this...Adam." She said apologetically.

"Nana, it's okay. No need to apologize," he smiled at her warmly. "I will go upstairs now and bring my blood box to my bedroom." He got out from the water, took his towel and wrapped it around his waist. He waved at Jessy and gestured to her that he will go upstairs.

Jessy swam to the area where Nana stood.

"Nana, what is it?" she asked. She took her towel and got out of the water reluctantly.

"Ivy and Nathan are here to see you," she said.

Damn! This is trouble, she told herself.

She and Nana walked hurriedly towards the mansion. Jessy went to her room and took a shower while Nana Aida called the guard to let her children in.

A Honda Accord Hybrid car appeared in the driveway, it parked at the entrance of the mansion. One girl and two boys emerged from the car, Nana Aida was already talking to them.

Who's the other guy? Adam asked himself.

He was peeking at them through the window from his room. He can smell their strong human scent from the distance. He snorted, trying to shake away the smell from his nose. He went back to his bed. He will be grounded in his room for a few days, he doesn't like it even a tiny bit. But if they will see him by accident, they will be horrified with his looks. Therefore, he has no choice but to hide in the dark.

He sighed.

He can hear footsteps and a girl's chatter on the hallway outside his room. That must be Ivy.

He picked up his smartphone and play music on it, he inserted the earplug on his ears and shut off his eyes. Jess' beautiful smiling face appeared in his mind, he smiled wistfully.

<<<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>

"Jessy! " Ivy screamed, glad to see her friend in person again. She enveloped Jess in a bear hug, her brown curly hair bouncing around her head. "Am so glad you're okay, safe and looking beautiful as ever!" she added in an exuberant voice.

"Hello Ivy! Nice to see you again!" she greeted her friend enthusiastically and returned the hug.

"OMG! Your bed is huge!" Ivy exclaimed in glee and jumped right into the bed. "Your bed so comfy!"

Jessy watched her friend's reaction to her bed with amus.e.m.e.nt. Ivy was always been a bubbly girl.

"C-Can I stay here with you in your room?" Ivy asked with a puppy dog eyes.

"Of course you can," she replied.

"Wait a minute...let me ask you something." Ivy's face turned serious. "Why you suddenly disappeared from the party? What happened to you back then? You scared the hell out of us. We've been really worried about you." Ivy's face was in a state of bewilderment.

A sudden lump formed on Jess' throat. Remembering the horrific incident isn't pleasant for her. She cleared her throat, her friend was waiting for an answer. She sat beside her on the bed. "Ivy-you know I don't like parties. Am not comfortable with many people surrounding me. So, I went out of the bar and hired a taxi cab to take me home. Am so sorry I didn't inform you guys," she tried hard to make her alibi reasonable and believable.

Ivy looked at her with raised eyebrows. "It's okay, I understand. You are forgiven, Jess. But you are so weird!" Ivy had seen a cloud of darkness on Jess' eyes. But she chooses not to pursue the matter, her friend has no intention to reveal anything to her. She walked towards the window and opened it wider. She saw a sparkling lake, few meters away from the mansion. "Wow! Amazing place you had here! Can we go swimming in the lake-Jess?" she asked excitedly.

Ivy's cheerful gibbering penetrated Jess' nightmarish thoughts. Currently, her mind went back to the dark incident two weeks ago. Flashback begun appearing on her mind, she shook her head, trying to erase them. She stood abruptly and joined Ivy on the window.

"Yes, of course, we can go swimming in the lake tomorrow," Jess replied in a bland manner.

"Not tomorrow, Jess. I want to swim tonight! Let's have a night swimming party!" Ivy raves.

Jess' eyes twinkled in amus.e.m.e.nt. "No problem."

For the first time in a decade, the mansion was filled with the noisy chatter of four boisterous teenagers. They were sitting comfortably around the dining table, eating dinner. Nana Aida prepared a dinner feast for them. She cooked honey garlic glazed chicken, pork and vegetable stew and buttered shrimp for their dinner. Her face beamed while observing the kids animated faces. She was glad they're enjoying the foods she enthusiastically prepared for them.

Jessy smiled at Matthew who was sitting beside her. He was Nathan's best friend, the owner of the car.

Outside the window, Adam watched them dryly, his form was fully obscured by the shadow surrounding him. He's been observing them for ten minutes already. He was feeling vexed that Jessy was showering the other guy her attention. Maybe she's just being friendly, he told himself.

He felt J-E-A-L-O-U-S!

Aargh!

It doesn't help that the boy was good looking and he got Jess' full attention now. They would laugh at each other's words and it's painful to see on Adam's end. He gritted his teeth, clearly annoyed.

He continued observing them outside the window.

Nathan begun telling his dinner companions about a funny joke, and within seconds they erupted in a loud laughter.

Adam shifted his gazed back on Jess. Her smiling face showed that she was having lots of fun with her friends. She seemed to be enjoying their company. The same smile can be seen on Nana Aida's face.

Somehow, Jessy felt his intense stare because she glanced at Adam's direction, then she winked acknowledging his presence.

Adam's heart does a somersault on his rib cage.

Then he smiled sadly. When he's gone, Jessy would have no difficulty blending with new people and he will be forgotten in no time.

He looked at Nana Aida, she also looks happy surrounded by her real children. After his death, Jessy will be claimed by his brother and Nana Aida will return to her family. 'The ladies will do fine in the future without me,' he said, a ton of sadness and melancholy weighted heavily on his c.h.e.s.t.

He can't take it anymore. He departed hastily and retreated back to the comfort of his room. He can no longer stomach watching them with their merriment. He felt like he was an outcast.

Once inside the tranquility of his room...he kept pacing back and forth...

He opened his laptop and scanned the headline for a piece of news. There was an update regarding the death of the four serial killers and rapist who abducted Jessy. The news caught the whole country's attention. Their death was caused by drug overdose, that was what the autopsy revealed. Upon further investigation, the police learned and uncovered more r.a.p.ed victims on their records. The police searched the killers homes and found the dungeon in the bas.e.m.e.nt, a woman's skeleton was also discovered in the bas.e.m.e.nt along with several discarded women's dresses. Tons of r.a.p.ed videos were also uncovered on the site, they are actual footage's of the violent r.a.p.ed scenes they instigated on their victims.

Sick bastards! Rot in hell! Until now he kept cursing them in his mind.

He suddenly turned off his laptop and blew off some steam by inhaling and exhaling air deeply into his lungs.

Adam didn't inform Jess about the news, afraid that she will remember her painful abduction and it will re-open her trauma and nightmares.

He climbed on his bed, trying to sleep.

Two hours passed swiftly. Unable to sleep, he walked towards the window. He can see the lively group of four frol.i.c.k.i.n.g in the lake. Their laughter and chatters echoed in the air. After a while, they huddled in front of a bonfire, talking and chatting.

Damn! He felt bored!

'I want to join their fun!' He said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He went to his wardrobe and retrieve his black sweatshirt from the drawer and donned it on his body.

Then he leaped from the window and vanishes below.

Unnoticed, he climbed on the oak tree besides the lake, it's situated near the bonfire. He settled comfortably on a big branch, feet dangling, with a smirk forming on his lips.

He was observing the group...

Thinking of a way to play a prank on them...

Then a great idea formed in his mind. He grinned widely.

Using his power, he waved his hand around the lake, the light of the lamp post that surrounds the lake died instantly. Next, the bonfire suddenly died away and lost it's embers, the lake was totally submerged in thick darkness.

The group shrieked in panic, surprised and fear descended upon them...

Hahahaha....Adam chuckled to himself. He found their reaction amusing and hilarious.

After a few seconds...he waved his hand again, restoring the light on the lamp post and the bonfire suddenly lit with fire.

"What the f.u.c.k just happened!?" the group screamed in unison. They looked at each other in panic and fear, except for Jessy. No one speak, but the fear in their faces were mounting as seconds passes by...they finally scrambled to their feet ready to flee the area...

Adam waves his hand right away and freezes the three human beings who were about to flee, they were rooted on the spot instantly, excluding Jessy, she stood still with mouth agape...she already knew who was responsible for the current mysterious happenings around the lake.

Adam descended from the tree wearing his black sweatshirt and the hood covering his head. He dressed in black from head to toe which looks intimidating. He walked towards his ladylove in a slow motion.

Jessy looked at Adam, pouting. "What have you done!? You are scaring our visitors!" She chastised him.

Adam smiled, he loves it when Jessy displays anger on her face, she looked more adorable and cute. He suddenly cupped her face and planted a wet kiss on her lips. He truly misses her!

Jessy was taken off guard, but she opened her mouth nonetheless, allowing his tongue more wide access to her mouth. Adam g.r.o.a.n.e.d. "I miss you, Jess!" His kiss deepened. She returned his kiss with great fervor.

Then she gently pushes him away from her. "Get over with it! We have visitors!" she retorted in a perky manner.

Then she suddenly remembered that they were surrounded by her friends. "OMG! They saw us kissing!" she said, horrified.

"No need to worry-Jess. I freezes their brains and eyes as well," he chuckled.

"Why did you freeze them?" she folded her arms.

"That is their punishment for taking you away from me," he retorted dryly. Then he wrapped her in his arms tenderly. "I will sleep in your room tonight," he said in a husky voice.

"No. You can't. Ivy will be sleeping in my room tonight," she replied.

Adam sighed heavily, clearly disappointed.

Then he claimed back her lips and kiss her passionately...she m.o.a.n.e.d in p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e.

But she didn't let their kiss lingers on for too long, she pushes him gently away from her body.

"Unfreeze them now!" she ordered.

"Yes Ma'am," he planted one more swift kiss to her already swollen lips. "Goodnight, Jess." Then he disappeared from her sight completely.

Ivy, Nathan and Matthews body starts moving...then they broke into a run towards the entrance of the mansion...screaming!

Jessy tried to contain her laughter. She found their reaction very funny. Then she strolled towards the mansion.

She found her friends inside, huddled in front of Nana.

"Mother, the lake is hunted!" Ivy screamed in fright.

"Yes. The light and f-fire suddenly went off and then r-return back after a few seconds. I never saw anything like that in my whole life!" Nathan seconded, mouth quivering.

"I saw a black figure hovering above the tree, looking at me!" Matthew added with a trembling voice.

Jessy rolled her eyes...

She and Nana stared at each other, they knew better...

"That was the lady of the lake, telling you guys to stop swimming and go to sleep." Nana Aida said grinning, totally amused by the whole situation.

"Mother, you are not helping!" Ivy complained.

"Hush now child, go to sleep. Party is over!" she said. "Ivy-you go now with, Jess!" she ordered her daughter.

"You guys will sleep downstairs, I will settle you in your room. Follow me!" she motioned the boys to follow her.

After the young a.d.u.l.ts settled comfortably in their respective beds, the mansion went into a silent mode.