Now, what can he do to make that drama queen he called a sister happy with him again? Was he too hard on her? He ruffled his hair and made his way to the palace garden. He would have just appeared there but he wanted to respect her privacy. She might be swimming or doing something else, who knows?
When he got to the garden, he slowly pushed the flower, covering the place aside and peeped. When he saw that she was nowhere around, he entered and looked around but she wasn't there.
"Where could she have gone to?" He asked no one in particular. He knew this was where she frequented whenever she was angry or sad but now he couldn't find her. Did she turn invisible?
"Sapphire! Sapphire!" He called but no response. "I know you're in here. Please, come out and we can settle this like the cute brother and sister we are." He said, yet no answer. He sighed and bit his lip. If she was truly there then he knew what she wanted to hear. She wanted him to say that word he always found hard to utter.
"Sapphire, I..." He sighed. "I... I... I a..m s..orry," He muttered but nothing happened. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. As your elder brother, I am supposed to be by yourself and support you but I only made it worse. I'm sorry... really sorry." He apologized. "Feels good to finally get that out of my system." He smiled and suddenly felt a body pressed to his. Even though the person wasn't visible, he knew it was Sapphire.
"You see, apologizing is not that hard." Sapphire chuckled as she turned visible.
"Don't scare me like that again!" He snapped and hugged him tighter. For a second there, he thought she really wasn't in there garden and had ran away.
"So, you care about me, big brother?" She chuckled.
He quickly disengaged from the hug. "That's not true. I only hugged you because I felt like it, not because I care about you." He denied.
"Okay." She smiled.
"Stop smiling! It's not gonna happen again!" Roland snapped and she laughed.
"I thought you'd say that, so I took a picture for future purposes. I'm gonna value it for a very looong time. Oh, and I'll show it to Kash too." She laughed and ran out of the garden.
Roland gasped and ran after her. "Don't you dare show it to Kash. He'll use it to mock me for the rest of my life." He yelled.
....
"So, what you're trying to say is that you're now a guardian to a guy with chameleon powers?" Roland asked. They were already in Sapphire's room and Layla was helping her pack.
"I was also surprised as well. He is the last of his kind." Sapphire said.
"This is a lot to take in, Sapphire. Congratulations! Our guardian lineage is finally alive and will be on for generations." He smiled.
"Thanks, big brother. Do you want a hug to celebrate?" She spread her arms.
"No!" He answered immediately.
Sapphire and Layla laughed. Few minutes later, they were done packing and Sapphire was ready to disappear.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Layla asked. She was already tearing up.
"I..."
"Let her go with you, Sapphy. She might be of help to you too. Remember, she's a good fighter. I'll explain everything to Father once he returns." Roland smiled.
"Yay!" Layla squealed and went to pack her clothes.
"You called me Sapphy. I like it!" She chuckled.
"Savour it while it lasts. I might not call you that again." He smirked.
Sapphire chuckled. "I'm really going to miss y'all."
"Make sure you always visit us, okay?" He raised his pinky finger up.
"Okay." She intertwined hers with his and suddenly, he heard a snap sound. She had taken a picture.
"Damn! How do you do that?" He asked.
"Telekinesis!" She laughed, waving her hand.
He chuckled and patted her head. "Stay out of trouble. You know how Kash is." He smiled.
"He hasn't changed at all. So cocky!" She scoffed.
Roland laughed.
"I'm done!" Layla announced after she had finished packing.
"See you around, big bro." Sapphire smiled and disappeared with Layla.
Roland sighed. "I'm gonna miss her." He muttered.
****
Sapphire and Layla appeared in the room where Diego was placed and Layla looked around.
"Wow! Prin_" She couldn't complete her statement as Sapphire covered her mouth.
"We are in the human world now, Layla. There is nothing like princess here except for those spoilt humans belonging to one rich class or another. So, call me Sapphire, okay?"
Layla nodded, since Sapphire was holding her mouth and she couldn't talk. Sapphire let go of her mouth and smiled.
"Pri... I mean, S... Sapphire, the human world is totally different from underwater." Layla exclaimed, using her eyes to roam the room till it fell on Diego.
"Yes. I was fascinated when I got here too." Sapphire replied.
"Is this the guy?" Layla asked, taking a closer look at the sleepy Diego.
"Yup." Sapphire answered.
"He's cute." She smiled.
Sapphire looked at her suspiciously. "Yeah, he is," She answered. "This apartment is big enough to have an extra room. I think this room is Kash's." Sapphire said.
"The prince hasn't changed at all. He still keeps the room spotless." Layla smiled.
"Such a neat freak!" Sapphire snapped. "Come on, we'll share a room." Sapphire said.
"Huh?"
"Yeah. We are roommates now!" Sapphire dragged her to look for the second room. They found it just a few meters away from Kash's and arranged their things in there.
"You haven't eaten lunch. I'll go prepare something for you to eat." Layla said then paused. "Wait... This is he human world. Are we supposed to eat whatever they eat?" Layla asked.
"I don't think their food are quite different from ours." Sapphire shrugged.
Layla sighed and left for the kitchen. She didn't know where it was, so she used her sense to find it. That was her own unique power. Just by concentrating, she could find whatever is hidden, wherever it's hidden and however it's hidden.
****
Asher finally left the house and Cassie sat to talk with Kash.
"Can you tell me why you hate Asher so much?" She asked.
"I don't hate him. I just don't want him around you." Kash answered simply.
"Why?"
"Because I don't trust him."
"But, Asher isn't a bad person. He is a nice guy." Cassie defended.
"You can't trust people that easily, Cassie. They're blood sucking Vampires. Just a snap of their fingers and you're gone. Someone whose father is evil shouldn't be part of your company, Cassie. I am not saying you shouldn't he friends with him, I'm saying you should be wary of him, especially his father." Kash said and disappeared.
Cassie sighed. "Is he mad at me? What did I do?" She questioned herself. "Asher's father is evil? How?" She asked. She had a nudge like she was trying to remember something but the more she tried, the more her head ached.
****
Kash appeared in his room and saw Sapphire, sitting beside Diego on the bed.
"You're back!" He said.
"Yeah. Why do you look pissed off?" She asked when she turned to face him.
"How did you know that already?" He facepalmed.
"Let's just say, I'm the greatest sister in the world!" She chuckled.
"Pfft! As if!" He scoffed.
Sapphire rolled her eyes. "Now, tell me the bràt that pissed you off and I'mma show 'em who's boss." She frowned.
Kash sighed. "I don't really know how to start explaining this but_"
"It's about that Asher guy right?" She asked.
"You're really smart," He complimented and she smiled. This was the first time he complimented her without adding a little extra words to annoy her, but she spoke too soon.
"But I'm smarter." He said and she frowned. She shouldn't have gotten her hopes up.
"Duh!" She rolled her eyes and he smiled. "Kash, you love Cassie, don't you?" Sapphire asked.
One thing Kash couldn't do was lie to his sister. It was a siblings thing. They all made that vow not to lie but tell each other the truth no matter how much it hurts or costs. They might bicker and batter words with one another but when the time comes, they always gat each other's backs.
"Yes, I love her." Kash answered.
"But dad warned us not to fall in love while doing our duty!" She said.
"Do you think I haven't thought about that? I don't have control over my heart anymore, Sapphire. I tried to hide it, I tried to suppress it but it was fruitless. It only increased and it's driving me crazy." He said.
She sighed. "I understand you. I am your sister and would never want you to do anything that would hurt you. If you love her, go for her. Tell her how you feel before anyone else does and you'd lose her forever. If you two are truly meant to be, then there is nothing Father can do to stop fate." Sapphire smiled.
"Wow! First time I heard you say something reasonable." Kash commented and she smacked the back of his head.
"Stop joking around and claim your woman! You get me?" She snapped.
"Ouch! Yes, I get you." He answered.
****
Asher paced around in his room. The way Kash treated him at Cassie's place still annoyed him.
"I'll deal that brat! I'll make sure he pays! Let him watch how I'll tape Cassie away from him." Asher balled his fists.
The school dance was the perfect opportunity for him to execute that plan but what exactly was he going to do?
"You look worried." Rayner said and sat down on the chair.
"Dad! How long have you been here?" Asher asked.
"Long enough to listen to all that you've said and I think I have a solution." Rayner said.
"I don't want to hurt her!" Asher snapped.
"You aren't going to hurt her, dummy. You haven't even heard what I have to say yet!" Rayner yelled.
"Okay! What's the solution?" Asher asked. He was ready to do anything to defeat Kash and get Cassie.
"Mark her!"
.
.
.