Lira was in the mess hall with Yumi later that evening. She stole a glimpse of Mari, who was seated on a table far away from her with Ian keeping her company. Yumi and Ian sensed the problem between Lira and Mari, so they decided to split up with Yumi sitting beside Lira and Ian with Mari.

"I know something happened," Yumi said. "Spill the beans."

So Lira told her everything what happened in the gazebo that afternoon, though she remained the bit about tha bargain a secret.

"So he kissed you? Gosh. Never saw that coming," Yumi said. "But you know he's off limits, right?"

"Of course! And I already have a boyfriend."

"What! Who? When? Where? How?" Yumi badgered, sounding eager about her friend's love life and momentarily forgetting about Lira's pressing problems.

Lira bowed her head and whispered. "It's a vampire. Nicholas. After the ball. During class. It just happened."

"Hmm. I could have sworn it was Sevastian I saw," Yumi said more to herself.

"You saw Sevastian what?" Lira eyed Yumi curiously, the latter's brows were in furrow, looking as if she was trying to figure out how Lira ended up with Nicholas.

"Said what?" Yumi asked with a confused look on her face but was quick to recover. "Oh, nothing! But Lira I'm happy for you that you finally have a boyfriend. He was not the one who I expected you to end up with, though. But, hey, as long as my best friend is happy, who am I to question which vampire she ended up with, right? But we better fix this misunderstanding with Mari. Don't worry. Fairy godmother Yumi will fix it for you," Yumi promised.

Lira was looking forward to see Nicholas that evening. They had agreed to meet, and she very much wanted to see him. She was feeling bad about everything that she just wanted to be with him to seek comfort and forget about her worries. She headed to the rec room and waited for him to arrive. After minutes of waiting, Nicholas appeared on the doorway and briskly strode towards her. She gave him a smile. Nicholas face was impassive. She tapped her hand beside her, indicating for him to sit. He stood in front of her.

"I can smell his scent all over you even from a far," he hissed with an accusing glare.

Lira's brows furrowed. "Nick, I really had a bad day today so I'd appreciate it if you'll not speak in riddles," she said calmly.

"Is that what you do during daytime? Comparing my kisses with other boys you fancy?" he spat.

"Nicholas!" What was wrong with the people around her lately? Why were they throwing accusations at her? All within a day! She stood up and tried to hold Nicholas' hands but he slapped her hands off him.

"I never want to see you again, or so help me you'll see the monster in me," he threatened, threw a manila envelope on the couch and stormed out of the room.

After recovering from her shock, Lira opened the envelope to reveal several pictures of her and Matt in the gazebo, kissing. Of all the rotten things to do! Someone was trying to set her up! Who could be this wicked to do such a thing to her? Lira stormed out of the rec room to find Yumi and informed her of her theory.

"You are right, Lira," Yumi affirmed when Lira found her on their shared room. "Someone's trying to set you up! Don't worry; I'll help you find the culprit. I'll scry this evening," Yumi added, although Lira had no idea what Yumi meant by 'scry'.

A week had passed and both Lira and Yumi still had no leads as to who had set her up. Mari still wouldn't speak with her either.

"Try to talk to her again, Lira," Ian suggested during their lunch in the mess hall. "Yumi and I are caught in between."

"It isn't easy as that, Ian. Girls need some time and space to deal with problems," Yumi said.

Lira had no idea what to do.

As for Nicholas, he wouldn't even look at her. During class, he would sit as far away as possible from where she was sitting.

"Sorry Lira, I tried to tell him about what you said. But he threatened to dissect me and feed my intestines to the wolves unless I keep my mouth shut," Stephan said apologetically.

"I'll speak with him tonight, Lira," Lisa offered.

"I'll talk to him as well," Sevastian added.

And Matt was throwing murderous glances at her every time she was within his radius. Things were really getting worse each day.

Christmas Eve came and there was still no improvement with her problems. The great hall, mess hall and even the rec room were bursting with lanterns, parols, wreathes with poinsettias, and ribbons of green and red. A tall Christmas tree was in the great hall, lavishly adorned. But the grand decorations and the cheerful atmosphere around her had no effect whatsoever in lifting her spirit.

Most students went home to spend their Christmas break but Lira, Yumi and Ian stayed behind. Lira's aunt was MIA again so there was no point in spending Christmas at home, but Lira promised Claire she would be going home for New Year's Eve. Yumi, as usual, wanted to avoid Lavinia's overly dramatic tantrums when the bratty princess did not receive the gift she wanted for Christmas. "She is so not on Santa's nice list," Yumi commented. Ian said it was his first time to celebrate Christmas, so he thought to stay at the academy and witness what the excitement over Christmas was all about.

There were a few students who also decided to spend their Christmas in the academy. As a result, everyone gathered around in the great hall to celebrate the event. Even the vampires decided to hang around the great hall as well. Mari, as per Yumi, left the school and was with her parents who visited her and decided to spend the Christmas in Baguio City.

"I'm really not in the mood to celebrate," Lira said sullenly as she absentmindedly played the food on her plate with her fork. "It isn't the same without Mari."

Yumi patted Lira's back. Ian gave her a small smile.

"I missed her, you know?" Lira added.

"I missed you too, Lira. I'm sorry."

The three turned their heads in unison to find Mari standing behind them with a shy smile on her face. The two girls ran towards Mari and threw their arms around her. Ian stood behind, shaking his head, smiling.

"Mari, I am so sorry! It wasn't what you think... Honest! I—" Lira tried to explain but Mari cut her off.

"I know Lira, and I'm sorry, too. Yumi and Ian explained things to me," Mari said, throwing a fond smile over Yumi and Ian. "I know you didn't mean to do it; that he forced himself on you. What kind of guy would force himself on a girl? I am so over him. Promise."

"C'mon guys," Ian said, beaning brightly. "Time to open the gifts."

"Oooh! Guess what I got for you guys?" Yumi said cheerfully.

After they opened their gifts, and scattered all the gift wrappers around them, Mari demanded to know how Lira was able to snag a boyfriend ahead of her.

"We agreed to keep it a secret. And I'd appreciate it if you keep it that way as well. But I don't think I have a boyfriend anymore. He still won't talk to me," Lira explained.

"Well, he will talk to you. Mark my words," Mari said sounding so determined. She grabbed Lira's hand and stood from the chair. "Yumi, Ian, stay put. I will help Lira settle this with Nicholas even if he threatens to, I don't know, slice me or whatever. He should never, ever, hurt my friend this way!"

"Scary girl," Yumi commented as Lira and Mari made their way towards Sevastian's group.

The minute that Sevastian noticed Lira and Mari, he asked, "Lira, what are you doing here? I thought you will be meeting with Nick?"

Lira gave him a confused look. "Meeting with him? He won't even talk to me. That's why I'm here to talk to him. He isn't with you then?"

Stephan shook his head. "No. He ran off half an hour ago. He said he received a letter from you asking to meet with him in the garden."

"I never send him a letter," Lira said.

Lira saw Stephan and Sevastian exchanged a worried look. "Steph, inform Philip of this. I'll go find Nick," Sevastian instructed his brother. Stephan nodded and went on his way.

"What's wrong, Sevastian?" Lira asked looking confused and worried at the same time. Something was not right.

"I'm not sure yet but I think Nick might be in danger," he explained.

"I'll go with you," Lira told Sevastian. She the face Mari and said, "I'll go with Sevastian to find Nick. Tell Ian and Yumi. If I'm not back after an hour, then tell Miss Amara."

Sevastian and Lira started for the garden. They searched every nook and corner but no Nicholas was in sight. "Why would Nick even think I sent that letter? He won't even speak with me when I tried asking you guys to tell him so. And he believed a letter?" Lira asked frantically as they continued their search.

"I really don't know what goes on in my brother's head," Sevastian answered calmly. "I'm trying to reach his mind but I can't. It's as if..."

"No! Don't even think he's dead. He is Nicholas! The world's greatest, arrogant vampire prince! His ego alone wouldn't allow even allow him to die. I bet you now he's gloating over his captors, right after he kicked their rear ends," Lira said confidently.

Despite of his worries, Sevastian found himself chuckling. "It's 'kick their butts' Lira. To make it sound more impressive, you say 'kick their ass—"

"Why are you laughing? This isn't the time for laughing!"

"Okay ma'am," he said. Sevastian sniffed the air around him, concentrating on finding a trail of his brother's scent. "I think they went this way."

Lira followed Sevastian. "They took him in there?" she said when they found themselves standing at the entrance of the woods. "This is near your house. Whoever they are, they must have had enough courage to devise such plan."

They dashed inside the woods. It was eerily silent and dark. There was even no owl hooting, no crickets playing their instruments—the woods were devoid of any noise and signs of life.

"This is creepy," Lira said, her voice echoing in the woods.

"Can you see clearly in the dark, Lira?" Sevastian asked. Now that Lira could almost use most of her abilities she shared with the Diwata inside of her, she had no problems seeing very clearly in the dark. When Lira gave a nod, he said. "It's best we remain quiet. The nearer we'll get to the culprits, and if they are vampires, the clearer they can hear us. And control your heart beat, understand?"

Lira gave another nod. They ventured farther into the woods. They almost reached the middle when Sevastian said, "I lost his scent here. I can't smell it anymore."

Worry took over Lira. What to do, what to do? A sudden gust of wind blew around them, making her shiver. Then an idea struck her. She took a step away from Sevastian and closed her eyes. She let her mind be as one with the woods. She tried to feel what they felt; tried to see what they saw...

A disturbance... A group of people—or monsters?—forcefully dragging someone deeper into the woods... They kicked him when he stumbled, clawed him when he resisted... Their prisoner was no match for them... They were too many of them... A threat was made, by whom? Then a hollow evil laugh...

"Where are they?" Lira asked the wind.

"Lira, who are you talking to?" Sevastian asked.

The leaves rustled telling her they knew. Branches groaned, slightly moving and pointed the direction. "I think I know where they are. Follow me," Lira said.

As they walked further ahead, branches showed her the way. They walked deeper and deeper, where it was almost completely dark until a clearing was visible ahead. They heard a fire crackling, feeding its flames on the woods. As they neared, they hid behind a massive tree. A large fire was set up in the middle, illuminating the clearing. A small boulder was on the right where a lean figure sat on top of it like a king, his face was hidden in the shadows.

About twenty human-like outlines surrounded the clearing, five of which standing guard at someone kneeling on the ground. One of the outlines stepped nearer to the fire, revealing its hideous rotting face and blood red eyes. It never occurred to Lira that she would face these creatures once again. Why hadn't it occurred to her to inform the slayers for back up? The reckless things she often did for the people she loved...

"How does it feel to submit yourself to someone like me?" A voice said, cutting Lira's trains of thoughts. The voice came from the one seated on the rock, sounding smug and sinister at the same time. "I have to admit, I find this refreshing to have the arrogant prince kneeling before me—me your faithful subject," he added, addressing the figure kneeling not far from him, whose hands were tied behind his back, head bowed down.

"Look at me!" the mysterious leader commanded. A minion standing guard grasped a fistful of the captive's hair and pulled his head upwards, revealing Nicholas' bloodied face.

"Ah. That's more like it. Not so mighty and powerful now, are we? Imagine that, Prince Nicholas, heir to the vampire kingdom, bowing down before me? Oh, what a glorious night it is!" the leader of the group taunted.

Nicholas remained impassive, which angered his captor. "You don't want to speak? You want me to cut your tongue out from you so you will never speak again?" Nicholas remained silent.

Why was Nicholas not fighting them? He could easily beat them all. Why was he not moving? How was she going to save him when it looked like he wouldn't even try to save himself? As she tried to shift her position for a better look, she heard a loud thud. She saw Sevastian sprawled on the ground and a looming figure stood beside Sevastian's motionless body.

"Well, well. What do we have here?"

***

*parols: star-shaped lanterns