Zeo

The clock announced midnight while the crescent moon peeked at Zeo from behind his window, bathing his dim room with a yellow glow. He waited on his bed, his belongings packed by his feet. That night would define the fate of many; he had to succeed for Remnya's sake.

If everything went as planned, he would be out of the mansion soon and on his own to find the last hope.

Despite the circumstances, his heart was calm, and his mind focused on a single goal. Perhaps all those years of pain had numbed his senses, or perhaps it was just the sheer will to protect his best friend. Zeo didn't know and didn't care. He would face any consequence that night.

Maria came for him as promised, gracious and elegant as usual. Her presence caused Zeo's heart to pump like crazy as all the accumulated tension had unleashed on him at once. Yet, he did his best to show confidence while she explained the details of his mission.

Brisa would take care of Ronner, and since Viper was out taking care of his father's business, their main concern was Skado. However, he didn't know the mansion as well as Maria, and she knew how to delay him along with the rest of his men.

Once outside, Zeo had to find Marcus' car, located in a garage three blocks away from the mansion. He had left it there on his last night. Only Magenta knew about it, and now, Maria and Zeo too. Lastly, the maid gave him a fake ID and a car license in case the police stopped him. The rest was Zeo's job.

"Are you okay?" Maria asked, staring at him with concerned eyes.

"Yes!" Zeo rushed to answer through the knot in his throat. His hands and feet were soaked with cold sweat. The weight of everyone's hopes rested on his shoulders. But that was his choice, and he smiled, thinking about what Remnya would say if she knew.

He took a deep breath and pushed his concerns deep into a corner of his soul. There was no place for hesitation anymore.

"Thank you, Maria," he muttered, narrowing his eyes at her.

Maria beamed at him. "Thank you too, Zeo. You're brave."

Zeo froze for a moment, trying to digest her words. She was the third person in his life to call him brave. His face heated up, turning red like a tomato. Was it because her words meant the world to him? Or was it because she was, after Remnya, the cutest girl he had ever seen? Zeo didn't know, but his confidence reached the sky.

"I am ready," he said firmly, puffing his chest and tightening the grasp on his bag. That was his night, and he would succeed.

Zeo followed Maria through the tenderly illuminated hallways. Her sweet perfume caressed his nose. He couldn't help but admire her mesmerizing figure as she strolled ahead of him. However, there was no time for trivial things. He shook his dumb thoughts away and focused on the task at hand.

Everything seemed to go as planned as they crossed the last hall and reached the back garden. A cobblestone walkway accompanied by a line of fancy lampposts separated Zeo from his goal.

They waited, the song of crickets hammering in Zeo's ears.

The lights turned off.

Maria nodded at him and took the first step into the darkness. Zeo followed her.

Adrenaline raced through his veins like electricity, threatening to stop his heart.

The distance seemed to grow larger with each step.

When they were halfway, Zeo became suspicious and questioned the situation in his mind. Why would Ronner disregard that part of the mansion? Was he being overconfident? Or were they walking into a trap?

"Maria, wait!" he whispered, and driven by his instincts, grabbed her hand. "Let's hide!"

She didn't argue his suggestion and hid with him behind the bushes. They observed the garden in silence. A warm breeze whistled through the trees while the moon rose over the mansion. Zeo thought he was overreacting, but sharp footsteps spreading throughout the garden made him shiver.

Skado strolled through the garden with both hands in his pockets.

From the opposite side, two men walked in his direction.

Maria let out a silent gasp. "What are they doing here?" she whispered, her eyes flickering with fear.

"Did you see her?" Skado asked.

"No, sir. We've been guarding the gates all night, but nothing," a bodyguard, called Belo, replied. He was a huge, broad man with dark skin and long reddish hair.

"This can't be . . . " Maria murmured, her face pale like a ghost. "How did they know?"

Skado paced across the garden while his men rushed to slash every bush and vine resembling a hiding spot. Zeo gulped and tightened his lips. If they already knew about their plans, that was their last and only chance.

Maria held her head in both hands and kneeled on the moist soil. It was a matter of time before they found them.

"Maria," Zeo said, fixing his eyes on Skado, who shot glares at every corner. "How long would it take us to reach the gates?"

"I don't know . . . " Maria stuttered. "Less than one minute, probably."

"How long would it take me to reach Marcus' car?"

"Why are you asking me this, Zeo . . . They'll find us!" Her voice cracked, defeat spreading across her face.

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"How long?" Zeo narrowed his eyes at her and grabbed her cold hand.

She stared at him, tears welling up in her eyes. "One minute or less . . . Leaving the mansion and reaching the car, all of it would take us less than one minute." A tear trailed down her cheek. "Yet, we can't even do that. There's no time!"

Zeo locked his eyes on the ground and observed two White Fangs blooming beneath his knees; their scent mixed with Maria's soft perfume tickled his nose. He stroked the petals, and an odd peace filled his body.

He regretted never giving Remnya flowers.

Zeo took off his backpack and handed it to Maria, who looked at him with confusion. "What are you doing?" she mumbled.

Standing, he smiled at her. "After thinking it for a while, I concluded this was the only way to keep our hope alive." A soft breeze brushed Zeo's bangs. "I'll distract them and buy time for you to leave the mansion."

"What? Are you insane?" Maria sprang from the ground and placed her hands on Zeo's shoulders. "You have no idea what they could do to you! We can still find a way. Perhaps, if I explain the situation to them, they'll let you go unharmed!"

"No." Zeo's green eyes gleamed when the moon reflected on his gaze. "They'll do terrible things to you, they already know your intentions." Zeo glanced at Skado, who cursed and commanded his men to find them. He remembered that man's sick plans for Maria and clenched his fists. "It's just a matter of time until he decides to lay his hands on you."

"Zeo, you can't be serious! They might kill you!" She raised her voice.

"They won't." Zeo grinned. "They need me alive."

"They'll torture you . . . "

Zeo took a moment to digest her words and stared up at the sky. The moon looked back at him as the gold eye of the night said goodbye.

"There are two letters in my backpack. One is for Rem, the other for Debrin Kavram." Zeo straightened his back. He looked like a giant. "Take care, Maria. You can do it." His voice was soft but cut through the air like a sharp knife. Maria stared up at him, tears in her eyes and out of words.

"Oh, by the way, Maria." Zeo chuckled. "You're beautiful." He gifted her a last smile.

"Zeo-" Maria tried to speak, but Zeo bolted out of the bushes like a bullet, thorns stung his skin, but he advanced like a stallion toward his fate.

"Excuse me, sir!" Zeo shouted at Skado and his men. "I was looking for the bathroom. Can you tell me where it is?"

Maria's eyes welled up with unshed tears. She hesitated for a second, but Zeo had passed his flame to her. She had to keep it burning, no matter what.

"Zeo . . . You are . . . " Maria swallowed her tears and ran. She ran with all her strength toward the gates.

Skado fixed his lifeless eyes on Zeo as he walked up to him. "Where is the bitch?" He buried his fingers in Zeo's shoulder.

"I don't know what you're talking about, sir." Zeo grinned, holding back his will to writhe in pain.

"Fucking kid!" Skado seized his neck. "I'll open your threat if you don't tell me!"

Zeo grabbed Skado's wrists and muttered, feeling the pressure in his throat. "I don't know what you are talk—"

Before Zeo could finish his sentence, Skado lifted him by the neck, covering the moon with his body. "You have a death wish, fucking Anglish?"

Zeo let out a muffled grunt and lowered his gaze to face that monster. "I know nothing, sir," Zeo mumbled, forcing a painful smile.

*°*°*

Skado's eyes reddened with anger. He squeezed Zeo's neck, burying his fingers in his skin. Blood flowed through his knuckles, dripping on his shoes.

Zeo groaned in pain. Unable to breathe or swallow, oxygen began to leave his brain.

"Sir, please! We can't kill the boy yet!" Belo reminded him, leaning a hesitant hand on Skado's shoulder.

Skado growled and smashed Zeo's body against the ground. Zeo let out a deep gasp for air and coughed, writhing on the grass.

"Sir! We could not find the maid anywhere!" Another man shouted as he sprinted in their direction. His name was Trace.

"Shit!" Skado roared.

Zeo lifted his eyes at the men surrounding him. Skado, Belo, and Trace. The monster and his minions, all together. Zeo reached for his pocket and grabbed a device he had been working on for the past few days.

"I'll tell you where Maria is!" Zeo shouted, staggering to stand up.

All the eyes darted at him. "Speak now, kid! Your life depends on it!" Belo rushed to say before Skado changed his mind.

"Yes, sir." Zeo smirked, drawing the device out of his pocket. "I'll tell you everything." He activated the device and hurled it at Skado's face.

It exploded into a massive smoke cloud that engulfed the whole place.

Everyone began coughing uncontrollably. Zeo dragged himself away from the smoke but felt his lungs and eyes burning and his throat falling apart. It was the effect he wanted.

Skado shouted curses between coughs and leaped away from the smoke while Trace and Belo curled their bodies, unable to breathe.

A caravan of servants came searching for Maria.

"Sir!" a young butler called with a trembling voice. Skado glanced over his shoulder at him. "She's escaped!"

"What the hell you talking about?" Skado's expression turned into a tempest.

"She's not in her room, or anywhere in the mansion, and . . . " The young man gulped. "Our registers tell us someone activated the back gates!"

Skado's glare swept the garden, piercing through his men's souls. "Useless pieces of shit!" he bellowed and slapped the young man across the face. The hit sent him flying unconscious against a tree.

Refusing to accept the truth, Skado sprinted toward the back gates with unstoppable fury.

Zeo coughed as he leaned on an old oak tree, waiting for his punishment. Despite the circumstances, his heart was at peace. Maria had to be safe by now and on her way to save Remnya. Nothing else mattered.

Silence cut through the air.

Skado returned, his eyes spitting fire while veins full of hatred wrinkled his face. "All this . . . " he murmured between teeth. "All this . . . " He loomed over Zeo. His body reeked of death. "All this is your fault, fucking Anglish!" He kicked Zeo in the chest with such force his body crushed the tree behind him.

Zeo dropped to the ground, unable to feel half of his body. He tried to sit back up, but his arms felt like noodles and bent under his own weight. He groaned when an electric pain traveled throughout his chest; his ribs had broken. Zeo curled up and gasped for air.

"Fucking Anglish!" Skado shouted, lifting Zeo by the neck. "I can't believe an insignificant cunt like you could fool us like this." Skado laughed, gritting his teeth. His eyes looked like two black holes in the darkness.

Zeo never looked away. He faced the monster in front of him with bravery.

"Well done, Anglish, well done . . . " Skado slid his hand under his suit and drew a silver knife and then placed it against Zeo's throat.

Trace grabbed Skado's wrist. "Sir, please, you can't do this! Mr. Ronner will-"

Before he could finish his sentence, and without taking his eyes away from Zeo, Skado sliced Trace's throat in a quick swift. The man dropped to his knees, holding his neck while blood and life gushed out of his body.

"An inferior being like you, fooling a Nephilim like me. Unforgivable . . . " He took a deep breath and unleashed a thunder across the garden, "UNFORGIVABLE!"

Skado spun the knife in his hand until the metal aimed at Zeo.

A violent thrust.

His knife pierced through Zeo's chest.

Zeo let out a silent gasp, and his body froze. No pain, only numbness.

A crimson stream erupted from his mouth and chest, rolling down his stomach and darkening his white shirt.

Skado yanked the knife away, allowing a shower of blood to bathe his face and body. He opened his other hand, releasing Zeo from his grasp.

Zeo dropped to the ground like a flesh doll and let out a muffled squeal.

A crimson pond grew beneath him. His hands twitched as his eyes fixed on the dark sky.

Gelid but gentle arms hugged his body, assuring him everything was ok. It was like a tender winter embracing his soul.

He felt sleepy.

Zeo glanced at his side and saw Remnya, who watched him with an expressionless face. I wonder what she's thinking? Zeo tried to tell her something, but only a red mist came out of his mouth.

Before the cold breeze put him to sleep, Zeo regarded his dear friend with a tender smile, and Remnya smiled back at him. That's all he wanted, seeing her smile once again.

I'm going to miss you . . .

Be strong, Rem . . .

I love you . . .

*°*°*