Chapter 14: Sweet Names and Bitter Truths

The morning sun slowly peeked over the horizon, casting soft rays of light into the hidden rocky cave. Iris's eyelids fluttered open. Still half-asleep, she instinctively snuggled closer, burying her face into Ethan's side. But as her eyes focused on the face right next to her, she froze.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Iris shrieked at the top of her lungs, scrambling backward until her back hit the rocky wall. "Who is that?! AAAAAAA!"

Ethan bolted upright with a terrified gasp, his heart pounding. "What?! What happened?! What's wrong?!"

He looked over, seeing Iris curled into a ball, tightly hugging her knees to her chest. Once she realized it was just him, her panic finally melted away. "Oh... it's just you."

Ethan dryly scratched his head, glaring at her with an exhausted, deadpan look. "No, it's my ghost. I actually died, and this is my corpse."

Iris blinked, a small smile breaking across her face. "Really?"

"I'm obviously joking," Ethan muttered, rolling his eyes. "Iri..."

He cut himself off, his eyes widening slightly as the nickname slipped out.

Iris's smile widened into a full-blown grin. "Oooooh? Iri?"

"Hey, stop it!" Ethan stammered, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink.

"Fine, fine," Iris giggled, leaning forward. "But that nickname is actually really cute! I want to give my friend a special name too."

Ethan looked at her skeptically. "Like what?"

"Hmm... let me think." Iris tapped her chin, lost in thought. "Ethi... mmm, yeah! How about Ethi?"

Ethan instantly looked away, trying to hide his blushing face.

"Why are you looking away?" Iris pouted, her shoulders dropping. "Is it that bad? Okay, fine, if you don't like it, I won't call you that."

"No... Ethi is nice," Ethan muttered quietly, still looking at the cave wall.

Iris beamed with joy. "Okay then! It's official, Ethi."

Ethan cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Anyway, why did you have to wake me up by screaming at the top of your lungs first thing in the morning, Iris?"

Iris huffed, crossing her arms. "Because I got scared looking at your face while you were sleeping!"

Ethan made a deeply offended, weird face at her. "Huh? Am I really that scary-looking? Shut up! Look at me, I am incredibly pretty."

"Yeah, sure." Iris rolled her eyes playfully. "You looked so pretty last night with your glowing red eyes, sharp fangs, and pitch-black hair."

"And you looked spectacular with your bright blonde hair, fangs, and red eyes," Ethan shot back with a smirk.

"Fine by me! I already knew I was the best," Iris boasted, flipping her hair proudly.

"Yeah, yeah," Ethan chuckled.

But as he tried to stand up, a sharp, sudden spike of agony shot straight up his spine. "Ouch!" he groaned, clutching his lower back.

Iris's playful attitude instantly vanished, replaced by deep concern. "Ethi? What's wrong?"

"I don't know," Ethan wheezed, rubbing his stiff back. "I think my spine is completely locked up because I stayed completely still against this rock all night so you could sleep."

"Oh, that's terrible," Iris said, instantly scrambling to her feet. "Hold on, I'll go outside and search for some healing herbal plants around here."

She turned to head toward the cave entrance, but Ethan's hand shot out, firmly catching her wrist. "No. You don't need to go out there."

Iris looked back, confused. "Why not?"

"Because it's too dangerous," Ethan said softly, his grip gentle but unyielding. "The soldiers are looking for us."

"Okay..." Iris murmured, sitting back down beside him.

Her hand absentmindedly rose to her neck, her fingers lightly brushing against the raw, sensitive skin where Ethan had bitten her. "Ow..."

Ethan noticed immediately. "Does it hurt?"

"Yeah," Iris admitted, wincing slightly. "It didn't hurt at all last night, but why is it throbbing so badly now?"

Ethan shifted closer, his hand gently rising to cup the side of her neck right where the marks were. Iris blinked, surprised by his sudden proximity. "Ethi... what are you doing?"

"Nothing," Ethan murmured, his crimson eyes focused intently on the wound. "I just want to see it... because this happened because of me."

"Stop blaming yourself," Iris chided softly.

Suddenly, a clear flash of memory from the fading demon echoed inside Ethan's mind: You guys are imprinted... You can transfer your powers to each other.

Focusing his mind on the bond, Ethan stared at the deep cut. I want your pain to go away, he thought fiercely.

As the words manifested in his mind, a soft, crackling wave of black magic erupted from his fingertips, washing over Iris's neck. Right before their eyes, one of the raw vampire bite marks completely closed up and healed into smooth skin.

Iris let out a soft gasp, immense relief washing over her body. "Ethi... what kind of magic did you just do? The pain is completely gone!"

Ethan let out a proud huff and leaned back with a grin. "Friendship magic."

Iris laughed softly. "Wow, what a great invention, right?"

"Yup," Ethan agreed.

GROWWWWWL!

A loud, booming rumble suddenly echoed from both of their stomachs at the same time. The two kids froze, staring at each other.

"What are we even supposed to eat out here?" Iris asked, rubbing her tummy.

"How would I know?" Ethan groaned. "Do I look like I live in the forest?"

"Well, neither do I!" Iris countered.

Ethan sighed, standing up and stretching his limbs. "Let's just go find some wild fruits in the woods and eat those."

"Great idea," Iris said, smiling.

Holding hands, the two young hybrids stepped out of the safety of the rocky cave and ventured into the dense green forest, searching for food.

---

Meanwhile, back at the Duke's estate, a lavish carriage pulled up to the gates.

Princess Cecelia stepped out, her royal gown rustling as she marched into the mansion. The armored guards immediately lined the halls, bowing deeply as she passed. "Welcome, Your Highness!"

Cecelia didn't even acknowledge them. Walking with fast, aggressive strides, she pushed open the grand double doors of the private library.

Inside, the room was dark and silent. Duchess Betty was sitting on the floor in the far corner, her silver hair disheveled as she huddled in the shadows, tightly hugging her knees to her chest.

Cecelia's expression softened with worry as she spotted her. "Aunt Betty!"

She rushed across the room, dropping to her knees and throwing her arms around the grieving mother. "I am so incredibly glad you are safe."

Betty let out a broken sob, hugging the Princess back with trembling arms. "Your Highness... my son... my Maxi is dead... AAAAAAA!"

"I know... I know it's so hard on us, Aunt Betty," Cecelia whispered, her voice tightening with a dangerous edge. "But we have to control ourselves. I promise you, I will personally destroy his killers. I will tear them to pieces."

Betty suddenly pulled back, her blue eyes wide. "Don't say that!"

Cecelia blinked, completely confused. "Why?"

"Because this is all the Duke's fault!" Betty cried out, her voice dripping with bitter resentment. "He is the one who broke our family! He is the one who ate away at my son with his sick ambitions!"

A flash of anger sparked in Cecelia's eyes. "You are wrong, Aunt Betty. The killers are that failed experiment kid and a filthy servant girl. We will break them, trust me."

"Your Highness, I heard the whole story!" Betty snapped, her maternal instinct taking over. "The Duke took those kids in... can you even imagine what kind of horrific torture he inflicted on them? They were two completely helpless children! After what we did to them, what did you expect? Did you expect them to love our family? We hurt them, Cecelia... and now, the pain is just coming back to us."

Cecelia's face contorted with pure rage. She violently broke the hug, standing up and glaring down at the Duchess. "What kind of mother are you?!" Cecelia yelled. "You are literally blaming your own family! You don't even care about your own dead son! You should be screaming for the heads of his killers, not defending them!"

Betty looked up from the dark corner, a heavy tear spilling down her bruised cheek. "I am a mother... and that is exactly why I am saying this. I know those kids were once a mother's children too. The Duke brutally tore Iris's mother away from her right in front of her eyes... can you even imagine that, Cecelia?"

Cecelia opened her mouth to argue, but the sheer weight of Betty's words hit her like a wall. She had absolutely nothing to say. She stood frozen in the quiet library, her jaw tight.

"Uh... I am leaving," Cecelia finally stammered out, unable to look at her aunt anymore.

She turned on her heel and practically fled the library, slamming the door behind her. Left completely alone in the dark corner, Duchess Betty buried her face back into her knees, weeping silently in the shadows.

---

[Chapter Ended - To Be Continued]