Alpha's Nala

Chapter 18. Boys, Literally

Legaxy

Thankfully, in the next second, Mum change courses and we ended up chatting about lighter topics. We started with a few questions about my work, then short stories about my relationship with Ms. Dawn, to my relationship with my other colleagues, and stopping at a few information about my life at the hotel.

As we were finishing up the last conversation about my difficulty in using my creativity in doing business cards, Cayden's face with the gold card on hand instantly flashed inside my head. That's when I abruptly remembered the VIP card...

Without any word, I took the gold invitation out from my short's waistband and present it to Mum.

“By the way Mama, Cayden delivered this,” I stated while handing out the envelope to her.

When she saw the glittering card in my hand, her light mood instantly turned into a more joyous expression. She even clapped her hands together, expressing how delighted she was upon seeing the mentioned card.

Oh wow, someone's really excited about the gold card…

“Oh YAY! The invitations are out.” She sounded so merrily now, snatching the card from me, “You should have seen and heard the Vampire King blabbering about this to us, saying all should be delivered AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Blah, blah, blah!” — she rolled her eyes — “The old man should really learn to chill. Who cares if he hated the pile at the castle, it's still a castle you know. Nothing's gonna change there, even if we clean the clutter. Jeez…”

Yup, she is really excited…

Her enthusiasm was infectious though, that I couldn't help but feel giddy as well. I even decided to tease her; dramatically gasping at her, pretending to be horrified by what I just heard about the Vampire King.

“Mother, you are allowed to call the Vampire King that?” I exclaimed.

Mum chuckled and put a finger on her mouth, gesturing me to shush.

Once again, I shook my head out of pure joy.

“You're seriously going to get punished for that,” I muttered, a smile curling up on my lips.

“Oh hush, child. It's not like he doesn't hear that from me a million times now.” Mum stated nonchalantly and her attention went back to the card in her hands, completely ignoring me now.

When she was about to open the envelope, I noticed Mum unexpectedly halted. Her cheerful demeanor subsided and somewhat, realizing — or much like recalling something, Mum's green eyes grew slightly saddened. She then turned her head to the side and glance from afar.

“What's wrong Mama?” I asked, concern evident in my tone.

Mum, instead of answering me, let out a heavy sigh; something was troubling her. The invitation on her hands was unlocked midway but, rather than flipping the gold envelope to fully get the black card inside, she just sealed it back and stared at it for a moment.

From there, I saw, she looked a bit… troubled.

“Mama,” I called, reaching for her.

“Do you know how old your brothers are now? Like, in the supernatural world kind of sense.” Mum suddenly asked, her eyes shifted to solely focus on me.

I ceased my movement towards her and instantly thought about her question for a moment. Then, being interested and curious now, I began calculating numbers based on a formula I so happen to just created at the second.

However, let's face it, I don't frankly know their supernatural age. Aside from me not asking — out of respect, they don't really talk to me about it — either shy or embarrassed, whichever was present at the time I inquired.

All I know, at this rate, was their age based on human years; Seth's 28 years old, Axel's 26, and Howard's almost 24.

So, admitting I'm not doing the math right, I let out a sigh of defeat.

Mum, seeing my defeat, laughed. Then, her long fingers brushed my cheeks.

“Will you be believed me if I told you they are all over a thousand years old now?”

Oh, thousand years old… make sense.

Though, wait…

What!

My eyes widened in realization.

“A thousand… years… old?” I repeated, clearly astonished.

Mum nodded and touched my cheeks now with her palm, explaining, “Seth's already a two-thousand- year-old Vampire. Axel, on the other hand, is a thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight Witch, while Howard's a thousand nine hundred and ninety-six old Vampire... Two years apart.”

If I'm starring on a cartoon show right now, I would really look like one of those characters with eyes popping out their sockets.

Literally...

But, I guess, that's just my way of saying how shocked I really am at the revelation...

“Wow, that old.” I managed to mutter out of my amazement, “Well, that's cool then. I finally have a reason to annoy them, aside from the confiscation of their IDs.” I lightly joked.

Mum giggled at that as she took her hand out of my face and placing it on her chest.

“Oh, Lily.” She mumbled, smiling now.

However, the smile didn't last long as her face turned into a more depressing look now...

“You know Lily, we could live a thousand years more if we have our REDs with us.” She started, crossing her arms around her chest again, “They are not basically our source of immortality, but we do consider our RED as our life... They are part of us, physically and mentally. If we lose them, then our life is meaningless. However, not finding one or being matched to one, is more meaningless than the losing part. That's why I worry for your brothers, Lily... They already spend over a millennium just waiting for their REDs...” She explained, reaching for my hands now.

I gladly held them out for her and upon receiving them, Mum hardly squeezes them; she clearly needs support right now.

“In all honesty, I pity the boys. I know, they don't want to hear that from me but I can't help it. It's just… I wanted…I needed them to...” She paused and took a long, deep breath.

When she exhaled the air, she suddenly let go of my hands and placed them back around her chest, tightly crossed once again.

From there then, she resumed speaking.

“I just hope your brothers can find their RED this year, especially Seth.” She looked at me, concern obvious in her eyes, “I don't want him to be REDless for the rest of his immortal life, you know.” She added.

“Mama, believe in them. Surely, they will find their matches soon.” I encourage a smile at her, “Besides, they're too determined for that, too proud to give up. You should know that by now, Mama.” I added.

She warmly smiled at my encouragement. Then her attention moved back to the envelope in her hands.

Looking at the invitation again, I caught a glimpse of Mum's expression unexpectedly changed into a more hopeful look, and then, without second thoughts, she handed it back to me — not even bothering to open it again.

“I really hope so Lily,” Mum smiled warmly now, “I honestly wanted grandchildren from them already — Well, except from YOU. You're awfully too young for that.” She suddenly teased.

I playfully rolled my eyes at her while accepting the invitation from her grasp.

“As if I even have a boyfriend for such a thing,” I grumbled.

Mum heard that and it was her turn now to look completely stunned.

Like she can't even believe I just said that.

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