124. The New Me

Clarice sits on the edge of her son's bed, pondering what she's going to do next. Should she just wait here for her husband and son to come home or teleport there now to Grandpa Eliezer's farm? Ah, it's much better to go there now and see everybody! She initiated the teleportation process in her mind and disappeared from her son's room in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, Viviana has just finished informing her partners in crime that Clarice is very much alive. She left the master bedroom and searched for Clarice, but she couldn't find her in Caden's room. Where is she? She went to the staircase and looked down below in the living room. Clarice was not there either. "Where is Charice?" she asked the maid who climbed the stairs, bringing fresh laundry to the second floor. "I didn't see Luna Charice, Madam. I thought she was now resting in the master's bedroom?" the maid asked, confused. Viviana glared at the maid. "Don't call her Luna! I'm the real Luna and the wife of Alpha Callum!" "Copy, Luna." The terrified maid hurried to the master's bedroom to put the clothes in the closet. "Find that woman now!" Viviana ordered. "Copy Luna," the maid replied, and went down the stairs in a hurry. Viviana returned to the master's bedroom, wondering where Clarice had gone too. Why did she suddenly disappear? She immediately called the guardhouse via intercom, asking if Clarice had already left the house. The guard replied that they hadn't seen her leaving the gate yet. Viviana wants to kick Clarice out of the house fast before her ex-husband arrives! Meanwhile... Clarice landed inside the farm house, but nobody was there at that time. Where could they be? Ah, she could only think of one place. They are probably having a picnic on the lake right now. She teleported into the lake. When she landed there in her invisible form, she saw everyone there. Marina was holding her baby daughter in her arms. Carlos, Grandpa Eliezer and Lorey, together with Caden, were happily frolicking in the calm turquoise water. And her husband? He was staring at the mountains looming in the distance, brooding, his face filled with sadness and longing. She walked towards him and lowered herself into the empty chair beside him. Alpha Callum immediately felt that someone had occupied the vacant chair beside him. Although he saw no one, he could feel her presence, her familiar scent! Excitement filled his heart, and every fiber of his being came alive. "Wife, is that you? Are you here in your soul form?" he asked. Clarice grinned. "Yes, I'm back! Touch me, dear husband!" she said. Alpha Callum was surprised to hear his wife's voice. He quickly touched the invisible body beside him and, to his astonishment, he could touch her hands. "This is amazing! Are you a soul now?" he asked anxiously. "No. I'm very much alive." Clarice smiled. "But why can't I see you? But I can touch you. What is going on?" Alpha Callum asked in bewilderment. "I can make myself invisible and visible. I have powers now. I'm not the same weak person as before. Do you want to see me in my visible form?" "Yes, please!" Alpha Callum replied. He couldn't contain his excitement. Clarice made herself visible and everyone in the lake finally saw her alive. Alpha Callum burst into tears, hugging his wife tightly, his heart overflowing with joy. To be able to hug her again in the flesh is overwhelming. He felt like his heart was going to explode. "Mommmmmyyyyy!" Caden shrieked in delight, after noticing the person sitting next to his father was her missing mother. "Luna Clarice! Welcome back!" Lorey shouted in glee, tears of joy flooding her face. Everyone came out of the water and rushed to the couple, shocked and happy to see Clarice alive. Clarice rubs her husband's back tenderly. "I'm back now. We shall never be separated again. Never!" she said solemnly. Alpha Callum cried as tears of happiness continued to overwhelm his senses. The couple parted reluctantly when they were surrounded by their families. "Mommmmmmy! You're finally back!" Caden shouted in delight, hugging his beloved mother tightly, afraid she would disappear again. Clarice planted a kiss on Caden's head. "I'm back, son, as I promised you in your dreams," she said joyously, tears of happiness rolling down her face. She was lucky to be given another chance in life to be with her family, which is the greatest blessing of all. "Clarice, what happened to you after you disappeared from the cruise ship?" Grandpa Eliezer asked curiously. "Where have you been, cousin? We are so worried about you, we already think of the worst," Marina said, teary-eyed. "Luna, I cried so hard after you disappeared," Lorey said sadly. "We thought you were already dead," Alpha Callum said, making everyone silent and uncomfortable. Clarice wiped tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. "It's a long story. I will tell you what happened before and after I fell into the sea." "Yes, please, we want to know everything," Grandpa Eliezer said. Clarice took a deep breath and cleared the lump from her throat. "While waiting for my husband to return with our coffee, a guy sat near me, dropped something onto the floor intentionally and when I picked it up and gave it to him, he threw me into the sea. Everything happened so fast that I was not able to defend myself. I found myself floating in the water in the darkness of the night while the ship was moving further away. Before I lost consciousness, I felt an arm grab me and hoist me in the air, then darkness completely took over me," she paused for a few seconds. Then she continued, "When I opened my eyes, I was in a windowless room and nursed back to life by a woman. This woman happens to be a powerful vampire, carrying heavy responsibility on her shoulders. She drank my blood several times to satisfy her craving for blood." Everyone gasps in horror. "What? She drank your blood?" Alpha Callum asked indignantly. "Calm down, husband. Don't be angry. She didn't bleed me dry, just a little bit of my blood. I'm still alive, right? If she drank all my blood, I'd already be long gone by now. Besides, she saved my life, and I'm willing to give her some of my blood as my way of thanking her for saving my life. She didn't hurt me physically, so all is well," Clarice explained, changing the story a bit. "But why didn't you go home right away to inform us that you are alive?" Alpha Callum asked. "Because this vampire wants to retire from her heavy responsibility and has decided to give me an offer I can't refuse," Clarice replied. Grandpa Eliezer's brows furrowed. "What kind of offer?" Clarice's eyes shimmered. "The chance to acquire supernatural powers naturally. That's what she offered me." "And what is the condition?" Alpha Callum asked. "The condition is she will turn me into a vampire because only vampires can obtain powers like hers. Then she appointed me as her successor. I'm now a guardian, in charge of guarding ten vampire monsters currently imprisoned in hibernation chambers to protect humanity. This sacred house cannot be seen with the naked eye, located on top of a sacred mountain," Clarice elaborated further. The people around Clarice listened to her story in shock and awe. Their faces displayed disbelief and astonishment. Clarice sighed heavily. There is no way her family will believe her story if she doesn't show them proof. They might think she was just making things up. "I know it's hard to believe everything, but let me demonstrate some of the powers I inherited from my mentor. I'm her successor and I will carry her responsibility on my shoulders." She stood up. "I'll show you some of my powers. Stand back and watch," she said, her voice brimming with confidence. "What are you going to do, wife?" Alpha Callum asked anxiously. "I will hover in the air, teleport and turn myself invisible," Clarice answered. "Really? You can do all that now?" Grandpa Eliezer asked in disbelief. "Yes I can and so much more," Clarice replied. "OK, show us what you got," Grandpa Eliezer challenged her. "Watch me!" Clarice wielded her power and disappeared from their eyes in the blink of an eye. A few seconds later she can be seen hovering in the air above the lake. Then she landed back on the ground and disappeared again. This time she resurfaced back in their midst. Everyone was shocked to witness such an impressive ability she demonstrated in front of them. "Fantastic! You executed those powers flawlessly! I'm shocked and mind-blown." Grandpa Eliezer clapped his hands in glee, impressed by the display of power he had just witnessed. "You are no longer the same weak person, Clarice. You are now the best version of yourself. Congratulations!" he said, giving her a thumbs up of admiration and approval. "The most powerful Luna ever!" Lorey gushed proudly. "Hooray, my mommy is Superman!" Caden shouted ecstatically. Marina and Carlos were still stunned, unable to say anything. Alpha Callum was speechless. He didn't know what to say to his wife anymore after witnessing her impressive display of power. He was conflicted inside. He didn't know if Clarice was still the same woman he loved before or if she had already turned into a complete stranger. Something about her has changed, and he can't tell exactly what it is.