Tasting 396

396–Daphne Is The Next Victim?

Nora:

I watched Daphne come into my view, and instantly I was taken aback by her appearance. She

looked oddly weak; her body was a strange shade of blue, and her eyes were bloodshot red. There

was a wetness in them, and she kept hugging herself, making no sudden movements.

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“Why haven’t you been picking up my calls?” she complained to Nash, who looked around before

getting up and grunting at her.

“Because I ended things with you, remember?” He stepped closer to her and muttered under his

breath. I could tell he was trying to be discreet and make sure no one around heard them talking.

But there weren’t many people around anyway. Ever since the news of the death broke, everyone

had retreated into their homes.

Since there had been no weapon or decision made about what to do with the Weeping Guardians,

staying inside their homes might have seemed like the only safe haven to them.

“Is it because of her? Because she’s back now? You were gone for months–no calls, no texts–and

then you return to go and bring her back?” she pointed at me, but kept one arm wrapped around her

stomach. Even her voice didn’t carry the same threat it used to. She was shivering a lot, and her

aura was off. I couldn’t help but lean back in my chair and clutch my hands in my lap, secretly

twisting the ring on my finger to feel and sense her aura better.

Right off the bat, I felt like passing out. It was radiating so much

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12 Nouchers

396–Daphne Is The Next Victim?

sadness and darkness that I had to fix the ring on my finger immediately. Lowering my head, I

started to breathe in and out to calm my racing heartbeat.

It didn’t make any sense. Why was her aura so strong?.

“Yes, it is because of her,” Nash confirmed, and I was back to listening to their conversation.

“Do you not remember what you and the other girls did to her? You fucking told her that you

poisoned her. Why? Why did you play all these games with her when I told you that I was ready to

date you?” Nash grabbed her arm, and she winced hard, even though I could tell his grip was very

gentle.

The minute she let out a cry, he set her free and placed his hands on his waist. “This is what I’m

talking about. You cannot live without negativity, Daphne. And yes, I broke up with you because I

cannot be with someone like you.” He stepped back and gestured for her to leave.

“Please–one last chance. I will treat her right.” She looked over at me, her eyes filled with tears.

“I said leave, Daphne,” Nash warned her through his harsh gaze, but I needed to have a word with

her first. She noticed Nash was getting red with anger, so she nodded and had only turned around

to leave when I interrupted her departure.

“Wait a minute.” She quickly turned around with a weak smile on her lips.

“I knew you would feel pity for me,” she uttered in a broken voice.

Well, I wasn’t feeling anything for her, and I didn’t care about her

396–Daphne Is The Next Victim?

breakup. It just gave me a weird satisfaction.

“Have you come across the Weeping Guardians?” I questioned and noticed her glance at Nash

nervously before looking back at me.

“The fog people?” I explained, and the way she shook her head was immediate.

“No! Why would I?” She sounded defensive.

“Are you going to ask him to date me, please?” She didn’t even bother with the topic, so I shook my

head and folded my arms to show her that this was the least of my interest.

“I’m not his mommy. I cannot make him date or break up with someone.” With a shrug, I dismissed

her.

She passed Nash one last sad glance before walking away to her car. But I stayed watching her,

observing her. In fact, she hadn’t even driven here herself; her stepfather was in the driver’s seat

with her.

“What was that?” Nash questioned me.

“Why did you suddenly ask her about the Weeping Guardians?” he continued.

“Have you noticed something different about her?” I finally broke my stare once her car left and

faced Nash.

“Yeah, whenever she is upset, she gets high fevers and everything. Don’t worry; she won’t die from

it,” he shrugged casually and sat down. I joined him, but I still had some questions in my mind.

“Did you not see any resemblance to Robert?” Once I questioned

396–Daphne Is The Next Victim?

properly, I watched Nash zone out and focus on Daphne’s

appearance.

288 (Vouchers

“You think she–she might have also crossed paths with them?” he picked up, but we were still

missing something.

“When I first saw the fog people, it was when I got bullied and was extremely upset. Robert was

upset when he crossed paths with them, and Daphne-” I didn’t finish because Nash did it himself.

“Because she is upset these days.”