“What have I gotten myself into?” Eve muttered through gritted teeth.

Eve’s emerald eyes look up into the sky; the sun is setting soon darkness will paints the sky, she should be at the train station right now, she should be sitting on a bench eating a hot dog while waiting for the train to arrive. But instead, she is here; far from the train station and hiding behind a bush..holding..twigs with leaves just because Bliss says they need to ‘blend’ in. 

If her mother knows, she will be doomed to endless poise and manner lessons. Letting out yet another sigh, Eve puts down the twigs earning a swat on the arm from Bliss as well as a warning glare. Eve’s mouth twitch but she obediently holds up the twigs, though she felt like crying inside. 

Why did she agree to help? Why?! Oh yeah, she remembers why.

Flashback

“Eve, let’s do this!” Bliss said, eyes sparkled.

Eve hands held up in front of her chest, one foot steps back. Apart from Bliss, the two boys behind her also look at Eve eagerly, holding their breath awaiting for Eve’s answer.

“I… I don’t know.” Eve said, avoiding her eye contact with them. “I really need to get to Hilmoria and…”

Bliss grabs her hands, “Please~ We need you and your shapeshifting abilities!”

“Yeah! You’re beautiful.”

“Beautiful?” Eve muttered.

“And strong!”

“Strong?” Eve repeats.

Eve points at herself, “You guys are talking about me?”

The three nods.

“I’m beautiful and strong?”

The three nods again.

A curl crept up Eve’s lips, “Ohohohohohohoho!”

The three exchange worried glances upon Eve’s outburst. Then, Eve put her shoulders around them with a huge smile. “Leave everything to me!”

Ends of flashback

It’s official, she sold herself just because of a few compliments. Eve grabs her head and internally screams, rolling on the ground. Bliss cast a glance at her, eyes twitching; suddenly doubt whether she made the correct decision of bringing Eve together with her to this rescue mission. 

She direct her attention back to the cottage before her, just then the door swings open and a plump man walks out with the company of four huge muscular man.

The bald, plump man laughs, turning back to the cottage and said in a loud voice, “You’ll agree to marry me! Don’t forget about your family.”

The reply to his words, is a string of items throwing towards them and then a loud slam of the wooden door.

Instead of getting angry, the round man laughs again. “Feisty, that’s why I like you so much.” He said; stepping up to his carriage, leaving two of his man to guard the cottage.

After seeing the horses gallop away, confirming the coast is clear, Bliss glances at Eve; she is still rolling on the ground. Bliss couldn’t help but rolls her eyes before smacking her lightly on her thigh.

“Eve!” She points at the cottage.

Eve look towards where she points and saw the two guards.

“How are we going to get past the guards? They look strong. Maybe we can create a diversion, what do you think, Eve?” Bliss is deep in thoughts, trying to come up with a plan. “Eve?”

Silence.

“Eve?” Bliss snaps back to reality and realize Eve is not beside her.

She quickly glances up and saw Eve walking straight towards the guards. She felt like fainting after seeing Eve walking over with her head held high.

The guards raised their brows questioningly when they saw a stunning brunette standing before them.

“Hi, I’m here for Lamira.” She said with a big smile, reaching for the door. “If you’ll excuse me.”

Bliss smack her forehead, she just walks up to them asking for Lamira?!

One of the guards, took a step near the door, blocking Eve’s outstretched hand.

“I’m afraid we can’t let you do that.” He said.

Eve’s lips curled up into a smile. “I’m not asking.” She said, taking a few steps back and position herself in a fighting stance.

The two guards move towards her and then, they stop at their tracks, one with his hands in the air and another with one leg in mid-air.

Eve blinks in confusion.

“Eve, you can’t just charge out here without a plan.” Bliss said, both hands are facing the two man.

Eve smiled, “I knew you have my back.”

Bliss signals to the two guards, “Any time now, Eve. Knock them out.” Beads of sweat are starting to formed on her forehead. Trying to hold two strong man in place with her magic is not easy.

Eve nods, seeing Bliss biting her lower lips, she quickly transformed into a half-panther. Her pupils become dilated, whiskers coming out, then panther ears and a tail appeared. She jump at the two guards with a powerful kick and a strong punch; the two black out in a flash.

Seeing the two dropped to the ground, Bliss let out a sigh of relief and quickly run to the door. She turned the doorknob but it is locked. Bliss narrowed her eyes, focused on the doorknob; her hand turned and the door unlock from the inside. She look over her shoulder and nods at Eve, then she pushed the door open and steps inside.

“Get out!” A vase was threw at her.

“Careful!” Eve cried.

Bliss held up her hand and the vase stop in mid-air. With a wave, she set it on the ground a few steps away from her. Both of them looks up to the girl who threw the vase at them.

The girl really is beautiful, her exotic beauty is really eye-catching with silky long black hair, healthy brown skin, almond shaped eyes. But right now, she sits at the corner, holding another vase, her whole body is trembling.

“Who...who are you?” She asked.

“I’m Bliss and this is my friend, Eve. We’re here to save you.”

Eve look at Bliss, when Bliss introduce her as her friend. Friend...I have a friend now. A smile bloom on her flawless feature.

“Save me?” Lamira’s eyes suddenly widen, she quickly stood up, shaking her head. “You girls have to leave.”“What? Come on, we have to go now.” Eve grabs her by the arm, practically dragging her out.

“No, you don’t understand.” Lamira seemed worried. She keep struggle to break free from Eve’s grip.

Bliss was about to open her mouth, when a bark interrupted them. All eyes on the source of the bark, Bliss and Eve’s eyes sparkled upon seeing an adorable dog before her. But, all colours drained from Lamira’s face, she trembles in fear and her face as pale as a ghost.

Eve asked in worry: “What’s wrong?”

Lamira’s lips trembled, “Ru…”

“Huh?”

“Run!” Lamira grabs Eve shoulder. “We have to run now!”

Before Eve can ask further, a shadow loomed over them; she looks up and the cute dog is long gone, instead a giant creature stood in front of them. The creature is huge, almost as big as the cottage, its fangs as sharp as blades, its saliva drips to the ground as it licks its lips.

Bliss steps close to Eve, gulping down her fear towards the creature.

“That’s Count Jim’s pet.” Lamira muttered through her trembling lips. “The real guards are not the ones by the door, that creature are the one preventing me from escaping.”

Eve stretches her arms and legs, “Meaning if we beat this mut, we can take you home right?”

Lamira just shook her head, who can beat this monster….

The creature let out a bark, Bliss think it is warning them to leave Count Jim’s property. She glared at the creature, she could feel herself shaking as well. Bliss takes in a few deep breaths, her hands in front of her chest, trying to calm her drumming heart.

She never saw anything like this, Bliss don’t know how Eve does it but she doesn’t seem afraid of that huge scary creature in front of them. Instead, she swear she could see an eager glint in her eyes. Eve is shaking but unlike Bliss’s who is trembling in fear, Bliss suspect she probably is shaking due to the excitement.Bliss’s suspicion is true, Eve could feel her blood boiling in thrill.

Finally, she had been so bored of the endless lessons her mother forced her to take. She is never an indoor person; asking her to stay all day in the study with stacks of books, numerous tutors, listening to their lecture and watch them scribbles some theories or whatever on the blackboard is practically giving her a death sentence. 

Her mother always wanted a poise and lady-like daughter, but Eve is not that kind of girl, compared to reading books, painting and tea parties; she preferred riding horses, sports, martial arts and the likes.

Eve cracks her knuckles, walking towards the creature in a slow motion while transforming herself into a half-panther, “Bliss, let’s do this.”

Bliss gulped but nods in agreement, her eyes fixed on the creature. She cannot drag Eve down, she have to help her in some ways.

Eve held her fighting stance, “Come on, big guy. I’m taking Lamira back, whether you like it or not.”

The creature give a last warning bark to them.

“Let’s get this over with.”

Seeing that both Bliss and Eve are not backing down; it bare its fangs and leaps forward, extending its claw. Bliss immediately lifts up both her hands, eyes fix on the creature. Its attack stop, Bliss hold it in its place. The creature was shock but it quickly recover, trying to pushed through her binds.

Eve took the chance to attack with strong punches and powerful kicks. Bliss bites her lower lip, she cannot hold on much longer. The creature is too powerful, she could feel the creature is slowly breaking free from her binds. Casting a quick glance at Eve, she could see that Eve’s expression is relax.

“Eve, stop fooling around!” Bliss cried; giving her a disapprove glance. “I can’t…”

Before she could finish her sentence; the creature lets out a loud growl, breaking free from Bliss’s magic, its front paw stomp the ground and the earth shake.

Bliss took a step back due to the impact, she instantly looks over to Eve to check whether she is safe. With a few backflip, Eve avoided its paws and went over to Bliss’s side.

“You okay?” Eve asked.

“I’m fine. Eve…”

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

Bliss silently rolled her eyes, why can’t anybody let her finish her sentence? First that creature, now this plump man which she presume is Count Jim.

“Ladies.” Count Jim greets them, taking off his top hat and give a gentleman’s bow.

Eve scoffed, crossing her arms. Bliss pursed her lips, glaring at the man.

“Are you ladies here to join Lamira? To serve me at my cottage, but the cottage seemed to be quite small for the three of you. Maybe you would like to join me at my mansion?”

As soon as Count Jim enter the scene, the creature kneeled and bowed at its master. Bliss eyed him defensively, this Count Jim...His smiled in a relaxed-manner, but something tell Bliss to not take him lightly or else it would bring her some negative consequences. Well, one thing is for sure, someone who can keep this creature as a pet and trained it to obediently follow his every order is definitely someone to not be taken lightly of. They need to be careful and not anger him in any way.

“Shut your pipehole! Who would want to join you at your rusty old mansion!”

Annnnd, she spoke too soon.

“Eve!” Bliss stomp.

“What? Don’t tell me you want to go with him?” Eve said with a raised of her delicate brow.

Bliss rolled her eyes, “Of course not.”

“I take that as your decline. Well, I guess we have to do it by force then.” He snaps his finger and his guards immediately move a chair for him.

Count Jim sat down, holding a glass of wine. “Lamira… You had been a bad girl.”

Lamira’s face turned even paler after hearing his words, she drops to the ground shaking uncontrollably.

Bliss took a step to the side, blocking his gaze towards Lamira, her eyes narrowed into a glare.

Count Jim let out a chuckle. “Interesting.” He muttered, eyeing Bliss up and down.

Bliss could feel a shiver ran down her spine but she pushed it down, balling up her fist. “We’re not letting you take Lamira!” He laughed as if he just heard some kind of hilarious joke.

“You will regret belittling us.” Eve said through gritted teeth.

“You can say that after beating my cute pet.” He said, smoothing the fur of that creature.

“Bring.It.On.”