***
As Jessica walked home in the bright sunlight, she couldn’t help but think about Max. Where had he been all this time? It was like he suddenly disappeared. She did receive a note from him, something about him having to leave town for a while, but the reason was vague and unsatisfactory.
She had been looking forward to spending her recesses and lunchtimes with him in their Safe Spot, shielded away from everyone else while they drew their drawings and dreamt about the futures, perhaps together.
She hadn’t been kidding about moving to Paris together and being full-time artists. She liked Max. A lot. She liked how quiet and introspective he was. Still waters run deep and Max was the stillest water of all. He was like a mysterious enigma. She never knew what he was thinking and attempting to figure it out intrigued her. From what little she knew about him, she discovered that he was a young man who put a lot of thought into everything he did, which improved whatever it was. She could tell he was going to be successful in whatever career field he chose.
He was also a very caring and compassionate young man. These were two qualities that she liked a lot about him. And after days of being away from school, she was starting to miss him a lot.
She was about to head into her house when a sudden noise jolted her from her thoughts.
A man in a dark cloak just leapt out of the bushes. The most noticeable thing about him was that his thick glasses made his eyes invisible.
He beckoned at her. “You have to come with me.”
Jessica grew scared. “What do you mean? Did my parents send you?”
“Your parents have sent me to come get you,” Count Wai Da lied.
Growing suspicious, she narrowed her pretty eyes. “Wait, who are you?”
The Count knew that his cover had been blown.
There was only one thing to do now.
Quickly, he took out a vial. It contained a valerian-based sleep powder that Queen Arbora had given him, in case anyone refused to come willingly.
He tapped the white powder into his hand and then blew it into the girl’s face.
Closing her eyes, Jessica coughed. She felt sleepy all of a sudden.
“Have a good night,” the Count said gleefully as Jessica collapsed onto the concrete sidewalk.
Book 1: The Crown Prince (The Kid Emperor of Occultoria) Page 25