LIVING FOR a hundred years is exhausting and boring. It has never been an exciting life as opposed to what most humans believe. Doing the same things again and again? Damn! That's frustrating as hell!
I was born with royalty blood flowing in my veins. I can have all the things I covet. With merely a snap of my fingers, things will manifest themselves in front of me like magic.
Wealth? I have it. Fame and title? I was born with it. Power? I'm breathing it.
Born as the first prince of a prominent vampire clan is pleasurable, but not enough to keep me happy. I am a lost soul trapped in a cold vessel walking and talking without even knowing why the hell am I existing.
And then there is one night. An unexpected evening that has shifted my entire life. A night of abundant wonders and excitements.
I was silently reading a book on the bench in the middle of the park. Humans are everywhere. Some families dine together on the grass. Children were playing and shouting. Teenagers were taking unlimited pictures of themselves to post on social media as if they want to show the whole world all the angles and curves of their faces.
Humans are fascinating. They function not by their brain but by their emotions. Something my kin sees as a weakness but I see it as a strength. Unlike us cold-blooded monsters, humans can feel the passion and beauty this world has bestowed upon us.
Amidst the exuberant chaos in the park, one enchanting face has caught my vision. She's like a little firefly hovering in the night. Her light brought richness to my dull surroundings. I watched her as she carelessly swiveled side to side like an intoxicated kung fu master. Her legs were wobbling and I'm quite concerned that she might stumble herself. She was carrying a bottle of alcohol. Her cheeks are flushed in light pink and her eyes are heavy. I inhaled and my eyes closed as her fruity scent lingered on my nose. Fvck! Suddenly, my brother sleeping between my legs has awakened like a hungry beast. Jesus! She smells fvcking delicious. My gums tingles but I pushed my fangs back to where they belong. I tried my best to calm the fvck down or else, I might do something that I'll regret. Not in here, Vladimir. Keep your hungry balls in place.
I just can't take my eyes off her. She seems so... vulnerable.
The young woman stopped in front of a wishing well. She pulled out a coin from her pocket. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. And then the world stopped. The bustles in the park melted down, the people became gray and I see nothing except her face.
For the very first time in a hundred years. I saw the genuine definition of the word beautiful.
"Sana magkaroon na ako ng lovelife. Gusto ko iyong pinakagwapo, pwede na ang kamag-anak ni Johnny Depp. Pinakaseksi, dapat may matitigas na six-packs abs at pumuputok na biceps. Ayoko ng hairy ah, kadiri! Dapat hindi mabuhok ang bulbo—este ang chest! Higit sa lahat bigyan mo ako ng pinakanakaaaakit na lalaki sa buong mundo. Iyong kaiinggitan ako ng mga bilat, ex-bilat at half-bilat sa planet earth!"
My lips pulled into an amused smile. Seriously? Did she wish for that? And what is bilat again? Her words are alien to me. After that, she sobbed and walked away. And for a record, I found myself following her.
Great Vladimir, you're now a stalker?
A young couple is walking towards our way. There were talking with each other while the guy kept on kissing his girlfriend's cheeks. The sad woman looked at them with a long face. And again, I saw the bitterness in her eyes. I wonder who's the fucking bastard who broke this little fireflies heart? Perhaps punching his face is a good idea.
Okay, so where the hell did that came from?
"Magbi-break din kayo! Walang forever! Sa EDSA lang meron! Sa inyo wala!"
I was surprised to see her shouting at the couples.
"Ang bitter mo! Tulog mo na lang `yan!" the guy said then the couple walked away.
"Pakshet `yon! Kapal ng mukha! Sumasagot pa siya kala naman niya ang gwapo niya! Kamukha naman niya si Squidwird. Laki ng ilong niya! Pwe!"
I chuckled again. She's really witty.
She looked in my direction and I immediately opened my book and pretended that I'm reading. I glanced sideways to peek at her. She's squinting her eyes to me. Then I heard her cursed under her breath and mumbled that I'm "chismoso" then she strolled away. She rode a cab and I followed her without hesitation.
The girl's apartment is modest but neat. She's now deadly sleeping on her bed and snoring loud like a pig. I chuckled. She's amusing me a lot.
I found some shattered glasses on the floor together with a broken picture frame. I scanned the photo inside it and saw a boy and a girl wearing a wedding dress and suit.
"Jonathan.... pakyu ka Jonathan makakalimutan din kita."
She's sleep talking. I stared at her face for a second, minutes, hours. I don't even know how long. As I stared at her innocent charm, it made me think why is she crying? Why does she look so hurt? Why does she love someone who doesn't love her back? Why do humans were always extra emotional? I suddenly felt this weird desire to eliminate all the aches in her heart. I want to see her smile.
Yeah... I like to see her happy.
My fingers gently caressed her skin. They were soft like a cotton. Her eyes were closed and her lips were partly open. I wonder if she tastes sweet as she looks and her blood delicious as her scent. The pulsation on her neck was inviting me to take a bite. Fvck. I swallowed hard and set back my self-control.
"You like her?" Romeo, my cousin all of a sudden appeared at the corner.
I raised one of my eyebrows. "What?"
He grinned mischievously, fangs peeking. "You're interested in her?"
"So what if I am? It's none of your bloody business. And why the hell are you following me?"
"I'm not." He shrugged his shoulders. "I saw you entered this apartment. My current blood donator is on the other side of this wall."
This time, I sneered. Blood donator again? Romeo's very greedy. He changes blood donators each week and then disposed them when he's done and bored. Tsk, poor humans.
"It's been a while since you had your last blood donator, Vladimir. Aren't you hungry?"
I stared back to him. Yes. That's true. Blood donators are the source of our food. Humans were signing under a contract to be our blood donator. That way, loss of humanity will be avoided and our existence will remain a secret.
However, it has been more than a decade since the last time I drank a human blood. You can call it a diet, like a vegan diet for mundane words. I'm against drinking their blood. I just felt wrong about it. Like it was unfair to use them.
"Come on. Vlad. I know you're craving fresh human blood. Hindi ka pa ba nagsasawa sa dugo ng rabbit? Man... it tastes like dirt." He crinkled his nose.
I rolled my eyes at him. Then looked again at the girl's sleeping face.
"Her fragrance is all over the place. She smells so sweet like hmm... strawberry. Isn't your favorite?" he teased. Romeo leaned down closer to the girl's face and sniffed her neck.
I fisted both of my hands feeling this strong impulse to shove him away. I don't like the sight of him or anyone touching her.
"Are you sure you don't want her, Vlad?"
I stayed silent. Romeo shrugged his shoulders and grinned at me devilishly. His eyes were sparkling. I know that look... that calculating look on his face. This is not good.
"Okay, then I'm going to have her as my blood donator—"
The string of my patience has finally cut off. I jumped and grasped Romeo hard on the neck. My eyes flashed red in the dark. My two fangs released from my gums and ready to attack. "No!" I growled lowly.
I won't let him touch her. Never. "She's mine," I moaned again gritting my teeth. This time, I'm certain that he'll leave her alone.
Romeo snickered and raised his two hands, surrendering. "Okay bro... chill. She's now all yours."
I put him down and bestowed him a warning gaze. He just tapped me on the shoulders and leaned on me. He whispered something in my ears that I will never forget.
"This is gonna be exciting my cousin." Then he transformed into a black bat and flew away.
I glanced back to my sleeping princess. From this day forward, I'm vowing with myself that I will protect her and make her happy.
~ The End ~
BITE ME (Sexy Monster Series #1) written by Anj Gee
July 10, 2019 - August 5, 2019
Revised Version: June 2021