"It's time that you meet your fate. You are the one we have been waiting for all this time. Open your eyes and see it for yourself, it's a new moon, it's a new dawn. Rejoice in the feeling of being born special, to lead everyone around you. And to finally put an end to this battle, a battle that has been going on for the past millennia".
Melissa eyes opened with a jolt to find herself on her bed, clean and changed. Looking around, she didn't see any difference in her room. Everything seemed to be fine, in its place. The night lamp wasn't on, she was submerged in an ocean of darkness, there was no light, everything in her room had a gloomy feel to it. She felt suffocate, breathless. Then she remembered! like a thunder, a thought rumbled inside her head.
Trying to get up from the bed, dizzy with the sudden movement as soon as she sat up. Her head was pounding, as she tried to steading herself. Getting up, she walked slowly towards the mirror, a hand supporting the heaviness of her head. But as soon as started moving the pressure eased, little by little. She got to her vanity mirror and started to check her neck; she could still feel the claws sinking into her milky skin. Turning on the little lamp on her vanity desk, she checked her neck, the dim amber light wasn't helping her see clearly, but she could make up that there was nothing, no marks, no scratches, no blood, and she was wearing her pajamas. How was she wearing her pajamas? Where were her clothes? Did she dream everything? She had so many questions...
Everything came to her memory slowly but so vividly, the ugly and disgusting beasts, the horror in her eyes, the dismembering sound and ... yes and the mysterious man that save her from everything. He held her in his arms, she hugged herself remembering this feeling. She felt safe. All the horrors and the beasts were a blur with his embrace wrapping her encasing her, like a shield like a cocoon. His eyes that for some reason were not honey … they were like two red fireflies on the obscure night.
She sat on the small white bench placed in front of her vanity, while grabbing her head by the temples. Seriously doubting herself about what had happened. There was a knock at the door "come in" she responded while still holding her head. Her voice a little shaky she noted.
"I came to check on you, how are you feeling?" Anastasia asked her while entering the room with a silver tray, and two painkillers.
"Oh, Annie thank you. I really needed some of this. My head feels like is going to explode" said Melissa, grateful for her always clever caretaker. But for Melissa, Anastasia was more than that. She and Flavio were the only two people who worked for Melissa, but also the only two people that she truly considered her family. That she truly loved like family.
She didn't know how old Anastasia was, her presence was always impetuous, but at the same time considered, maybe she must be in her late 40's. Her gold silvery hair was always impeccable, braided and finished on a perfect bun sitting on the nape of her head. She always wore a completely black maid dress that, long sleeved always covered her arms. The skirt length was down to her ankles as black boots finished the look. A lace fabric bow in her collar, with a black pin in the shape of a crow that held the bow together. She looked like a cold-hearted woman, but she loved Melissa with all her heart.
"Do you know what happened to me Annie?" Asked Melissa while opening her eyes on exaggeratedly manner, as she was trying to focus on her thoughts to find an answer, everything that had happed to her was entangled in her head, the memories like a fly on a spiderweb.
Anastasia served the tea and hand it to Melissa with the painkillers. As she said in a calm voice. "Flavio found you at the bottom of the stairs and brought you inside the house. I changed and cleaned you … I was waiting for you to wake up to ask you the same question".
"I... I…don't remember what happened". Said Melissa on an unconvincing voice. She could not believe anything that had happen to her. Everything was so confusing, she could not tell Anastasia everything that he had witnessed, right? Was she going crazy?
She composed herself and started talking, like she was on a trance. "I exchanged some harsh words with Ludovick when he got to pick me up at the café where I was meeting Sonya and decided to take the train back to the house. Then I was on the train..." She paused still trying to make sense of everything "...and now I'm here". Melissa made a paused to take her painkillers and sipped some tea to send them down her throat.
Anastasia looked at her and cupped her hand on Melissa's cheek. "Sometimes is better if we forget some things," she said and changing her tone to a more definitive one, she continued. "I think you got drunk and ended up on the stairs. Your birthday is coming up after all, so it's ok to get drunk occasionally. That's what we told your..." Anastasia stopped to fix her toughs, "to Mr. Rembrandt". She said with a complicit voice, to rapidly change the topic. "Do you need anything else Melissa?" her eyes fixed on an absent Melissa.
"No Annie, thank you".
Anastasia had starting to walk towards the door to exit the room when Melissa said. "Annie, do you believe in supernatural stuff?" Melissa asked while fidgeting with the cup on the plate. Anastasia stopped by the door and spoke.
"Sometimes, the things that we think are impossible, are more real than our own lives". Walking out the door she closed it behind her.
Melissa rose from her chair, "what Anastasia meant by that? Maybe something similar happened to her? No, it was impossible, but how can Melissa explain what was going on? How can she put into words what was happening, what had happened? She walked towards the window and stood there. Looking at the crescent moon, lost in her thoughts.
***
"Until when are you going to stand there?" asked the tall shadow behind him.
"She will never be yours". The shirtless blond hair man turned his body around to face the shadow behind him. A bare chest that showed defined muscles, it was almost as tall as the other man. Gray eyes facing the dark hair man with hatred.
"That is for her to decide" he said on a petulant tone.
"Your kind attacked her and that's something that I will never allowed. I should kill you right now to make an example of you".
"I know they want to kill her," his voice low, in pain. "But that will never happen on my watch." The blonde man tone changed. "I just had learned of the attack and … you!!! he growled baring his teeth. "You got there late".
"And you weren't even there" said the black-haired men towering over him, hissing, while his eyes were burning scarlet red.
"I couldn't get there fast enough, but only five or so attacked you. I got rid of almost everyone else before you got there…you're welcome as always" He continued, jealousy dripping down his words.
"Yeah, yeah. You were the hero of the tale…" He felt silence but changing the subject the blond man asked. "What are we going to do about this?" he asked while looking at his long and sharp nails.
"Her birthday is soon" said the dark hair guy. "We have to keep waiting…Until that day comes, we have to protect her. I would never imagine make a pact like this with a beast like you". His tone grew dark, his eyes hungry with hatred, his fist clenching, a muscle feathered on his jaw. "But now…" He breathed "…that everyone is against us, we have no choice. Her birthday is the most important day for both mine and your kind. After that it will be the end for one of us … After that" An intimidating aura surrounded them. "I…will…kill…you" he said slowly, word by word, each one with more measure than the other while getting closer to his face.
The blond guy smirked with malice. Without turning his face, he said on a matter-of-fact tone. "She still doesn't know what she is. Do you think it will be easy for her to decide? Even to accept her reality. I don't care if is you or me, but we swore to protect her until our final days. I hope you keep your end of the bargain".
The red eye man snarled and disappeared on thin air. Without another word.
"He is finally gone" the blond-haired man sighted, looking again at the woman standing by the window, her black silky hair shone like Onyx. The most beautiful sight under moon light. "I want to embrace you, to caress you... Urrghh!!" he cursed internally. "Until when I have to keep myself for jump into your bed and make every inch of your body mine? I swore to protect you, and I will … But at the end of everything you will love me".
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Hello there: Did you know that my story is competing for Webnovel Spirit Awards 2021. It will mean a world to me if you vote for this book. As always thank you for your support.
JAlmodovar