''What do you mean, lady Lucia?''
''Alison was raised by aunt to be Walden's bride. Alison has Walden's mark on her body. We won't be able to stop them once that mark awakens''
''Lucia, it is dangerous for Walden to get together with a human girl''
''Alison isn't a true human. She might be a human being but she has the soul of a ghost descendant, a powerful soul at that. I don't know why aunt did that but if we want to solve the mystery of why she became his bride, then we need Alison herself to be able to do that''
''How did you meet that woman?''
''She was 17 years when I met her. She saved me back then. I had just undergone my transformation and was weak. I couldn't do anything to help myself. Two men kidnapped me and she saved me''
''How did she save you? You couldn't even speak to her''
''I spoke to her soul''
Ten years ago….
Alison walked out of her school and walked towards the bus station. She looked at the arrival time for the next bus and sighed.
''The bus won't be here until an hour? Then, they are just going to find out I ditched school''
Alison muttered and turned to look around. She ran across the road and almost collided with a car.
''Sorry…'' Alison said before running away. She went across the road to an alley.
As she walked into the alley, Alison saw two men dragging a woman. they were also going out of the alley.
Alison found them suspicious but she wasn't about to get herself into trouble so she acted as if she didn't see them. She was in a hurry to walk out of the alley when she heard a voice.
''Help me!''
Alison stopped walking and looked around. She definitely heard a voice but she didn't see anyone. Alison shook her head and muttered.
''I must be going crazy''
Alison took a few steps and heard the voice again, ''help me, please. These men are going to harm me''
Alison stopped and slowly turned to look at the men. She met with the woman's gaze and heard her voice more clearly.
''Help me, please…''
Alison's heart started beating fast. She looked away immediately when one of the men turned to look at her.
''Student, aren't you going?'' the man asked.
''I'm going'' Alison said and walked away. She ran to the end of the alley and took out her phone.
''What do I do? What should I do? Call the police? What if they are gone by the time the police arrive? Calling the police is a hustle. I will have to go and give statements, then the school will find out that I wasn't in school and that man who is sponsoring me will also find out''
Alison cussed and a thought came to mind. She looked at her phone and walked towards a pole. She turned the police siren on and placed it under the pole before going to hide by a dustbin.
The moment the siren started blowing, the two men became alert. They cussed and muttered.
''It's the police, hey let's leave her and run for now. She is weak. She can't go far, we will come back after the police is gone'' one of the men said.
''Alright!''
They left Lucia in the middle of the alley and ran away. When Alison saw them running away, she hurriedly came out and picked her phone. She kept playing the siren as she ran towards Lucia.
''Are you alright?'' Alison asked.
''You heard me? Thank you'' Lucia said with her eyes.
Alison nodded her head. She really didn't understand it but she could hear the woman's thoughts.
Alison helped Lucia up and together they went out of the alley. They got into a taxi and she took Lucia home.
…..
Alison lived in a two bedroom apartment back then. She sent Lucia inside and placed her on the couch and spoke, ''are you hurt? Where did you get hurt? I can't send you to the hospital because it's a hustle but I know a few first aid that can come in handy if you tell me where you got hurt''
''Can I get a cup of blood?''
''Huh? Blood?'' Alison asked in a surprised tone but for a reason she didn't look shocked.
''Mm, I really need blood if not I will die''
''You… you are not human, right? Since earlier on, you've been speaking to me in your mind and I can somehow hear your thoughts'' Alison asked. She became a little scared.
''Just animal blood will do. Please help me'' Lucia said with a pleading gaze.
''Money, I don't have money''
''Give me your hand.''
Alison hesitated for a while before stretching her palm towards her. Lucia took her palm and placed her palm on it. When she took off her hand, Alison saw a few dollar bills in her palm.
''This… how did you?''
''Get the blood from the butcher's market. It should be enough for taxi and the blood.''
''What if they ask me what I want it for?''
''Tell them your grandmother is a shaman and wants to use it drive away evil spirits. They will give it to you''
''Alright'' Alison picked her purse and ran out of the house.
….
Coming back to the present, Lucia chuckled and said to Boaz, ''even as a young girl, she was foolishly brave''
''She really got you the blood?''
''Yes, she did. Since then, we've been friends''
''And she has never asked you how you managed to stay this young? She and you look like age mates now''
''She never did and I am grateful for that. Imagine having to explain about my youthfulness to her?''
Boaz looked at the time and spoke, ''it's time''
Lucia's gaze became sharp as they both turned to the door. They heard a loud roar coming from the room and looked at each other.
Inside the room…
Walden's eyes became red as he remained bent with both hands and feet on the floor. His hands straightened and his fangs came out.