"Do you have any plans to live in the bathroom? You've been staying there for almost two hours!" There came Bree's ear-splitting voice as the door banged open. But my mind was too preoccupied to even care. I subconsciously trail the bar of soap against my bare skin as the cold drops of water from the shower fall. Every trace of his tinge, scent, and spine-chilling sentiment that he'd bequeathed through me, I want all of those to evanesce. Wait. No, scratch that. I want everything about him to vanish from my senses.
I paused for a moment when his figure unexpectedly appeared in my mind again. His pale skin, radiant ruby-like eyes, devilish smirk, and the two pointed fangs emplaced inside his blood-stained lips, as well as his enigmatic halo, build a ghast all over me. My hands automatically clenched. I felt the familiar peppery sensation in my eyes again. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a crack from the wall beside me, pulling me from my train of thoughts. I blinked and was dumbstruck to see a large crack scarring the white wall.
I froze at the exact moment, just as I was about to exit the bathroom with my wardrobe covering my body, when I heard a familiar voice;
You can never run from your beast, Elora. This is a matter of living in contradiction or dying with your soul burning eternally. Abide or repel. After all, your fate is up to you and the choices that you make.
"Shut up!" I almost begged as I covered both sides of my ears with my hand. That word was like it had been spoken through my head. entrusting every inch of my reflexes, causing me to spat subconsciously. I heard his trails of laughter in my mind until they completely disappeared.
I nearly squealed when a cold hand suddenly touched my shoulder. My hair on the skin stood up abruptly as I winced. Matteus. I was convinced that it was really him, so I turned around. But I was stunned when I saw Bree's stern look. She was also startled at my gesture.
"What's the matter with you? You seem off these days. "Did something happen at Damien's party?" Her brows were furrowed, but she failed to conceal the note of solicitude in her voice.
I heaved a sigh and shook my head. I walked past her and directly headed to my closet to pick clothes to wear. I can't tell her. I closed my eyes and vanished the thoughts that kept bothering me about my unexpected encounter with that beast.
Matteus Ahren Hale.
"Elora, whatever it is you're lurking about, you can't keep it forever. Always remember that."
Agitated, I spoke with a cold voice and glanced at her. "Get out." She was taken aback for a moment until her complexion bludgeoned my fragility.
Her crystal eyes, which were brimming with clear water, abruptly formed tears. I bit my lower lip to suppress my emotions. She wants to help me. I knew that. But I'm frightened that I will put her life at risk. I can't afford to lose her and Aunt Greta. So, I must keep my mouth shut until I figure out a way out of this maze-like game. If there's still a way out.
Her hands clenched tightly, and her eyes were dark and devoid of sentiment. She got out of my room and slammed the door shut. I weakened and sat on my bed. My vision blurred. I was crying. With my trembling hand, I slowly pulled the collar of my wardrobe downward and trailed it against the surface of my neck. I could feel the wound was still fresh, even though a week had passed. My life as a human was over, and I'll be an imbecile if I think there is a way out, and even if there is, it will be impossible.
Especially now that I have his mark.
I vapidly stood up and walked towards my closet. When I'm done picking my clothes, I put them on the bed and wear them one by one. After that, I walked toward the mirror to look at myself. My wavy hair was going haywire, and my skin looked like I was some sort of feeble. My dark circles under my eyes were visible due to my lack of sleep these days.
My gaze slowly settled on the waterdrop-shaped and red-colored amulet. I raised my hand to touch it, attempting to remove it but still failing. Incantation. I don't even remember when I got this amulet or the place where I found it. When I returned home after Damien's party and the 'unexpected,' Bree saw this amulet. I just said that I bought it so that they wouldn't have any suspicion.
I heaved a sigh before grabbing the makeup case that Bree had given me. I applied some on the side of my neck where the mark was stationed. I can't let them know that I was bitten by a vampire. Needless to say, they would surely pass out if they found out about the spectacular thing that happened between me and him.
When I went downstairs, I saw Aunt Greta and Bree eating at the dining table. I walked towards them without saying anything and sat myself on the chair. I filled my plate with fried rice and eggs and started eating. Tranquility filled the whole dining room as we ate in silence. Nothing could be heard except for the clinking of utensils and other kitchen things. After Damien's party, I barely talked with them. We were like strangers in our house. I got up very early and went to the university by myself, and in the evening I returned home late from my night job. This is way better than never seeing them at all. That night changed everything. From pure bliss to the worst nightmare.
I closed my eyes, so before they could even feel my trepidation, I stood up and walked towards the door of the dining room to depart. But before I left, I heard Aunt Greta speak.
"Enfetter yourself with gallantry for the anticipated holocaust."
I slowly turned toward her and met her gaze. At first, I was doubtful that the words were meant for me, but seeing her gaze, which was stationary on mine, I could tell that she said those words to me. Her complexion and tone were the opposite of the facetious remark that I'd made. She's not lying. I have seen her serious face with all these years of being together with her, but the frown that was plastered on her face was odd. And her eyes seemed to be telling me something. Hundreds of sentiments were lurking.
"Pardon?"
Instead of answering my question, she shook her head and smiled faintly. But the peek she took at my amulet never escaped my vision.
"Be careful."
I forced a smile before nodding. I walked out of the dining room and out of the house with my school bag. Two words, but hundreds of vignettes
I hailed a public bus, and it stopped in front of me. I made my way through the entrance and entered the bus. The girls were the ones who stood out over the rest of the passengers with their giggles, whispers, and gossips. They had all the same compliment for exactly one guy. I was taken aback. Not him, please.
I remained standing in the very front seats of the bus, just not to get near him. I tried every means to avoid his burning gaze, as it was making me malevolent. My body suddenly stiffened when I felt his breath in the very depths of my ear.
"You can't keep me waiting. All you have to do is beg, and that would be the sanest approximation if you don't want to be claim as a sinner."
With my back facing him, I dared not look at him in the eyes. And I'm consistently certain that he's staring at me, his eyes enigmatic, his lips grinning devilishly.
"Understood, Elora?"
Closing my eyes, I nodded reluctantly. Damn, why does my name sound better whenever he speaks it? My eyes widened at my thought. He's a beast. Always keep that in mind.
I heard him smirk.
"That's good, then."
He then walked past me and got off the bus. I looked outside through the glass window and realized that we were already outside the front gate of the university. I stared at his receding back but quickly took back my gaze when our eyes met. I placed my palm against my left chest, and it was pounding rapidly.
Just as I was about to get off the bus, a girl suddenly bumped her shoulder into me. Her eyes were glaring, and her lips were pouting. She rolled her eyes at me before leaving with the other girl.
"Bitch." I mumbled.
I sighed in disbelief. How can they fall head over heels for that guy? His sublime and esteemed constitution won't change the fact that he's a beast, a venomous and venturesome vampire.
I stepped down and got off the bus. I was about to walk towards the gate entrance when a poster that hangs against the cement wall of the university caught my gaze. It has been posted there for two days already. My gaze settled on the name of the guy.
Brendan Collins.
"He's been missing for almost three days already."
My gaze automatically averted when I heard that voice from the side of me. I saw two girls tugging at each other's sleeves as they stared at the poster. They were standing inches away from me. The girl who spoke first has waist-length hair and a Gucci bag that hangs on the opposite side of her elbow. I immediately recognized her since she was the one who deliberately bumped me off the bus earlier.
"Nah, he has been found." The girl with short hair said. She's wearing a black tank top paired with a red mini skirt and black ankle boots.
The former's eyes widened. "Really? Where is he now? What made him vanish?" She immediately bombarded her with questions.
The latter shook her head and sighed. Her delicate eyebrows were furrowed, and judging from her complexion, I was certain that she was frustrated, just as I was.
"Unfortunately, he'd been found dead. My dad was one of the police officers who investigated that incident. They couldn't decry the reasons for his sudden disappearance. In addition to his departure, they found out that he has a circular hole that roams on his left chest, and his heart was axed from his body. Not even a vague trace of the culprit can be found." The latter carefully explained with her voice lowered. However, I can still hear them due to my enhanced senses and being marked by that beast. My tightly clenched hands gripping hard on the straps of my bag got even more firm.
"Gosh, this never happened before."
"Exactly. Why would the culprit mark his victim on the side of their neck with two dots? "
I immediately left, those exchange of words of the two girls about the incident that happened on Tuesday night got me thinking. I hate to admit it, but he is the only one who can help me.
There was no escape for me now.
---
It was almost 6 p.m. when the whole day's class ended. I couldn't focus on the class earlier and got scolded often by our teachers, which led me to take class overtime. I exited the school building and quickly ran through the university gate, squeezing my way among the numerous students walking. I have to go home early and tell Aunt Greta that I'll be out to the computer shop.
I'm lying. Actually, there's no need because our pedagogues didn't give us a thesis to report. In fact, I wanted to meet him. I made my decision, and there's no backing down if I don't want to be a sinner, even though I already am. At least, this will save me some vanity and prevent me from being incarcerated.
I had just entered the bus when I heard a message notification sound from my phone that I was holding. I opened it, and when I saw the message from Bree, my heart skipped a beat.
Please come here immediately. A guy barged inside our house!
5:40 pm
---
I frantically got out of the bus, ran off, and came rushing towards our house, panicking. Our ride lasted for almost thirty minutes because of the red lights and vacillations. Disquietude was now trapping me, encompassing me with an uncontrollable quiver. In the back of my mind, there was only one person who came to mind: Bree's message.
Matteus.
I suddenly paused. Taken aback, I roamed my eyes. They were no personnel or any trucks containing different emergency police dispatchers from 911 which I called earlier. That guy. I clenched my fists and ran. My feet were trailing as I entered the house. I called Bree's name, shouting, but there was no response. I dashed to every part of the house downstairs. Even Aunt Greta was nowhere to be seen. That sent me an eerie and perilous feeling to the pits of my chest. Gripping hard on the stringer as I looked above at the second floor, I heaved a sigh before stepping down the staircase. Initially, my steps were swift as I walked down the hallway until my familiar frenetic heartbeat bludgeoned me. The sentiment that I felt every time he was near. The corridor was dim, almost dusk. Only the light beneath the ceiling provided illumination for the corridor.
I caught a glimpse of the door in my room that was left ajar. Baffled, I slowly walked towards my room. I always kept the key inside my bag, so how was the door suddenly left ajar? I'm a hundred percent sure that I locked it earlier in the morning before I went downstairs. Moreover, I don't want someone invading my privacy. Even Aunt Greta and Bree don't dare step inside my room.
I held the doorknob and pushed the door open. And when I opened the light switch, I froze in shock. He's here, his eyes menacing, his thin lips grinning. He was sitting slackened on my single sofa with legs crossed, one arm resting on the manchette while the other was beneath his chin.
"What the hell? Why are you here?" I exclaimed, even though I knew he was here. This is the essential feature of the dominant beast Matteus Ahren Hale. The guy who was competently capable of building a dread over me. I wanted to scream, charge towards him, and make a pounce. But my quivering betrayed me; I was obviously against that aspiration. I'm frightened.
He raised an eyebrow, and a smirk made its way to his lips.
"Likewise."
"For fuck's sake, just answer me!"
"I should be the one asking you that."
"Go to hell, you ignominious, self-avowed-"
He suddenly dashed towards me, cutting me off, and in mere seconds, I stiffened when I felt my back colliding against the wall. With my widened eyes, I stared at his menacing eyes that were staring into mine.
"Mind that filthy mouth of yours, hear me?"
"Where is she?"
"Are you that imbecile to think that I got a hold of that bitch?"
Now I'm enlightened. Bree actually never texted me. That's why this house was unusually quiet, which was odd. If Bree is really here, shrill screams could be heard already. Besides, they were no dispatchers from the emergency hotline that I called earlier. Furthermore, that explains why my heart was pounding with the exact sentiment that penetrates me whenever I feel his presence. He was actually here. And he came for me.
"If you're here for the deal," I said, closing my eyes and biting my lower lip. I have to do this for the sake of myself and my family. With a deep breath, I continued, "I've already made my decision."
His eyes lit up, and slowly, a playful grin flashed across his lips, as if amused by what I had said.
"Damn, you're erotic when compliant, do you know that?"
He leaned towards me, and I could feel the air from his nose fanning my hair as he sniffed my scent.
"Ah, you smell so artlessly fine."
Overwhelmed by his abhorrence, I raised my hands, placed them against his broad chest, and brashly pushed him. He slightly raised his two hands and took a step backwards, teasing me.
"Cut yourself some slack, Matteus."
His name sounded belligerent and venomous whenever I said it.
"That's your will, not mine."
I closed my eyes in irritation. Why does this guy have to be this hard?
"You sounded so demanding. In case you forgot, you owe me a preeminent favor, don't you?"
That caught me off guard. It was indeed true. I owe him a big favor, and yet, here I was making everything hard for him. On the contrary, I should be grateful for him not telling anyone what he had witnessed that night after two days had passed. Initially, I was determined to do what he wanted, but now, why do I feel hesitant? Maybe because I will be under his manipulation, which I could hardly accept in contempt.
"I-I just....."
His eyebrows parted in displeasure.
"Cut the crap." Why do you have such an expression on your dainty face? "Feeling reluctant, already?"
I lowered my head.
"Do you want me to remind you what you did that night?"
I was startled. Suddenly, the scenario that happened three days ago flashed in my mind like a movie: how I entrusted my fangs onto that guy's bare neck and how I felt the burning sensation when his blood lingered on my lips as it tasted like saccharine against my tongue;
I was sitting on the swing, absent-mindedly swaying myself at the park within the woods. I still can't get over the unexpected thing that happened earlier in the morning with that beast-how I felt his body against mine, how he marked me with his two pointed fangs, and how he made me his in just one night. But I was pulled from my train of thoughts, and the tranquility was interrupted when a familiar voice intruded.
"Hey, pretty. A delicate girl like you shouldn't be here late at night." I almost winced and instantly stood up. I glanced at my back and saw a familiar guy wearing a beige jacket grinning at me. He was the one I had altercations with in the canteen on my first day of school.
I didn't respond and gave him a hideous look. I was about to walk away when he suddenly grabbed my wrist, pulling me towards him.
"Let me go, Brendan." I tried to be casual, but that word came out of my mouth threateningly. I tried to push him, but his grip on me tightened more.
"You're hot as fuck; even your scent is intoxicating. This urged me to desire you more. So now, tell me. How much for one night?"
My teeth gritted when I felt his warm palm against the skin surface of my thigh. I had enough, so with all my strength, I pushed him. But he started receding, creating a gap between us until his body hit the slide.
He groaned in pain, and I stood there in shock. How did I do that?
Suddenly, my fibers and reflexes got tense. As if it had awakened from its deep slumber, I saw blood trickling from his forehead, which had collided against the rough surface of the slide. I dashed towards him like a gust of wind. I stared at him like some sort of hungry beast craving his blood. But later on, a realization hit me. This was wrong; I need to get out of here.
Just as I was about to run off, he quickly held my wrist and was about to strike me with the knife he was holding from his other arm. I dodged it, and I rushed behind him, with my arm compressing his neck. I felt a burning sensation in my eyes as the scent of his blood clung to my nose.
A scream escaped from my mouth when his knife entered my stomach. But the searing pain didn't last long. With all the rage, contempt, and craving that I feel towards this guy, I slanted his neck and let his blood catenate my mouth as I thrust my fangs against the surface of his bare neck. He screamed in agony, but I didn't care. I let the saccharine taste of his blood linger on my tongue. As he was about to stab me with a knife, I rushed my hands towards his chest, where his heart was placed. Before I could even restrain myself, his dark red, beating heart was now on my palm, with blood trickling along the surfaces of my skin. He fell to the cold ground, eyes open and mouth slightly parted, while bathing in his own blood.
I stood there, motionless and trembling. I thought I was the only one who knew about this. But I was wrong. Matteus proved me wrong. Because he was there, secretly eyeing us.
He witnessed everything.