It was sunset when I arrived back at the hotel room. I turned the key and entered with a heavy exhale. The weight of the day's revelations still hung over me like a fog, leaving me slightly on edge. The lodge's secrets were a labyrinth I was navigating, and I wasn't sure where each twist and turn would lead me.
But nothing could have prepared me for what I found as I stepped further into the dimly lit room. There, sitting on a chair by the window, was Nikolai. My heart raced, and my breath caught in my throat. It was he—the vampire noble—who had barged into my life with a request I had naively accepted. He looked so fierce yet elegant, like a fire elemental, all long limbs and sharp angles, his pale skin glowing softly in the dark room. And those eyes—they were the most hypnotizing I had ever seen. They were as ethereal as moonlit frost, with a glacial gleam that bordered on silver, casting an otherworldly glow upon his countenance, set in their sockets with an expression that was both serene and stern.
It made me feel uneasy to see him there. His presence filled the room, making it dark and heavy. But there was something else too. Something more powerful. A power I didn't recognize yet, but one that felt dangerous.
"You!" I stammered, my voice a mixture of shock and disbelief. "How did you—"
Nikolai rose gracefully from the chair, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "Apologies for surprising you, Masha," he said with an air of nonchalance. "I thought waiting here would be more convenient than lurking in the shadows."
He raised his hand, and the door suddenly shut behind me with a loud slam, locking us inside. I heard him chuckle.
I blinked, my mind struggling to catch up. A vampire was staying in my hotel room as if it were the most natural thing in the world. My initial shock gave way to a strange sense of familiarity—I had encountered the paranormal enough times to know that the supernatural was often closer than one might think.
"I—I brought some food," I stammered, feeling the need to break the silence. Holding out a bag of takeout, I tried to offer a friendly smile. "I thought you might be hungry."
Nikolai's lips curled in a slight smile, though his eyes held a hint of amusement. "I appreciate the gesture, Masha, but I'm afraid I can't partake in human cuisine."
My brow furrowed in confusion. "You can't? But I mean, it's just regular human food."
"Ah, you see, that's the thing." Nikolai's tone was gentle, as if he were explaining a complex concept to a child. "Vampires like me have a unique dietary requirement. We need the blood of the living."
I stared at him in disbelief. Blood? Was he serious? The very idea sent shivers down my spine, despite my attempts to rationalize it.
"Yeah, I almost forgot," I laughed. "But I can't give you my blood either. Maybe try catching some rats outside."
Seeing my reaction, Nikolai chuckled softly. "I see you find the notion rather unsettling. Allow me to clarify—it's not about the taste. It's about the electromagnetic fluid that blood contains. It's a vital source of energy for creatures like me."
I blinked again, my mind racing to comprehend the information he was imparting. "So, you're saying you need the blood of living creatures to survive?"
Nikolai inclined his head slightly. "Precisely."
A nervous laugh escaped my lips, an attempt to diffuse the tension that had settled between us. "Well, I hope you brought your own supply, because I don't think the local hospital would appreciate my donation."
His laughter was soft and melodic, a surprising sound that echoed through the room.
As I prepared my food on the table, I decided to venture into more uncertain territory. "Nikolai, can I ask you something?"
His gaze met mine, a gentle curiosity in his eyes. "Of course."
"Have you ever been a human?" I began, choosing my words carefully. "Like, were you bitten centuries ago, and that's how you became a vampire?"
Nikolai's gaze grew distant for a moment, as if he were lost in memories only he could see. "No, Masha. I have never experienced human existence." He looked at me for a moment, as if trying to remember something. "And a human cannot become a vampire simply because a vampire bit him or drained his blood. It is a common misconception."
The weight of his words hung in the air, tinged with a hint of melancholy. The idea of never having lived as a human was both haunting and intriguing.
"But there are different kinds of vampires, right?" I pressed, my curiosity getting the better of me. "You mentioned that some are fallen angels?"
Nikolai's expression shifted, his eyes holding a distant sadness. "Indeed, Masha. Vampires, like any other species, come in various forms. Some are born as vampires, while others are transformed through circumstances. In rare cases, human beings like you can become a vampire with the use of dark magic. They usually do that to prolong their lives after they have passed."
He paused for a few seconds and clenched his fist, but his expression became softer. "But I must clarify, not all vampires are immortal. That particular distinction is reserved for a rare breed—those who are not only vampires but also fallen angels."
I furrowed my brows, intrigued and perplexed by his words. "So is it indeed possible for fallen angels to be vampires?"
Nikolai's laughter was a melodic sound, rich with an air of amusement. "Well, not all fallen angels become vampires, but those who do certainly make their mark."
A thousand questions swirled in my mind, but I focused on one that felt particularly relevant. "And how can you manifest yourself in the physical realm?" I remembered that Magnus told me that supernatural beings could only materialize themselves for a limited period of time, depending on their strength.
Nikolai's gaze locked onto mine, a mixture of intensity and thoughtfulness. "The talisman I seek, the one that was stolen from me, holds a significant connection to my existence. As long as it remains in the physical realm, its energy is potent enough to anchor me here, to make me physically visible."
I nodded slowly, absorbing the information. The talisman was a linchpin, a source of power that held more significance than I had initially realized.
"Remarkable," I breathed, caught between amazement and disbelief. "But why the need for such an artifact?"
Nikolai's expression grew somber, a shadow passing over his features. "For centuries, I've sought to recover it. It's not just a source of power; it's a connection to a past that I've never been able to let go." He smiled sadly. "I gave it to my wife, perhaps 300 years ago, when she was still alive. It was a gift. The talisman can make her a creature of the night like me. So she swallowed it and became a human vampire, but a jealous sorcerer took it from her, killing her in the process."
We were silent for a moment. Nikolai's eyes softened as if he sensed the thoughts swirling in my mind, especially about the tragic story of his wife. "Masha, I want you to know that I am not inherently dangerous. My existence is bound by complexities beyond your understanding. I only seek to reclaim what was taken from me, to protect the delicate balance between our realms. Your kind only worships the light and hates the darkness, not knowing that the darkness is part of the spiritual universe."
"I understand. But if you are an astral vampire," I said, "then why can't you do astral traveling yourself? That would be easier for you."
A muscle tugged at the corner of his lips. "I can't, unfortunately. I had an oath that I must fulfill, and that oath is that I cannot go back to the astral plane completely until I find the talisman. So I am currently in between worlds."
"But what can you say about vampire attacks?" I asked before taking a bite of the bread. "Such attacks are becoming more common these days. Are they your own kind? Are they also living between worlds?"
The vampire stared at me for some time, looking visibly tensed. Then he chuckled softly before saying, "Such beings are most likely to be astral. Physical vampires are quite rare and very difficult to find. As I said, there are many kinds of vampiric beings. Not all of them are human-looking like me. Some are vampire animals, do you know that? Plus, even if I am a high-ranking vampire in my realm, the lower ones tend to be more dangerous, or in your terms, feral."
He looked up at the wall, where a classical painting of fairies and nymphs was depicted. "You see, even your lovely fairies can become vampires. One of the laws of the astral realm is that we have to maintain the energy of our dimension. If not, there will be chaos, and the inhabitants will become vampire-like or even demonic. That's why you'll hear stories of, let's say, fairies or sirens, being innocent and playful, then some reporting that they are drinking blood, abducting children, or eating human flesh. But I am a full-born vampire, so this experience is nothing new."
I shivered at his words. What he shared with me was something I did not find in any magical books. I finished my meal before speaking again.
"Thank you for sharing this with me," I said, giving a faint smile. "It's a lot to take in."
Nikolai inclined his head in acknowledgment. "I understand, Masha. The truth of our world can be overwhelming, but knowledge is a weapon against fear."
As we stood there, bathed in the soft glow of the hotel room's dim lights, I realized that our paths had converged for reasons beyond my comprehension. The threads of destiny were weaving a tapestry I had yet to fully understand, and Nikolai was both a mentor and an enigma.
I picked up the takeout bag and moved towards the door. "Well, I'll leave you to your enigmatic presence, Nikolai," I said, a playful glint in my eyes. "If you ever change your mind about the food, feel free to let me know. I promise not to take it personally."
Nikolai's smile was warm, a touch of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Ah, you have my word, Masha. The day I develop a sudden craving for human delicacies, you will be the first to know."
As he moved towards the window, the last rays of twilight casting a soft glow on his features, I found myself grinning. There was something oddly endearing about his wry sense of humor. It was a reminder that even in the midst of the mystical and the unknown, a hint of lightheartedness could still find its place.
*****
For the next few days, Nikolai stayed in my room. It was a reality I had grown accustomed to, despite the initial shock of having a vampire as my unexpected roommate. He never ventured outside, always cautious of the human world and the potential dangers it held for him. He was particularly wary of hunters and sorcerers—entities that could easily recognize and exploit his vulnerability. Sorcerers, he explained, posed an even greater threat as they possessed the means to trap him inside a magical vessel, forcing him into servitude against his will.
Yet, as I watched him night after night, I couldn't shake the worry that gnawed at me. He never ate, and I couldn't fathom how he sustained himself. When I voiced my concern, he reassured me with a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Feeding, my dear Masha, is a practice that's far different for my kind," he explained. "While I don't consume regular human food, I feed on the energy of astral creatures that inhabit the realm we've been exploring together."
"And physical animals?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"Occasionally, if they happen to be nearby," he replied. "But I give you my word—I will not harm any living human to sustain myself."
His words offered me a measure of relief, though the intricacies of his diet remained a mystery I had yet to fully comprehend. As I observed him in the dim light of the hotel room, I realized that his existence defied the boundaries of my understanding. He was a creature of the shadows, dwelling at the intersection of the tangible and the astral.
Every night, Nikolai would also teach me about astral projection. At first, we did meditation, something I regularly do at the lodge, so it was easy for me. Then, he taught me some exercises which I had not encountered before.
"Lay down comfortably," he said as he took a seat across me. "Relax yourself. When you enter the meditative trance, imagine another copy of yourself facing you. Next, imagine that this replica is your mental body. After you successfully feel that, I want you to visualize that your astral body merged with your mental body."
I did as he told me. It took a few days before I began experiencing the results. Nikolai also explained to me some rules in the astral realm for my safety.
"The astral plane is neither heaven nor hell," he said solemnly. "It is a place of infinite dimensions, realities, and energies. However, the lower realms are easier to access since they are closer to the physical world. That's why some humans who had experienced this would meet demons. Another important thing to remember is that the astral plane can also reflect your true self, so you have to be very careful. Light attracts light, darkness attracts darkness."
I followed his guidance, allowing my thoughts to drift away as I surrendered to the sensation of weightlessness. It was as if a veil was being lifted, revealing a realm beyond the tangible—a realm where thoughts held the power to shape reality.
"Now, envision yourself rising," Nikolai continued, his voice a steady presence in the darkness. "Imagine your consciousness soaring above your body, connected only by a silvery thread of energy. This thread is called the astral matrix. This is the cord that connects the physical and astral bodies and is sustained by food and oxygen." He paused for a moment. "Cutting the cord will result to your physical demise. Make sure no one touches you as you leave the physical realm."
As I obeyed his instructions, a strange sensation overcame me. It was as though my very essence was detaching from the physical shell that had always defined me. I felt the tug of that silvery thread, the connection that remained unbroken despite the distance.
"I'm not sure if I'm doing it right," I said after a few minutes, almost to myself. "What do you think, Nikolai?"
When he did not answer, I opened my eyes and found that he was gone.