The guards left to bring in Jasmine, and we hashed out some of the paperwork. After a few minutes, the guards returned. The smaller one stated, "We brought the girl as requested, sir."
As the guards brought in Jasmine, my eyes were immediately drawn to her imposing presence. Even though she wore a large bonnet that obscured the top part of her head, there was an air of defiance about her. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down in disarray, framing her pale, almost ethereal face. The deep red of her eyes pierced through the shadows of the room, glinting with a mix of anger and vulnerability.
Her attire was a stark contrast to her delicate features. She was dressed in a tattered black dress that clung to her slender frame, the edges frayed and worn, telling tales of hardship and resilience. A crimson belt cinched her waist, adding a splash of color to her otherwise dark ensemble. The fabric of her dress was torn in several places, exposing glimpses of her alabaster skin, which bore the marks of past struggles.
Despite the bonnet's effort to conceal her true nature, I could sense something otherworldly about her. Her pointed ears peeked out from beneath her hair, hinting at her vampiric heritage. There was a certain elegance in her stance, a grace that belied the roughness of her appearance. As she stood there, her expression was one of stoic determination. Her eyes, though fierce, held a depth of sorrow and pain that tugged at my conscience. She was a living paradox, a blend of beauty and beast, strength and fragility. And in that moment, I knew that there was much more to Jasmine than met the eye. I couldn't tell what yet, but something told me it had to do with what was under the bonnet.
I turned towards Mr. Holt, narrowing my eyes. "What is under the bonnet?"
Rune shifted uncomfortably beside me. "Key, wait."
Mr. Holt cut in, his tone dismissive. "She won't let anyone near it. She bites anyone that gets too close. I suspect she might be wounded, but I have no idea. I could have the guards hold her down so you can check."
I shook my head, maintaining a calm facade. "Not necessary. I'll find out later." I took a step back, signaling the end of our discussion. "I think we're done here then?"
Mr. Holt grunted, clearly annoyed. "I think so, yeah. Guards, see the boy and his party out."
The guards, a stern and imposing presence, nodded and moved to escort us. As they led us off the property, I couldn't help but steal one last glance at Jasmine. Her eyes met mine, a flicker of curiosity and defiance in those crimson depths.
We walked back to the inn in silence. I could feel Rune's joy from here. He was suppressing his happiness until we got back to the room. Once we were inside, he let it out all at once.
Rune hugged his sister, "Jasmine! It's me!"
Jasmine looked surprised; it seemed she hadn't quite noticed who Rune was. Jasmine hugged him back, "Bro?! Is that you?"
Rune smiled, tears forming in his eyes. "Yes, it's me. I've missed you so much."
Jasmine's eyes welled up as well, the fierce facade giving way to a more vulnerable side. "I can't believe it's really you. I never thought I would see you again."
As they hugged, you could see the time apart melting away along with the stress and anxiety of losing someone so close to you. I watched them, a sense of satisfaction and hope filling me. This reunion was a reminder of why we did what we did, and it strengthened my resolve to protect and help those in need.
Rune smiled, his voice choked with emotion. "Sis, I am not going anywhere. I would walk to the end of the planet to find you again."
Jasmine let out a small laugh, the sound filled with both relief and amusement. "You're such a dummy. First, we have to deal with your captors and then escape, silly."
Rune's smile faltered. "Sis? I am not being held captive."
Jasmine frowned. "Huh? Then who the hell are these people?" She scanned the room, her sharp eyes scrutinizing each of us—me, Alice, and Vice.
The room grew hostile quickly. Jasmine grew a bit angry. I stepped forward, extending a hand in a gesture of reassurance. "Jasmine, my name is Key. We're friends of Rune. We came here to help him find you."
Alice followed up, sensing something was off. "Friends."
Vice had a guarded expression, her hand pawing her gun. "Careful there, girl."
Jasmine turned back towards Rune. "You would ally with mortals?"
Rune tried to smooth things over. "Sis, they helped me free you. They aren't bad peopl—"
Jasmine had heard enough. "They're mortals, Rune. Did you forget what they did to Mom and Dad?"
Rune looked down at the floor. "Yes, I remember, sis, but these people are different. They stuck their necks out to help me even when there was no benefit in doing so."
Vice chimed in. "We've got no reason to harm you. Hell, what we did has mostly been charity work."
Jasmine yelled out, "Silence! I will not let my brother be tricked by you scum anymore. I will see for myself just what kind of vermin have tricked him." A dark aura poured off her body, a new fiery anger radiating off of her.
Rune called out, "Wait, sis!"
Jasmine silenced him. "Hush for a moment, little brother." She approached me with a serious expression. "Are you the leader of this little group of rats?"
Vice held out her gun. "That's enough. One more step and I shoot."
I held up my hand to Vice. "Put down the gun. Let us talk."
Vice yelled out, "Key! She'll kill you!"
I smiled at Vice. "Vice, put down the gun. If she has something to prove, I have no ill will. Then I say bring it on."
Jasmine sighed, annoyed. "Cheeky bastard. We'll see about that."
She stepped closer, her crimson eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. The room seemed to darken, the air growing heavy with an otherworldly presence. I held my ground, keeping my expression neutral, but my heart pounded in my chest.
Jasmine's eyes began to glow, a deep, unsettling red that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of reality. Her gaze was not just a look; it was a force, pulling me into a dark abyss. I felt a strange sensation, like icy tendrils wrapping around my mind, delving into the depths of my soul.
The room around me faded, and I found myself standing in a void, surrounded by swirling shadows and flickers of light. It was as if time and space had ceased to exist. Jasmine's presence was overwhelming, her gaze dissecting my very being. I could feel her probing, searching through my memories, my fears, my hopes.
Flashes of my past played out before me. I saw myself as a young boy, working the field with my father. I saw my mother coming out with lemonade. I saw my first scam a year ago, the rush I felt, and the guilt that followed. I saw the faces of those I had tricked, their expressions of betrayal and hurt. The memories blurred together, a whirlwind of emotions that left me reeling. I felt Jasmine speak in my mind, "Disgusting."
I tried to resist, to push back against her intrusion, but it was like trying to hold back a tidal wave with my bare hands. She saw my insecurities, my doubts about whether I was doing the right thing. She saw my growing sense of responsibility for Rune and the others, and my determination to protect them. My true self was laid bare. The past week or so had really changed my views on morality and the direction I wanted to take my business.
Then, as quickly as it began, it was over. The void receded, and I was back in the dimly lit room, gasping for breath. Jasmine's eyes returned to their normal crimson hue, but there was a knowing glint in them now.
Jasmine sighed. "You have a lot of nerve, Key Creed," she said quietly. "But I see that you genuinely care for my brother. For now, I'll tolerate your presence. I was going to hurt you if I saw anything I didn't like, but you're a softy."
I nodded, still trying to steady my breathing. "Thank you, Jasmine."
Rune stepped forward, concern etched on his face. "Sis, is everything okay?"
Jasmine nodded, her gaze softening as she looked at her brother. "Yes, Rune. For now, it's okay."
Alice and Vice exchanged wary glances but remained silent. The tension in the room eased slightly, but I knew that Jasmine's trust was something that had to be earned, not taken for granted.
Jasmine frowned. "I see the kind of man you are, and I admit I wasn't unhappy with what I saw. I didn't intend on trusting you, but I can't turn a blind eye to what I saw. Let's make this clear: I will be watching you closely. I will give you a chance at least since my brother seems fond of you. Don't get me wrong, though; there will be no second chances."
With that, Jasmine reached up and slowly removed the bonnet from her head. As the fabric fell away, it revealed a pair of small, elegant black horns that curved slightly back from her forehead. They gleamed in the dim light, giving her an even more otherworldly appearance. It was clear now—Jasmine was more than just a vampire; she was something else, something powerful and ancient. Perhaps a demonic creature? It seemed plausible, given her aura.
She held my gaze, her expression serious. "This is who I am. Can you still accept me knowing this?"
I met her gaze without flinching. "Yes, I can."
Jasmine studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "Good. Then we'll see if your actions match your words."
With that, she turned to Rune, her expression softening once more. "Come on, Rune. Let's catch up a bit. I want to know everything that's happened to you."
Rune smiled, clearly relieved that the tension had finally eased. "I'd like that, sis."
As they began to talk, I exchanged glances with Vice and Alice. This was a new dynamic, and it was clear that Jasmine was going to be a force to be reckoned with. But for now, we had earned a temporary truce, and that was enough.
The road ahead was uncertain, but we were all in this together now.