It began with Renee was alone in a dimly lit room of her house, gazing into the mirror. Her reflection showed no signs of aging, yet her eyes revealed a deep exhaustion. Renee had lived for centuries, but she couldn't understand why. There was an ancient bond that called to her, one that she had felt for as long as she could remember, but she couldn't bring herself to reveal the truth about her past.
As Renee stared at her reflection, a shiver crept down her spine as though she was being observed by someone or something. A sense of presence hung in the air, but when she pivoted to look, there was nobody behind her.
She decides to go outside and turns the knob of the front door, where a striking envelope left there caught Renee's attention. It was embossed with the name of the infamous Vampyre Hotel, rumored to fulfill one's innermost desires or reveal forgotten memories, for a cost. The letter suggested that perhaps someone at the hotel held the answers to her mysterious past.
The girl hesitated for a moment, fully aware that stepping into the hotel could lead to danger. However, the magnetic pull of her past was too strong to resist. Ultimately, she made the decision to enter.
***
Leon was inexplicably drawn to her, though he couldn't understand why. While he stood at the center of the hotel lobby and she stood near the door at the other end, he could sense that the girl was extraordinary. When their eyes met, a palpable tension filled the space between them, wordless yet undeniable.
A sudden realization struck him, could she hold the answer he desperately sought? Leon knew the only way to find out was by using his unique ability to glimpse into her future. In order to see what the girl knew, he would have to bite her and take a peek inside her mind.
***
Renee followed the hotel bellboy through dimly lit corridors, uncanny hallways and areas that seemed to have an air of secrecy. She couldn't help but feel that the boy was doing it on purpose, taking a longer route to Leon's office in order to frighten her with the surroundings.
She took a few steps to catch up and walk alongside the young man. Renee noticed his name tag, also glanced at his white and dark blue uniform, which matched the color of the young man's eyes that reminded her of the dark blue ocean. "Is your name Faelan?"
He abruptly halted and fixated on Renee with a frigid stare. It wasn't an intimidating gaze, but rather one of repulsion, as if he despised the person standing before him. For some reason, Renee couldn't help but think that letting the staff peer at their guests with such hateful eyes was equivalent to indirectly chasing them away.
"You're not a vampire, are you?" Renee tried to guess who the boy was. "You're a fairy who serves at this hotel, but hates vampires so much."
When the boy's eyes showed a change, Renee knew that her words were true. "This is related to the past debts, which forced you to become a servant for reasons."
Having spent centuries in this world, there was not a single creature that Renee had not encountered or heard of. Including this fairy, a being who was also bound to this place due to a deal made by his ancestors with the owner of this hotel.
"Who are you?" the boy suddenly asked her, but now with a different and seemingly friendlier approach.
Renee shrugged, "That's why I came here. To find out who I really am."
Faelan's brow wrinkled slightly, "Don't you know the price you have to pay for making a deal with this cruel vampire?"
Renee realized who the boy was talking about. "There is nothing to be afraid of in this life, it is only to be understood."
"But.."
"Thank you for your service," Renee cut him off first. "I will find the room myself."
She continued down the dark corridor and left the boy behind, started scanning each door for the numbers written on them, trying to make sense of her surroundings.
"Keep walking and you will see a big black door with intricate patterns, that's where he is." The boy's voice reached her and Renee smiled faintly. Without looking back, she resumed her steps to the end.
Out of all the strides she had made, perhaps this was the easiest because Renee was finally getting what she had desired for so long. While others feared facing their demise, Renee courageously and joyfully embraced hers.
***
"Don't you think that punishment is too severe?"
The voice of the young girl reverberated in the office, where Leon and another man were currently situated. Glancing around, one could easily categorize the room as a typical office setting, complete with bookshelves lining the walls and a stack of papers sitting on the desk across a large window overlooking the outside world.
"Dmitri has really outdone himself this time, Sol." The man next to her spoke sternly, "His actions are unforgivable."
"But, they gave him the punishment of Soul Fragmentation." Isolde's voice grew louder showing how frustrated the girl was. "Isn't that the same as a life sentence, Darius?"
Leon stood with his back facing his two loyal subordinates, paying no mind to their intense conversation. His gaze was focused on the distant night view outside, while his thoughts were even further away.
"Getting upset at those underworlders would not solve our problem. We needed to figure out a plan to locate the lost soul within three days." Darius brought up the agreement Leon and Aaron had made in the hotel lobby earlier. "Otherwise, Dmitri's powers may become more difficult to manage."
Isolde let out an exasperated sigh, her frustration evident on her face. "This is driving me crazy," she muttered. "How are we supposed to catch the wandering soul when we can only go out at night, when they are at their most powerful?"
Darius let out a softer sigh, showing that he still had some control over his emotions. "We have to find a way, no matter what," he tried to end their conversation. "If we don't, Dmitri's soul will remain scattered and bound to serve the underworld for eternity."
A knock on the door caught Leon's attention, pulling him away from his thoughts. He quickly turned to face the guest who was entering the room, while pushing the thick and heavy door in front of them.
Once again, their eyes met, but this time the girl seemed unfazed. Dressed in a dark turtleneck, long black coat and inky shoes, Leon could tell that she was in a determined state of mind that would not falter or retreat.
"Who are you?" Isolde's voice broke the silence in the room as she stared at the innocent-looking girl with a puzzled expression
"My name is Renee." She answered the cynical cat-eyed girl in a monotone, then shifted to the man standing behind the desk, "I am here to make a deal with Leon Drakov."
There was a momentary pause there before Darius spoke in a cautious tone, "Are you an immortal?"
Those words managed to make one person there surprised, none other than Isolde, who with her wide eyes stared at Darius and Leon in turn. "Who invited an immortal here?"
Leon finally moved from his position to within inches of Renee, eyeing the girl from head to toe. "Me."
The cool scent of mint wafted towards Renee from the vampire standing in front of her, instantly calming the girl's nerves. However, it was also a warning sign that should have made her step away immediately.
Although she took a step back, it wasn't because she was afraid. Renee just wanted to negotiate this deal face-to-face, so they could read each other's expressions clearly. Being much taller than the girl, Renee could only see the man's chest when they stood too close, blocking her view of his eyes.
"But, if you're an immortal, doesn't that mean your soul can't be taken?" Isolde tried to understand the situation there.
Renee met the man's gaze and replied to the question. "Wouldn't that also make me a valued visitor?"
Leon's eyes stared intently at the girl's face, trying to find any connection he could possibly find in those soulless eyes. "What deal do you want to make?"
A small smile appeared on Renee's lips, as if this moment had finally come to her. "Rather than exchanging souls for wishes, how about exchanging missions for wishes?" One of Renee's eyebrows raised to show her seriousness. "I will help you find the wandering soul, but in return you must fulfill my wish."
"What do you wish for?" Isolde's curiosity was evident on her face.
Still focusing into Leon's unflinching eyes, Renee boldly answered with a request that caused those same eyes to tremble, "Death. I want death."
Isolde and Darius exchanged looks, struggling to process the girl's words. But since Renee didn't try to take it back or explain further, it must be what she truly desired.
***
In the realm of Vampires, making a deal with Leon Drakov means your soul is marked with a blue ghost orchid. This serves as a signal to soul collectors, indicating which souls are meant for them to take. Because, each soul has its own designated time and manner of departing, it is crucial that the right ones are claimed in order to.
The souls that are taken are meant to continue on to the afterlife or reincarnation, as it is a natural part of their journey. Their departure allows events in the mortal world to proceed as intended, avoiding any disruption to one's life purpose.
However, taking the wrong soul can upset the delicate balance between life and death. When a soul is taken by mistake, it creates a rift in the natural order, throwing the future into chaos. The person whose soul was wrongly taken should not have died, making their departure unnatural and causing potential danger.
A misplaced soul may become a wandering soul, lost and confused without a rightful place in the afterlife. They may harbor vengeful feelings towards the living for being taken before their time, or they may turn to darkness to sustain their existence.
In such cases, it is imperative for soul collectors to locate the wandering spirit as soon as possible and guide them back to their original body before further harm is done. For with each passing moment, the soul grows more bloodthirsty and cruel due to its detachment from its destined path.
This is what Renee had heard, but seeing the current crime scene where the wandering soul has left behind a gruesome trail of carnage, she realizes that the reality is beyond anything the girl could have imagined.
The abandoned warehouse stands in the heart of a dense, gloomy forest. The air is thick with an unsettling energy, remnants of the victims, both human and animal who had fallen prey to the wandering soul. The gruesome evidence of ritualistic killings, mutilated bodies and ominous markings are all around, fueling its insatiable desire for fear and terror.
"We can't go any further," Darius' voice made the two with him stop in their tracks. "There is a satanic symbol for soul manipulation."
Renee's eyes scanned around, finally understanding what the man with shoulder-length hair and a stern expression meant. She could tell Darius was in charge of the group's strategy, with an aura similar to Leon's and having good analytical skills, as he was the first to realize that Renee was an immortal.
The building stood only a few meters away, sheltered by tall trees that seemed to act as a barrier against outside forces. They manipulate any creatures that attempt to cross the red circle and enter beyond it.
"What do we do now? If we don't act quickly, the wandering soul will slip away, making it even harder to track down." Isolde's impatience was apparent as she turned to Darius beside her.
"I'll go find Leon first," Darius finally answered. "You two stay here and try to stay away from it."
In the blink of an eye, without needing confirmation from anyone, the man vanished into thin air. Despite the dangerous situation, the two girls managed to keep their composure, didn't make any sound. However, Isolde couldn't help but shiver as she heard a soft noise coming from inside the warehouse. Which meant that the wandering soul was aware of their presence.
Isolde was fully aware of the danger around her, but she didn't know what to do. Should she try to run away and avoid the wandering soul that seemed to be getting stronger? Or should she stay and fight to prevent the wandering soul from escaping?
"Let me in," Renee's voice suddenly provided the answer Isolde had been thinking about.
"You can't.."
Renee had already passed through the circle of blood with her back facing Isolde. The girl's eyes widened in surprise at Renee's seemingly unafraid of death. Did she really want to die?
Shortly after, the warehouse door creaked open, like a predator welcoming a new victim into its den. "I will do my best not to get killed," Renee's final words gave Isolde a sense of determination.
In a second, the girl vanished behind the door as it slammed shut with a resounding thump. Seconds later, a bloodcurdling scream pierced through the air and a red light emitted from inside the building, indicating that the spirit had taken control of Renee's body.
Feeling a mix of fear and helplessness, Isolde muttered something to the girl in hopes that she could hear her. "Please don't die," She pleaded. "If you died, I would meet the same fate at the hands of that man."
***